Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.22.7
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesReceive Spiritual Good Fortune With Humility
“King Pṛthu spoke: My dear great sages, auspiciousness personified, it is very difficult for even the mystic yogīs to see you. Indeed, you are very rarely seen. I do not know what kind of pious activity I performed for you to grace me by appearing before me without difficulty.”
What the purport teaches
- Personally seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His pure devotee is not an ordinary event. Such spiritual good fortune is connected with previous pious activity.
- Ajñāta-sukṛti means pious activities beyond one’s knowledge. The purport explains that freedom from sinful reactions and absorption in pious activities enable one to engage in devotional service.
- Although Pṛthu Mahārāja’s life was full of pious activities, he wondered what he had done to deserve seeing the Kumāras. His response showed humility.
Try this today
Recall one opportunity for spiritual association and express gratitude for it without taking personal credit.
Ask yourself
Do I receive spiritual opportunities with gratitude, or assume that I deserve them?
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.