Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.13.2
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFind Spiritual Peace in Lord Kūrma’s Pastimes
“When the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Lord Kūrma, a tortoise, His back was scratched by the sharp-edged stones lying on massive, whirling Mount Mandara, and this scratching made the Lord sleepy. May you all be protected by the winds caused by the Lord’s breathing in this sleepy condition. Ever since that time, even up to the present day, the ocean tides have imitated the Lord’s inhalation and exhalation by piously coming in and going out.”
What the purport teaches
- The stones of whirling Mount Mandara scratched Lord Kūrma’s back and made Him sleepy. The verse prays for protection from the winds of His breathing.
- The Lord’s breathing can relieve the restless itching of mental speculation and material sense gratification.
- Meditating on Lord Kūrma’s breath can relieve the deficiencies of material existence. Allowing His pastimes to enter the heart like a favorable breeze brings spiritual peace.
Try this today
Spend one quiet minute recalling Lord Kūrma’s pastimes as described here.
Ask yourself
What restlessness could I set aside while remembering Lord Kūrma?
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.