Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.20.27
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesServe the Supreme Lord Without Envy
“Now I wish to engage in the service of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to serve just like the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand, because His Lordship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. I am afraid that the goddess of fortune and I would quarrel because both of us would be attentively engaged in the same service.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is never controlled by material nature. The eternal living entities must not be considered equal to Him.
- The Lord is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities and is especially inclined toward His devotees. They eagerly offer loving service, and He is inclined to accept it.
- Pṛthu Mahārāja desired to serve the Lord’s lotus feet as a servant. In the spiritual world, competition in service is without malice: devotees aspire to match excellent service rather than envy it.
Try this today
Notice one good quality in another devotee’s service and try to bring that quality into one small act of service today.
Ask yourself
When I see someone serving well, do I feel envy or inspiration to improve my own service?
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.