Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.17.20
Ūti· What drives us to actRecognizing Habits That Degrade Life
“Dirtiness, dishonesty, thievery, faithlessness, useless quarrel, lust, anger and hankering constitute the nature of those in the lowest position outside the varṇāśrama system.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Kṛṣṇa describes dirtiness, dishonesty, thievery, faithlessness and useless quarrel as characteristics of those in the lowest position outside varṇāśrama.
- The purport connects weak faith with lack of confidence in God’s kingdom and one’s eternal nature. It connects neglect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness with quarrels over insignificant bodily concerns.
- Lust, anger and hankering become practically unlimited in Kali-yuga. The purport warns that animal killing, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling degrade human life.
Try this today
Decline one unnecessary argument today rather than feeding anger.
Ask yourself
Am I allowing an insignificant bodily concern to draw me into useless quarrel?
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.