Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.23.3
Ūti· What drives us to actHarsh Words Pierce the Heart
“Sharp arrows which pierce one’s chest and reach the heart do not cause as much suffering as the arrows of harsh, insulting words that become lodged within the heart when spoken by uncivilized men.”
What the purport teaches
- Harsh, insulting words are compared to arrows that lodge within the heart.
- The verse describes these words as causing more suffering than sharp arrows piercing the chest.
- Insulting speech is therefore not a small matter. Its pain can remain within the person who hears it.
Try this today
Before making one difficult comment today, remove any harsh or insulting wording.
Ask yourself
Am I careful about the pain my words may leave in another person’s heart?
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.