Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.2.36
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAttachment to the Body Delays Departure
“While the queens were lamenting for the dead body of the King, their loud cries were heard even from the abode of Yamarāja. Assuming the body of a boy, Yamarāja personally approached the relatives of the dead body and advised them as follows.”
What the purport teaches
- According to Yamarāja’s judgment, a living entity may be required to leave one body and enter another. Attachment to the former body can make this transition difficult.
- The King remained hovering as a ghost because he still had some attachment to his body. As a special consideration, Yamarāja came personally to instruct his lamenting relatives.
- Yamarāja appeared as a child because a child could enter even a king’s palace freely. People were also interested in hearing philosophy spoken by a child.
Try this today
Spend a minute reflecting on the distinction between the living being and the body he leaves behind.
Ask yourself
How might attachment to the body limit my understanding of life beyond it?
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.