Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.5.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Service Is Life’s Essential Purpose
“O unqualified, most heinous son of a brāhmaṇa, you have disobeyed my order and taken shelter of the party of my enemies. You have taught this poor boy about devotional service! What is this nonsense?”
What the purport teaches
- Hiraṇyakaśipu accused the teacher of disobeying him and siding with his enemies. He condemned the teaching of devotional service.
- The purport highlights asāram, meaning “having no substance.” A demon sees no substance in devotional service, whereas a devotee sees it as the only essential factor in life.
- Because Hiraṇyakaśipu disliked devotional service, the essence of life, he chastised Prahlāda Mahārāja’s teachers with harsh words.
Try this today
Set aside a small, definite time today for devotional service rather than treating it as optional.
Ask yourself
Do my daily priorities reflect that devotional service is essential?
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.