Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.15.10
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesUse Resources for Others Without Personal Desire
“All the chaste and honest daughters of Mahārāja Dakṣa, such as Śraddhā, Maitrī and Dayā, whose blessings were always effective, bathed Mahārāja Gaya with sanctified water. Indeed, they were very satisfied with Mahārāja Gaya. The planet earth personified came as a cow, and, as though she saw her calf, she delivered milk profusely when she saw all the good qualities of Mahārāja Gaya. In other words, Mahārāja Gaya was able to derive all benefits from the earth and thus satisfy the desires of his citizens. However, he personally had no desire.”
What the purport teaches
- The honest daughters of Mahārāja Dakṣa, including Śraddhā, Maitrī and Dayā, were pleased with Gaya and bathed him with sanctified water. The purport emphasizes that rulers need the blessings of authorities.
- The earth is compared to a cow, and Gaya’s good qualities to her calf. Just as a cow gives milk in her calf’s presence, the earth supplied resources through his good rule.
- Gaya used the earth’s resources to satisfy his citizens, while personally having no desire. Through a ruler’s good qualities, citizens become happy and well qualified.
Try this today
Share one useful resource today with someone who needs it, without asking for anything in return.
Ask yourself
How can I use what is available to me for someone else’s benefit without seeking a personal reward?
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.