Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.87.24
Āśraya· The supreme shelterKnow the Lord Through Devotion
“Everyone in this world has recently been born and will soon die. So how can anyone here know Him who existed prior to everything else and who gave rise to the first learned sage, Brahmā, and all subsequent demigods, both lesser and greater? When He lies down and withdraws everything within Himself, nothing else remains — no gross or subtle matter or bodies composed of these, no force of time or revealed scripture.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead existed before Brahmā and all the demigods. Even these powerful beings know Him only to a limited extent.
- Identifying with body, mind and ego brings prejudices and misconceptions that obstruct knowledge of the Lord. As long as the finite soul remains envious of His supremacy, He does not reveal Himself.
- Devotional service is the surest and easiest path to knowledge of the Lord and liberation. Rather than pursuing knowledge without devotion, we should surrender to His mercy and respectfully hear descriptions of His personality and activities.
Try this today
Read this verse’s translation slowly, then offer a brief prayer asking the Lord to bless you with devotional service.
Ask yourself
Am I approaching the Lord with a desire to surrender, or only a desire to understand Him independently?
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.