Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.19.36
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord Sends His True Representative
“Otherwise [without being inspired by Lord Kṛṣṇa] how is it that you have voluntarily appeared here, though you are moving incognito to the common man and are not visible to us who are on the verge of death?”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Kṛṣṇa inspired Śukadeva Gosvāmī to appear before Mahārāja Parīkṣit and teach Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Devotional service begins through the mercy of the spiritual master and the Lord.
- The spiritual master is the Lord’s manifested representative, authorized to help others attain ultimate success. Receiving such guidance means receiving the Lord’s direct help.
- The Lord dwells in everyone’s heart and knows each person’s sincerity. When a soul is truly eager to return to Godhead, He sends His bona fide representative.
Try this today
Offer a brief, sincere prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa for the help of His bona fide representative.
Ask yourself
How sincere is my desire to receive guidance and return to Godhead?
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.