Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.18.17
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Is Affectionate and Merciful
“Accompanied during the daytime by the sons of the Prajāpati [the predominating deities of the days] and accompanied at night by his daughters [the deities of the nights], Lakṣmīdevī worships the Lord during the period known as the Saṁvatsara in His most merciful form as Kāmadeva. Fully absorbed in devotional service, she chants the following mantras.”
What the purport teaches
- Lakṣmīdevī worships the Lord as Kāmadeva by day and night with the Prajāpati’s children. Fully absorbed in devotional service, she chants prayers.
- Here māyāmayam means deeply merciful or very affectionate toward the devotees, not subject to illusion. In whatever form Lord Viṣṇu appears, He is always affectionate toward His devotees.
- The living entity is covered by the disease of illusion. The Lord is always eager to deliver His devotee from māyā and cure this disease.
Try this today
Set aside one minute today to offer a prayer with your attention fully on the Lord’s mercy.
Ask yourself
How might remembering the Lord’s affection deepen my attention in worship?
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.