Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 30
Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul
श्रीदैत्यपुत्रा ऊचु: प्रह्राद त्वं वयं चापि नर्तेऽन्यं विद्महे गुरुम् । एताभ्यां गुरुपुत्राभ्यां बालानामपि हीश्वरौ ॥ २९ ॥ बालस्यान्त:पुरस्थस्य महत्सङ्गो दुरन्वय: । छिन्धि न: संशयं सौम्य स्याच्चेद्विस्रम्भकारणम् ॥ ३० ॥
śrī-daitya-putrā ūcuḥ prahrāda tvaṁ vayaṁ cāpi narte ’nyaṁ vidmahe gurum etābhyāṁ guru-putrābhyāṁ bālānām api hīśvarau
The sons of the demons replied: Dear Prahlāda, neither you nor we know any teacher or spiritual master other than Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the sons of Śukrācārya. After all, we are children and they our controllers. For you especially, who always remain within the palace, it is very difficult to associate with a great personality. Dear friend, most gentle one, would you kindly explain how it was possible for you to hear Nārada? Kindly dispel our doubts in this regard.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates.”
FAQs
This verse shows the boys recognize formal instructors (the guru’s sons), yet the narrative sets up that true guidance comes from devotion and realized instruction—embodied by Prahlada’s bhakti-centered teachings.
They were students under the school run by Shanda and Amarka (sons of their teacher), so they acknowledge the institutional authority governing their education while turning to Prahlada for clarity.
Respect formal teachers, but seek genuine spiritual understanding and character-building wisdom—learning that real guidance is measured by truth and transformation, not only by position.