Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.16.18-19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord Protects Devotees and Punishes Miscreants
“With the blood of the bodies of these sons, Lord Paraśurāma created a ghastly river, which brought great fear to the kings who had no respect for brahminical culture. Because the kṣatriyas, the men of power in government, were performing sinful activities, Lord Paraśurāma, on the plea of retaliating for the murder of his father, rid all the kṣatriyas from the face of the earth twenty-one times. Indeed, in the place known as Samanta-pañcaka he created nine lakes filled with their blood.”
What the purport teaches
- Paraśurāma is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His eternal mission is to protect the devotees and annihilate the miscreants.
- His father’s murder was only a plea for His action; the ruling class had become polluted and disobedient to brahminical culture. Lord Paraśurāma therefore destroyed the kṣatriyas twenty-one times.
- The purport warns that irresponsible, sinful governments face calamities when they disrespect the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. Government must also protect the institution of varṇāśrama-dharma.
Try this today
Use one responsibility you have today to offer practical help to a devotee.
Ask yourself
How can my use of responsibility show respect for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees?
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.