Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.7.10
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionReverence Cleanses an Envious Heart
“At that time, when Dakṣa saw Lord Śiva, who rides upon a bull, his heart, which was polluted by envy of Lord Śiva, was immediately cleansed, just as the water in a lake is cleansed by autumn rains.”
What the purport teaches
- Dakṣa’s heart had been polluted by envy and slander of Lord Śiva. On seeing Lord Śiva with love, devotion and respect, his heart became purified.
- This illustrates why Lord Śiva is called auspicious. Seeing him with devotion and reverence cleanses the heart.
- The cleansing is compared to autumn rains making muddy water clear and transparent. Dakṣa’s impure heart similarly became clear of envy.
Try this today
Read this verse again slowly, consciously cultivating respect for Lord Śiva.
Ask yourself
Where could I replace envy with genuine respect?
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.