Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.17.18
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionReligious Duty Includes Protecting the Surrendered
“Addressing the great, opulent King Pṛthu as the knower of religious principles and shelter of the surrendered, she said: Please save me. You are the protector of all living entities. Now you are situated as the King of this planet.”
What the purport teaches
- The earth addressed King Pṛthu as dharma-jña, one who knows religious principles. She appealed to him as the shelter of the surrendered.
- The purport states that a woman, a cow, a child, a brāhmaṇa and an old man must receive protection. This duty belongs to the king and to others as well.
- Religious principles forbid killing someone who surrenders. The earth reminded Pṛthu that he was both an incarnation of God and the King, and appealed to him to excuse her.
Try this today
Offer one small, practical act of care to a child or an elderly person today.
Ask yourself
How can I better protect someone who depends on my care?
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.