Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.9.32
Nirodha· Winding upThe Lord Is Always in Transcendental Bliss
“O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, after the annihilation the creative energy is kept in You, who appear to sleep with half-closed eyes. Actually, however, You do not sleep like an ordinary human being, for You are always in a transcendental stage, beyond the creation of the material world, and You always feel transcendental bliss. As Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, You thus remain in Your transcendental status, not touching material objects. Although You appear to sleep, this sleeping is distinct from sleeping in ignorance.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa, Govinda, is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead and expands Himself as Mahā-Viṣṇu. After cosmic annihilation, He remains in transcendental bliss.
- The Lord’s yoga-nidrā is not ordinary sleep in the mode of ignorance. He is eternally blissful and always beyond material conditions.
- Real yoga means meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not sleeping. The mind should remain actively fixed at the Lord’s lotus feet.
Try this today
Spend one attentive minute meditating on the Lord’s lotus feet, gently returning your mind whenever it wanders.
Ask yourself
What helps you keep your mind actively attentive to the Lord rather than drifting into sleepiness?
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.