Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.12.14
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Is Lord of All Mystic Power
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When Lord Viṣṇu was thus requested by Lord Śiva, who carries a trident in his hand, He smiled with gravity and replied to Lord Śiva as follows.”
What the purport teaches
- Mystic yogīs practice to acquire power, but Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Supreme Lord of all mystic power. The purport identifies Lord Viṣṇu as Yogeśvara.
- Durgādevī, who represents the material illusory energy and is Lord Śiva’s wife, could not captivate his mind. Yet Lord Viṣṇu could assume a form that would captivate even Lord Śiva.
- Lord Viṣṇu smiled while remaining grave. He was considering how to captivate Lord Śiva, who had requested to see Mohinī-mūrti.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord of all mystic power.
Ask yourself
Do I recognize the difference between acquired mystic power and the Lord’s supreme power?
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.