Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.15.47
Āśraya· The supreme shelterThe Lord Is Known Through Merciful Revelation
“We know that You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, who manifests His transcendental form in the uncontaminated mode of pure goodness. This transcendental, eternal form of Your personality can be understood only by Your mercy, through unflinching devotional service, by great sages whose hearts have been purified in the devotional way.”
What the purport teaches
- The Absolute Truth is understood as impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead includes understanding the other two features.
- The Lord’s eternal form, pastimes, and paraphernalia are constituted of śuddha-sattva, pure goodness. Unlike material goodness, this goodness has no trace of passion or ignorance.
- The Lord’s personal features can be understood only by His mercy, not by mental speculation. Unflinching devotional service purifies the heart and frees the devotee from material attractions.
Try this today
Before your devotional practice today, pause and ask the Lord for mercy to serve Him steadily with a purified heart.
Ask yourself
Am I relying only on my own reasoning, or also seeking the Lord’s mercy through devotional service?
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.