Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.24.49
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionSeek the Lord’s Incomparable Mercy
“Neither all the demigods, nor the so-called gurus nor all other people, either independently or together, can offer mercy that equals even one ten-thousandth of Yours. Therefore I wish to take shelter of Your lotus feet.”
What the purport teaches
- Material desires lead people to seek quick results from the demigods. But both the demigods and their benedictions are temporary.
- Lord Viṣṇu does not act as His devotee’s order supplier or give blessings that create further demands. His mercy can completely free one from material contamination.
- No other mercy compares with the Lord’s benedictions. His invitation to surrender, with His promise of deliverance from sinful reactions, is the greatest benediction.
Try this today
Offer one prayer for shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet rather than for a temporary gain.
Ask yourself
Do my prayers seek more temporary rewards, or shelter in the Lord?
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.