Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.3.14
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGood Leadership Protects Everyone's Welfare
“O brāhmaṇas, in the ninth incarnation, the Lord, prayed for by sages, accepted the body of a king [Pṛthu] who cultivated the land to yield various produce, and for that reason the earth was beautiful and attractive.”
What the purport teaches
- A king's duty is to be pious and care for the all-around welfare of the citizens. The sages removed the previous king because of his harmful rule.
- The qualified brāhmaṇas did not seek the throne themselves, having other important duties for public welfare. They prayed for the Lord, who appeared as Mahārāja Pṛthu.
- Mahārāja Pṛthu made the earth yield various kinds of produce. His good rule made the citizens happy and the earth beautiful and attractive.
Try this today
Do one concrete task within your responsibilities today that improves someone else's well-being.
Ask yourself
How can you use a responsibility you hold for others' welfare rather than personal status?
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.