Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.2.19
Mukti· LiberationKṛṣṇa’s Mercy Reaches Even His Enemy
“You have personally seen how the King of Cedi [Śiśupāla] achieved success in yoga practice, although he hated Lord Kṛṣṇa. Even the actual yogīs aspire after such success with great interest by performance of their various practices. Who can tolerate separation from Him?”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa showed causeless mercy even to Śiśupāla, who hated and insulted Him. No one can truly rival the Supreme Lord.
- After the Lord killed Śiśupāla, everyone present saw a light leave his body and merge into Kṛṣṇa. He attained a perfection greatly desired by jñānīs and yogīs.
- The purport explains this salvation as merging in the brahmajyoti rays of the Lord’s transcendental body. Remembering such mercy, Uddhava asks how anyone can tolerate separation from Him.
Try this today
Reread the account of Śiśupāla’s salvation and pause to appreciate the Lord’s causeless mercy.
Ask yourself
What does Kṛṣṇa’s mercy toward His enemy teach me about His character?
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.