Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.3.19
Ūti· What drives us to actUnkind Words Can Wound Deeply
“Lord Śiva continued: If one is hurt by the arrows of an enemy, one is not as aggrieved as when cut by the unkind words of a relative, for such grief continues to rend one’s heart day and night.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Śiva explains that a relative’s unkind words can cause greater grief than an enemy’s arrows.
- Harm from an enemy is expected, but hurtful words from relatives can trouble the heart day and night.
- Satī might have thought she could tolerate her father’s reproaches. Lord Śiva warns her not to underestimate the depth of that pain.
Try this today
Before speaking to a relative today, replace one harsh phrase with a gentle, truthful one.
Ask yourself
Do I recognize how deeply my words may affect those closest to me?
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.