Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.18.5
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAn Auspicious Time for the Lord’s Appearance
“On the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord’s appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord appeared on Śravaṇa-dvādaśī, the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in Bhādra. The moon was in Śravaṇa, and the moment was Abhijit.
- Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that nakṣatra means stars and tāra here means planets. Sūrya, the sun, is the first planet specifically mentioned.
- The purport explains that the planets and stars were situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations. They celebrated the Lord’s appearance.
Try this today
Write down the name Śravaṇa-dvādaśī and its meaning given in the translation.
Ask yourself
How can I give more attention to the auspicious occasion of the Lord’s appearance?
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.