Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.18.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOne Earth, Changing Names and Boundaries
“There was keen rivalry between the two combatants; both had sustained injuries on their bodies from the blows of each other’s pointed maces, and each grew more and more enraged at the smell of blood on his person. In their eagerness to win, they performed maneuvers of various kinds, and their contest looked like an encounter between two forceful bulls for the sake of a cow.”
What the purport teaches
- The combatants grow more enraged from their injuries and perform various maneuvers to win. Their contest resembles two forceful bulls fighting for a cow.
- The purport calls the earth planet ilā and explains that it was formerly known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa. When Mahārāja Parīkṣit ruled, it was called Bhārata-varṣa.
- Bhārata-varṣa actually names the entire planet, although it gradually came to mean India. Over time, the earth became divided by national boundaries.
Try this today
Write a short note today: “Bhārata-varṣa originally refers to the entire earth, not only India.”
Ask yourself
How does learning that Bhārata-varṣa names the whole earth broaden 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.