Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.4.45
Āśraya· The supreme shelterService Matters More Than Material Position
“Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the Manus, all the other demigods in the higher planetary systems, and you prajāpatis, who are increasing the population, are working for the benefit of all living entities. Thus you expansions of My marginal energy are incarnations of My various qualities.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord’s personal expansions are called svāṁśa and belong to viṣṇu-tattva. Living entities are separated expansions, called vibhinnāṁśa, and belong to jīva-tattva.
- Although Dakṣa is not on the same level as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, he is compared to them because he serves the Lord. Anyone engaged in the Lord’s service is spiritually very dear to Him, regardless of material position.
- A living entity especially empowered to act on the Lord’s behalf is called vibhūti. The Lord’s viṣṇu-tattva incarnations are called vibhava.
Try this today
Offer a word of appreciation to someone serving the Lord, without considering their rank or recognition.
Ask yourself
Do I value service to the Lord more than someone’s material status?
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.