Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.8.23
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPride Drives Hiraṇyakaśipu to Attack
“Hiraṇyakaśipu murmured to himself, “Lord Viṣṇu, who possesses great mystic power, has made this plan to kill me, but what is the use of such an attempt? Who can fight with me?” Thinking like this and taking up his club, Hiraṇyakaśipu attacked the Lord like an elephant.”
What the purport teaches
- Hiraṇyakaśipu suspected that Lord Viṣṇu, who possesses great mystic power, had planned his death.
- Still, he dismissed the attempt and asked who could fight with him. Taking up his club, he attacked the Lord like an elephant.
- The purport compares this attack to fights between lions and elephants in the jungle. Since the elephant is generally defeated by the lion, the comparison is appropriate.
Try this today
Reflect briefly on “Who can fight with me?” and identify one proud attitude you can set aside today.
Ask yourself
Does confidence in my own strength ever make me dismiss the Lord’s power?
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.