Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.4.21
Ūti· What drives us to actActions Bear Results Under Providence
“My dear sister Devakī, all good fortune unto you. Everyone suffers and enjoys the results of his own work under the control of providence. Therefore, although your sons have unfortunately been killed by me, please do not lament for them.”
What the purport teaches
- Everyone, from the small insect to Indra, undergoes the results of fruitive activities. Enjoyment and suffering occur under the control of providence.
- The purport distinguishes an immediate cause from a remote cause. Kaṁsa was the immediate cause of the children’s deaths, while their past deeds were the remote cause.
- Kaṁsa admits his own fault while asking Devakī’s pardon. He appeals to this understanding of destiny and asks her not to lament.
Try this today
If you owe someone an apology, offer it today with a clear acknowledgment of your own action.
Ask yourself
Can I acknowledge my own faults even when circumstances beyond me are involved?
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.