Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.12.37
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAccept the Lord’s Supremacy Without Shame
“Seeing Lord Śiva unagitated and unashamed, Lord Viṣṇu [Madhusūdana] was very pleased. Thus He resumed His original form and spoke as follows.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Viṣṇu was pleased to see Lord Śiva unagitated and unashamed. He resumed His original form and spoke.
- Nothing is hidden from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated in everyone’s heart. Remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness come from Him.
- Lord Śiva understood that this incident had occurred under the Supreme Lord’s direction. Rather than feeling ashamed of his defeat, he felt proud of his powerful master.
Try this today
Spend a quiet moment remembering that the Supreme Lord is present in your heart and nothing is hidden from Him.
Ask yourself
What can Lord Śiva’s response teach me about accepting the Lord’s superior 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.