Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.8.44
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord Maintains Religious Principles
“The inhabitants of Pitṛloka prayed: Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, the maintainer of the religious principles of the universe. He has killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, the demon who by force enjoyed all the offerings of the śrāddha ceremonies performed by our sons and grandsons on the anniversaries of our death and who drank the water with sesame seeds offered in holy places of pilgrimage. By killing this demon, O Lord, You have taken back all this stolen property from his abdomen by piercing it with Your nails. We therefore wish to offer our respectful obeisances unto You.”
What the purport teaches
- Householders have a duty to offer food grains respectfully to their departed forefathers. Hiraṇyakaśipu disrupted this process and forcibly enjoyed the offerings.
- Under demoniac rule, Vedic principles are turned upside down. Sacrifices stop, their resources are taken away, and society becomes chaotic.
- The inhabitants of Pitṛloka offered obeisances to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva as the maintainer of religious principles. His removal of the demon brought relief across the planets.
Try this today
Offer respectful obeisances to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, remembering Him as the maintainer of religious principles.
Ask yourself
Do I treat religious duties and the resources meant for them with respect?
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.