Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.6.45
Sthāna· The universe in orderAccept the Lord's Will With Devotion
“O most auspicious lord, you have ordained the heavenly planets, the spiritual Vaikuṇṭha planets and the impersonal Brahman sphere as the respective destinations of the performers of auspicious activities. Similarly, for others, who are miscreants, you have destined different kinds of hells which are horrible and ghastly. Yet sometimes it is found that their destinations are just the opposite. It is very difficult to ascertain the cause of this.”
What the purport teaches
- Everything happens by the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although actions generally lead to corresponding destinations, His will is the ultimate judgment.
- Ajāmila received promotion to Vaikuṇṭhaloka by chanting Nārāyaṇa's name despite his sinful past. Dakṣa, though engaged in sacrifices, suffered severely because of his misunderstanding with Lord Śiva.
- A pure devotee accepts the Lord's will as all-auspicious, even in calamity, and offers still more devotional service. Such a devotee is assured of promotion to the spiritual world.
Try this today
In one difficulty today, offer a respectful prayer to the Lord and continue one small act of devotional service.
Ask yourself
When circumstances disappoint you, how might you continue devotional service with trust?
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.