Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.8.18
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSeek the Ultimate Cause With Perseverance
“Lord Brahmā, in his ignorance, contemplated: Who am I that am situated on the top of this lotus? Wherefrom has it sprouted? There must be something downwards, and that from which this lotus has grown must be within the water.”
What the purport teaches
- Brahmā asked who he was and where the lotus beneath him had come from. He reasoned that its source must lie below, within the water.
- The most intelligent person seeks the cause of his own existence and of the whole cosmic creation. In this way, he seeks the ultimate cause.
- When this search is properly carried out with penances and perseverance, it is sure to succeed.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes without distractions to reflect on Brahmā’s questions about his existence and its source.
Ask yourself
How much attention do I give to understanding the ultimate cause of my 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.