Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.9.44
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Personal Form Exists Before Creation
“The sage Maitreya said: After instructing Brahmā, the creator of the universe, to expand, the primeval Lord, the Personality of Godhead in His personal form as Nārāyaṇa, disappeared.”
What the purport teaches
- Brahmā saw the Lord before beginning his work of creating the universe. The Lord therefore existed in His personal form before the creation.
- The Lord’s eternal form is not created by Brahmā’s efforts. His form is not materially tinged.
- After instructing Brahmā, the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, disappeared. He appeared before Brahmā as He is and disappeared in that same personal form.
Try this today
Today, reread the translation and offer a brief prayer to Nārāyaṇa, remembering that His personal form exists before creation.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the Lord’s personal form is eternal deepen your devotion to 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.