Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.9.25
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyThe Lord Establishes His Devotee’s Glory
“Sūta Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, after hearing Bhīṣmadeva speak in that appealing tone, asked him, in the presence of all the great ṛṣis, about the essential principles of various religious duties.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa inspired Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira to ask Bhīṣmadeva about religious duties before the assembled sages. This revealed the greatness of His devotee, though he appeared to live as a worldly man.
- Although Bhīṣmadeva was suffering on his deathbed, his spiritual enlightenment enabled him to speak about the right way of life. The Lord wanted to demonstrate His pure devotee’s spiritual steadiness.
- Kṛṣṇa arranged for Bhīṣmadeva’s glory to be established. The Lord declares that worship of His devotee is more valuable than worship of Himself.
Try this today
Write down one sincere question about your duties that you would like to ask a spiritually enlightened devotee.
Ask yourself
Do I recognize spiritual wisdom beyond someone’s outward circumstances?
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.