Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.3.20
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Is Beyond Material Qualities
“My Lord, Your form is transcendental to the three material modes, yet for the maintenance of the three worlds, You assume the white color of Viṣṇu in goodness; for creation, which is surrounded by the quality of passion, You appear reddish; and at the end, when there is a need for annihilation, which is surrounded by ignorance, You appear blackish.”
What the purport teaches
- Creation, maintenance and annihilation are conducted by the Lord’s potencies. The Supreme Personality of Godhead remains unaffected by the material qualities.
- The colors white, red and black here represent goodness, passion and ignorance. They should not be understood simply as colors perceived by our senses.
- We should understand the Lord’s position through spiritual authorities, not sense perception alone. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Try this today
Reread one paragraph of this purport and note one statement explaining why the Lord is beyond material qualities.
Ask yourself
How might judging only by outward appearance limit my understanding of the Lord?
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.