Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.30.44
Ūti· What drives us to actResponsible Care Includes Producing Food
“Thereafter all the Pracetās emerged from the waters of the sea. They then saw that all the trees on land had grown very tall, as if to obstruct the path to the heavenly planets. These trees had covered the entire surface of the world. At this time the Pracetās became very angry.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead directed the Pracetās to care for their father’s kingdom. On emerging from the water, they found that agriculture had been neglected and tall trees covered the land.
- The purport presents producing food grains, caring for cows and properly using available land as the basis of economic well-being. The Pracetās wanted land cleared for crops.
- The purport teaches that living beings depend on food grains, grains depend on rain, and rain follows the performance of yajña, or sacrifice. Prescribed duties thus support the provision of food.
Try this today
At one meal today, pause to reflect on the verse’s connection between prescribed duties, sacrifice, rain and food.
Ask yourself
How much attention do I give to the work and care that provide food?
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.