Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.9.46
Nirodha· Winding upGrief for Separation from a Great Soul
“O descendant of Bhṛgu [Śaunaka], after performing funeral rituals for the dead body of Bhīṣmadeva, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was momentarily overtaken with grief.”
What the purport teaches
- Bhīṣmadeva was an affectionate grandfather, friend, philosopher and sincere well-wisher to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. His care continued up to the last moment of his life.
- Bhīṣmadeva was certain that the Pāṇḍavas would be victorious because Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was their protector. As a devotee, he knew that the Lord’s devotee cannot be vanquished.
- Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira grieved over separation from a great soul, not over the material body Bhīṣmadeva had left. Performing the funeral ceremony was still his necessary duty, although Bhīṣmadeva was liberated.
Try this today
Thank one person today for a specific way they have cared for you.
Ask yourself
Whose sincere care has helped me, and how deeply do I appreciate that person?
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.