Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.30.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHumbly Recognize the Limits of Understanding
“Neither Brahmā nor his sons, headed by Rudra, nor any of the great sages who are masters of the Vedic mantras can understand the function of Your mystic power. Because Your illusory potency has covered their sight, they remain ignorant of how Your mystic power works. Therefore, what can I, such a low-born person, possibly say?”
What the purport teaches
- Neither Brahmā, his sons headed by Rudra, nor the great sages who master Vedic mantras understand the workings of the Lord’s mystic power.
- The Lord’s illusory potency covers their sight, leaving them unable to understand how His power works.
- Recognizing these limits even among the great, Jarā humbly asks what he himself can possibly say.
Try this today
In a short prayer, acknowledge that the Lord’s power exceeds your understanding.
Ask yourself
Can I approach the Lord with humility rather than assume I understand all His actions?
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.