Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.7.19
Ūti· What drives us to actQualification Matters More Than Birth
“When the son of the brāhmaṇa [Aśvatthāmā] saw that his horses were tired, he considered that there was no alternative for protection outside of his using the ultimate weapon, the brahmāstra [nuclear weapon].”
What the purport teaches
- The brahmāstra is meant for the ultimate emergency, when there is no alternative. With his horses tired, Aśvatthāmā considers it his only protection.
- A brāhmaṇa is a most intelligent person; the title is not hereditary. Being a brāhmaṇa’s friend or son does not itself establish qualification.
- Aśvatthāmā’s decision is immature. He is therefore deliberately called the son of a brāhmaṇa rather than a qualified brāhmaṇa.
Try this today
Before making one consequential decision today, pause and consider the available alternatives.
Ask yourself
Do I rely on a title or connection instead of developing the qualities it requires?
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.