Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.19.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHonor Spiritual Knowledge, Not Age Alone
“This son of Vyāsadeva was only sixteen years old. His legs, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, forehead and the other parts of his body were all delicately formed. His eyes were beautifully wide, and his nose and ears were highly raised. He had a very attractive face, and his neck was well formed and beautiful like a conchshell.”
What the purport teaches
- Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s description begins with his legs, following the honored system for describing a respectable personality. His bodily features were delicately formed and beautiful.
- He was only sixteen years old. A person deserves honor for achievements, not merely for advanced age.
- Experience is not measured by years alone. Through his knowledge, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was more experienced than all the sages present.
Try this today
When learning from someone today, attend to their knowledge rather than judging their worth by age.
Ask yourself
Do I overlook someone’s spiritual knowledge because they are younger than I am?
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.