Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.18.76
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionSeeking Forgiveness and Honoring Devotional Service
“O my mother, O best of all women, I am a fool. Kindly excuse me for whatever offenses I have committed. Your forty-nine sons have been born unhurt because of your devotional service. As an enemy, I cut them to pieces, but because of your great devotional service they did not die.”
What the purport teaches
- The speaker calls himself a fool and asks his mother to excuse the offenses he has committed.
- He admits that he acted as an enemy and cut her sons to pieces. He takes responsibility for his harmful actions.
- Her forty-nine sons were born unhurt because of her great devotional service. He acknowledges that devotional service is why they did not die.
Try this today
Offer one sincere apology for a wrong you have done, without making excuses.
Ask yourself
Can I honestly acknowledge an offense and humbly ask to be forgiven?
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.