Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.3.14-15
Āśraya· The supreme shelterUnderstand Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional Service
“I, Yamarāja; Indra, the King of heaven; Nirṛti; Varuṇa; Candra, the moon-god; Agni; Lord Śiva; Pavana; Lord Brahmā; Sūrya, the sun-god; Viśvāsu; the eight Vasus; the Sādhyas; the Maruts; the Rudras; the Siddhas; and Marīci and the other great ṛṣis engaged in maintaining the departmental affairs of the universe, as well as the best of the demigods headed by Bṛhaspati, and the great sages headed by Bhṛgu are all certainly freed from the influence of the two base material modes of nature, namely passion and ignorance. Nevertheless, although we are in the mode of goodness, we cannot understand the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What, then, is to be said of others, who, under illusion, merely speculate to know God?”
What the purport teaches
- Living entities within the universe are controlled by the three modes of nature. Even great demigods and sages in goodness cannot understand the Supreme Lord’s activities merely through that position.
- Speculative knowledge cannot reveal the Lord’s plans. Even great philosophers become bewildered when they try to understand Him in this way.
- Devotional service is transcendental to all material qualities. Only one who adopts bhakti, devotional service, can understand Kṛṣṇa.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today for an act of devotional service rather than speculation about God.
Ask yourself
Am I approaching Kṛṣṇa through devotional service, or expecting speculation alone to reveal 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.