Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.9.13
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord Appears to Protect His Devotees
“O my Lord, all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, are sincere servants of Your Lordship, who are situated in a transcendental position. Therefore they are not like us [Prahlāda and his father, the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu]. Your appearance in this fearsome form is Your pastime for Your own pleasure. Such an incarnation is always meant for the protection and improvement of the universe.”
What the purport teaches
- Devotees are fortunate because they are always ready to follow the Lord’s orders. Prahlāda Mahārāja contrasted this readiness with the demoniac disposition of his family.
- The Supreme Lord’s incarnations perform two functions: saving the devotee and vanquishing the demon. Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared to protect His devotee.
- The Lord’s fierce pastimes are not meant to frighten His devotees. Yet the simple, faithful devotees felt afraid, so Prahlāda Mahārāja sought to pacify Him.
Try this today
Before offering a prayer today, pause and express your willingness to follow the Lord’s orders.
Ask yourself
How can readiness to follow the Lord’s orders become more important to you?
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.