Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.4.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesEnlighten Without Seeking Worldly Gain
“He [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] was accustomed to stay at the door of a householder only long enough for a cow to be milked. And he did this just to sanctify the residence.”
What the purport teaches
- Śukadeva Gosvāmī stayed at a householder's door only briefly, accepting alms and sanctifying the residence by his auspicious presence.
- He is an ideal preacher established in the transcendental position. Renounced preachers should approach householders to enlighten them in transcendental knowledge.
- A renounced person must not be attracted by householders' worldly possessions or become subservient to worldly people. The purpose of accepting alms is spiritual benefit, not material gain.
Try this today
Share one sentence of spiritual teaching from this purport with someone willing to hear, without asking for anything in return.
Ask yourself
When I share spiritual knowledge, am I seeking another person's benefit or some worldly advantage?
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.