Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.6.14
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesMeet Bodily Needs Simply
“Thus traveling, I felt tired, both bodily and mentally, and I was both thirsty and hungry. So I took a bath in a river lake and also drank water. By contacting water, I got relief from my exhaustion.”
What the purport teaches
- Traveling brought bodily and mental tiredness, as well as hunger and thirst. Bathing and drinking water relieved the exhaustion.
- A traveling mendicant can meet bodily needs through the gifts of nature without begging at householders’ doors.
- The mendicant visits a householder to enlighten him spiritually, not merely to obtain bodily necessities.
Try this today
Drink a glass of water attentively today, acknowledging this simple gift of nature.
Ask yourself
How can I meet my needs simply while keeping spiritual purpose in view?
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.