Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.16.10
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyProtect Others From the Causes of Quarrel
“Sūta Gosvāmī said: While Mahārāja Parīkṣit was residing in the capital of the Kuru empire, the symptoms of the Age of Kali began to infiltrate within the jurisdiction of his state. When he learned about this, he did not think the matter very palatable. This did, however, give him a chance to fight. He took up his bow and arrows and prepared himself for military activities.”
What the purport teaches
- The Age of Kali means the age of quarrel. Illicit connection with women, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling are described as root causes of quarrel.
- Mahārāja Parīkṣit wanted to act immediately when these symptoms appeared. His duty as king was to protect innocent citizens who were pure in habit through religious culture.
- The certainty that Kali’s symptoms will appear is no reason to remain inactive. Just as people take shelter from predictable rain, the state must protect its citizens from harmful influences.
Try this today
Choose one of the four causes of quarrel listed here and take one concrete step today to avoid its influence.
Ask yourself
Do I treat harmful habits as unavoidable, or take steps to guard against them?
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.