Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.18.12
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesWorldly Power Cannot Overcome the Lord
“You are supposed to be the commander of many foot soldiers, and now you may take prompt steps to overthrow Us. Give up all your foolish talk and wipe out the cares of your kith and kin by slaying Us. One may be proud, yet he does not deserve a seat in an assembly if he fails to fulfill his promised word.”
What the purport teaches
- A demon may be a great soldier and command many foot soldiers. Yet in the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is powerless and destined to die.
- The Lord challenges the demon not to go away, but to fulfill his promised word to kill Him.
- The Lord says that pride does not make someone worthy of a seat in an assembly if he fails to fulfill his promise.
Try this today
Review one small promise you have made and take a concrete step toward fulfilling it today.
Ask yourself
Do I place more importance on appearing powerful or on keeping my word?
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.