Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.17.29
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesReason Can Restrain Anger
“Thus mocked by an enemy whose vanity knew no bounds, the worshipful lord of the waters waxed angry, but by dint of his reason he managed to curb the anger that had sprung up in him, and he replied: O dear one, we have now desisted from warfare, having grown too old for combat.”
What the purport teaches
- Varuṇa became angry when mocked by an enemy whose vanity knew no bounds.
- By his reason, he curbed the anger that had arisen. He replied that he had grown too old for combat and had given up warfare.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that warmongering materialists create fighting without reason.
Try this today
If provoked today, pause and consider whether a fight is necessary before giving a calm reply.
Ask yourself
How can I use reason to keep provocation from becoming a quarrel?
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.