Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.1.43
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Waiting Does Not Excuse Wrongdoing
“Despite His being the Lord and being always willing to relieve the distress of sufferers, He [Kṛṣṇa] refrained from killing the Kurus, although they committed all sorts of sins and although He saw other kings constantly agitating the earth by their strong military movements carried out under the dictation of three kinds of false pride.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Kṛṣṇa appears to punish miscreants and protect the suffering faithful. He protected Draupadī with unlimited clothing, although He did not immediately punish those insulting her.
- The Lord’s silence did not mean that He excused the Kurus’ offenses. He waited for the kings, proud of wealth, education and followers, to assemble on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra.
- The Lord wanted His devotee and friend Arjuna to become the hero of the battle. He gave His devotee credit for an act that He Himself had already arranged.
Try this today
Notice one source of pride today—wealth, education or followers—and remind yourself not to use it to trouble others.
Ask yourself
Do I mistake the absence of immediate punishment for the Lord’s approval of wrongdoing?
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.