Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.8
Āśraya· The supreme shelterRemember the Friend of the Distressed
“O my master, Lord Brahmā is fully surrendered unto You. In the beginning You gave him knowledge, and thus he could see and understand the entire universe, just as a person awakens from sleep and visualizes his immediate duties. You are the only shelter of all persons who desire liberation, and You are the friend of all who are distressed. How, therefore, can a learned person who has perfect knowledge ever forget You?”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord gave knowledge to the surrendered Lord Brahmā so that he could understand the universe. Spiritual enlightenment is like awakening from sleep.
- The more a devotee serves with love and affection, the more the Lord supplies encouragement and intelligence from within. The devotee remains grateful for this mercy and does not forget Him.
- The Lord is ārta-bandhu, the friend of the distressed, and the shelter of those seeking liberation. Real knowledge leads one to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Try this today
Pause today to thank the Lord for one opportunity to engage in devotional service.
Ask yourself
What benefit in your devotional life can you remember with gratitude to the Lord?
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.