Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.75.39
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Supreme Lord’s Purpose Behind His Silence
“Humiliated and burning with anger, Duryodhana turned his face down, left without uttering a word and went back to Hastināpura. The saintly persons present loudly cried out, “Alas, alas!” and King Yudhiṣṭhira was somewhat saddened. But the Supreme Lord, whose mere glance had bewildered Duryodhana, remained silent, for His intention was to remove the burden of the earth.”
What the purport teaches
- Humiliated and burning with anger, Duryodhana left silently for Hastināpura with his face lowered.
- Those present regretted the incident, and King Yudhiṣṭhira became very sorry. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, remained silent, speaking neither against nor in favor of it.
- Duryodhana appeared to have been bewildered by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s supreme will. The resulting enmity between the two branches of the Kuru dynasty appeared to be part of His plan to decrease the world’s burden.
Try this today
Spend a quiet minute reflecting on the distinction between everyone’s regret and the Supreme Lord’s stated purpose.
Ask yourself
What does Kṛṣṇa’s silence here teach me about the limits of judging His intention by outward appearances?
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.