Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.11.15
Ūti· What drives us to actHeavenly Ambition Does Not Excuse Cruelty
“Only for the sake of living in the heavenly planets, you killed my elder brother — a self-realized, sinless, qualified brāhmaṇa who had been appointed your chief priest. He was your spiritual master, but although you entrusted him with the performance of your sacrifice, you later mercilessly severed his heads from his body the way one butchers an animal.”
What the purport teaches
- Vṛtrāsura described his elder brother as a self-realized, sinless and qualified brāhmaṇa.
- Indra had appointed him chief priest and entrusted him with performing his sacrifice. He was also Indra’s spiritual master.
- Vṛtrāsura condemned Indra for mercilessly killing this trusted spiritual master merely for the sake of living in the heavenly planets.
Try this today
Review one ambition today and check whether pursuing it would betray someone’s trust.
Ask yourself
Could my desire for personal gain weaken my respect for someone I should honor?
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.