Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.89.29
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesArjuna Takes His Promise Seriously
“My lord, I will protect the progeny of you and your wife, who are in such distress. And if I fail to keep this promise, I will enter fire to atone for my sin.”
What the purport teaches
- Arjuna promises to protect the children of the distressed brāhmaṇa and his wife.
- He declares that he will enter fire if he fails. The purport explains that chivalrous Arjuna could not tolerate the shame of breaking his promise.
- The purport quotes Kṛṣṇa’s teaching that, for a respected person, dishonor is worse than death.
Try this today
Review one promise you have made and take one safe, practical step toward fulfilling it.
Ask yourself
How carefully do I consider my ability to fulfill a promise before making it?
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.