Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.20.34
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Foot Opens the Ganges’ Path
“As the Lord took His second step, He covered the heavenly planets. And not even a spot remained for the third step, for the Lord’s foot extended higher and higher, beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and even Satyaloka.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord’s second step covered the heavenly planets and extended beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka. Not even a spot remained for His third step.
- His nails pierced the universe’s coverings of five material elements. Although each layer is ten times thicker than the previous one, His nails penetrated them all into the spiritual world.
- Through that opening, the water of the Ganges entered the material world. The purport explains that it came to deliver all the fallen souls.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer of gratitude for the Lord’s act of bringing the Ganges to deliver fallen souls.
Ask yourself
How does the Ganges’ arrival help you see mercy in this display of the Lord’s power?
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.