Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.5.29-30
Āśraya· The supreme shelterGive Up False Ego and Serve
“Obeisances to You, O Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, and to Your forms of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances unto You. O Lord Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, O creator of the universe, best of personalities, master of this cosmos and original form of the universe, O Supersoul of all created entities, all homage unto You.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa eternally manifests the fourfold expansion of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. Although the Absolute Truth is one, He displays unlimited powers and opulences through His many plenary forms.
- The living entity’s natural position is to serve the Lord, and material nature is meant to be used for His satisfaction. Offering these prayers helps us give up false ego and remember our eternal dependence on Him.
- Deity worship, prominent in Dvāpara-yuga, is ultimately aimed at hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories. The worshiper glorifies His names, forms, qualities, paraphernalia, entourage and pastimes.
Try this today
Read the translated prayer aloud once, offering obeisances with the thought, “I am Your servant.”
Ask yourself
Where might you replace a desire to be important with a desire to serve the Lord?
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.