Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.21.5
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Forms Express His Mercy
“Lord Brahmā and all the predominating deities of the various planetary systems began to worship Lord Vāmanadeva, their supreme master, who had reduced Himself from His all-pervading form to His original form. They collected all the ingredients and paraphernalia for this worship.”
What the purport teaches
- Vāmanadeva expanded into the universal form and then returned to His Vāmana form. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa showed Arjuna His universal form and then resumed His original form.
- The Lord can assume any form He likes, but His original form is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Out of causeless mercy, He assumes forms suited to the devotee’s capacity.
- Brahmā and the other planetary deities worshiped Vāmanadeva as their supreme master. They collected various articles of worship to please Him.
Try this today
Prepare one simple offering, such as water, with the intention of pleasing the Lord.
Ask yourself
How can I make pleasing the Lord the purpose of my worship?
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.