Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.9.33
Āśraya· The supreme shelterDevotional Service Opens the Heart
“O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Nārāyaṇa, O Vāsudeva, original person! O most exalted person, supreme experience, welfare personified! O supreme benediction, supremely merciful and changeless! O support of the cosmic manifestation, sole proprietor of all planetary systems, master of everything and husband of the goddess of fortune! Your Lordship is realized by the topmost sannyāsīs, who wander about the world to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness, fully absorbed in samādhi through bhakti-yoga. Because their minds are concentrated upon You, they can receive the conception of Your personality in their fully purified hearts. When the darkness in their hearts is completely eradicated and You are revealed to them, the transcendental bliss they enjoy is the transcendental form of Your Lordship. No one but such persons can realize You. Therefore we simply offer You our respectful obeisances.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead has many transcendental names corresponding to different degrees of realization. He is realized as Supreme Brahman, Paramātmā and in His various personal forms.
- The purport places realization of Baladeva above realization of Nārāyaṇa, and realization of Kṛṣṇa above that. All these realizations are possible through full engagement in devotional service.
- Devotional service opens the covered core of the heart to understanding the Lord. With minds concentrated on Him through bhakti-yoga, His devotees receive an understanding of His personality in their purified hearts.
Try this today
Set aside five undistracted minutes today to concentrate on Kṛṣṇa and offer Him a prayer.
Ask yourself
How can I give more wholehearted attention to 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.