Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.4.44
Ūti· What drives us to actRecognize Devotion Beyond Harsh Accusations
“Alas, just see the behavior of this cruel man! He is not a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. Being proud of his material opulence and his position, he considers himself God. Just see how he has transgressed the laws of religion.”
What the purport teaches
- Durvāsā Muni accused the King of cruelty, but Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura interprets the words as praise of a character glorified by the local people.
- Although Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was an opulent king, he was not mad after money. He had surpassed the madness of material opulence.
- The purport explains that the King deeply respected the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By taking only water, he did not transgress the laws for observing Ekādaśī-pāraṇa.
Try this today
Reflect for one minute on whether concern for money is crowding out a religious commitment.
Ask yourself
Do my possessions distract me from respect for the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
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.