Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.9.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Enlightens From Within
“The sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, after observing the source of his appearance, namely the Personality of Godhead, Brahmā prayed for His mercy as far as his mind and words would permit him. Thus having prayed, he became silent, as if tired from his activities of penance, knowledge and mental concentration.”
What the purport teaches
- After seeing the source of his birth, Brahmā prayed as far as his mind and words allowed. Then he became silent.
- Brahmā’s enlightenment came from the Lord within his heart. Through penance and mental concentration, he came to see the source of his appearance.
- The spiritual master outside and the spiritual master within both represent the Lord. Because Brahmā was then the only creature in the universe, the Lord enlightened him directly from within.
Try this today
Read this passage slowly, then offer a brief prayer for the Lord’s mercy in understanding it.
Ask yourself
How does Brahmā’s example help me approach spiritual understanding with humility?
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.