Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.17.4
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRemembering Dhanvantari, an Incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva
“The son of Kāśya was Kāśi, and his son was Rāṣṭra, the father of Dīrghatama. Dīrghatama had a son named Dhanvantari, who was the inaugurator of the medical science and an incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva, the enjoyer of the results of sacrifices. One who remembers the name of Dhanvantari can be released from all disease.”
What the purport teaches
- Kāśya’s son was Kāśi, whose son was Rāṣṭra. Rāṣṭra was the father of Dīrghatama, and Dīrghatama’s son was Dhanvantari.
- Dhanvantari inaugurated medical science. He was an incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva, the enjoyer of the results of sacrifices.
- The translation states that one who remembers the name of Dhanvantari can be released from all disease.
Try this today
Take a quiet moment today to remember Dhanvantari’s name and his identity as an incarnation of Lord Vāsudeva.
Ask yourself
How does knowing Dhanvantari’s relationship with Lord Vāsudeva deepen your remembrance of him?
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.