Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.2.33
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionSurrender to Kṛṣṇa Beyond Fear of Death
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly not known to everyone, but He is very powerful and influential. Therefore, although the serpent of eternal time, which is fearful in force, endlessly chases everyone, ready to swallow him, if one who fears this serpent seeks shelter of the Lord, the Lord gives him protection, for even death runs away in fear of the Lord. I therefore surrender unto Him, the great and powerful supreme authority who is the actual shelter of everyone.”
What the purport teaches
- An intelligent person recognizes the supreme authority above everything and surrenders to Him. The Lord appears to protect His devotees and instruct us by His own example.
- Even death acts out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Seeking Kṛṣṇa’s shelter does not mean that a devotee’s material body will never die.
- For one who fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa and is protected by Him, the present body is the last material body. The devotee returns home, back to Godhead, rather than repeatedly taking birth and dying.
Try this today
Take one quiet minute today to pray to Kṛṣṇa for help in surrendering to Him and living as His devotee, rather than seeking only bodily safety.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that Kṛṣṇa’s protection extends beyond the death of the body deepen my desire to surrender to Him?
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.