Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.28.35-36
Mukti· LiberationLive Simply to Make Time for Devotion
“In the province of Kulācala, there were rivers named Candravasā, Tāmraparṇī and Vaṭodakā. King Malayadhvaja used to go to those pious rivers regularly and take his bath there. Thus he purified himself externally and internally. He took his bath and ate bulbs, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits and grasses and drank water. In this way he underwent severe austerities. Eventually he became very skinny.”
What the purport teaches
- Malayadhvaja bathed regularly in sacred rivers and lived on simple foods while undergoing severe austerities. In this way he purified himself externally and internally.
- Such severe austerities are not practical in these days. The purport instead recommends eating only prasāda and no more than required.
- Overindulgence in food encourages excessive sleep and inactivity. Restraint saves time for spiritual activity and helps cleanse both body and mind.
Try this today
At one meal today, eat prasāda in an amount that meets your needs without overindulging.
Ask yourself
Which habit could I simplify to leave more time for spiritual activity?
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.