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Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.9.42

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

The Lord Knows Our Needs

“O Lord, as the small sparks of a fire cannot possibly perform the actions of the whole fire, we sparks of Your Lordship cannot inform You of the necessities of our lives. You are the complete whole. Therefore, of what do we need to inform You? You know everything because You are the original cause of the cosmic manifestation, the maintainer and the annihilator of the entire universal creation. You always engage in Your pastimes with Your spiritual and material energies, for You are the controller of all these varied energies. You exist within all living entities, within the cosmic manifestation, and also beyond them. You exist internally as Parabrahman and externally as the ingredients of the material creation. Therefore, although manifested in various stages, at different times and places, and in various bodies, You, the Personality of Godhead, are the original cause of all causes. Indeed, You are the original element. You are the witness of all activities, but because You are as great as the sky, You are never touched by any of them. You are the witness of everything as Parabrahman and Paramātmā. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, nothing is unknown to You.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda · Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.9.42, translation

What the purport teaches

  • The Absolute Truth is understood as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of Brahman and Paramātmā and the original cause of all causes.
  • Nothing is unknown to the Lord, who is present everywhere. A pure devotee knows that He does not need to be informed of the devotee’s needs or difficulties.
  • Beginners may approach the Lord because of distress, financial need, curiosity or a search for truth. A pure devotee serves Him without demanding anything for personal benefit.

Try this today

Set aside a minute to offer the Lord your service and gratitude without requesting anything in return.

Ask yourself

How could trusting that the Lord knows my needs help me serve without making demands?

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.

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