Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.24.72
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRemember the Lord While Performing Your Duties
“This prayer was first spoken to us by Lord Brahmā, the master of all creators. The creators, headed by Bhṛgu, were instructed in these prayers because they wanted to create.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Brahmā taught these prayers to his sons and disciples as they prepared for creation. The prayers helped them remember their relationship with the Lord amid material engagement.
- Our first duty is to remain in constant contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Occupational duties become a waste of time if we forget our eternal relationship with Him.
- We need not abandon our occupations to practice devotional service through hearing, chanting, and remembering. By performing our duties to satisfy the Lord, we can attain life’s perfection.
Try this today
Choose one duty today and, before starting it, pray that your work may satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
How might remembering my relationship with the Lord change the way I perform one daily duty?
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.