Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.3.36
Āśraya· The supreme shelterKnowing the Supreme Through His Mercy
“Neither the mind nor the faculties of speech, sight, intelligence, the life air or any of the senses are capable of penetrating that Supreme Truth, any more than small sparks can affect the original fire from which they are generated. Not even the authoritative language of the Vedas can perfectly describe the Supreme Truth, since the Vedas themselves disclaim the possibility that the Truth can be expressed by words. But through indirect reference the Vedic sound does serve as evidence of the Supreme Truth, since without the existence of that Supreme Truth the various restrictions found in the Vedas would have no ultimate purpose.”
What the purport teaches
- Like small sparks from a blazing fire, living entities can never equal the Supreme Personality of Godhead in power, knowledge or bliss. Our limited minds and senses cannot independently grasp Him.
- The Vedic restrictions on mental speculation do not deny the Supreme Truth. They save us from a false path and ultimately bring us to devotional surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Supreme Truth can be known by His own causeless mercy. When the senses are saturated with love of Godhead, they become spiritualized and empowered to perceive Him.
Try this today
Reread the translation slowly, then offer a brief prayer asking Kṛṣṇa for mercy to understand Him and serve Him.
Ask yourself
How can I approach Kṛṣṇa with a desire to serve rather than a desire to understand Him by my intelligence alone?
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.