Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.7.13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Empowers the Churning
“The demigods and demons worked almost madly for the nectar, encouraged by the Lord, who was above and below the mountain and who had entered the demigods, the demons, Vāsuki and the mountain itself. Because of the strength of the demigods and demons, the Ocean of Milk was so powerfully agitated that all the alligators in the water were very much perturbed. Nonetheless the churning of the ocean continued in this way.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord was above and below the mountain. He also entered the demigods, the demons, Vāsuki and the mountain itself.
- Encouraged by the Lord, the demigods and demons worked almost madly for nectar.
- Their powerful churning greatly agitated the Ocean of Milk and disturbed its alligators. Nonetheless, the churning continued.
Try this today
List the places and beings in which the Lord was present during the churning.
Ask yourself
How does this description help you recognize the Lord’s support behind the workers’ efforts?
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.