Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.41.35
Ūti· What drives us to actScorn Prevents a Respectful Response
“[The washerman said:] You impudent boys! You’re accustomed to roaming the mountains and forests, and yet You would dare put on such clothes as these! These are the King’s possessions You’re asking for!”
What the purport teaches
- The washerman called the boys impudent rather than welcoming Their request.
- He spoke scornfully of Their roaming in the mountains and forests, questioning whether They should wear such garments.
- He emphasized that the clothes belonged to the King. His reply defended the King’s possessions instead of offering service.
Try this today
Notice one judgment based on someone’s appearance today, and replace a dismissive response with respectful speech.
Ask yourself
Do I ever let someone’s outward circumstances become a reason to treat them with scorn?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.