Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.17.5-6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Protects Spiritual Knowledge
“My dear Lord Acyuta, there is no speaker, creator and protector of supreme religious principles other than Your Lordship, either on the earth or even in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, where the personified Vedas reside. Thus, my dear Lord Madhusūdana, when You, who are the very creator, protector and speaker of spiritual knowledge, abandon the earth, who will again speak this lost knowledge?”
What the purport teaches
- Uddhava recognizes Lord Acyuta as the unique speaker, creator and protector of supreme religious principles.
- No one else holds this position, either on earth or in Lord Brahmā’s assembly, where the personified Vedas reside.
- Uddhava asks who will speak this lost spiritual knowledge when the Lord leaves the earth. His question expresses dependence on the Lord for spiritual guidance.
Try this today
Before studying today, offer a short prayer asking the Lord for help in understanding His spiritual guidance.
Ask yourself
How does recognizing the Lord as the source of spiritual knowledge shape your willingness to hear 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.