Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.21.46
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionRaise Children for Devotional Life
“They all declared that the Vedic conclusion that one can conquer the heavenly planets by the action of a putra, or son, was fulfilled, for the most sinful Vena, who had been killed by the curse of the brāhmaṇas, was now delivered from the darkest region of hellish life by his son, Mahārāja Pṛthu.”
What the purport teaches
- A son who delivers his father from the hellish condition called Put is called putra. Pṛthu Mahārāja delivered his sinful father, Vena, confirming the Vedic teaching.
- Religious marriage is not intended merely for sense gratification. Its purpose is to raise a son qualified to deliver his father from hellish life.
- A father’s duty is to become a Vaiṣṇava and raise his children as Vaiṣṇavas. Such a son can help deliver his father even if the father falls.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes today to study this teaching on becoming a Vaiṣṇava and nurturing devotion in family life.
Ask yourself
How does this teaching shift my view of family responsibility toward devotional life?
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.