Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.4.9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear the Wonderful Life of a Devotee
“It is said that Mahārāja Parīkṣit is a great first-class devotee of the Lord and that his birth and activities are all wonderful. Please tell us about him.”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a first-class devotee whose birth was wonderful: Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, protected him in his mother's womb.
- His activities were wonderful because he chastised Kali for attempting to kill a cow. The purport emphasizes that protecting cows is essential to human civilization.
- After receiving notice of his death, he prepared by hearing the Lord's transcendental activities on the bank of the Ganges. His attentive hearing shows his devotion, and his life is itself worth hearing attentively.
Try this today
Set aside five uninterrupted minutes today to read this account of Mahārāja Parīkṣit's devotion attentively.
Ask yourself
What does Mahārāja Parīkṣit's dedication to hearing teach me about making devotional service my priority?
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.