Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.3.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesShare Religious Duties With One’s Spouse
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After saying this, the Lord disappeared. The wife of King Nābhi, Queen Merudevī, was sitting by the side of her husband, and consequently she could hear everything the Supreme Lord had spoken.”
What the purport teaches
- After speaking, the Supreme Lord disappeared.
- Queen Merudevī sat beside her husband, King Nābhi. She therefore heard everything the Lord had spoken.
- Vedic injunctions direct a husband to perform religious rituals with his wife. Mahārāja Nābhi followed this instruction by conducting the sacrifice with Merudevī beside him.
Try this today
If you are married, invite your spouse to share a brief religious observance today; otherwise, reread and reflect on the couple’s shared participation.
Ask yourself
What can I learn from Merudevī’s participation beside Mahārāja Nābhi?
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.