Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.54.22
Ūti· What drives us to actBoasting Conceals Praise of Kṛṣṇa
“This wicked-minded cowherd boy, infatuated with His prowess, has violently abducted my sister. But today I will remove His pride with my sharp arrows.”
What the purport teaches
- Rukmī claimed that his sharp arrows would remove Kṛṣṇa’s pride. The purport explains that the encounter would actually remove Rukmī’s pretensions to being a great hero.
- Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that gopālasya means “of the protector of the Vedas.” What sounds like an insult carries praise of the Lord.
- Durmateḥ can mean “of Him whose beautiful mind is compassionate even toward the wicked.” This interpretation reveals Kṛṣṇa’s compassion.
Try this today
Today, pause over the words “compassionate even toward the wicked” and offer Kṛṣṇa a brief prayer for humility.
Ask yourself
How does remembering Kṛṣṇa’s compassion help me acknowledge my own pride?
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.