Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.24.3
Visarga· Brahmā's creationRespect Amid Another’s Wrongdoing
“Formerly, Mahārāja Vijitāśva pleased the King of heaven, Indra, and from him received the title Antardhāna. His wife’s name was Śikhaṇḍinī, and by her he begot three good sons.”
What the purport teaches
- Vijitāśva could see Indra stealing his father’s sacrificial horse, although Indra was invisible to others. Yet Vijitāśva did not attack him.
- He knew that Indra was not an ordinary thief, but a powerful demigod and servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Out of sentiment, he excused Indra even though Indra was acting wrongly.
- Pleased with Vijitāśva, Indra gave him the mystic power of appearing and disappearing at will. Thus he became known as Antardhāna, meaning “disappearance.”
Try this today
When reflecting on someone’s fault today, also acknowledge one worthy quality without denying the fault.
Ask yourself
Can I recognize someone’s worthy qualities without calling their wrongdoing right?
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.