Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.20.13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotional Service Wins the Lord
“If this brāhmaṇa really is Lord Viṣṇu, who is worshiped by Vedic hymns, He would never give up His widespread reputation; either He would lie down having been killed by me, or He would kill me in a fight.”
What the purport teaches
- Bali Mahārāja’s words about killing Lord Viṣṇu are not meant literally. Lord Viṣṇu can kill everyone, but no one can kill Him.
- The real meaning of the Lord’s lying down is that He would reside within the core of Bali Mahārāja’s heart.
- No one can defeat Lord Viṣṇu by force. Yet a devotee defeats Him through devotional service.
Try this today
Offer one brief prayer today expressing your desire to serve Lord Viṣṇu with love.
Ask yourself
Am I approaching the Lord through loving service rather than a desire to control?
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.