Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.10.17
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesNature’s Gifts Can Honor the Supreme Lord
“At that time Arjuna, the great warrior and conqueror of sleep, who is the intimate friend of the most beloved Supreme Lord, took up an umbrella which had a handle of jewels and was embroidered with lace and pearls.”
What the purport teaches
- Arjuna, the intimate friend of the Supreme Lord, took up an umbrella with a jeweled handle, lace and pearls.
- The purport explains that gold, jewels, pearls and valuable stones are nature’s gifts. They are produced by the hills and oceans under the Lord’s order.
- The purport warns against wasting valuable time producing unwanted things in the name of necessities. It contrasts luxurious natural gifts with substitutes and the lack of shelter amid industrial development.
Try this today
Before one nonessential purchase today, pause and ask whether it is truly necessary.
Ask yourself
What do you treat as a necessity that may not deserve so much of your time?
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.