Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.10.39
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAnger Marks the Fallen Heroes
“In the course of the battle, the warfield became strewn with the severed heads of heroes, their eyes still staring and their teeth still pressed against their lips in anger. Helmets and earrings were scattered from these severed heads. Similarly, many arms, decorated with ornaments and clutching various weapons, were strewn here and there, as were many legs and thighs, which resembled the trunks of elephants.”
What the purport teaches
- The battlefield was strewn with the severed heads of heroes. Their eyes still stared, and their teeth pressed against their lips in anger.
- Helmets and earrings lay scattered from the fallen heads.
- Severed arms still bore ornaments and clutched weapons. Legs and thighs resembling elephant trunks also lay across the battlefield.
Try this today
Pause over the description of the heroes’ faces and write one observation about anger in this scene.
Ask yourself
What impression does the description of anger on the fallen heroes leave on me?
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.