Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.21.41
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFeeding Devotees Pleases the Supreme Lord
“Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ananta, eats through the fire sacrifices offered in the names of the different demigods, He does not take as much pleasure in eating through fire as He does in accepting offerings through the mouths of learned sages and devotees, for then He does not leave the association of devotees.”
What the purport teaches
- Fire sacrifices offered in the names of different demigods are meant to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yet He takes greater pleasure in accepting offerings through learned sages and devotees.
- The Lord does not leave the company of His devotees. He remains where they glorify His activities.
- Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas are living representatives of the Supreme Lord. Feeding them directly feeds Him and is more effective than offering oblations into sacrificial fire.
Try this today
Offer food to a Vaiṣṇava today, remembering that this service pleases the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
How would remembering the Lord’s pleasure change my attitude when serving food to a devotee?
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.