Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.24.23
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSpiritual Bliss Is Full of Variety
“The sons of the King became very much amazed when they heard vibrations from various drums and kettledrums along with other orderly musical sounds pleasing to the ear.”
What the purport teaches
- The princes were amazed by pleasing, orderly musical sounds, including drums and kettledrums. These sounds added to the flowers and living beings around the lake.
- The purport contrasts this beautiful variety with the void of the impersonalists. Perfection means attaining sac-cid-ānanda—eternity, bliss and knowledge—not denying variety.
- The Pracetās had arrived at Lord Śiva’s abode, which is never without variety. The abodes of Lord Śiva, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Brahmā contain variety for persons full in knowledge and bliss.
Try this today
Write one sentence describing how this verse presents spiritual bliss as full of variety rather than empty.
Ask yourself
Do I think of spiritual perfection as emptiness, or as life full of knowledge and bliss?
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.