Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.78.23
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyRespect Requires a Proper Greeting
“Lord Balarāma became extremely angry upon seeing how this member of the sūta caste had failed to stand up, bow down or join his palms, and also how he was sitting above all the learned brāhmaṇas.”
What the purport teaches
- Romaharṣaṇa failed to stand up, bow down or join his palms to greet Lord Balarāma.
- The purport explains that he neglected all the standard ways of welcoming a superior personality.
- The purport also notes that, despite his lower caste, he sat above the exalted brāhmaṇas. Seeing this conduct, Lord Balarāma became extremely angry.
Try this today
Greet someone respectfully today with your full attention and an appropriate gesture.
Ask yourself
Do I sometimes overlook simple gestures of respect when greeting someone?
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.