Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.9.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesMake the Personal Lord Your Ultimate Destination
“May He, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who awards salvation, be my ultimate destination. On the battlefield He charged me, as if angry because of the wounds dealt by my sharp arrows. His shield was scattered, and His body was smeared with blood due to the wounds.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is unconquerable and cannot be harmed. Yet He can accept loving service from a pure devotee even when that devotee plays the part of an enemy.
- The Lord’s apparent anger and wounds were meant to please Bhīṣmadeva, not express ordinary enmity. His all-spiritual body cannot be wounded, and His pure devotee cannot truly become His enemy.
- The Lord awards salvation, but Bhīṣmadeva desires the Lord Himself as his ultimate destination. Pure devotees aspire to see His personal feature and exchange loving service with Him.
Try this today
Offer a short prayer asking that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa be your ultimate destination and that you may serve Him with devotion.
Ask yourself
What does it mean for me to seek Kṛṣṇa Himself rather than only salvation from Him?
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.