Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.17.34-35
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesUnderstand Exalted Devotees Without Hasty Judgment
“This magnanimous Citraketu is a dear devotee of the Lord. He is equal to all living entities and is free from attachment and hatred. Similarly, I am also very dear to Lord Nārāyaṇa. Therefore, no one should be astonished to see the activities of the most exalted devotees of Nārāyaṇa, for they are free from attachment and envy. They are always peaceful, and they are equal to everyone.”
What the purport teaches
- Exalted devotees are peaceful and equal to everyone, free from attachment and envy. Their activities should not mislead or astonish us.
- The Lord and His devotees are both liberated and qualitatively alike, but the Lord remains the master and the devotees remain servants. Those who serve Him in devotion are extremely dear to Him.
- Lord Śiva understood Citraketu’s laughter as friendly joking, not hostility. He explained to Pārvatī that there was no reason to curse Citraketu.
Try this today
Pause before making one judgment about a devotee today, and consider whether you have understood their intention.
Ask yourself
When a devotee’s behavior puzzles you, do you seek understanding before judging?
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.