Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.13.12-13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSpiritual Advancement Beyond Outward Appearance
“Prahlāda Mahārāja, the most dear servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, once went out touring the universe with some of his confidential associates just to study the nature of saintly persons. Thus he arrived at the bank of the Kāverī, where there was a mountain known as Sahya. There he found a great saintly person who was lying on the ground, covered with dirt and dust, but who was deeply spiritually advanced.”
What the purport teaches
- Prahlāda Mahārāja was the most dear servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He traveled with confidential associates to study the nature of saintly persons.
- At the bank of the Kāverī, near the mountain Sahya, he found a great saint lying on the ground.
- Although covered with dirt and dust, the saint was deeply spiritually advanced. His outward condition did not reveal the depth of his spiritual life.
Try this today
Notice one judgment you make about someone’s appearance today, and pause before accepting it.
Ask yourself
How much do outward appearances influence my respect for someone’s spiritual life?
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.