Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 20.299
The Lord’s Incarnations Protect the Universe
“ ‘O Lord of the universe, best of the Yadu dynasty, we are offering our prayers unto You mainly to diminish the heavy burden of the universe. Indeed, You diminished this burden formerly by incarnating in the form of a fish, a horse [Hayagrīva], a tortoise, a lion [Lord Nṛsiṁha], a boar [Lord Varāha] and a swan. You also incarnated as Lord Rāmacandra, Paraśurāma and Vāmana, the dwarf. You have always protected us demigods and the universe in this way. Now please continue.’
What the purport teaches
- The demigods offer prayers to the Lord of the universe, the best of the Yadu dynasty, mainly to diminish the universe’s heavy burden.
- They recall His forms as a fish, Hayagrīva, a tortoise, Lord Nṛsiṁha, Lord Varāha and a swan, as well as Lord Rāmacandra, Paraśurāma and Vāmana.
- They remember that He has always protected them and the universe through these incarnations, and they ask Him to continue. The purport identifies this prayer as a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Try this today
Read the prayer slowly, pausing at its request that the Lord continue His protection.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you about a prayer asking for the protection of the whole universe?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.