Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.16.32-33
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRemain Connected Through the Lord’s Holy Name
“Lakṣmījī, the goddess of fortune, whose glance of grace was sought by demigods like Brahmā and for whom they surrendered many a day unto the Personality of Godhead, gave up her own abode in the forest of lotus flowers and engaged herself in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. I was endowed with specific powers to supersede the fortune of all the three planetary systems by being decorated with the impressions of the flag, thunderbolt, elephant-driving rod and lotus flower, which are signs of the lotus feet of the Lord. But at the end, when I felt I was so fortunate, the Lord left me.”
What the purport teaches
- Lakṣmījī chose service to the Lord’s lotus feet, and the earth became especially fortunate through their impressions. The world’s beauty and opulence depend on the Lord’s grace, not merely on human planning.
- The omnipresent Lord can always be with us through devotional service, including hearing, chanting and remembering. We need not detain Him physically to remain connected with Him.
- The Lord and His holy name are identical. Chanting His name without offenses frees us from Kali’s contamination and gradually leads us back to Godhead.
Try this today
Set aside two quiet minutes today to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa attentively and respectfully.
Ask yourself
How can I make hearing and chanting a more attentive part of my connection with the Lord?
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.