Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.17.20
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesTake Shelter of the Equipoised Lord
“For persons with impure vision, the Supreme Lord’s eyes appear like those of someone who indiscriminately drinks intoxicating beverages. Thus bewildered, such unintelligent persons become angry at the Supreme Lord, and due to their angry mood the Lord Himself appears angry and very fearful. However, this is an illusion. When the wives of the serpent demon were agitated by the touch of the Lord’s lotus feet, due to shyness they could proceed no further in their worship of Him. Yet the Lord remained unagitated by their touch, for He is equipoised in all circumstances. Therefore who will not worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead?”
What the purport teaches
- A person who remains unagitated even when there is cause for agitation is called dhīra, or equipoised. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always transcendental and is never agitated by anything.
- Impure vision makes the Lord appear angry and fearful, but this is an illusion. The Lord remained unagitated even when the wives of the serpent demon became agitated by touching His lotus feet.
- Anyone who wants to become dhīra must take shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet. Prahlāda Mahārāja remained calm before the fierce form of Nṛsiṁhadeva, even while others were frightened.
Try this today
During one unsettled moment today, pause and offer a short prayer asking the Lord for shelter at His lotus feet.
Ask yourself
When I feel agitated, how might remembering the Lord’s steady, transcendental nature help me seek His shelter?
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.