Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.12.7
Āśraya· The supreme shelterWe Depend on the Independent Lord
“My Lord, You are the Supreme Brahman, complete in everything. Being completely spiritual, You are eternal, free from the material modes of nature, and full of transcendental bliss. Indeed, for You there is no question of lamentation. Since You are the supreme cause, the cause of all causes, nothing can exist without You. Yet we are different from You in a relationship of cause and effect, for in one sense the cause and effect are different. You are the original cause of creation, manifestation and annihilation, and You bestow benedictions upon all living entities. Everyone depends upon You for the results of his activities, but You are always independent.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa is the supreme cause and controller, and His form is free from the material modes of nature. Everything rests upon Him, yet He remains differently situated from everything material.
- The Lord is fully independent, while all living entities depend on His sanction. Remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness come from Him.
- The Lord can grant perfection and liberation by His causeless mercy, without depending on anyone’s service. A pure devotee nevertheless serves continuously, without motives or expectations of results.
Try this today
Before one act of devotional service today, pause and set the intention to serve without asking for a reward.
Ask yourself
How can you serve with care while giving up the expectation that your service obliges the Lord to reward 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.