Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.20.35-36
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHonor Others and Value Loving Service
“King Pṛthu worshiped the demigods, the great sages, the inhabitants of Pitṛloka, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, and those of Siddhaloka, Cāraṇaloka, Pannagaloka, Kinnaraloka, Apsaroloka, the earthly planets and the planets of the birds. He also worshiped many other living entities who presented themselves in the sacrificial arena. With folded hands he worshiped all these, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the personal associates of the Lord, by offering sweet words and as much wealth as possible. After this function, they all went back to their respective abodes, following in the footsteps of Lord Viṣṇu.”
What the purport teaches
- King Pṛthu honored the assembled living entities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His personal associates. He offered folded hands, sweet words and as much wealth as possible.
- The Vedic literatures describe varieties of living entities throughout the material and spiritual planets. Living entities share one spiritual nature, though in the material world they have different material bodies.
- In the spiritual sky, the inhabitants engage in varieties of loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa displays His original pastimes in this world to attract conditioned souls back home, back to Godhead.
Try this today
Offer someone a few sincere, respectful words today, remembering that living entities share one spiritual nature.
Ask yourself
How can remembering our shared spiritual nature help me offer others genuine respect?
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.