Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.14.11
Ūti· What drives us to actHarsh Words Wound the Heart
“Sometimes the conditioned soul is very aggrieved by the chastisement of his enemies and government servants, who use harsh words against him directly or indirectly. At that time his heart and ears become very saddened. Such chastisement may be compared to the sounds of owls and crickets.”
What the purport teaches
- The material world contains different kinds of enemies. Their harsh words, spoken directly or indirectly, can deeply distress the conditioned soul.
- The purport gives the example of government chastisement for unpaid income taxes. Such criticism saddens the person who receives it.
- The conditioned soul may try to counteract this chastisement but find himself unable to do so. The verse compares these painful sounds to the cries of owls and crickets.
Try this today
Recall one recent criticism and briefly name the sadness it caused, noticing whether trying to counteract it was within your power.
Ask yourself
How do harsh words affect my heart, especially when I cannot stop them?
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.