Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.21.47
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionServe Without Bargaining, Care for Others
“Similarly, Hiraṇyakaśipu, who by dint of his sinful activities always defied the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, entered into the darkest region of hellish life; but by the grace of his great son, Prahlāda Mahārāja, he also was delivered and went back home, back to Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- Prahlāda Mahārāja refused a personal reward for his devotion. He regarded service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in expectation of reward as mercantile business.
- Although his father had tortured him, Prahlāda Mahārāja begged the Lord to pardon him. The Lord granted this favor, and Hiraṇyakaśipu returned back home, back to Godhead.
- Pure devotees are compassionate toward those suffering in material existence and tolerate difficulties while trying to deliver them. The chief concern of a Vaiṣṇava is to deliver fallen souls.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to the Lord for the spiritual welfare of someone you find difficult to care for.
Ask yourself
Am I serving the Lord for a reward, or with a desire to serve and help others?
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.