Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.12.22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesStrength Joined With Shelter and Tolerance
“This child will be as strong as a lion, and as worthy a shelter as the Himālaya Mountains. He will be forbearing like the earth, and as tolerant as his parents.”
What the purport teaches
- An ideal ruler should be a lamb at home and a lion in pursuing an enemy. Parīkṣit was foretold to have this strength in perfection.
- The Himālaya Mountains offer shelter and the necessities of life to both materialists and spiritualists. Parīkṣit would similarly be worthy of taking shelter of.
- The earth bears disturbances like a mother excusing her child. An ideal king should show such forbearance and the tolerance of parents.
Try this today
Respond patiently to one small disturbance today, remembering the earth’s forbearance.
Ask yourself
How can I combine firmness with gentleness toward those who depend on me?
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.