Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.18.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesTears Cannot Undo a Great Mistake
“Thereafter, when the boy returned to the hermitage, he saw a snake on his father’s shoulder, and out of his grief he cried very loudly.”
What the purport teaches
- Returning to the hermitage, the boy saw the snake on his father’s shoulder and cried loudly in grief.
- He was unhappy because he had committed a great mistake. He cried to relieve the burden on his heart.
- By then it was too late, and his father regretted the whole incident. The boy’s tears did not undo what had happened.
Try this today
Take a quiet moment today to acknowledge one mistake honestly, without making excuses.
Ask yourself
When I regret a mistake, am I willing to face what I have done, not just seek relief?
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.