Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.16.12
Ūti· What drives us to actCruelty Reveals the Absence of Noble Qualities
“With pitiable prayers, Reṇukā, the mother of Paraśurāma and wife of Jamadagni, begged for the life of her husband. But the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, being devoid of the qualities of kṣatriyas, were so cruel that despite her prayers they forcibly cut off his head and took it away.”
What the purport teaches
- Reṇukā, the mother of Paraśurāma and wife of Jamadagni, begged for her husband’s life with pitiable prayers.
- The sons of Kārtavīryārjuna were devoid of the qualities of kṣatriyas. Their cruelty showed this lack of character.
- Despite Reṇukā’s prayers, they forcibly cut off Jamadagni’s head and took it away.
Try this today
Listen carefully to one person’s request for help today and respond kindly.
Ask yourself
Do my actions show compassion when someone asks for help?
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.