Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.7.15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear and Chant the Lord’s Holy Name
“The leader of the elephants, whose leg was attacked in a river by a crocodile of superior strength, was much aggrieved. Taking a lotus flower in his trunk, he addressed the Lord, saying, “O original enjoyer, Lord of the universe! O deliverer, as famous as a place of pilgrimage! All are purified simply by hearing Your holy name, which is worthy to be chanted.””
What the purport teaches
- There is no difference between the Lord’s holy name and the Personality of Godhead. Remembering His name sincerely frees one from sinful reactions, and hearing it brings auspiciousness.
- The elephant acknowledged the Lord as the original enjoyer and Lord of the universe. A pure devotee knows that everything belongs to the Lord and accepts nothing without first offering it to Him.
- Supported by his past devotional deeds, the distressed elephant called upon the Lord, who immediately responded. Our desire to hear and read is best used for the Lord’s activities, nourishing devotional service.
Try this today
Spend two minutes chanting the holy name of Hari and listening attentively.
Ask yourself
How could you give hearing about the Lord more space in your day?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.