Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.18.30
Ūti· What drives us to actRetaliation Was Uncharacteristic of the King
“While leaving, the King, being so insulted, picked up a lifeless snake with his bow and angrily placed it on the shoulder of the sage. Then he returned to his palace.”
What the purport teaches
- Feeling insulted, the King picked up a lifeless snake with his bow and placed it on the sage’s shoulder before returning to his palace.
- He treated the sage tit for tat, although he was never accustomed to such silly actions.
- Such retaliation might not be unusual in ordinary dealings, but it was unprecedented in Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s dealings with a brāhmaṇa sage. The purport states that it happened by the Lord’s will.
Try this today
If you feel slighted today, refrain from making one retaliatory remark.
Ask yourself
When I feel neglected, do I want to repay neglect with an insult?
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.