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Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.11.13-14

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

The Supreme Lord Dwells in Every Heart

“There are two kinds of kṣetrajña — the living entity, as explained above, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is explained as follows. He is the all-pervading cause of creation. He is full in Himself and is not dependent on others. He is perceived by hearing and direct perception. He is self-effulgent and does not experience birth, death, old age or disease. He is the controller of all the demigods, beginning with Lord Brahmā. He is called Nārāyaṇa, and He is the shelter of living entities after the annihilation of this material world. He is full of all opulences, and He is the resting place of everything material. He is therefore known as Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His own potency, He is present within the hearts of all living entities, just as the air or vital force is within the bodies of all beings, moving and nonmoving. In this way He controls the body. In His partial feature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead enters all bodies and controls them.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda · Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.11.13-14, translation

What the purport teaches

  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervading, complete and independent. He does not experience birth, death, old age or disease.
  • As Paramātmā, He resides within everyone’s heart and controls every living being. By His own potency, He enters all bodies in His partial feature.
  • The Lord’s plenary expansions have their source in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brahmajyoti is the expansion of the rays of Vāsudeva’s body.

Try this today

Before speaking with someone today, pause and remember that Paramātmā resides in that person’s heart.

Ask yourself

How might remembering the Lord’s presence in every heart affect my dealings with others?

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.

One of the 108 chosen lessons, close to this verseUnderstanding Kṛṣṇa Through a Devotee’s MercySB 5.12.12Next · LeadTeach what you are livingTurn this chapter into a timed class plan or a short reel script.Open Lecture Studio