Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.5.16
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Incarnations Act With Full Potency
“Kindly chant all those superhuman transcendental activities of the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead, who accepted incarnations fully equipped with all potency for the full manifestation and maintenance of the cosmic creation.”
What the purport teaches
- Vidura asks to hear the superhuman, transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord’s incarnations possess full potency for cosmic creation and maintenance.
- Vidura especially wanted to hear about Lord Kṛṣṇa, but was overwhelmed by His departure from the visible world. He therefore requested topics of His puruṣa incarnations.
- The activities of the puruṣa incarnations are extensions of the Lord’s own activities. Vidura’s request helped Maitreya know which activities to describe.
Try this today
Read this translation aloud today, giving particular attention to the Lord’s full potency and transcendental activities.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the Lord’s incarnations possess His full potencies deepen my desire to hear about 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.