Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.17.31
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyMercy Does Not Mean Permitting Irreligion
“The King thus said: We have inherited the fame of Arjuna; therefore since you have surrendered yourself with folded hands you need not fear for your life. But you cannot remain in my kingdom, for you are the friend of irreligion.”
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Parīkṣit assured the surrendered Kali that he need not fear for his life. Yet Kali could not remain in the kingdom as a friend of irreligion.
- The Pāṇḍavas were entrusted representatives of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa wanted ideal kings to rule, not for His personal interest.
- A responsible ruler cannot allow irreligion to flourish at the expense of the people’s welfare. Pardoning a surrendered offender does not mean giving corruption a place to grow.
Try this today
Choose one situation where you need a boundary, and state it kindly without agreeing to support wrongdoing.
Ask yourself
Can I show mercy while maintaining a firm boundary against wrongdoing?
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.