Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.20.23
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesWater Receives Its Energy From Kṛṣṇa
“[The inhabitants of Krauñcadvīpa worship with this mantra.] O water of the rivers, you have obtained energy from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore you purify the three planetary systems, known as Bhūloka, Bhuvarloka and Svarloka. By your constitutional nature, you take away sins, and that is why we are touching you. Kindly continue to purify us.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa includes water among His eight separated material energies. The Lord’s energy acts throughout creation, just as the sun’s heat and light act within the universe.
- The specific rivers mentioned in the śāstras are energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport explains that people who regularly bathe in them are purified.
- The inhabitants of Krauñcadvīpa touch the river waters and ask for continued purification. Their prayer acknowledges that the waters receive their power from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Try this today
When using water today, pause once to remember that it is an energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
How does remembering water as Kṛṣṇa’s energy change your appreciation of it?
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.