Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.23.33
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOutward Appearance Does Not Justify Insults
“O kind Uddhava, seeing him as an old, dirty beggar, rowdy persons would dishonor him with many insults.”
What the purport teaches
- The people saw the brāhmaṇa as an old, dirty beggar.
- Rowdy persons dishonored him rather than treating him respectfully.
- He received many insults. The verse describes their mistreatment, not a fault in his spiritual life.
Try this today
Speak respectfully to someone whose appearance you might otherwise judge.
Ask yourself
Does someone’s outward appearance affect the respect I show them?
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.