Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.4.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPure Work Satisfies the Supreme Lord
“O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, to glorify Mahārāja Nābhi the old sages composed two verses. One of them is this: “Who can attain the perfection of Mahārāja Nābhi? Who can attain his activities? Because of his devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead agreed to become his son.””
What the purport teaches
- Activities performed only for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord are pure. They are not contaminated by the modes of material nature.
- Work outside devotional service remains affected by ignorance, passion or goodness. Material activities meant for sense satisfaction are therefore contaminated.
- Mahārāja Nābhi performed only transcendental activities, including his yajña. Because of his devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead agreed to become his son.
Try this today
Before one act of devotional service today, pause and consciously make the Lord’s satisfaction your purpose.
Ask yourself
Am I working mainly for my own sense satisfaction or to satisfy the Supreme Lord?
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.