Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.6.5
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSeek Forgiveness Without Reservation
“You have excluded Lord Śiva from taking part in the sacrificial results, and therefore you are all offenders at his lotus feet. Still, if you go without mental reservations and surrender unto him and fall down at his lotus feet, he will be very pleased.”
What the purport teaches
- By excluding Lord Śiva from his share of the sacrificial results, the participants had offended his lotus feet.
- Lord Śiva is called Āśutoṣa: āśu means “very soon,” and toṣa means “to become satisfied.” He is very easily pleased.
- Brahmā was confident that they could mitigate their offenses by begging Lord Śiva’s pardon and surrendering without reservation.
Try this today
If you have offended someone, offer one sincere apology today without adding excuses.
Ask yourself
What reservation keeps me from sincerely asking forgiveness?
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.