Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.15.16
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesNoble Qualities Bring Glory to a Family
“There is a famous verse about King Viraja. “Because of his high qualities and wide fame, King Viraja became the jewel of the dynasty of King Priyavrata, just as Lord Viṣṇu, by His transcendental potency, decorates and blesses the demigods.””
What the purport teaches
- King Viraja’s high qualities and wide fame made him the jewel of King Priyavrata’s dynasty. The translation compares this to Lord Viṣṇu decorating and blessing the demigods through His transcendental potency.
- A flowering tree becomes known for its fragrant flowers. Similarly, one distinguished person can make an entire family famous in history.
- Because Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared in the Yadu dynasty, that dynasty and the Yādavas remain famous for all time. King Viraja’s appearance likewise brought lasting fame to Mahārāja Priyavrata’s family.
Try this today
Choose one good quality you value and express it in one concrete action today.
Ask yourself
What good quality could I cultivate that would bring honor to my family?
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.