Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.3.22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRāma Displays the Power of God
“In the eighteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as King Rāma. In order to perform some pleasing work for the demigods, He exhibited superhuman powers by controlling the Indian Ocean and then killing the atheist King Rāvaṇa, who was on the other side of the sea.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Rāma, the Personality of Godhead, appeared in human form to do pleasing work for the demigods and maintain universal order.
- Rāvaṇa challenged the Lord’s authority and kidnapped His wife, Sītā. Lord Rāma answered the demigods’ prayers by chastising him.
- Lord Rāmacandra made stones float and prepared a bridge across the Indian Ocean without supporting pillars. His superhuman activities displayed powers beyond those of materially advanced human beings.
Try this today
Spend one minute reflecting on Rāma’s floating stone bridge as a display of the Personality of Godhead’s power.
Ask yourself
Does material achievement ever make me forget the greatness of the Lord’s power?
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.