Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.9.8
Ūti· What drives us to actDevotees Care About Others’ Suffering
“O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.”
What the purport teaches
- Brahmā feels deep sorrow on seeing living beings troubled by bodily needs, harsh weather, strong desires and anger. Pure devotees are unhappy to see conditioned souls suffer.
- Leaders who do not know how to relieve these difficulties can place their followers in further trouble. The purport compares this to a blind person leading another blind person into a ditch.
- Devotees take pity on suffering people and teach them the right path. Those who voluntarily accept this responsibility are very dear to the Lord.
Try this today
Read Brahmā’s prayer with one suffering person in mind, and pray for the compassion to offer helpful spiritual guidance.
Ask yourself
Does seeing another person’s suffering awaken a wish to help them find the right path?
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.