Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.4.49-50
Visarga· Brahmā's creationAusterity Purifies Us for Devotional Service
“When the chief lord of the universe, Lord Brahmā [Svayambhū], having been inspired by My energy, was attempting to create, he thought himself incapable. Therefore I gave him advice, and in accordance with My instructions he underwent extremely difficult austerities. Because of these austerities, the great Lord Brahmā was able to create nine personalities, including you, to help him in the functions of creation.”
What the purport teaches
- When Lord Brahmā felt incapable of creating, the Lord advised him to perform austerities. Following those instructions, he created nine personalities to help with creation.
- Through tapasya, we become powerful by the Lord’s grace. Brahmā’s ability to create depended on that grace, not on independent strength.
- The purpose of spiritual austerity is to purify the heart and attain devotional service. When our existence is purified, we can do wonderful things by the Lord’s grace.
Try this today
Give up one small, optional comfort today, with the intention of purifying your heart for devotional service.
Ask yourself
Am I approaching austerity as a means to purify my heart for devotional service?
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.