Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.23.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesArci’s Voluntary Dedication Amid Hardship
“The Queen, the wife of Pṛthu Mahārāja, whose name was Arci, followed her husband into the forest. Since she was a queen, her body was very delicate. Although she did not deserve to live in the forest, she voluntarily touched her lotus feet to the ground.”
What the purport teaches
- Queen Arci followed Pṛthu Mahārāja into the forest voluntarily. Her body was very delicate, and she was not accustomed to the hardships of forest life.
- Although accustomed to palace comforts, she accepted the difficulties of accompanying her husband. Her dedication remained steady when their circumstances changed.
- The purport presents such queens as examples of chastity and dedication to their husbands. They taught by their actions, sharing both royal life and the hardships of renunciation.
Try this today
Accept one small inconvenience today to support a family member, reflecting on Arci’s voluntary dedication.
Ask yourself
What can Arci’s willingness to set aside comfort teach me about dedication?
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.