Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.13.31
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyPut Sacred Teachings Into Daily Practice
“Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, whose enemy was never born, performed his daily morning duties by praying, offering fire sacrifice to the sun-god, and offering obeisances, grains, cows, land and gold to the brāhmaṇas. He then entered the palace to pay respects to the elderly. However, he could not find his uncles or aunt, the daughter of King Subala.”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira personally practiced the daily pious duties of a householder. His morning included prayers, sacrifice, charity to brāhmaṇas and respect for elders.
- Book knowledge alone does not make a person good without practicing the instructions of the śāstras. Children learn from what their parents actually do.
- Association with sādhus can cleanse a materialistic person’s life. Like Dhṛtarāṣṭra, one can receive helpful instruction from a devotee such as Vidura.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today for prayer and offer respectful greetings to an elder.
Ask yourself
What does my daily routine teach others about the value I place on spiritual practice?
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.