Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.6.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFind Satisfaction in Your Spiritual Identity
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, was fully aware of His true identity; therefore He was self-sufficient, and He did not desire external gratification. There was no need for Him to aspire for success, since He was complete in Himself. Those who unnecessarily engage in bodily conceptions and create an atmosphere of materialism are always ignorant of their real self-interest. Out of His causeless mercy, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva taught the self’s real identity and the goal of life. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who appeared as Lord Ṛṣabhadeva.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is complete in Himself and needs no external gratification. As His parts and parcels, we should follow His instructions rather than create unnecessary bodily demands.
- By following the Lord’s instructions, one can become satisfied in one’s spiritual position, free from hankering and lamentation even within this material world.
- Material adjustments cannot provide true happiness. Our real self-interest is to take shelter at Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet, as Lord Ṛṣabhadeva mercifully taught through His behavior and instructions.
Try this today
Set aside one unnecessary demand today and spend a few minutes reading the Lord’s instructions instead.
Ask yourself
What unnecessary demand am I treating as essential to my happiness?
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.