Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.4.33-35
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSatisfy Guests Before Taking Your Meal
“Thereafter, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa satisfied all the guests who arrived at his house, especially the brāhmaṇas. He gave in charity sixty crores of cows whose horns were covered with gold plate and whose hooves were covered with silver plate. All the cows were well decorated with garments and had full milk bags. They were mild-natured, young and beautiful and were accompanied by their calves. After giving these cows, the King first sumptuously fed all the brāhmaṇas, and when they were fully satisfied, he was about to observe the end of Ekādaśī, with their permission, by breaking the fast. Exactly at that time, however, Durvāsā Muni, the great and powerful mystic, appeared on the scene as an uninvited guest.”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Ambarīṣa satisfied the guests at his house, especially the brāhmaṇas. He gave sixty crores of well-decorated, milk-bearing cows, accompanied by their calves, in charity.
- He first fed the brāhmaṇas sumptuously and waited until they were fully satisfied. With their permission, he was then ready to break his fast.
- At that very moment, Durvāsā Muni arrived as an uninvited guest. The translation describes him as a great and powerful mystic.
Try this today
Before eating today, check whether someone you are hosting or sharing a meal with needs food or assistance.
Ask yourself
How attentive am I to the needs of others before attending to my own meal?
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.