Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.5.41
Āśraya· The supreme shelterAll Social Orders Come From the Lord
“The brāhmaṇas and Vedic knowledge come from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the kṣatriyas and bodily strength come from His arms, the vaiśyas and their expert knowledge in productivity and wealth come from His thighs, and the śūdras, who are outside of Vedic knowledge, come from His feet. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full in prowess, be pleased with us.”
What the purport teaches
- The brāhmaṇas and Vedic knowledge come from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The kṣatriyas and bodily strength come from His arms. The vaiśyas and their knowledge of productivity and wealth come from His thighs.
- The śūdras, described here as outside Vedic knowledge, come from His feet. The prayer asks this supremely powerful Lord to be pleased with us.
Try this today
Reflect on one ability you use today, and offer a brief prayer to please the Lord.
Ask yourself
How might remembering the Lord as the source of these different roles change your outlook?
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.