Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.3.7-8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Unborn Lord Appears by Spiritual Potency
“The demigods and great saintly persons showered flowers in a joyous mood, and clouds gathered in the sky and very mildly thundered, making sounds like those of the ocean’s waves. Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, appeared from the heart of Devakī in the dense darkness of night, like the full moon rising on the eastern horizon, because Devakī was of the same category as Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa and His associates are of the same spiritual potency. Devakī’s form, like the Lord’s, is spiritual.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is already present in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul. Being present in full potency in Devakī’s heart, He could also appear outside her body.
- Although unborn and the supreme controller, the Lord appeared as Devakī’s child by His inconceivable potency. His appearance must never be regarded as the birth of an ordinary child.
Try this today
Pause for one minute to remember the Supreme Lord’s presence in your heart and offer Him a prayer.
Ask yourself
How does the Lord’s presence in everyone’s heart help me reflect on His extraordinary appearance?
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.