Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.28
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAccept the Lord as Life and Soul
“Śrī Vidura inquired: My dear brāhmaṇa, the abode of the Lord is very difficult to attain. It can be attained only by pure devotional service, which alone pleases the most affectionate, merciful Lord. Dhruva Mahārāja achieved this position even in one life, and he was very wise and conscientious. Why, then, was he not very pleased?”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord's abode is very difficult to attain and can be attained only by pure devotional service. Such service pleases the most affectionate, merciful Lord.
- The purport describes an artha-vit as someone who distinguishes reality from unreality. Such a person is also called a paramahaṁsa.
- A paramahaṁsa accepts the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his life and soul, setting aside external, material things. Dhruva Mahārāja belonged to this category, so Vidura asked why he remained dissatisfied.
Try this today
Set aside one nonessential material activity today and use that time for devotional service.
Ask yourself
What would it mean for me to place the Supreme Personality of Godhead at the center of my life?
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.