Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 10
Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha
मागारदारात्मजवित्तबन्धुषु सङ्गो यदि स्याद्भगवत्प्रियेषु न: । य: प्राणवृत्त्या परितुष्ट आत्मवान् सिद्ध्यत्यदूरान्न तथेन्द्रियप्रिय: ॥ १० ॥
māgāra-dārātmaja-vitta-bandhuṣu saṅgo yadi syād bhagavat-priyeṣu naḥ yaḥ prāṇa-vṛttyā parituṣṭa ātmavān siddhyaty adūrān na tathendriya-priyaḥ
My dear Lord, we pray that we may never feel attraction for the prison of family life, consisting of home, wife, children, friends, bank balance, relatives and so on. If we do have some attachment, let it be for devotees, whose only dear friend is Kṛṣṇa. A person who is actually self-realized and who has controlled his mind is perfectly satisfied with the bare necessities of life. He does not try to gratify his senses. Such a person quickly advances in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas others, who are too attached to material things, find advancement very difficult.
When Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu was requested to explain the duty of a Vaiṣṇava, a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, He immediately said, asat-saṅga-tyāga-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra. The first business of a Vaiṣṇava is to give up the association of persons who are not devotees of Kṛṣṇa and who are too attached to material things — wife, children, bank balance and so on. Prahlāda Mahārāja also prays to the Personality of Godhead that he may avoid the association of nondevotees attached to the materialistic way of life. If he must be attached to someone, he prays to be attached only to a devotee.
FAQs
This verse prays that one’s attachment should not cling to home, spouse, children, wealth, and relatives, but should be redirected toward those who are dear to Bhagavān—devotees—because such association supports spiritual perfection.
Prahlāda teaches that devotion grows through saintly association; attachment to worldly ties tends to deepen sense enjoyment, while attachment to the Lord’s प्रिय (dear) devotees nurtures renunciation, steadiness, and quick spiritual attainment.
Live simply—take what is needed for health and duty, reduce luxury-driven consumption, and invest time in sādhana and devotee association; the verse contrasts this with chasing sense pleasure, which delays inner perfection.