Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.10.2
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotion Includes Kindness to Every Living Being
“The palanquin, however, was very erratically carried by Jaḍa Bharata due to his sense of nonviolence. As he stepped forward, he checked before him every three feet to see whether he was about to step on ants. Consequently he could not keep pace with the other carriers. Due to this, the palanquin was shaking, and King Rahūgaṇa immediately asked the carriers, “Why are you carrying this palanquin unevenly? Better carry it properly.””
What the purport teaches
- Even when forced to carry the palanquin, Jaḍa Bharata did not forget his duty to avoid killing ants. A devotee does not abandon devotional service and favorable activities even in distress.
- A Vaiṣṇava is kind at heart to all living entities and is never envious or unnecessarily violent. Kṛṣṇa claims to be the supreme father of all life forms.
- Killing a living being interrupts the allotted duration of life in that body. One should not kill living beings for one's sense gratification.
Try this today
Watch the ground as you walk today, taking care not to step on ants or other small creatures.
Ask yourself
How can I remain considerate toward small living beings even when I am under pressure?
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.