Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.24.3
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionLord Viṣṇu Protects His Devotees
“After hearing from the sun and moon demigods about Rāhu’s attack, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, engages His disc, known as the Sudarśana cakra, to protect them. The Sudarśana cakra is the Lord’s most beloved devotee and is favored by the Lord. The intense heat of its effulgence, meant for killing non-Vaiṣṇavas, is unbearable to Rāhu, and he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Rāhu disturbs the sun or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, is always the protector of His devotees. The controlling demigods obey Him, although they also desire material sense enjoyment.
- The Lord sends His Sudarśana cakra to protect the sun and moon. The cakra is His most beloved devotee and is favored by Him.
- Rāhu flees from the unbearable heat of the cakra’s effulgence. The purport says he cannot remain before the sun or moon for more than a muhūrta, or forty-eight minutes; his obstruction of their light is called an eclipse.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to Lord Viṣṇu for shelter and the willingness to serve Him obediently.
Ask yourself
How can remembering Lord Viṣṇu’s protection strengthen my willingness to serve Him?
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.