Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.31.15
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord’s Mercy Restores Loving Service
“The human soul further prays: The living entity is put under the influence of material nature and continues a hard struggle for existence on the path of repeated birth and death. This conditional life is due to his forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, without the Lord’s mercy, how can he again engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord?”
What the purport teaches
- Forgetfulness of our relationship with the Supreme Lord leads to the struggle of repeated birth and death. Mental speculation alone cannot reveal His actual form, qualities and name.
- The living entity misuses his little independence when he tries to lord it over material nature. Although māyā is difficult to overcome, surrender to the Lord makes freedom possible by His mercy.
- Perfect knowledge means recognizing the Lord as the supreme worshipful object and oneself as His eternal servant. His mercy enables the soul to return to transcendental loving service.
Try this today
Before one decision today, pause and pray for the Lord’s mercy to choose service rather than personal control.
Ask yourself
How am I using my independence: to seek control or to serve the Lord?
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.