Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.9.28
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyLearn from Sacred History
“Then he described the occupational duties of different orders and statuses of life, citing instances from history, for he was himself well acquainted with the truth.”
What the purport teaches
- Bhīṣmadeva knew the truth and explained the duties of different orders and statuses of life. He used historical narrations to answer Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s questions.
- The purport describes the accounts in the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa as factual historical narrations. They were gathered for instruction rather than arranged in chronological order.
- These accounts include events on different planets and in different universes, beyond our limited understanding. Our concern should be the instructive lessons they offer.
Try this today
Reread this verse and write one sentence about why Bhīṣmadeva used historical accounts to teach.
Ask yourself
Am I looking for the lesson in a sacred account, even when its setting exceeds my 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.