Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.2.25
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Descends for Universal Welfare
“The Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, being prayed to by Brahmā to bring welfare to the earth, was begotten by Vasudeva in the womb of his wife Devakī in the prison of the King of Bhoja.”
What the purport teaches
- Requested by Brahmā, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Vasudeva and Devakī in the prison of Kaṁsa at Mathurā.
- The Lord has no business of His own in this world. He descends at His devotees’ request for the welfare of the entire universe.
- There is no difference between His pastimes of appearance and disappearance, but devotees do not generally discuss His disappearance. Uddhava therefore began his account of Kṛṣṇa with His appearance.
Try this today
Read the translation aloud as a brief moment of kṛṣṇa-kathā, remembering why the Lord appeared.
Ask yourself
What does the Lord’s response to His devotees’ prayers reveal about His concern for the world?
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.