Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.7.10
Ūti· What drives us to actHariścandra Requests a Delay
“Thereafter, when the child was born, Varuṇa approached Hariścandra and said, “Now you have a son. With this son you can offer me a sacrifice.” In answer to this, Hariścandra said, “After ten days have passed since an animal’s birth, the animal becomes fit to be sacrificed.””
What the purport teaches
- After the child was born, Varuṇa approached Hariścandra and asked him to offer the sacrifice with his son.
- Hariścandra answered by referring to the age at which an animal becomes fit for sacrifice.
- He said that ten days must pass after an animal’s birth. His answer postponed the requested sacrifice.
Try this today
Read Varuṇa’s request and Hariścandra’s reply side by side, noting the reason given for waiting.
Ask yourself
What do I notice about Hariścandra’s response when Varuṇa asks him to act?
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.