Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.3.20
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRulers Must Follow Revealed Guidance
“In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord [as Bhṛgupati] annihilated the administrative class [kṣatriyas] twenty-one times, being angry with them because of their rebellion against the brāhmaṇas [the intelligent class].”
What the purport teaches
- As Bhṛgupati, the Lord annihilated the kṣatriyas twenty-one times because of their rebellion against the brāhmaṇas.
- The administrative class is expected to rule under the direction of learned brāhmaṇas. Their guidance is based on the śāstras, the books of revealed knowledge.
- The purport explains that disobedient administrators are removed by force from their posts. Arrangement is then made for better administration.
Try this today
Before making one decision today, pause and consider a relevant teaching from revealed knowledge.
Ask yourself
When I have responsibility, am I willing to accept guidance rather than act only on my own wishes?
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.