Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.17.15
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyPower Does Not Excuse Cruelty
“An upstart living being who commits offenses by torturing those who are offenseless shall be directly uprooted by me, even though he be a denizen of heaven with armor and decorations.”
What the purport teaches
- The inhabitants of heavenly planets are called deathless because their lives are very long. Actually, no one within the material universe is deathless.
- Mahārāja Parīkṣit declared that even a powerful inhabitant of heaven would face punishment for torturing the innocent.
- A ruler must be determined to punish even the strongest offenders. Violations of God’s codes must not be excused because of someone’s position.
Try this today
Notice one instance where status influences your judgment, and assess the conduct without favoring the person’s position.
Ask yourself
Am I tempted to excuse harmful behavior when the offender is powerful or admired?
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.