Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.20.32-33
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Step Includes Above and Below
“These associates, headed by Sunanda and other chief associates and accompanied by all the predominating deities of the various planets, offered prayers to the Lord, who wore a brilliant helmet, bracelets, and glittering earrings that resembled fish. On the Lord’s bosom were the lock of hair called Śrīvatsa and the transcendental jewel named Kaustubha. He wore a yellow garment, covered by a belt, and He was decorated by a flower garland, surrounded by bees. Manifesting Himself in this way, O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities are wonderful, covered the entire surface of the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all directions with His arms.”
What the purport teaches
- Sunanda, the other chief associates, and the predominating deities offered prayers to the beautifully adorned Lord. His bosom bore Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha jewel.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead covered the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all directions with His arms.
- Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that a step includes space both downward and upward. Thus occupying the sky with His body did not go beyond the land promised for His steps.
Try this today
Stand still for a moment and notice the ground below and the space your body occupies above it; then reread the purport’s explanation.
Ask yourself
How does the explanation of space above and below help you understand the Lord’s step?
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.