Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.2.53
Ūti· What drives us to actGrief Questions the Ways of Providence
“Alas, how merciless is Providence! My wife, unable to be helped by anyone, is in such an awkward position and lamenting for me. What will Providence gain by taking away this poor bird? What will be the profit?”
What the purport teaches
- In his lament, the male bird calls Providence merciless. These words express his anguish over his wife’s danger.
- He describes his wife as helpless and lamenting for him.
- He asks what Providence could gain by taking away this poor bird. His questions reveal his distress at the threatened loss.
Try this today
Reread the bird’s questions and identify one phrase that expresses his helplessness.
Ask yourself
When I am distressed, how does grief shape the questions I ask?
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.