Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.23.51
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesTrue Care Gives Freedom From Fear
“Śrī Devahūti said: My lord, you have fulfilled all the promises you gave me, yet because I am your surrendered soul, you should give me fearlessness too.”
What the purport teaches
- Devahūti acknowledged that her husband had fulfilled his promises. As one surrendered to him, she also asked him to give her fearlessness.
- Taking responsibility for another person means accepting responsibility for their freedom from fearful material existence. The purport applies this duty to husbands, parents, spiritual masters and other guardians.
- Material comforts alone could not fulfill Devahūti’s final request. She wanted freedom from material, conditional life, which is always fearful and full of anxiety.
Try this today
Write down one material comfort you seek and reflect on why it cannot by itself give lasting fearlessness.
Ask yourself
Do I seek only greater comfort, or also freedom from the fear of material existence?
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.