Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.4.1
Ūti· What drives us to actIntoxication Harms Judgment and Relationships
“Thereafter, all of them [the descendants of Vṛṣṇi and Bhoja], being permitted by the brāhmaṇas, partook of the remnants of prasāda and also drank liquor made of rice. By drinking they all became delirious, and, bereft of knowledge, they touched the cores of each other’s hearts with harsh words.”
What the purport teaches
- The descendants of Vṛṣṇi and Bhoja took permission from the brāhmaṇas before eating the remnants of prasāda. This followed the custom of honoring guests first.
- Drinking made them lose their sense and forget their relationships. Their harsh words wounded one another deeply.
- Intoxication can affect even a highly cultured family. Although such behavior was unexpected from these descendants, it happened by the will of the Supreme.
Try this today
Today, pause before speaking in a tense moment and avoid harsh words.
Ask yourself
How can I protect my judgment and avoid words that wound others?
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.