Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.16.22
Āśraya· The supreme shelterThe Lord Is the Shelter of Everything
“As pots made completely of earth are situated on earth after being created and are transformed into earth again when broken, this cosmic manifestation is caused by the Supreme Brahman, situated in the Supreme Brahman, and annihilated in the same Supreme Brahman. Therefore, since the Supreme Lord is the cause of Brahman, let us offer Him our respectful obeisances.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Lord is the cause of the cosmic manifestation, just as earth is the substance from which earthen pots are made.
- The Lord maintains everything after creation. After annihilation, He remains the reservoir of everything.
- The Supreme Lord is also the cause of Brahman. The prayer therefore offers Him respectful obeisances.
Try this today
Look at an earthen object or some soil, recall the verse’s comparison, and offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
How does remembering that everything depends on the Supreme Lord affect your sense of independence?
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.