Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.20.8
Sthāna· The universe in orderGaruḍa Offers Prayers to Lord Viṣṇu
“On Sālmalīdvīpa there is a śālmalī tree, from which the island takes its name. That tree is as broad and tall as the plakṣa tree — in other words 100 yojanas [800 miles] broad and 1,100 yojanas [8,800 miles] tall. Learned scholars say that this gigantic tree is the residence of Garuḍa, the king of all birds and carrier of Lord Viṣṇu. In that tree, Garuḍa offers Lord Viṣṇu his Vedic prayers.”
What the purport teaches
- Sālmalīdvīpa takes its name from its śālmalī tree. The tree is 100 yojanas broad and 1,100 yojanas tall.
- Learned scholars say that this tree is the residence of Garuḍa, the king of all birds and carrier of Lord Viṣṇu.
- In that tree, Garuḍa offers Lord Viṣṇu his Vedic prayers. His residence is thus also a place of worship.
Try this today
Choose a quiet place at home and offer a brief prayer to Lord Viṣṇu today.
Ask yourself
How can I make prayer a regular part of life where I live?
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.