Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.28.29
Mukti· LiberationThe Lord Appears Out of Compassion
“The yogī should then meditate on the lotuslike countenance of the Lord, who presents His different forms in this world out of compassion for the anxious devotees. His nose is prominent, and His crystal-clear cheeks are illuminated by the oscillation of His glittering alligator-shaped earrings.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord descends mainly to give solace to His devotees. He does not need to come personally to destroy demons, since His energies can do this.
- The Lord’s innumerable forms are one Absolute. He appears in the particular form loved by His devotees.
- The yogī should meditate on the Lord’s lotuslike face, with His prominent nose and glittering earrings. This must be a form experienced by pure devotees, not a manufactured form.
Try this today
Spend one minute remembering the Lord’s face as described here, keeping His compassion for His devotees in mind.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the Lord appears out of compassion affect my meditation on Him?
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.