Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.17.34
Āśraya· The supreme shelterWorship the Supreme Lord Directly
“In all sacrificial ceremonies, although sometimes a demigod is worshiped, the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is worshiped because He is the Supersoul of everyone, and exists both inside and outside like the air. Thus it is He only who awards all welfare to the worshiper.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Lord alone awards the welfare obtained through sacrifice. Demigods cannot act without His sanction.
- The Lord is the Supersoul of everyone, moving and nonmoving. He exists inside and outside all beings while remaining transcendental to material creation.
- The Supreme Lord is one without a second; demigods are His material representatives. A learned devotee therefore worships the Supreme Lord directly.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer directly to the Supreme Lord, acknowledging your dependence on Him.
Ask yourself
Does my worship reflect an understanding that the Supreme Lord is the ultimate giver of all welfare?
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.