Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.4.31-32
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesA Devotee Is Everyone's Well-Wisher
“[The qualities of Mahārāja Prahlāda, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, are described herewith.] He was completely cultured as a qualified brāhmaṇa, having very good character and being determined to understand the Absolute Truth. He had full control of his senses and mind. Like the Supersoul, he was kind to every living entity and was the best friend of everyone. To respectable persons he acted exactly like a menial servant, to the poor he was like a father, to his equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considered his teachers, spiritual masters and older Godbrothers to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural pride that might have arisen from his good education, riches, beauty, aristocracy and so on.”
What the purport teaches
- A perfect Vaiṣṇava has the qualities of a perfect brāhmaṇa, including peacefulness, purity, tolerance and honesty. Understanding the Absolute Truth requires control of the senses and mind.
- A Vaiṣṇava acts for everyone's welfare, regardless of position. Prahlāda was kind to the poor, affectionate to his equals and humble toward respectable persons.
- Prahlāda was free from pride in education, wealth and beauty, and deeply respected his teachers. A Vaiṣṇava obeys the spiritual master, who guides the disciple in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Try this today
Offer one concrete kindness today to someone you might ordinarily overlook.
Ask yourself
Whom might I overlook because of their position, and how can I become their well-wisher?
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.