Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.4.14
Ūti· What drives us to actDevotees May Face Outward Control
“O Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, descendant of Pāṇḍu, by dint of his personal power, Hiraṇyakaśipu, being situated on the throne of King Indra, controlled the inhabitants of all the other planets. The two Gandharvas Viśvāvasu and Tumburu, I myself and the Vidyādharas, Apsarās and sages all offered prayers to him again and again just to glorify him.”
What the purport teaches
- Seated on Indra’s throne, Hiraṇyakaśipu controlled the inhabitants of other planets by his personal power.
- Nārada and other exalted personalities repeatedly offered prayers glorifying him. Asuras can sometimes become powerful enough to engage even great devotees in their service.
- The purport clarifies that this did not mean Nārada was subordinate to Hiraṇyakaśipu. In the material world, even great devotees may experience outward control by asuras.
Try this today
Reread the purport’s clarification about Nārada before drawing conclusions about someone facing outward pressure.
Ask yourself
Do I judge a devotee’s spiritual position merely by difficult outward circumstances?
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.