Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.8.42
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionLet the Heart Be the Lord’s Abode
“King Indra said: O Supreme Lord, You are our deliverer and protector. Our shares of sacrifices, which are actually Yours, have been recovered from the demon by You. Because the demoniac king Hiraṇyakaśipu was most fearsome, our hearts, which are Your permanent abode, were all overtaken by him. Now, by Your presence, the gloom and darkness in our hearts have been dissipated. O Lord, for those who always engage in Your service, which is more exalted than liberation, all material opulence is insignificant. They do not even care for liberation, not to speak of the benefits of kāma, artha and dharma.”
What the purport teaches
- The demigods are devotees who follow Vedic rules, although they remain attached to material enjoyment. Hiraṇyakaśipu disturbed their duties and filled their hearts with fear.
- Their hearts were meant to be the Supreme Lord’s abode, but thoughts of the demon occupied them. With Hiraṇyakaśipu gone, they could again easily think of the Lord.
- The highest yogī worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead with faith and loving service. For those always engaged in His service, even liberation is unimportant, and material opulence is insignificant.
Try this today
Set aside one quiet minute to think of the Supreme Lord and offer Him a prayer of loving service.
Ask yourself
What occupies my heart and distracts me from remembering 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.