Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.1.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRespect Devotees and Guard Against Ridicule
“King Parīkṣit inquired: How could the brāhmaṇas curse the Vṛṣṇis, who were always respectful to the brāhmaṇas, charitable, and inclined to serve senior and exalted personalities and whose minds were always fully absorbed in thought of Lord Kṛṣṇa?”
What the purport teaches
- The Vṛṣṇis respected brāhmaṇas, gave charity, served elders and constantly thought of Kṛṣṇa. Parīkṣit therefore wondered how a curse could arise or affect them.
- The Supreme Lord desired to remove His personal dynasty from the earth. Thus, the young boys of His family displayed uncustomary offensive behavior that brought about the brāhmaṇas’ anger.
- Envy and ridicule of devotees destroy spiritual qualifications and reverence for Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The Supreme Personality of Godhead does not excuse offenses against His devotees even among His own relatives and friends.
Try this today
Offer one respectful word or small act of service to an elder or devotee today.
Ask yourself
Am I careful to avoid contempt and ridicule when speaking about devotees and respectable persons?
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.