Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.30.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Personal Lord Is Surrounded by Servants
“The Lord’s face was very beautiful, and His head was decorated with a shining helmet and golden ornaments. The helmet was dazzling and was very beautifully situated on His head. The Lord had eight arms, which each held a particular weapon. The Lord was surrounded by demigods, great sages and other associates. These were all engaged in His service. Garuḍa, the carrier of the Lord, glorified the Lord with Vedic hymns by flapping his wings. Garuḍa appeared to be an inhabitant of the planet known as Kinnaraloka.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Viṣṇu appeared with eight arms holding eight kinds of weapons. Because He is the supreme controller, even the conchshell and lotus in His hands can be considered weapons.
- The Lord is always the Supreme Personality of Godhead, never impersonal. His associates are also persons, and the demigods, sages and others surrounding Him were engaged in His service.
- Garuḍa glorified the Lord with Vedic hymns by flapping his wings. The distinctive features and abilities found on different planets show the beauty of the Lord’s varied creation.
Try this today
Read aloud one sentence from this translation that glorifies the Lord’s beauty.
Ask yourself
What does the service of the Lord’s personal associates teach me about devotion?
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.