Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.18.36
Mukti· LiberationThe Lord Reveals Himself to Sincere Seekers
“By manipulating a fire-generating stick, great saints and sages can bring forth the fire lying dormant within wood. In the same way, O Lord, those expert in understanding the Absolute Truth try to see You in everything — even in their own bodies. Yet you remain concealed. You are not to be understood by indirect processes involving mental or physical activities. Because You are self-manifested, only when You see that a person is wholeheartedly engaged in searching for You do You reveal Yourself. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”
What the purport teaches
- Like fire hidden within wood, the Lord remains concealed. Mental or physical activities alone cannot reveal Him; He reveals Himself to one who wholeheartedly searches for Him.
- One who truly has knowledge surrenders to Kṛṣṇa. Perfect knowledge means understanding that the Lord is in everyone’s heart and seeing Him present everywhere.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is understood through chanting Vedic mantras. He witnesses all activities and is the living force, yet remains beyond material qualities.
Try this today
Take one quiet minute to pray sincerely for the Lord’s guidance in surrendering to Him.
Ask yourself
What would it mean for me to search for the Lord wholeheartedly?
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.