Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.24.15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesService to the Lord Never Goes Vain
“To please himself, King Satyavrata, not knowing that the fish was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, decided with great pleasure to give the fish protection.”
What the purport teaches
- King Satyavrata happily decided to protect the fish, not knowing that the fish was Lord Viṣṇu.
- Service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead without knowledge is called ajñāta-sukṛti. Through such unknowing devotional service, one receives His favor.
- Service rendered to the Supreme Lord, knowingly or unknowingly, never goes in vain.
Try this today
Do one small act of devotional service today, remembering that service to the Supreme Lord is never wasted.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that service to the Lord never goes in vain encourage me?
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.