Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.14.23
Ūti· What drives us to actPride Rejects the Advice of Sages
“King Vena replied: You are not at all experienced. It is very much regrettable that you are maintaining something which is not religious and are accepting it as religious. Indeed, I think you are giving up your real husband, who maintains you, and are searching after some paramour to worship.”
What the purport teaches
- King Vena foolishly accused the saintly sages of being inexperienced like small children. By questioning their knowledge, he rejected their advice.
- The duty of the kṣatriyas is to engage the brāhmaṇas in religious activities. The king is supposed to maintain the brāhmaṇas.
- Vena compared the sages to an unfaithful wife who neglects her maintainer. Through this comparison, he accused them of disloyalty for worshiping the demigods rather than the king.
Try this today
Listen to one piece of helpful advice today without immediately defending yourself.
Ask yourself
When advice challenges you, do you consider it or dismiss the person offering it?
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.