Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.11.13
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyPlease the Lord Through Merciful Relationships
“The Lord is very satisfied with His devotee when the devotee greets other people with tolerance, mercy, friendship and equality.”
What the purport teaches
- A devotee should be tolerant when ill-treated and merciful toward innocent or ignorant people. Helping them awaken Kṛṣṇa consciousness and enter devotional service is mercy.
- A devotee should maintain friendship with fellow devotees. Everyone is constitutionally an eternal servant of God.
- A devotee sees every living entity as part of the Supreme Lord, despite different bodily forms. Tolerance, mercy, friendship and equality greatly satisfy the Lord.
Try this today
In one difficult interaction today, respond patiently rather than with hostility.
Ask yourself
Which relationship today calls for more tolerance, mercy or friendship from me?
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.