Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.5.13
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord’s Favor Gives True Understanding
“Persons who always think in terms of “enemy” and “friend” are unable to ascertain the Supersoul within themselves. Not to speak of them, even such exalted persons as Lord Brahmā, who are fully conversant with the Vedic literature, are sometimes bewildered in following the principles of devotional service. The same Supreme Personality of Godhead who has created this situation has certainly given me the intelligence to take the side of your so-called enemy.”
What the purport teaches
- Those absorbed in distinctions of enemy and friend cannot ascertain the Supersoul within themselves. Even learned persons such as Lord Brahmā may sometimes be bewildered about devotional service.
- Prahlāda tells his teachers that they wrongly consider Lord Viṣṇu their enemy. Through the Lord’s favor, he understands that the Lord is everyone’s friend.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead has given Prahlāda the intelligence to take His side. What the teachers see as siding with an enemy, Prahlāda recognizes as the Lord’s great favor.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer of gratitude for the opportunity to understand and follow devotional service.
Ask yourself
Do I recognize understanding of devotional service as the Lord’s favor rather than merely my own achievement?
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.