Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.20.12
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyMarriage Desire Within Religious Boundaries
“O most beautiful one, it appears to my mind that you must be the daughter of a kṣatriya. Because I belong to the Pūru dynasty, my mind never endeavors to enjoy anything irreligiously.”
What the purport teaches
- Duṣmanta thought the woman must be the daughter of a kṣatriya. He presented this as what appeared to his mind.
- He said that, because he belonged to the Pūru dynasty, his mind never endeavored to enjoy anything irreligiously.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Duṣmanta was indirectly expressing his desire to marry Śakuntalā. She appeared to him to be the daughter of a kṣatriya king.
Try this today
Choose one desire you may act on today and examine whether the action respects your religious principles.
Ask yourself
When I desire something, do I consider whether pursuing it would be irreligious?
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.