Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.19
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord Knows His Devotee’s Heart
“The Personality of Godhead said: My dear Dhruva, son of the King, you have executed pious vows, and I also know the desire within your heart. Although your desire is very ambitious and very difficult to fulfill, I shall favor you with its fulfillment. All good fortune unto you.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord knew Dhruva Mahārāja’s ambitious desire and promised to fulfill it. He mercifully wished him all good fortune.
- Dhruva feared that seeking material benefit was hampering his progress toward love of God. Attachment to material pleasure keeps one from being attracted to devotional service.
- The Lord assured Dhruva that he would not lose the Lord’s love, knowing that opulence would not divert him from devotion. This was a special case, not the usual way the Lord deals with a pure devotee.
Try this today
Identify one material ambition and offer a prayer that it may not divert you from love of God.
Ask yourself
Is any desire for comfort or status weakening my attraction to devotional service?
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.