Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.51.39-40
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Descends to Protect Religious Principles
“Nonetheless, O friend, I will tell you about My current birth, name and activities. Kindly hear. Some time ago, Lord Brahmā requested Me to protect religious principles and destroy the demons who were burdening the earth. Thus I descended in the Yadu dynasty, in the home of Ānakadundubhi. Indeed, because I am the son of Vasudeva, people call Me Vāsudeva.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord kindly invites His listener to hear about His current birth, name and activities.
- Lord Brahmā requested Him to protect religious principles and destroy the demons burdening the earth.
- He descended in the Yadu dynasty, in the home of Ānakadundubhi. Because He is the son of Vasudeva, people call Him Vāsudeva.
Try this today
Read the translation aloud once, paying attention to why the Lord descended.
Ask yourself
How can I give more attentive hearing to the Lord’s names and activities?
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.