Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.9.11
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionServing the Lord Benefits the Devotee
“The Supreme Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always fully satisfied in Himself. Therefore when something is offered to Him, the offering, by the Lord’s mercy, is for the benefit of the devotee, for the Lord does not need service from anyone. To give an example, if one’s face is decorated, the reflection of one’s face in a mirror is also seen to be decorated.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is fully satisfied in Himself and does not need our service. By His mercy, He accepts offerings for the devotee’s benefit.
- Hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories purify the heart. Through this service, one understands that one is a spirit soul whose actual activity is to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Surrender to the Lord benefits both the individual and human society. The more we engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and serve Him, the more we benefit.
Try this today
Spend two minutes glorifying Kṛṣṇa, remembering that this service purifies your own heart.
Ask yourself
How might remembering that Kṛṣṇa needs nothing change the way you offer Him service?
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.