Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.3.16
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyCloseness Does Not Excuse Hostility
“The great lord replied: My dear beautiful wife, you have said that one may go to a friend’s house without being invited, and this is true, provided such a friend does not find fault with the guest because of bodily identification and thereby become angry towards him.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva agrees that one may visit a friend without invitation, provided the friend does not find fault through bodily pride and anger.
- He foresees that Dakṣa, puffed up by material possessions, will be angry with Satī although she is innocent.
- Having already experienced Dakṣa’s harsh words despite being faultless, Lord Śiva warns that it is better for her not to go.
Try this today
Before making an uninvited visit today, pause to consider whether you will genuinely be welcomed.
Ask yourself
Do I consider someone’s actual disposition before assuming that a visit will be welcome?
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.