Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.24.30
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHonor Lord Śiva as Kṛṣṇa’s Devotee
“You are all devotees of the Lord, and as such I appreciate that you are as respectable as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. I know in this way that the devotees also respect me and that I am dear to them. Thus no one can be as dear to the devotees as I am.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva is the best of all devotees. He loves the devotees of the Supreme Lord and respects them as much as he respects the Lord.
- Devotees of Kṛṣṇa honor Lord Śiva as Kṛṣṇa’s most exalted devotee, not as a separate Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their respect never means disregarding his position as the Lord’s servant.
- A devotee prays to Lord Śiva for Kṛṣṇa’s favor, not for material profit. This devotional purpose distinguishes such worship from worship driven by material desire.
Try this today
Offer Lord Śiva a brief prayer asking for Kṛṣṇa’s favor rather than material gain.
Ask yourself
How can my respect for Lord Śiva deepen my desire for Kṛṣṇa’s favor?
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.