Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.51.21
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesMucukunda Receives His Chosen Rest
“Addressed thus, King Mucukunda took his respectful leave of the demigods and went to a cave, where he lay down to enjoy the sleep they had granted him.”
What the purport teaches
- Mucukunda respectfully took leave of the demigods and entered a cave to sleep.
- The alternate reading quoted in the purport explains that the King, exhausted by his labor, chose sleep as his benediction.
- He also requested that anyone disturbing his sleep be burned to ashes. The demigods granted that the person who woke him would turn to ashes as soon as he looked at that person.
Try this today
When finishing a tiring task today, take leave of those involved with a courteous word before resting.
Ask yourself
What can you appreciate about Mucukunda's respectful departure despite his exhaustion?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.