Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.7.17
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Beauty and Fearlessness-Giving Strength
“The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud. He was dressed with yellow garments, His earrings shone on His ears like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders. He wore a garland of flowers, and His eyes were pinkish. With His strong, glorious arms, which award fearlessness throughout the universe, He took hold of Vāsuki and began churning the ocean, using Mandara Mountain as a churning rod. When engaged in this way, the Lord appeared like a beautifully situated mountain named Indranīla.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud, dressed in yellow garments. His earrings shone like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders.
- He wore a flower garland and had pinkish eyes. His strong, glorious arms award fearlessness throughout the universe.
- Taking hold of Vāsuki, He churned the ocean with Mandara Mountain as the rod. He appeared like the beautifully situated mountain Indranīla.
Try this today
Spend one minute remembering the Lord’s form as described here, especially His arms that award fearlessness.
Ask yourself
Which detail of the Lord’s beauty or strength most draws your attention?
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.