Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.4.10
Mukti· LiberationInquire Into Remarkable Renunciation
“He was a great emperor and possessed all the opulences of his acquired kingdom. He was so exalted that he was increasing the prestige of the Pāṇḍu dynasty. Why did he give up everything to sit down on the bank of the Ganges and fast until death?”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Parīkṣit inherited an empire encompassing the world and its seas and oceans. He did not have to acquire it through his own effort.
- He governed well and upheld the good name of his forefathers. There was nothing undesirable in his opulence or administration.
- His decision to leave these favorable circumstances and fast until death on the bank of the Ganges was astonishing. The assembly therefore eagerly asked why he had done so.
Try this today
Write down the assembly's question about Mahārāja Parīkṣit's renunciation, leaving it open until the text explains the reason.
Ask yourself
Can I remain curious about a remarkable spiritual decision instead of assuming I already understand its cause?
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.