Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.17.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLord Śiva Remains Unaffected
“Ordinary conditioned persons generally embrace their wives and enjoy their company in solitary places. How wonderful it is that Lord Mahādeva, although a great master of austerity, is embracing his wife openly in the midst of an assembly of great saints.”
What the purport teaches
- The expression mahā-vrata-dharaḥ indicates a brahmacārī who has never fallen down.
- Lord Śiva is counted among the best of yogīs, yet he embraced his wife in the assembly of great saintly persons.
- Citraketu appreciated Lord Śiva’s greatness in remaining unaffected even in that situation. He was expressing wonder, not committing an offense.
Try this today
Reflect for one minute on Lord Śiva’s ability to remain unaffected despite outward appearances.
Ask yourself
What does Citraketu’s appreciation reveal about Lord Śiva’s inner steadiness?
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.