Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.7.21
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionProtection Through Lord Viṣṇu’s Empowered Representative
“The prajāpatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahādeva, Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the three worlds.”
What the purport teaches
- The prajāpatis take shelter of Mahādeva’s lotus feet, asking him to save them from the fiery poison spreading through the three worlds.
- Lord Brahmā creates and Lord Śiva annihilates. Both are śaktyāveśa-avatāras, endowed with special power by Lord Viṣṇu.
- Prayers to Lord Śiva for protection actually indicate Lord Viṣṇu, who is all-pervading in their activities. Thus Lord Śiva can be addressed as having Lord Viṣṇu’s qualities.
Try this today
Reread the prayer once, remembering that Lord Viṣṇu is the source of the protection being sought.
Ask yourself
How does understanding the source of Lord Śiva’s power deepen your appreciation of this prayer?
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.