Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.18.24-25
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Guides His Devotee Toward Renunciation
“Once upon a time Mahārāja Parīkṣit, while engaged in hunting in the forest with bow and arrows, became extremely fatigued, hungry and thirsty while following the stags. While searching for a reservoir of water, he entered the hermitage of the well-known Śamīka Ṛṣi and saw the sage sitting silently with closed eyes.”
What the purport teaches
- While hunting, Mahārāja Parīkṣit became extremely tired, hungry and thirsty. Searching for water, he entered Śamīka Ṛṣi’s hermitage and found the sage sitting silently with closed eyes.
- The purport explains that the Lord arranged these unusual bodily demands to prepare His pure devotee for renunciation. The Lord never forgets His devotee, even when the devotee is absorbed in worldly affairs.
- Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa intended Mahārāja Parīkṣit to become the medium for the revelation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. These apparently unfavorable circumstances prepared for its being spoken for everyone’s benefit.
Try this today
Set aside one nonessential worldly activity for a few minutes and read this passage attentively.
Ask yourself
What worldly attachment makes it difficult for me to give attention to the Lord?
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.