Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.13.47
Sthāna· The universe in orderThe Lord Descends by His Will
“In this manner the Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, the maintainer of all living entities, raised the earth from within the water, and having placed it afloat on the water, He returned to His own abode.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead and maintainer of all living entities, raised the earth and placed it afloat on the water.
- The Lord descends by His own will in innumerable incarnations for particular purposes, then returns to His own abode. Avatāra means “one who descends.”
- Neither the Lord nor His specific devotees who come to earth are ordinary living entities like us.
Try this today
Read the translation once and offer a brief prayer of appreciation to Lord Viṣṇu as the maintainer of living beings.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the Lord descends by His own will deepen my respect for Him?
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.