Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.19.15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesŚrīvatsa Distinguishes the Supreme Lord
“The demon was enraged when his trident was cut to pieces by the discus of the Personality of Godhead. He therefore advanced toward the Lord and, roaring aloud, struck his hard fist against the Lord’s broad chest, which bore the mark of Śrīvatsa. Then he went out of sight.”
What the purport teaches
- Enraged by the destruction of his trident, the demon struck the Lord’s broad chest with his fist and then disappeared.
- Śrīvatsa is a curl of white hair on the Lord’s chest, a special sign that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭhaloka and Goloka Vṛndāvana have the same form as the Lord, but His Śrīvatsa mark distinguishes Him from all others.
Try this today
Write one sentence explaining what Śrīvatsa is and whom it distinguishes.
Ask yourself
How does the Śrīvatsa mark help you understand the Lord’s unique position?
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.