Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.8.24
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Service Dispels the Darkness of Ignorance
“Just as a small insect falls forcefully into a fire and the insignificant creature becomes invisible, when Hiraṇyakaśipu attacked the Lord, who was full of effulgence, Hiraṇyakaśipu became invisible. This is not at all astonishing, for the Lord is always situated in pure goodness. Formerly, during creation, He entered the dark universe and illuminated it by His spiritual effulgence.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord is always transcendentally situated in pure goodness. Material passion and ignorance cannot touch Him, and His spiritual effulgence dispels darkness.
- In the Lord’s effulgence, Hiraṇyakaśipu became invisible like a small insect entering a fire. His influence became insignificant as the Lord’s pure goodness became prominent.
- The darkness of spiritual ignorance is dissipated through bhakti-yoga, which invokes the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Where Kṛṣṇa is present, ignorance has no power; devotional service creates a situation free from material contamination.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today for bhakti-yoga by prayerfully reading this passage and remembering Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Am I making space for devotional service to dispel my ignorance of spiritual life?
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.