Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.3.7
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotion Matters More Than Elaborate Arrangements
“We have engaged in Your worship with many things and have offered sacrifices unto You, but we think that there is no need for so many arrangements to please Your Lordship.”
What the purport teaches
- A large sacrifice may include many offerings, but without devotion, attachment or love for the Lord, the arrangement is useless.
- The Lord is complete in Himself and needs nothing from us. Still, He accepts simple offerings made in devotion.
- Bhakti, devotional service, is the main way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The priests regretted thinking that their elaborate sacrifice lacked such devotion.
Try this today
During one act of worship today, give your attention to pleasing the Lord rather than making the arrangement impressive.
Ask yourself
Could outward preparation be distracting me from loving service?
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.