Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.19.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesValue the Opportunity to Hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
“At that time all the great minds and thinkers, accompanied by their disciples, and sages who could verily sanctify a place of pilgrimage just by their presence, arrived there on the plea of making a pilgrim’s journey.”
What the purport teaches
- Great sages arrived with their disciples when Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat on the Ganges’ bank. They understood the importance of the occasion and came on the plea of pilgrimage.
- Ordinary pilgrims seek purification at holy places, but these sages could sanctify those places by their presence. They did not come merely to purify themselves by bathing.
- The sages actually came to meet Mahārāja Parīkṣit because they foresaw that Śukadeva Gosvāmī would speak Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. They all wanted to take advantage of this great opportunity.
Try this today
Reserve a few uninterrupted minutes today to read or hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam attentively.
Ask yourself
How readily do I make time for an opportunity to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?
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.