Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.13.41
Mukti· LiberationOutward Conditions Can Vary Greatly
“O my lord, sometimes I bathe myself very nicely, smear sandalwood pulp all over my body, put on a flower garland, and dress in fine garments and ornaments. Then I travel like a king on the back of an elephant or on a chariot or horse. Sometimes, however, I travel naked, like a person haunted by a ghost.”
What the purport teaches
- Sometimes the saint bathes nicely, smears sandalwood pulp on his body, and wears flower garlands, fine garments and ornaments.
- At such times he travels like a king, riding on an elephant, a chariot or a horse.
- At other times he travels naked, like a person haunted by a ghost. His description includes both splendid and very bare outward conditions.
Try this today
Notice one assumption you make about someone from their clothing, and pause before accepting it as true.
Ask yourself
What expectations do I have about how a saintly person should look?
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.