Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.7.12
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesConstant Service Deepens Love for Kṛṣṇa
“That most exalted devotee, Mahārāja Bharata, in this way engaged constantly in the devotional service of the Lord. Naturally his love for Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, increased more and more and melted his heart. Consequently he gradually lost all attachment for regulative duties. The hairs of his body stood on end, and all the ecstatic bodily symptoms were manifest. Tears flowed from his eyes, so much so that he could not see anything. Thus he constantly meditated on the reddish lotus feet of the Lord. At that time, his heart, which was like a lake, was filled with the water of ecstatic love. When his mind was immersed in that lake, he even forgot the regulative service to the Lord.”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Bharata constantly engaged in devotional service, and his love for Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, increased until his heart melted.
- Eight transcendental, blissful bodily symptoms appear when one is actually advanced in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. These are symptoms of perfection arising from loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Bharata constantly meditated on the Lord’s reddish lotus feet. His mind became so immersed in ecstatic love that he even forgot his regulative service.
Try this today
Set aside a quiet minute today to meditate on Kṛṣṇa’s reddish lotus feet.
Ask yourself
How can Bharata’s constant service encourage me to be steadier in my own devotional 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.