Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.2.29-31
Nirodha· Winding upPersonal Power Is Not Supreme
“His golden, bejeweled armor smashed, his ornaments and garlands fallen from their places, his hair scattered and his eyes lusterless, the slain King lay on the battlefield, his entire body smeared with blood, his heart pierced by the arrows of the enemy. When he died he had wanted to show his prowess, and thus he had bitten his lips, and his teeth remained in that position. His beautiful lotuslike face was now black and covered with dust from the battlefield. His arms, with his sword and other weapons, were cut and broken. When the queens of the King of Uśīnara saw their husband lying in that position, they began crying, “O lord, now that you have been killed, we also have been killed.” Repeating these words again and again, they fell down, pounding their breasts, at the feet of the dead King.”
What the purport teaches
- The king’s armor, beauty and weapons could not protect him from death. His queens saw his fallen body and lamented deeply.
- While fighting in anger, the king bit his lips to show his prowess. Nonetheless, he was killed by providence.
- We are controlled by higher authorities; personal power and endeavor are not always supreme. The purport therefore teaches us to accept the position offered by the order of the Supreme.
Try this today
When one plan does not go your way today, pause and acknowledge that your personal power is not supreme.
Ask yourself
Where are you expecting your own strength or effort to control every outcome?
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.