Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.5.24
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Introduces Worship Through Sacrifice
“In Tretā-yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion. He has four arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three Vedas. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas, His symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.”
What the purport teaches
- In Tretā-yuga, the Lord appears with a red complexion, four arms and golden hair. His triple belt represents initiation into the three Vedas.
- The Lord embodies the knowledge of sacrificial worship contained in the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas. His symbols include the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.
- The sruk pours ghee into the sacrifice, while the smaller sruva can pour ghee into the sruk or directly into the fire. These symbols accompany the Lord’s introduction of yajña, or sacrifice, as the religious practice for Tretā-yuga.
Try this today
Reread the description of the Lord’s form, remembering that His sacrificial implements point to worship of Him.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the Lord introduces sacrifice help you see it as worship of 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.