Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.31.22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGratitude for the Lord’s Loving Mercy
“Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is self-sufficient, He becomes dependent on His devotees. He does not care for the goddess of fortune, nor for the kings and demigods who are after the favors of the goddess of fortune. Where is that person who is actually grateful and will not worship the Personality of Godhead?”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is self-sufficient and does not require even the service of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune. Yet out of causeless mercy, He becomes dependent on His devotees.
- A devotee favored by the Lord is greatly fortunate and cannot forget his obligation to Him. Gratitude naturally calls for worship and devotional service.
- The mutual attachment between Kṛṣṇa and His devotee is never material. It is a natural, eternal spiritual relationship.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer of thanks to the Supreme Lord today, expressing your wish to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How can my gratitude for the Lord’s mercy become practical devotional 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.