Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.7.35
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRecognize the Motives Behind Worship
“O greatest of all rulers, your actual identity is impossible for us to understand. As far as we can see, your presence brings flourishing happiness to everyone. Beyond this, no one can appreciate your activities. We can see this much, and nothing more.”
What the purport teaches
- The demigods admit that Lord Śiva’s actual identity and activities are beyond their understanding. They can see that his presence brings happiness to the world.
- Their inner purpose in offering prayers was to please him so that he would remedy the danger caused by the hālahala poison.
- The purport explains that people generally worship demigods with some motive. Deep-rooted desires lead them to seek the demigods’ mercy for fulfillment.
Try this today
Write down one thing you seek through prayer and honestly name the desire behind it.
Ask yourself
What desires are shaping the prayers I offer?
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.