Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.21.11
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHostility Shapes the Followers’ Complaint
“Our lord, Bali Mahārāja, because of his position in performing the yajña, has given up the power to punish. Taking advantage of this, our eternal enemy, Viṣṇu, dressed in the form of a brahmacārī beggar, has taken away all his possessions.
What the purport teaches
- The followers said Bali Mahārāja had given up the power to punish because he was performing the yajña.
- They described Viṣṇu as a brahmacārī beggar who had taken all their master’s possessions.
- Calling Viṣṇu their “eternal enemy,” they accused Him of taking advantage of Bali’s position. These words reveal the followers’ hostility toward the Lord.
Try this today
Notice the phrase “our eternal enemy” and reflect briefly on how it shapes the followers’ whole complaint.
Ask yourself
How can hostility shape the way I interpret another’s actions?
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.