Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.16.7
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionTolerance Continues to Care for Others
“This King Pṛthu will be very, very kind to all citizens. Even though a poor person may trample over the King’s head by violating the rules and regulations, the King, out of his causeless mercy, will be forgetful and forgiving. As a protector of the world, he will be as tolerant as the earth itself.”
What the purport teaches
- The earth is trampled by people and animals yet continues to produce grains, fruits and vegetables. Pṛthu’s tolerance is compared to this generosity.
- Even when citizens violated the rules, Pṛthu would remain tolerant and continue maintaining them. His kindness included forgiveness toward the poor and distressed.
- A king should care for citizens even at the cost of personal convenience. The purport contrasts this with rulers whose unfair taxation burdens people and encourages dishonesty.
Try this today
Respond patiently to one small inconvenience today, without withdrawing your kindness.
Ask yourself
Can I continue showing practical kindness when someone inconveniences 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.