Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.20.3-4
Sthāna· The universe in orderKṛṣṇa Is Master; Demigods Are Servants
“The seven islands [varṣas] are named according to the names of those seven sons — Śiva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Śānta, Kṣema, Amṛta and Abhaya. In those seven tracts of land, there are seven mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are named Maṇikūṭa, Vajrakūṭa, Indrasena, Jyotiṣmān, Suparṇa, Hiraṇyaṣṭhīva and Meghamāla, and the rivers are named Aruṇā, Nṛmṇā, Āṅgirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ṛtambharā and Satyambharā. One can immediately be free from material contamination by touching or bathing in those rivers, and the four castes of people who live in Plakṣadvīpa — the Haṁsas, Pataṅgas, Ūrdhvāyanas and Satyāṅgas — purify themselves in that way. The inhabitants of Plakṣadvīpa live for one thousand years. They are beautiful like the demigods, and they also beget children like the demigods. By completely performing the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by the sun-god, they attain the sun, which is a heavenly planet.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Viṣṇu maintains the entire creation and supplies the necessities of all living entities. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not an equal of Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva.
- The demigods act on Lord Viṣṇu’s behalf and must work under His orders. Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, is the only master, and all others are His servants.
- Worship without understanding the demigods’ relationship with the Supreme Lord is irregular. Demigod worshipers reach the demigods’ planets, whereas worshipers of Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu reach the planets in Vaikuṇṭha.
Try this today
Offer a short prayer to Kṛṣṇa, acknowledging Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and yourself as His servant.
Ask yourself
Does my understanding of worship keep Kṛṣṇa in His position as the Supreme Lord?
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.