Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.17.10
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionAll Achievements Depend on the Lord’s Satisfaction
“O unlimited one, if Your Lordship is satisfied, one can very easily obtain a lifetime as long as that of Lord Brahmā, a body either in the upper, lower or middle planetary systems, unlimited material opulence, religion, economic development and satisfaction of the senses, full transcendental knowledge, and the eight yogic perfections, what to speak of such petty achievements as conquering one’s rivals.”
What the purport teaches
- When the unlimited Lord is satisfied, even a lifetime as long as Lord Brahmā’s and unlimited material opulence are easily obtained.
- Religion, economic development, sense satisfaction, full transcendental knowledge and the eight yogic perfections can all come from Him.
- Compared with these gifts, conquering one’s rivals is a petty achievement. Aditi acknowledges the greatness of what the Lord can bestow.
Try this today
Before pursuing one desired achievement today, pause and consider how your action could please the Lord.
Ask yourself
Am I more concerned with pleasing the Lord or with gaining a small advantage over others?
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.