Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.1.15
Ūti· What drives us to actA Well-Wisher Can Be Falsely Accused
“Who asked him to come here, this son of a kept mistress? He is so crooked that he spies in the interest of the enemy against those on whose support he has grown up. Toss him out of the palace immediately and leave him with only his breath.”
What the purport teaches
- Vidura was the son of a dāsī and had no claim to a royal position. Yet he was Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s dear brother, great friend and philosophical advisor.
- Duryodhana knew that Vidura was a great soul and well-wisher. Still, he attacked Vidura’s birth and accused him of serving the enemy.
- Palace diplomacy exposed even faultless Vidura to false charges and threatened punishment. Astonished by his nephew’s behavior, Vidura decided to leave before anything happened.
Try this today
Recall one uncomfortable piece of advice and consider its value without judging the adviser’s background.
Ask yourself
Do I dismiss a well-wisher because their advice does not favor my interests?
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.