Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.19.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Acts for His Devotees
“Bali Mahārāja said: O son of a brāhmaṇa, Your instructions are as good as those of learned and elderly persons. Nonetheless, You are a boy, and Your intelligence is insufficient. Thus You are not very prudent in regard to Your self-interest.”
What the purport teaches
- Bali Mahārāja praised Vāmanadeva’s learned words but thought the boy did not understand His own self-interest.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in Himself and owns all material and spiritual planets. He therefore had no personal need for land.
- Vāmanadeva approached Bali for His devotees’ welfare, not His own. Devotees sacrifice personal interests to satisfy the Lord, and the Lord can do anything for their interests.
Try this today
Perform one small act of devotional service today with the intention of satisfying the Lord rather than gaining something for yourself.
Ask yourself
What personal preference could you set aside to better serve the Lord today?
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.