Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.15.28
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSpiritual Strength Comes Through the Guru
“Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, said: O Indra, I know the cause for your enemy’s becoming so powerful. The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni, being pleased by Bali Mahārāja, their disciple, endowed him with such extraordinary power.”
What the purport teaches
- The brāhmaṇa descendants of Bhṛgu Muni were pleased with their disciple, Bali Mahārāja, and endowed him with extraordinary power. His prowess came from his exalted guru, Śukrācārya, rather than from himself alone.
- The blessings of the spiritual master are more powerful than personal endeavor for spiritual advancement. By pleasing the spiritual master, one can receive extraordinary spiritual strength.
- One should carry out the bona fide order of the spiritual master. Through the paramparā system, the original spiritual power comes from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Try this today
Review one bona fide instruction from the spiritual master and take one small step to follow it today.
Ask yourself
Am I relying only on personal effort, or also valuing the spiritual master’s instructions and blessings?
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.