Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.5.35
Āśraya· The supreme shelterFire Serves the Supreme Lord
“Fire, which is born for the sake of accepting oblations in ritualistic ceremonies, is the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Fire exists within the depths of the ocean to produce wealth, and fire is also present in the abdomen to digest food and produce various secretions for the maintenance of the body. May that supremely powerful Personality of Godhead be pleased with us.”
What the purport teaches
- Fire is described as the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is born to accept oblations in ritualistic ceremonies.
- Fire exists in the depths of the ocean to produce wealth.
- Fire within the abdomen digests food and produces secretions that maintain the body. The prayer asks that the supremely powerful Lord be pleased with us.
Try this today
At one meal today, remember the digestive fire described here and offer a short prayer for the Lord's pleasure.
Ask yourself
How can remembering the Lord while eating deepen my gratitude for the body's maintenance?
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.