Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.13.30
Mukti· LiberationDetermination and Voluntary Support in Renunciation
“The gentle and chaste Gāndhārī, who was the daughter of King Subala of Kandahar [or Gāndhāra], followed her husband, seeing that he was going to the Himālaya Mountains, which are the delight of those who have accepted the staff of the renounced order like fighters who have accepted a good lashing from the enemy.”
What the purport teaches
- Gāndhārī voluntarily followed her husband, although she could have remained at home or at her father’s house. The purport presents her as a faithful and devoted wife.
- Dhṛtarāṣṭra was determined to face danger like a great warrior and was prepared to leave alone. Gāndhārī accompanied him at her own risk.
- In vānaprastha, a wife may remain as a voluntary servitor, but this is not permitted in sannyāsa. Vidura advised Dhṛtarāṣṭra to follow the dhīras because becoming a narottama was difficult for him at that stage.
Try this today
Offer one small, voluntary act of help to someone pursuing a spiritual commitment.
Ask yourself
How willing am I to support a loved one’s sincere spiritual commitment when it involves discomfort?
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.