Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.3.30
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionWorship the Root of Everything
“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When the King of the elephants was describing the supreme authority, without mentioning any particular person, he did not invoke the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Indra and Candra. Thus none of them approached him. However, because Lord Hari is the Supersoul, Puruṣottama, the Personality of Godhead, He appeared before Gajendra.”
What the purport teaches
- Gajendra appealed to the supreme authority above all others, not to any particular demigod. Lord Hari, the Supersoul of everyone, appeared before him.
- Only the Supreme Personality of Godhead can rescue one from the dangers of material existence. The demigods cannot provide this rescue through temporary material benefits.
- Worshiping the Supreme Lord through devotional service satisfies the demigods, just as watering a tree’s root nourishes its branches. The Lord is near within our hearts and responds to sincere surrender.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, asking for His shelter rather than a temporary material benefit.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking only temporary benefits, or shelter from the dangers of material existence?
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.