Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.48.25
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord's Presence Sanctifies the Home
“Today, O Lord, my home has become most fortunate because You have entered it. As the Supreme Truth, You embody the forefathers, ordinary creatures, human beings and demigods, and the water that has washed Your feet purifies the three worlds. Indeed, O transcendent one, You are the spiritual master of the universe.”
What the purport teaches
- Akrūra feels that his home has become more pious than forests where sages perform austerities, simply because the Lord has entered it.
- The Lord is the spiritual truth behind all these creations and embodies the deities presiding over the five daily household sacrifices. These sacrifices atone for unavoidable violence to living beings in the home.
- The five sacrifices involve studying the Vedas, making offerings to forefathers, setting aside food for creatures, offering hospitality to people, and performing sacrifices to demigods. The Lord Himself is the spiritual master of the universe.
Try this today
Offer one person warm hospitality today, remembering the household duties described here.
Ask yourself
How could your home become a place of greater reverence and care for others?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.