Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.31.18
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionRespond to the Lord’s Mercy with Gratitude
“My dear Lord, by Your causeless mercy I am awakened to consciousness, although I am only ten months old. For this causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the friend of all fallen souls, there is no way to express my gratitude but to pray with folded hands.”
What the purport teaches
- The child recognizes that his awakened consciousness is the Lord’s causeless mercy. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the friend and refuge of fallen souls.
- When a soul sincerely seeks freedom from material influence, the Lord gives intelligence internally as the Supersoul and externally through the spiritual master and His instructions.
- The Lord is always seeking to bring fallen souls back to His abode and eternal happiness. We cannot sufficiently repay His kindness, but we can feel gratitude and pray with folded hands.
Try this today
Fold your hands and offer a short prayer thanking the Lord for His guidance and care.
Ask yourself
What spiritual guidance have I received that I can gratefully recognize as the Lord’s mercy?
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.