Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.23.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSelf-Mastery Amid Beautiful Surroundings
“Though seemingly attached to his beloved consort while served by the Gandharva girls, the sage did not lose his glory, which was mastery over his self. In the aerial mansion, Kardama Muni with his consort shone as charmingly as the moon in the midst of the stars in the sky, which causes rows of lilies to open in ponds at night.”
What the purport teaches
- Although Kardama Muni seemed attached to his beloved wife, he did not lose his glory of self-mastery.
- In the aerial mansion, Kardama Muni appeared like the full moon. The girls surrounding Devahūti appeared like stars.
- The purport draws attention to the beauty of this comparison. The mansion in the sky resembled the lovely sight of the moon and stars together.
Try this today
In one pleasant situation today, pause and notice whether you remain self-controlled.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you about Kardama Muni retaining self-mastery amid these surroundings?
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.