Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.74.38
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Supreme Lord Remains Silent
“[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Bereft of all good fortune, Śiśupāla spoke these and other insults. But the Supreme Lord said nothing, just as a lion ignores a jackal’s cry.”
What the purport teaches
- Śiśupāla, bereft of all good fortune, continued speaking insults.
- The Supreme Lord said nothing in response.
- His silence is compared to a lion ignoring a jackal’s cry. Śiśupāla’s harsh words did not require an answer from the Lord.
Try this today
If a minor insult comes your way today, pause and consider leaving it unanswered.
Ask yourself
When might quiet restraint be better than answering an insult?
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.