Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.20.12
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Moon Divides Time and Distributes Food
“[The inhabitants of Śālmalīdvīpa worship the demigod of the moon in the following words.] By his own rays, the moon-god has divided the month into two fortnights, known as śukla and kṛṣṇa, for the distribution of food grains to the pitās and the demigods. The demigod of the moon is he who divides time, and he is the king of all the residents of the universe. We therefore pray that he may remain our king and guide, and we offer him our respectful obeisances.”
What the purport teaches
- The inhabitants of Śālmalīdvīpa worship the moon-god with respectful prayers.
- By his rays, the moon-god divides the month into two fortnights, śukla and kṛṣṇa, for distributing food grains to the pitās and the demigods.
- The inhabitants honor him as the divider of time and king of the universe’s residents. They pray that he may remain their king and guide.
Try this today
Write down the two fortnights named in the verse and the purpose given for their division.
Ask yourself
What does this prayer help you notice about the moon’s role in the inhabitants’ lives?
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.