Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.89.8-9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Supreme Lord Responds With Mercy
“There he went up to the Supreme Lord, who was lying with His head on the lap of His consort, Śrī, and kicked Him on the chest. The Lord then rose, along with Goddess Lakṣmī, as a sign of respect. Coming down from His bedstead, that supreme goal of all pure devotees bowed His head to the floor before the sage and told him, ‘Welcome, brāhmaṇa. Please sit in this chair and rest awhile. Kindly forgive us, dear master, for not noticing your arrival.’”
What the purport teaches
- Bhṛgu kicked the resting Supreme Lord on the chest, committing a grave offense. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that he had not yet become a pure Vaiṣṇava.
- Lord Viṣṇu, who is all-merciful, did not become angry. He rose with Lakṣmī, bowed before the sage and welcomed him.
- The Lord is the supreme goal of all pure devotees. By excusing Bhṛgu, a great brāhmaṇa, He set an example of forgiveness, though Lakṣmī was displeased by the offense.
Try this today
Spend a quiet minute remembering the Lord’s mercy and expressing your desire to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How does the Lord’s merciful response deepen my desire 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.