Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.4.11-12
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionContinue Devotional Service Through Reverses
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, after Agastya Muni had thus cursed King Indradyumna, the Muni left that place along with his disciples. Since the King was a devotee, he accepted Agastya Muni’s curse as welcome because it was the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, although in his next life he got the body of an elephant, because of devotional service he remembered how to worship and offer prayers to the Lord.”
What the purport teaches
- Although the King was not at fault, he accepted the curse as the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He considered the reversal a result of his past misdeeds and welcomed it.
- Because of devotional service, he remembered how to worship and pray to the Lord even in an elephant’s body. The Lord arranges for a devotee to receive only a token of past sinful reactions.
- A devotee should continue a regular program of devotional service, depending on the Lord through unfortunate circumstances. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, takes care of the devotee and enables a return to the spiritual world.
Try this today
Keep one small part of your devotional routine today, even if circumstances are difficult, and offer a prayer for dependence on Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
When difficulties arise, how can I continue devotional service while depending on Kṛṣṇa?
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.