Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.19.9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesCleanse the Heart Through Kṛṣṇa’s Names
“[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] The glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are inconceivable. He has appeared in the form of Nara-Nārāyaṇa in the land of Bhārata-varṣa, at the place known as Badarikāśrama, to favor His devotees by teaching them religion, knowledge, renunciation, spiritual power, sense control and freedom from false ego. He is advanced in the opulence of spiritual assets, and He engages in executing austerity until the end of this millennium. This is the process of self-realization.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears as Nara-Nārāyaṇa at Badarikāśrama and practices austerity to teach self-realization. His example teaches sense control, renunciation and freedom from false ego.
- Self-realization cannot be achieved simply through speculation and material activities. One must take self-realization and the practice of austerity seriously.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offers the easiest method of self-realization in this age: chanting the glorious kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana. This simple method cleanses the dirt from the core of the heart.
Try this today
Spend two attentive minutes chanting: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
Ask yourself
Am I making time for cleansing my heart, or only for material activities?
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.