Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.26.30
Ūti· What drives us to actGive Respect Instead of Claiming Greatness
“A lowborn and abominable person who in this life becomes falsely proud, thinking “I am great,” and who thus fails to show proper respect to one more elevated than he by birth, austerity, education, behavior, caste or spiritual order, is like a dead man even in this lifetime, and after death he is thrown headfirst into the hell known as Kṣārakardama. There he must suffer great tribulation at the hands of the agents of Yamarāja.”
What the purport teaches
- One should not become falsely proud, thinking, “I am great.” Such pride can prevent one from giving proper respect.
- The text calls for respect toward those more elevated by birth, austerity, education, behavior, caste or spiritual order. The purport emphasizes honoring such persons rather than indulging in false pride.
- The verse compares a person absorbed in this disrespect to a dead man even during life. It describes further suffering in Kṣārakardama after death.
Try this today
Express sincere respect today to one person whose learning, conduct or spiritual discipline exceeds your own.
Ask yourself
Whose learning, conduct or spiritual standing have I failed to respect because of pride?
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.