Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.22.1
Sthāna· The universe in orderAsk Respectfully When Teachings Seem Contradictory
“King Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī: My dear lord, you have already affirmed the truth that the supremely powerful sun-god travels around Dhruvaloka with both Dhruvaloka and Mount Sumeru on his right. Yet at the same time the sun-god faces the signs of the zodiac and keeps Sumeru and Dhruvaloka on his left. How can we reasonably accept that the sun-god proceeds with Sumeru and Dhruvaloka on both his left and right simultaneously?”
What the purport teaches
- King Parīkṣit asks Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain an apparent contradiction in the sun-god’s movement.
- One description places Dhruvaloka and Mount Sumeru on the sun-god’s right, while another places them on his left.
- The King respectfully asks how both descriptions can reasonably be accepted at the same time.
Try this today
Write down one clear question about something in this verse that you do not yet understand.
Ask yourself
When a teaching seems difficult to understand, can I ask about it respectfully?
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.