Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.22.57
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesStrong in Protection, Generous in Mercy
“Mahārāja Pṛthu was so strong and powerful that no one could disobey his orders, any more than one could conquer fire itself. He was so strong that he was compared to Indra, the King of heaven, whose power is insuperable. On the other hand, Mahārāja Pṛthu was also as tolerant as the earth, and in fulfilling various desires of human society, he was like heaven itself.”
What the purport teaches
- A king must protect the citizens and fulfill their desires, while citizens must obey the laws of the state. Pṛthu Mahārāja maintained these standards of good government.
- His power was compared to fire and to Indra, yet his tolerance was compared to the earth.
- He distributed mercy incessantly, like rainfall that enables food grains to grow. He was softer than a rose flower and harder than a thunderbolt.
Try this today
Respond patiently to one inconvenience today and offer practical help to someone affected by it.
Ask yourself
Where do I need to combine strength with greater tolerance and mercy?
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.