Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.2
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Form Is Not Imaginary
“The form of the Lord, which was brilliant like lightning and in which Dhruva Mahārāja, in his mature yogic process, was fully absorbed in meditation, all of a sudden disappeared. Thus Dhruva was perturbed, and his meditation broke. But as soon as he opened his eyes he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally present, just as he had been seeing the Lord in his heart.”
What the purport teaches
- Dhruva Mahārāja constantly saw the Lord within his heart through mature meditation. When that form disappeared, he opened his eyes and saw the same Lord before him.
- A saintly person who develops love of Godhead through devotional service always sees the transcendental form of Śyāmasundara. This form within the devotee’s heart is not imaginary.
- The Supreme Lord is absolute. His form within the heart, His form in the temple and His original form in Vaikuṇṭha, Vṛndāvana-dhāma, are nondifferent.
Try this today
Spend one quiet minute remembering Śyāmasundara, with the desire to develop love through devotional service.
Ask yourself
How might understanding that the Lord’s form is real deepen your devotional attention?
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.