Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.1.35
Ūti· What drives us to actSelf-Interest Can Overturn Apparent Affection
“Kaṁsa was a condemned personality in the Bhoja dynasty because he was envious and sinful. Therefore, upon hearing this omen from the sky, he caught hold of his sister’s hair with his left hand and took up his sword with his right hand to sever her head from her body.”
What the purport teaches
- Kaṁsa was envious and sinful, bringing disgrace upon the Bhoja dynasty. Hearing the omen, he seized his sister’s hair and raised his sword to kill her.
- He had affectionately acted as her chariot driver, but forgot that affection when he thought his life was at risk.
- The purport calls this the nature of demons and warns against trusting their displays of affection. Kaṁsa’s personal interest immediately turned him into an enemy.
Try this today
When a preference is frustrated today, pause before responding and avoid harsh words.
Ask yourself
When my interests feel threatened, does my care for others weaken?
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.