Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.5.27-28
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSupport Chanting With Practical Austerity
“For a few months the sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa drank only water and ate only air. Thus undergoing great austerities, they recited this mantra: “Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always situated in His transcendental abode. Since He is the Supreme Person [paramahaṁsa], let us offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.””
What the purport teaches
- The sons worshiped Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, offering respectful obeisances to Him in His transcendental abode.
- Their severe austerities of living on water and air should not be imitated in Kali-yuga. Yet one should not abandon austerity altogether.
- The prescribed austerity is giving up illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. This supports effective chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa and progress toward returning home, back to Godhead.
Try this today
Choose one of the four unwanted activities to consciously avoid today, and set aside a short time to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How willing am I to support my chanting by giving up unwanted habits?
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.