Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.16.20
Āśraya· The supreme shelterThe Lord in Sacred Waters and Weapons
“Among sacred and flowing things I am the holy Ganges, and among steady bodies of water I am the ocean. Among weapons I am the bow, and of the wielders of weapons I am Lord Śiva.”
What the purport teaches
- Among sacred and flowing things, the Lord is the holy Ganges. Among steady bodies of water, He is the ocean.
- Among weapons, He is the bow. Among those who wield weapons, He is Lord Śiva.
- The purport explains that Lord Śiva used his bow to completely cover with arrows the three demoniac cities built by Maya Dānava.
Try this today
Spend one minute recalling the Ganges, the ocean, the bow and Lord Śiva as the examples the Lord gives here.
Ask yourself
How can I keep my attention on the Lord while studying these different manifestations of His opulence?
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.