Shloka 2
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच मा मां प्रलोभयोत्पत्त्या सक्तं कामेषु तैर्वरै: । तत्सङ्गभीतो निर्विण्णो मुमुक्षुस्त्वामुपाश्रित: ॥ २ ॥
śrī-prahrāda uvāca mā māṁ pralobhayotpattyā saktaṁ kāmeṣu tair varaiḥ tat-saṅga-bhīto nirviṇṇo mumukṣus tvām upāśritaḥ
শ্ৰী প্ৰহ্লাদে ক’লে—হে প্ৰভু, এই বৰসমূহে মোক প্ৰলোভিত নকৰিব; জন্মগতভাৱে মই বিষয়ভোগত আসক্ত। সেই সঙ্গৰ ভয়ত মই নিৰ্বেদী হৈ, মুক্তি কামনা কৰি, আপোনাৰ পদপদ্মৰ আশ্ৰয় লৈছোঁ।
Materialistic life means attachment to the body and everything in relationship to the body. This attachment is based on lusty desires for sense gratification, specifically sexual enjoyment. Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ: when one is too attached to material enjoyment, he is bereft of all knowledge ( hṛta- jñānāḥ ). As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, those who are attached to material enjoyment are mostly inclined to worship the demigods to procure various material opulences. They are especially attached to worship of the goddess Durgā and Lord Śiva because this transcendental couple can offer their devotees all material opulence. Prahlāda Mahārāja, however, was detached from all material enjoyment. He therefore took shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, and not the feet of any demigod. It is to be understood that if one really wants release from this material world, from the threefold miseries and from janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi (birth, death, old age and disease), one must take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for without the Supreme Personality of Godhead one cannot get release from materialistic life. Atheistic men are very much attached to material enjoyment. Therefore if they get some opportunity to achieve more and more material enjoyment, they take it. Prahlāda Mahārāja, however, was very careful in this regard. Although born of a materialistic father, because he was a devotee he had no material desires ( anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam ).
FAQs
This verse shows Prahlāda refusing boons that increase attachment to sense desires, choosing instead exclusive shelter of the Lord for liberation.
After being offered benedictions by Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, Prahlāda expresses that a devotee seeking freedom from bondage does not want gifts that revive worldly attachment.
Evaluate gains and rewards by whether they deepen attachment; choose practices and goals that increase devotion, simplicity, and inner freedom rather than craving and dependence.