Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.4.43
Ūti· What drives us to actOppressing a Devotee Destroys Pious Results
“My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu tormented this exalted, fortunate devotee, although Prahlāda was his own son.”
What the purport teaches
- Hiraṇyakaśipu tormented Prahlāda even though Prahlāda was his own son and an exalted, fortunate devotee.
- Despite the elevated position gained through severe austerities, one begins falling down by oppressing a pure devotee.
- Such oppression destroys the results of austerities, penances and pious activities. Hiraṇyakaśipu’s opulences began dwindling when he turned against Prahlāda Mahārāja.
Try this today
Make one deliberate effort today to treat a devotee with kindness rather than harshness.
Ask yourself
Does your treatment of devotees reflect respect for their devotion?
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.