Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.12.10
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesUnderstand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional Service
“O my Lord, I, who am considered to be the best of the demigods, and Lord Brahmā and the great ṛṣis, headed by Marīci, are born of the mode of goodness. Nonetheless, we are bewildered by Your illusory energy and cannot understand what this creation is. Aside from us, what is to be said of others, like the demons and human beings, who are in the base modes of material nature [rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa]? How will they know You?”
What the purport teaches
- Even those situated in material goodness cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by that goodness alone. Lord Śiva acknowledges that even he, Lord Brahmā and the great ṛṣis are bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy.
- Devotional service must follow authorized Vedic scriptures under the guidance of a proper spiritual master. Ignoring these instructions creates disturbance rather than understanding.
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can be understood through bhakti-yoga. Taking shelter of Him and hearing Him speak about Himself brings knowledge and detachment.
Try this today
Read one instruction of Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā today, with the intention of taking shelter of His guidance.
Ask yourself
Am I trying to understand Kṛṣṇa through my own ideas, or through hearing and 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.