Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.18.35
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Appears as a Devotee
“O Lord, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You as the gigantic person. Simply by chanting mantras, we shall be able to understand You fully. You are yajña [sacrifice], and You are the kratu [ritual]. Therefore all the ritualistic ceremonies of sacrifice are part of Your transcendental body, and You are the only enjoyer of all sacrifices. Your form is composed of transcendental goodness. You are known as tri-yuga because in Kali-yuga You appeared as a concealed incarnation and because You always fully possess the three pairs of opulences.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord can be understood by chanting mantras. Sacrificial ceremonies are parts of His transcendental body, and He alone enjoys all sacrifices.
- His form consists of transcendental goodness, and He fully possesses the three pairs of opulences. He is known as tri-yuga.
- In Kali-yuga, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appears as a devotee of the Lord rather than as an incarnation displaying pastimes. He is therefore called a concealed incarnation.
Try this today
Offer respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, remembering His appearance as a devotee.
Ask yourself
How does the Lord’s appearance as a devotee deepen my appreciation of devotion?
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.