Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.8.37
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionWork With Valor, Depend on the Lord
“O my Lord, You have executed all duties Yourself. Are you leaving us today, though we are completely dependent on Your mercy and have no one else to protect us, now when all kings are at enmity with us?”
What the purport teaches
- Complete dependence on the Lord’s mercy is great fortune, not misfortune. The attempt to become independent of Him is the material disease.
- The Pāṇḍavas depended entirely on Śrī Kṛṣṇa, but they were not idle. They were highly qualified in character and activity, working with valor while looking for His mercy.
- The perfection of life is to depend on the Lord’s will rather than seek false independence. Kuntīdevī felt separation from Him like a thunderbolt and prayed that He would stay.
Try this today
Before one duty today, briefly pray for the Lord’s guidance, then carry out that duty with care.
Ask yourself
How can I work earnestly today while remaining dependent on the Lord’s mercy?
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.