Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.3.30
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevakī Wants to Hide the Supreme Lord
“O my Lord, You are the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Your transcendental four-armed form, holding conchshell, disc, club and lotus, is unnatural for this world. Please withdraw this form [and become just like a natural human child so that I may try to hide You somewhere].”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord’s transcendental four-armed form holds a conchshell, disc, club and lotus. This extraordinary form does not belong to the ordinary conditions of this world.
- Devakī wanted to hide the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than hand Him over to Kaṁsa as she had her previous children.
- Vasudeva also wanted to hide this child, despite his promise to hand over every child. Because the four-armed form would be impossible to hide, Devakī asked the Lord to become like a natural human child.
Try this today
Spend a minute reflecting on Devakī’s wish to care for the Lord as her child.
Ask yourself
What does Devakī’s wish to hide the Lord show about her desire to care for 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.