Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.5.39
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesServe With Tolerance and Mercy
“All the devotees of the Lord but you are very kind to the conditioned souls and are eager to benefit others. Although you wear the dress of a devotee, you create enmity with people who are not your enemies, or you break friendship and create enmity between friends. Are you not ashamed of posing as a devotee while performing these abominable actions?”
What the purport teaches
- Those who train others in Kṛṣṇa consciousness may face criticism rather than appreciation. Their purpose is to help people become devotees and return home, back to Godhead.
- A devotee should be both tolerant and merciful, even when accused by those who do not understand. Devotees are friends of every living entity, though they may be mistaken for enemies.
- The duty of a preacher is to satisfy Lord Kṛṣṇa by sincerely sharing His message. Such service is recognized by the Lord and should not be stopped by opposition.
Try this today
Share one teaching of Lord Kṛṣṇa with someone willing to hear, without seeking praise or arguing.
Ask yourself
How can I remain kind when someone misunderstands my devotional intentions?
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.