Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.9.44 · one of the 108 chosen verses
Mukti· LiberationSeek the Lord’s Shelter for Everyone
“My dear Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himālayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.”
What the purport teaches
- A pure devotee is interested only in serving the Lord and therefore does not fear any condition of life. Remaining in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the devotee’s business.
- Prahlāda Mahārāja did not wish to be liberated alone while leaving others behind. He wanted to bring them to the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.
- The devotee works among people to teach Kṛṣṇa consciousness, rather than seeking only personal deliverance in solitude. The real target is to return home, back to Godhead.
Try this today
Share one teaching about taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa with someone willing to hear.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking spiritual benefit only for myself, or also wishing to help others?
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.