Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.11.12
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyReligious Principles Guide Restraint
“When he saw Indra’s carrier elephant thus fatigued and injured and when he saw Indra morose because his carrier had been harmed in that way, the great soul Vṛtrāsura, following religious principles, refrained from again striking Indra with the club. Taking this opportunity, Indra touched the elephant with his nectar-producing hand, thus relieving the animal’s pain and curing its injuries. Then the elephant and Indra both stood silently.”
What the purport teaches
- Vṛtrāsura saw that Indra’s elephant was fatigued and injured, and that Indra was deeply saddened.
- Following religious principles, the great soul Vṛtrāsura refrained from striking Indra again with his club.
- Indra used this opportunity to touch the elephant with his nectar-producing hand, relieving its pain and healing its injuries.
Try this today
When someone is struggling today, pause rather than add to their difficulty.
Ask yourself
How can another person’s distress remind me to exercise restraint?
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.