Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.7.9
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionThe Lord Restores Welfare Through Pṛthu
“Mahārāja Vena went astray from the path of righteousness, and the brāhmaṇas chastised him by the thunderbolt curse. By this King Vena was burnt with his good deeds and opulence and was en route to hell. The Lord, by His causeless mercy, descended as his son, by the name of Pṛthu, delivered the condemned King Vena from hell, and exploited the earth by drawing all kinds of crops as produce.”
What the purport teaches
- Learned, pious brāhmaṇas guided kings according to scripture for the complete welfare of their subjects. Because they were not paid servants of the king, they could speak independently.
- Mahārāja Vena willfully neglected these great souls and lost the benefits of his past righteousness. The purport urges us to follow in the footsteps of great souls.
- Responding to the brāhmaṇas’ prayers, the Lord descended as Pṛthu to rectify disorders on earth and produce all kinds of crops. He also delivered his father, Vena, from hellish suffering, fulfilling the duty of a worthy son.
Try this today
Choose one instruction from this purport about following great souls, and write how you can apply it today.
Ask yourself
Am I willing to accept spiritually grounded correction when it challenges my wishes?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.