Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.5.25
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKnow the Lord Through Authentic Hearing
“There [at Śvetadvīpa], Lord Brahmā offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even though he had never seen the Supreme Lord. Simply because Lord Brahmā had heard about the Supreme Personality of Godhead from Vedic literature, with a fixed mind he offered the Lord prayers as written or approved by Vedic literature.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Brahmā offered prayers with a fixed mind although he had not seen the Lord. The Lord hears the demigods’ prayers and takes the needed action.
- Our sensory perception is incomplete, so seeing alone does not ensure understanding. We must hear about Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, from authentic Vedic literature and those who properly understand it.
- Prayers and songs should be approved by Vedic literature or bona fide devotees, not invented. The Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is sufficient to please the Lord even when we cannot see Him.
Try this today
With a focused mind, chant once: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
Ask yourself
How can authentic hearing strengthen my confidence in the Lord beyond what my eyes can show?
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.