Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.54
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesEveryone Shares in the Welcome
“The whole city was decorated with columns of banana trees containing bunches of fruits and flowers, and betel-nut trees with leaves and branches were seen here and there. There were also many gates set up which were structured to give the appearance of sharks.”
What the purport teaches
- Decorating auspicious ceremonies with green leaves, fruits and flowers is an age-old custom in India.
- King Uttānapāda arranged a good reception for his great son Dhruva Mahārāja. The city displayed banana trees, betel-nut trees and shark-shaped gateways.
- All the citizens enthusiastically took part in the reception with great jubilation.
Try this today
Help prepare a welcoming space today, using a flower or green leaf if available.
Ask yourself
What can you contribute to making a welcome joyful for everyone?
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.