Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.4.5
Āśraya· The supreme shelterViṣṇu Remains Beyond the Material Modes
“In the beginning, the original Supreme Personality manifested the form of Brahmā through the material mode of passion in order to create this universe. The Lord manifested His form as Viṣṇu, the Lord of sacrifice and protector of the twice-born brāhmaṇas and their religious duties, to maintain the universe. And when the universe is to be annihilated the same Supreme Lord employs the material mode of ignorance and manifests the form of Rudra. The created living beings are thus always subject to the forces of creation, maintenance and destruction.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Lord manifests the controllers of creation, maintenance and destruction. Brahmā creates through passion, Viṣṇu maintains, and Rudra annihilates through ignorance.
- Viṣṇu exists in unlimited transcendental goodness, beyond even the material mode of goodness. His protection of the brāhmaṇas and religious principles is His pastime, not an imposed duty.
- Brahmā and Śiva faithfully serve the Supreme Lord and manifest His potency and will, but they are not supreme. Viṣṇu Himself is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original cause of all causes.
Try this today
Pause today to acknowledge Lord Viṣṇu as the supreme controller and express your desire to serve Him.
Ask yourself
How does distinguishing the Supreme Lord from His servants clarify my understanding of worship?
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.