Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.5.17
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAssist the Lord Through Devotional Service
“This rascal Prahlāda has appeared like a thorn tree in a forest of sandalwood. To cut down sandalwood trees, an axe is needed, and the wood of the thorn tree is very suitable for the handle of such an axe. Lord Viṣṇu is the axe for cutting down the sandalwood forest of the family of demons, and this Prahlāda is the handle for that axe.”
What the purport teaches
- Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka compared their demoniac dynasty to a sandalwood forest and Prahlāda to a thorn tree. They saw his devotion as a threat to their family.
- They compared Lord Viṣṇu to an axe and Prahlāda to its handle. The purport explains that an axe needs a handle to do its work.
- The axe of viṣṇu-bhakti, devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, can cut down demoniac civilization. Like Prahlāda, someone born within that civilization can become a servant who assists Lord Viṣṇu.
Try this today
Choose one small act of devotional service today and offer it with the intention of assisting Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How does Prahlāda’s example show that my background need not prevent me from assisting the Lord?
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.