Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.20.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGenuine Devotional Ecstasy Cannot Be Imitated
“King Pṛthu abundantly worshiped the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was so merciful to him. While worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord, Pṛthu Mahārāja gradually increased his ecstasy in devotional service.”
What the purport teaches
- Pṛthu Mahārāja abundantly worshiped the merciful Lord’s lotus feet. As he worshiped, his ecstasy in devotional service gradually increased.
- Transcendental transformations, called aṣṭa-sāttvika-vikāra, appear when devotional service becomes perfect. These symptoms must never be imitated.
- The Lord is bhakta-vatsala, inclined toward His pure devotee. The ecstatic exchange between the Supreme Lord and His devotee is never like material activities.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to the Lord today, focusing on sincerity rather than trying to produce a particular feeling.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking sincere devotional service rather than an outward display of spiritual emotion?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.