Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.5.22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Impartial Lord Reciprocates With Devotion
“For the Supreme Personality of Godhead there is no one to be killed, no one to be protected, no one to be neglected and no one to be worshiped. Nonetheless, for the sake of creation, maintenance and annihilation according to time, He accepts different forms as incarnations either in the mode of goodness, the mode of passion or the mode of ignorance.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is equal to everyone; He envies no one and is partial to no one. Yet He gives special attention to those who serve Him in devotion.
- For creation, maintenance and annihilation, He accepts different forms as incarnations. Although He apparently acts in goodness, passion or ignorance, He remains unaffected by these modes.
- Like a king who rewards or punishes to maintain law and order, the Lord appears according to time, place and purpose. He delivers the pious and reestablishes the principles of religion.
Try this today
Offer one brief prayer today with the intention of serving the Lord rather than seeking a material reward.
Ask yourself
How does the Lord’s special attention to devotional service encourage you to serve Him?
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.