Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.5.42
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord Protects His Surrendered Devotee
“One who has thus given up all other engagements and has taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very dear to the Lord. Indeed, if such a surrendered soul accidentally commits some sinful activity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated within everyone’s heart, immediately takes away the reaction to such sin.”
What the purport teaches
- Devotional service is itself the most purifying process. A sincere, surrendered devotee who accidentally stumbles should immediately resume pure devotional service.
- Kṛṣṇa, seated within the heart, removes the reactions to such accidental sinful activity. His devotees are very dear to Him, and He considers their sincere intentions.
- A devotee does not exploit the Lord’s mercy or deliberately violate His orders. Remembering His lotus feet and actively serving Him gradually purify the heart even of accidental falldowns.
Try this today
Spend a quiet minute remembering the Lord’s lotus feet, then resume one devotional activity with care.
Ask yourself
When I stumble, do I sincerely return to service without treating the Lord’s mercy as permission to do wrong?
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.