Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.8.12
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKapila Muni Is Free from Ignorant Anger
“It is sometimes argued that the sons of King Sagara were burned to ashes by the fire emanating from the eyes of Kapila Muni. This statement, however, is not approved by great learned persons, for Kapila Muni’s body is completely in the mode of goodness and therefore cannot manifest the mode of ignorance in the form of anger, just as the pure sky cannot be polluted by the dust of the earth.”
What the purport teaches
- Great learned persons do not approve the claim that Sagara’s sons were burned by fire from Kapila Muni’s eyes.
- Kapila Muni’s body is completely in the mode of goodness. It cannot manifest the mode of ignorance in the form of anger.
- The verse compares this purity to the pure sky, which cannot be polluted by the dust of the earth.
Try this today
Write one sentence explaining why this verse rejects the claim that Kapila Muni burned the sons in anger.
Ask yourself
How does the image of the pure sky help you understand Kapila Muni’s freedom from ignorant anger?
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.