Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.81.29-32
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionCalm Reflection Amid Sudden Wealth
“In Sudāmā’s home were beds as soft and white as the foam of milk, with bedsteads made of ivory and ornamented with gold. There were also couches with golden legs, as well as royal cāmara fans, golden thrones, soft cushions and gleaming canopies hung with strings of pearls. Upon the walls of sparkling crystal glass, inlaid with precious emeralds, shone jeweled lamps, and the women in the palace were all adorned with precious gems. As he viewed this luxurious opulence of all varieties, the brāhmaṇa calmly reasoned to himself about his unexpected prosperity.”
What the purport teaches
- Sudāmā’s home contained soft, white beds, gold-ornamented bedsteads, golden thrones and pearl-hung canopies.
- Jeweled lamps shone upon crystal walls inlaid with emeralds. The women in the palace were also adorned with precious gems.
- As Sudāmā viewed this varied luxury, he calmly considered his unexpected prosperity. His response included thoughtful reflection, not merely amazement.
Try this today
Take one quiet minute to reflect on a recent improvement in your circumstances.
Ask yourself
When something desirable comes unexpectedly, do you take time to reflect calmly?
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.