Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.18.9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Tolerance Reassures His Devotees
“The demon, who had a wealth of ornaments, bangles and beautiful golden armor on his body, chased the Lord from behind with a great mace. The Lord tolerated his piercing ill words, but in order to reply to him, He expressed His terrible anger.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord could have chastised the demon immediately, but He tolerated his insults while delivering the earth. He then expressed His anger in reply.
- His tolerance showed the demigods that they need not fear demons while performing their duties. The Lord is always present to protect them.
- Materialistic demons accumulate gold and trust in physical strength and popularity. They mistakenly think these can save them from the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s wrath.
Try this today
Before carrying out one duty today, pause to remember the Lord’s protection rather than dwelling on others’ disapproval.
Ask yourself
Where am I seeking security—in possessions and approval, or in the Lord’s protection?
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.