Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.1.41
Ūti· What drives us to actA Vaiṣṇava Wishes Good Even for Enemies
“O gentle one, I simply lament for him [Dhṛtarāṣṭra] who rebelled against his brother after death. By him I was driven out of my own house, although I am his sincere well-wisher, because he accepted the line of action adopted by his own sons.”
What the purport teaches
- Vidura lamented that Dhṛtarāṣṭra had acted against the sons of his dead brother Pāṇḍu. Following his crooked sons, Dhṛtarāṣṭra had also driven Vidura from his own house.
- Despite these actions, Vidura never became Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s enemy. He remained a sincere well-wisher and proved to be his real friend at the last stage of his life.
- Such is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava: he desires all good, even for his enemies. Vidura’s concern was for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s welfare, despite being mistreated by him.
Try this today
Think of one person who has treated you unfairly, and take a quiet moment to sincerely wish for their welfare.
Ask yourself
Can I wish for someone’s true welfare even when that person has hurt me?
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.