Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.11.17
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesFollowing Cruelty Has Consequences
“You are naturally cruel. If the other demigods, unaware of my prowess, follow you by attacking me with raised weapons, I shall sever their heads with this sharp trident. With those heads I shall perform a sacrifice to Bhairava and the other leaders of the ghosts, along with their hordes.”
What the purport teaches
- Vṛtrāsura addressed Indra as naturally cruel.
- He warned that other demigods might follow Indra into battle without knowing Vṛtrāsura’s prowess.
- If they attacked, Vṛtrāsura threatened to sever their heads with his trident and offer them in sacrifice to Bhairava and the other leaders of the ghosts.
Try this today
Before joining a disagreement today, pause to check whether you would be supporting cruelty.
Ask yourself
Do I consider someone’s conduct before following their lead?
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.