Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.9.37
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRegret Made Good News Hard to Believe
“When King Uttānapāda heard that his son Dhruva was coming back home, as if coming back to life after death, he could not put his faith in this message, for he was doubtful of how it could happen. He considered himself the most wretched, and therefore he thought that it was not possible for him to attain such good fortune.”
What the purport teaches
- King Uttānapāda could not believe that his five-year-old son had survived in the forest. Hearing of Dhruva’s return seemed like hearing that someone had returned from death.
- The King considered himself responsible for Dhruva’s departure. He therefore regarded himself as most wretched.
- His sense of sinfulness made him doubt that such good fortune could be his. He struggled to believe that he would receive his lost son again.
Try this today
Reflect briefly on one regret, noticing whether it makes you dismiss something good in your life.
Ask yourself
Does regret ever make it difficult for me to accept good news?
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.