Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.1.36
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRemain Sober While Pacifying Cruelty
“Wanting to pacify Kaṁsa, who was so cruel and envious that he was shamelessly ready to kill his sister, the great soul Vasudeva, who was to be the father of Kṛṣṇa, spoke to him in the following words.”
What the purport teaches
- Vasudeva, who was to be Kṛṣṇa’s father, is described as mahā-bhāga, a very upright and sober personality.
- Although Kaṁsa was ready to kill his wife, Vasudeva remained sober and unagitated. He began speaking peacefully with reasonable arguments.
- Vasudeva’s greatness included knowing how to pacify a cruel person and forgive even the bitterest enemy.
Try this today
In one difficult conversation today, pause and offer a calm, reasonable response.
Ask yourself
What can I learn from Vasudeva’s peaceful response under such severe pressure?
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.