Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.5.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesProtection and the Power of Dissolution
“Conjecturing on the origin of the storm, they said: There is no wind blowing, and no cows are passing, nor is it possible that this dust storm could be raised by plunderers, for there is still the strong King Barhi, who would punish them. Where is this dust storm blowing from? Is the dissolution of the planet now to occur?”
What the purport teaches
- The assembly could not explain the dust storm by wind, passing cows, or plunderers. They trusted that the strong King Barhi would punish plunderers.
- The purport stresses the need for a strong ruler who restrains thieves and plunderers. When such people are allowed liberty in the name of justice, the kingdom becomes disturbed.
- The dust raised by Lord Śiva’s soldiers resembled the dissolution of the world. Lord Śiva conducts the dissolution of the material creation when it is needed.
Try this today
Write one sentence about how responsible leadership protects people from harm.
Ask yourself
Why is protection from wrongdoing an important responsibility of leadership?
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.