Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.12.28
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRemain Dutiful and Humble in Devotional Service
“The great sage Maitreya continued: Mahārāja Dhruva was very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When he heard the sweet speeches of the Lord’s chief associates in the Vaikuṇṭha planet, he immediately took his sacred bath, dressed himself with suitable ornaments, and performed his daily spiritual duties. Thereafter he offered his respectful obeisances to the great sages present there and accepted their blessings.”
What the purport teaches
- Dhruva Mahārāja remained alert in his devotional duties even when leaving this material world. He bathed and performed his daily spiritual duties before departing.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs devotees to bathe early and decorate the body with tilaka. The twelve tilaka marks are sufficient auspicious decorations to purify the body.
- Dhruva Mahārāja did not become proud because Lord Viṣṇu’s airplane was waiting for him. As a humble Vaiṣṇava, he offered respects to the sages and accepted their blessings.
Try this today
Carry out one of your daily devotional duties carefully today, without rushing.
Ask yourself
How can I remain humble and attentive to devotional duties when I receive special honor?
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.