Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.8.56
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord's Special Mercy Upon His Servant
“The associates of Lord Viṣṇu in Vaikuṇṭha offered this prayer: O Lord, our supreme giver of shelter, today we have seen Your wonderful form as Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, meant for the good fortune of all the world. O Lord, we can understand that Hiraṇyakaśipu was the same Jaya who engaged in Your service but was cursed by brāhmaṇas and who thus received the body of a demon. We understand that his having now been killed is Your special mercy upon him.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Viṣṇu's associates praise Nṛsiṁhadeva as the supreme giver of shelter. His wonderful form brings good fortune to the whole world.
- Hiraṇyakaśipu's appearance as the Lord's enemy was prearranged. Jaya and Vijaya were cursed by the four Kumāras, and the Lord accepted that they would enter the material world and later return to Vaikuṇṭha.
- The Lord advised them to act as His enemies so they could return after three births rather than seven. His associates therefore understood His killing of Hiraṇyakaśipu as special mercy upon His servant.
Try this today
Reread the associates' prayer and offer a brief prayer to the Lord as the supreme giver of shelter.
Ask yourself
How does this account deepen my appreciation of the Lord's care for His servants?
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.