Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.19.38
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyScriptural Evidence Invoked About a Promise
“One might argue that since you have already promised, how can you refuse? O best of the demons, just take from me the evidence of the Bahvṛca-śruti, which says that a promise is truthful preceded by the word om and untruthful if not.”
What the purport teaches
- The verse raises an objection: after making a promise, how can one refuse to fulfill it?
- The speaker answers by asking the hearer to accept evidence from the Bahvṛca-śruti.
- The cited statement calls a promise truthful when preceded by om and untruthful when it is not. This distinction is offered in response to the objection.
Try this today
Before making a commitment today, state clearly what you intend to do.
Ask yourself
When I want to withdraw a promise, how carefully do I examine the reason I give?
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.