Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.20.32
Ūti· What drives us to actNotice Desire Behind Words of Praise
“The demons praised her: Oh, what a beauty! What rare self-control! What a budding youth! In the midst of us all, who are passionately longing for her, she is moving about like one absolutely free from passion.”
What the purport teaches
- The demons praised the girl's beauty and budding youth. Their words revealed how strongly her appearance held their attention.
- They also praised what seemed to them to be rare self-control. She appeared to move among them as one free from passion.
- The demons themselves were passionately longing for her. The verse contrasts their desire with her apparent freedom from it.
Try this today
Pause once today before praising an appearance, and quietly notice your motive.
Ask yourself
When I praise someone's appearance, what desires may be shaping my words?
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.