Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.10.4
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesCompassion Can Disrupt an Ordinary Task
“O lord, please note that we are not at all negligent in discharging our duties. We have been faithfully carrying this palanquin according to your desire, but this man who has been recently engaged to work with us cannot walk very swiftly. Therefore we are not able to carry the palanquin with him.”
What the purport teaches
- The carriers insisted that they were faithfully carrying out the King's orders. They blamed the uneven movement on the newly engaged carrier.
- The purport identifies the other carriers as śūdras and Jaḍa Bharata as a brāhmaṇa and great devotee. Their different ways of carrying out the duty created an imbalance.
- The other carriers walked without caring for the ants, but Jaḍa Bharata could not do so. His compassion as a Vaiṣṇava prevented him from keeping their pace.
Try this today
During one task today, take the extra moment needed to avoid harming a small living being.
Ask yourself
Am I willing to work more slowly when care for other living beings requires it?
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.