Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.19.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Cherishes His Devotees
“Since Lord Śrī Rāmacandra is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, He is not attached to anything in this material world. He is the most beloved Supersoul of all self-realized souls, and He is their very intimate friend. He is full of all opulences. Therefore He could not possibly have suffered because of separation from His wife, nor could He have given up His wife and Lakṣmaṇa, His younger brother. To give up either would have been absolutely impossible.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses all six opulences: wealth, fame, strength, influence, beauty and renunciation. His renunciation means freedom from material attachment, not indifference toward His spiritual servants.
- The Lord is attached to those who render transcendental loving service to Him. Although He is the Supersoul of all, He is specifically manifest to self-realized souls and especially dear to His devotees.
- Lord Rāmacandra apparently gave up Sītādevī and Lakṣmaṇa to teach the duties of a king, but He could not actually give Them up. His transcendental activities should be learned from a self-realized soul.
Try this today
Reread one passage of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purport today, focusing on the Lord’s affection for those who serve Him.
Ask yourself
How does the Lord’s affection for His servants deepen my desire to serve Him?
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.