Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.12.8
Āśraya· The supreme shelterEveryone Depends on the Supreme Lord
“All living beings in all the planets of this universe, including the presiding deities of all the planets, are fully under the control of the Lord. They work like birds caught in a net, who cannot move independently.”
What the purport teaches
- All living beings, including the presiding deities of the planets, are under the Lord’s control, like birds caught in a net.
- The suras understand that nothing happens without the Lord’s desire, whereas the asuras do not. In this fight, Vṛtrāsura is actually the sura and Indra the asura.
- Victory and defeat come according to karma under the Supreme Lord’s judgment. From Brahmā to the insignificant ant, no one is independent.
Try this today
Before one activity today, pause to acknowledge your dependence on the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
Where do I tend to assume that I am completely independent?
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.