Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.8.27
Ūti· What drives us to actNotice How Deeply Honor Affects You
“The great sage Nārada told Dhruva: My dear boy, you are only a little boy whose attachment is to sports and other frivolities. Why are you so affected by words insulting your honor?”
What the purport teaches
- Nārada addressed Dhruva affectionately as a little boy attached to play. He asked why insulting words had affected him so deeply.
- An ordinary child does not take insulting words very seriously. Nor does such a child greatly appreciate words of honor.
- Dhruva’s kṣatriya spirit was unusually strong. He could not tolerate even a slight insult that injured his prestige.
Try this today
When you receive praise or criticism today, pause and notice how much importance you give the words.
Ask yourself
How strongly do words of praise or insult affect my sense of honor?
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.