Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.9.13
Sthāna· The universe in orderSpiritual Variety Without Material Imperfection
“The Vaikuṇṭha planets are also surrounded by various airplanes, all glowing and brilliantly situated. These airplanes belong to the great mahātmās or devotees of the Lord. The ladies are as beautiful as lightning because of their celestial complexions, and all these combined together appear just like the sky decorated with both clouds and lightning.”
What the purport teaches
- The glowing airplanes of Vaikuṇṭha belong to great devotees of the Lord. Their occupants include ladies of celestial beauty, brilliant like lightning.
- Everything there is of the nature of eternity, bliss and knowledge. The airplanes and carriages are of the same quality as Brahman, which is not void or without variety.
- One should not carry ideas of material imperfection into the transcendental world. Its atmosphere is completely free from the influence of time.
Try this today
List three features of Vaikuṇṭha from this passage and beside them write “eternity, bliss and knowledge.”
Ask yourself
Do I imagine spiritual existence as empty, or allow for the variety described here?
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.