Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.19.29-30
Sthāna· The universe in orderValue the Opportunity of Bhārata-varṣa
“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, in the opinion of some learned scholars, eight smaller islands surround Jambūdvīpa. When the sons of Mahārāja Sagara were searching all over the world for their lost horse, they dug up the earth, and in this way eight adjoining islands came into existence. The names of these islands are Svarṇaprastha, Candraśukla, Āvartana, Ramaṇaka, Mandara-hariṇa, Pāñcajanya, Siṁhala and Laṅkā.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī reports that, according to some learned scholars, eight smaller islands surround Jambūdvīpa. They arose when the sons of Mahārāja Sagara dug the earth while searching for their lost horse.
- The purport explains that even demigods in exalted heavenly positions desire to descend to Bhārata-varṣa. Their desire shows how precious birth in this land is.
- Those already born in Bhārata-varṣa are unfortunate if they live like cats and dogs without taking full advantage of their birth.
Try this today
Reread the purport today and identify one way you can stop neglecting your spiritual opportunity.
Ask yourself
Am I recognizing and using the spiritual opportunity available to me?
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.