Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.7.9
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesBhāgavatam Attracts Even the Self-Satisfied
“Śrī Śaunaka asked Sūta Gosvāmī: Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī was already on the path of self-realization, and thus he was pleased with his own self. So why did he take the trouble to undergo the study of such a vast literature?”
What the purport teaches
- Śaunaka asks why Śukadeva Gosvāmī studied such a vast literature when he was already satisfied in himself.
- Everyone seeks the highest pleasure, but their standards of pleasure differ. The ātmārāmas, who take pleasure in the self, are completely indifferent to material enjoyment.
- Even after attaining this stage, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was attracted to studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It is therefore a postgraduate study even for those who have surpassed all studies of Vedic knowledge.
Try this today
Reread one sentence from this purport slowly, looking for something you have not yet understood.
Ask yourself
What does Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s willingness to study teach me about remaining open to deeper understanding?
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.