Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.16.20
Āśraya· The supreme shelterTake Shelter of Kṛṣṇa Through Devotional Service
“My dear Aditi, engage in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of everything, who can subdue everyone’s enemies, and who sits within everyone’s heart. Only that Supreme Person — Kṛṣṇa, or Vāsudeva — can bestow all auspicious benedictions upon everyone, for He is the spiritual master of the universe.”
What the purport teaches
- Kaśyapa directed Aditi to worship Kṛṣṇa, or Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is everyone's friend, dwells in everyone's heart and is the source of all auspicious benedictions.
- Devotional service raises one above goodness, passion and ignorance into pure consciousness. Only in this uncontaminated condition can one perceive Vāsudeva.
- Kṛṣṇa gives understanding to those who worship Him with love, helping them overcome difficulties and return to Him. A genuine spiritual master directs others to His shelter and teaches His instructions without inventing personal theories.
Try this today
Take a quiet moment today to pray to Kṛṣṇa for the understanding to serve Him with love.
Ask yourself
When I feel perplexed, do I seek Kṛṣṇa's shelter and guidance for devotional service?
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.