Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.1.57
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSacred Duties Amid Great Pain
“Vasudeva was very much disturbed by fear of becoming a liar by breaking his promise. Thus with great pain he delivered his first-born son, named Kīrtimān, into the hands of Kaṁsa.”
What the purport teaches
- Vasudeva feared breaking his promise and becoming a liar. With great pain, he delivered his first-born son, Kīrtimān, to Kaṁsa.
- In the Vedic system, the father calls learned brāhmaṇas to name a newborn child according to the child’s horoscope. This ceremony is called nāma-karaṇa.
- The name-giving ceremony is one of the ten saṁskāras, or reformatory methods, in varṇāśrama-dharma. It was performed for Kīrtimān even though he was to be delivered to Kaṁsa.
Try this today
Complete one small responsibility with care today, even if you feel troubled.
Ask yourself
What does performing Kīrtimān’s naming ceremony amid such pain teach me about care and responsibility?
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.