Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.18.13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Powerful Are Insignificant Before the Lord
“Śrī Maitreya said: The demon, being thus challenged by the Personality of Godhead, became angry and agitated, and he trembled in anger like a challenged cobra.”
What the purport teaches
- Challenged by the Personality of Godhead, the demon becomes angry and agitated. He trembles like a challenged cobra.
- A cobra is fierce before ordinary people but becomes a plaything before an enchanter. Similarly, a demon may be powerful in his own domain but is insignificant before the Lord.
- Rāvaṇa was fierce before the demigods, but before Lord Rāmacandra he trembled. His prayers to Lord Śiva did not help him.
Try this today
When you feel proud of an ability today, pause and remember how small that power is before the Lord.
Ask yourself
How does remembering the Lord's greatness change my view of my own strength?
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.