Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.9.24
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionRemember the Lord with Humble Dependence
“May my Lord, who is four-handed and whose beautifully decorated lotus face, with eyes as red as the rising sun, is smiling, kindly await me at that moment when I quit this material body.”
What the purport teaches
- Bhīṣmadeva knew that four-handed Nārāyaṇa is a plenary expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He desired to see the Lord in that worshipable form and concentrate upon Him.
- A Vaiṣṇava remains humble even when the Lord guarantees entrance into His abode. Bhīṣmadeva still prayed to behold the Lord’s beautiful, smiling face.
- A pure devotee depends entirely on the Lord’s good will, rather than anxiously seeking a particular destination. His highest ambition is to remain absorbed in thinking of the Lord.
Try this today
Pause for a minute to remember the Lord’s smiling lotus face and pray to remain attentive to Him.
Ask yourself
Can I value remembrance of the Lord more than having my circumstances turn out as I wish?
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.