Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.22.40
Mukti· LiberationThe Lord’s Lotus Feet Are Our Boat
“The ocean of nescience is very difficult to cross because it is infested with many dangerous sharks. Although those who are nondevotees undergo severe austerities and penances to cross that ocean, we recommend that you simply take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, which are like boats for crossing the ocean. Although the ocean is difficult to cross, by taking shelter of His lotus feet you will overcome all dangers.”
What the purport teaches
- Human life gives us a chance to cross the ocean of nescience, or ignorance, and enter the spiritual world. Unlike the material universes, the Vaikuṇṭha planets exist eternally.
- Those who try to cross by karma, jñāna or yoga without shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet face great difficulty. Even an expert swimmer cannot survive an attack by the sharks, which represent the dangers of material existence.
- The Kumāras recommend devotional service with faith in the Lord’s lotus feet as safe boats. By taking this shelter, one can cross the ocean easily and comfortably.
Try this today
Take a quiet minute today to pray for shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet and faith in devotional service.
Ask yourself
Where am I relying only on my own strength rather than seeking the Lord’s shelter?
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.