Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.6.40
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesExalted Position Does Not Remove Respect
“Lord Śiva’s lotus feet were worshiped by both the demigods and demons, but still, in spite of his exalted position, as soon as he saw that Lord Brahmā was there among all the other demigods, he immediately stood up and offered him respect by bowing down and touching his lotus feet, just as Vāmanadeva offered His respectful obeisances to Kaśyapa Muni.”
What the purport teaches
- Although demigods and demons worshiped Lord Śiva’s feet, he immediately stood and bowed when Lord Brahmā arrived.
- Lord Śiva respected Brahmā as his father, just as Vāmanadeva offered respect to Kaśyapa Muni.
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, also offered respect to His parents and elders. The Lord and His devotees teach by practical example how to honor superiors.
Try this today
Offer a sincere, respectful greeting to a parent or elder today.
Ask yourself
Does receiving respect ever make it harder for you to offer respect to others?
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.