Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.10.30
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDivine Humility Expresses Mercy
“This apparent humility is simply a show of mercy. Such behavior of the Supreme Lord and His personal associates, which the Lord effects by His own bewildering potency, does not spoil His power any more than a magician’s powers are diminished by his exhibition of tricks.”
What the purport teaches
- The apparent humility of the Supreme Lord and His personal associates is a show of mercy.
- The Lord brings about such behavior through His own bewildering potency. It does not diminish His power.
- A magician’s powers are not spoiled by his exhibition of tricks. Similarly, the Lord’s merciful behavior does not lessen His greatness.
Try this today
Pause today to reflect on how the Lord can show humility while remaining fully powerful.
Ask yourself
Can I appreciate the Lord’s humility as mercy without mistaking it for a lack of power?
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.