Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.11.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesYearn for the Lord’s Personal Service
“O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You.”
What the purport teaches
- A pure devotee always yearns to associate personally with the Lord and render service to Him. Vṛtrāsura expresses this longing through three familiar examples.
- A baby bird is not satisfied until its mother comes to feed it, and a hungry calf longs for its mother’s milk. These examples show the intensity of the devotee’s longing.
- A devoted wife whose husband is away longs for his return and association. In this way, Vṛtrāsura yearns for the opportunity to serve the lotus-eyed Lord directly.
Try this today
Spend one quiet minute reflecting on one of the verse’s examples, then pray for eagerness to serve the Lord.
Ask yourself
What do these examples help me understand about longing to serve the 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.