Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.18.26
Āśraya· The supreme shelterRecognize Our Dependence on the Supreme Lord
“My dear Lord, just as a puppeteer controls his dancing dolls and a husband controls his wife, Your Lordship controls all the living entities in the universe, such as the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. Although You are in everyone’s heart as the supreme witness and commander and are outside everyone as well, the so-called leaders of societies, communities and countries cannot realize You. Only those who hear the vibration of the Vedic mantras can appreciate You.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present within and without everything. In everyone’s heart, He is the Supersoul, acting as adviser and witness.
- The living entity is never independent and always depends on the Lord’s mercy. Every member of society remains under His control.
- Self-realization means understanding our subordinate position in relation to the Lord. When we surrender to Him, we are freed from the control of material energy.
Try this today
Before one task today, pause and pray to the Lord within your heart for guidance in serving Him.
Ask yourself
Where in my life do I forget my dependence on the Lord’s mercy?
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.