Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.5.7
Āśraya· The supreme shelterDivine Illumination Reveals True Standing
“O master of speech, by your effulgence, full of religious principles, the darkness of the world is dissipated, and the knowledge of learned persons or great souls is manifested. Indeed, no one can surpass your effulgence, for all things, manifested and unmanifested, gross and subtle, superior and inferior, are but various forms of you that are manifested by your effulgence.”
What the purport teaches
- The illumination of the sun, moon and fire emanates from Sudarśana, the original vision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Illumination by knowledge also comes from Sudarśana. Through it, one can distinguish the superior from the inferior.
- People may consider a powerful yogī wonderfully superior. Yet Durvāsā Muni’s dealings with devotees, revealed by the Sudarśana cakra’s pursuit, showed his actual standing.
Try this today
Reflect on one person you admire, considering their treatment of devotees rather than their impressive abilities.
Ask yourself
Am I more impressed by someone’s power than by how they treat devotees?
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.