Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.26.17
Ūti· What drives us to actDeveloped Consciousness Brings Responsibility
“By the arrangement of the Supreme Lord, low-grade living beings like bugs and mosquitoes suck the blood of human beings and other animals. Such insignificant creatures are unaware that their bites are painful to the human being. However, first-class human beings — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas — are developed in consciousness, and therefore they know how painful it is to be killed. A human being endowed with knowledge certainly commits sin if he kills or torments insignificant creatures, who have no discrimination. The Supreme Lord punishes such a man by putting him into the hell known as Andhakūpa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakūpa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.”
What the purport teaches
- Lower creatures that cause pain without understanding it are not subjected to punishment. Human beings, with developed consciousness, are responsible for the suffering they cause.
- Kṛṣṇa created the four divisions of human society, whose members should follow their prescribed regulations. The purport includes the rule that one should never trouble animals, even those that disturb people.
- A person who knowingly kills or torments such creatures is punished in Andhakūpa. Developed consciousness should guide conduct rather than be neglected in animal-like behavior.
Try this today
If a small creature disturbs you today, avoid tormenting it and give it space to move away.
Ask yourself
How can I use my awareness of pain to treat even disturbing creatures more gently?
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.