Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.7.33
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord’s Mercy Restores Sacred Worship
“The wives of the performers of the sacrifice said: My dear Lord, this sacrifice was arranged under the instruction of Brahmā, but unfortunately Lord Śiva, being angry at Dakṣa, devastated the entire scene, and because of his anger the animals meant for sacrifice are lying dead. Therefore the preparations of the yajña have been lost. Now, by the glance of Your lotus eyes, the sanctity of this sacrificial arena may be again invoked.”
What the purport teaches
- The animals in these sacrifices were meant to receive renewed life, demonstrating the strength of the mantras. They were not meant to be unnecessarily killed.
- When the animals were left dead, the sacrificial arena became like a crematorium. The real purpose and pleasing atmosphere of the yajña were lost.
- Lord Viṣṇu is the ultimate objective of such sacrifices. The priests’ wives asked for His merciful glance to restore the animals to life and sanctify the arena.
Try this today
Before worship today, offer a short prayer asking for Lord Viṣṇu’s mercy and help in keeping Him its true objective.
Ask yourself
How can I keep the Lord’s pleasure, rather than outward arrangements alone, at the center of my worship?
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.