Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.17.22
Ūti· What drives us to actStrength and Boons Can Feed Pride
“His mental and bodily strength as well as the boon conferred upon him had made him proud. He feared death at the hands of no one, and there was no checking him. The gods, therefore, were seized with fear at his very sight, and they hid themselves even as snakes hide themselves for fear of Garuḍa.”
What the purport teaches
- Hiraṇyākṣa’s mental and bodily strength, together with his boon, had made him proud.
- Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu had received a boon that no other living entity within the universe could kill them. They were almost immortal and completely fearless.
- The demigods hid at the sight of Hiraṇyākṣa, just as snakes hide for fear of Garuḍa.
Try this today
Notice one strength you have, and avoid using it today to intimidate anyone.
Ask yourself
When I feel strong or secure, does that confidence turn into pride?
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.