Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.89.54-56
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Energies Serve Him
“Arjuna then saw the omnipresent and omnipotent Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mahā-Viṣṇu, sitting at ease on the serpent bed. His bluish complexion was the color of a dense rain cloud, He wore a beautiful yellow garment, His face looked charming, His broad eyes were most attractive, and He had eight long, handsome arms. His profuse locks of hair were bathed on all sides in the brilliance reflected from the clusters of precious jewels decorating His crown and earrings. He wore the Kaustubha gem, the mark of Śrīvatsa and a garland of forest flowers. Serving that topmost of all Lords were His personal attendants, headed by Sunanda and Nanda; His cakra and other weapons in their personified forms; His consort potencies Puṣṭi, Śrī, Kīrti and Ajā; and all His various mystic powers.”
What the purport teaches
- Arjuna saw Mahā-Viṣṇu, the omnipresent and omnipotent Supreme Personality of Godhead, sitting at ease on the serpent bed. His beautiful form was adorned with precious jewels and a garland of forest flowers.
- The Lord’s innumerable energies stood there personified. Among them were Puṣṭi, nourishment; Śrī, beauty; Kīrti, reputation; and Ajā, material creation.
- The administrators of the material world receive their energies from the Lord. Empowered by Him, they engage in His transcendental loving service.
Try this today
Choose one ability you have and use it today for one small act of devotional service.
Ask yourself
How can remembering that energies come from the Lord encourage me to serve Him?
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.