Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.1.8
Ūti· What drives us to actTruthfulness Contrasts With Unfair Favoritism
“Yudhiṣṭhira, who was born without any enemy, was unfairly defeated in gambling. But because he had taken the vow of truthfulness, he went off to the forest. When he came back in due course and begged the return of his rightful share of the kingdom, he was refused by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who was overwhelmed by illusion.”
What the purport teaches
- Although unfairly defeated in gambling, Yudhiṣṭhira honored his vow of truthfulness and went to the forest.
- Yudhiṣṭhira was the rightful heir, but Dhṛtarāṣṭra used unfair means to favor his own sons. Overwhelmed by illusion, he refused to return the Pāṇḍavas’ rightful share.
- Even the request for five villages was refused, leading to the War of Kurukṣetra. The purport therefore identifies the Kurus, not the Pāṇḍavas, as responsible for bringing about the battle.
Try this today
Check one responsibility involving fairness, and give anyone concerned what is rightfully theirs.
Ask yourself
Where might favoritism prevent me from giving someone their rightful share?
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.