Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.9.40
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionPray to Serve, Not to Enjoy
“Any human being who prays like Brahmā, and who thus worships Me, shall very soon be blessed with the fulfillment of all his desires, for I am the Lord of all benediction.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord is the Lord of all benediction and promises to bless those who worship Him with prayers like Brahmā’s.
- These prayers are meant for those who want to satisfy the Lord through service, not fulfill their own sense gratification.
- The Lord fulfills desires connected with transcendental loving service. Even excellent prayers do not oblige Him to fulfill the whims of nondevotees.
Try this today
Offer one prayer today asking for an opportunity to please the Lord through service.
Ask yourself
Is my prayer aimed at satisfying the Lord or mainly at satisfying myself?
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.