Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.28.47
Nirodha· Winding upAssociation Continues Through the Guru’s Instructions
“Being now alone and a widow in that forest, the daughter of Vidarbha began to lament, incessantly shedding tears, which soaked her breasts, and crying very loudly.”
What the purport teaches
- Alone in the forest, the queen cried deeply for her husband. Figuratively, her grief represents a disciple’s grief when the spiritual master leaves his mortal body.
- The spiritual master and disciple are never separated as long as the disciple strictly follows his instructions. This association through words is called vāṇī.
- Physical presence is called vapuḥ. The disciple serves the spiritual master’s physical body while he is present and serves his instructions after his departure.
Try this today
Read one instruction from the spiritual master and put it into practice today.
Ask yourself
How can following instructions deepen my sense of spiritual association?
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.