Shloka 23
Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities
तस्यै नमोऽस्तु काष्ठायै यत्रात्मा हरिरीश्वर: । यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते शान्ता: संन्यासिनोऽमला: ॥ २२ ॥ इति ते संयतात्मान: समाहितधियोऽमला: । उपतस्थुर्हृषीकेशं विनिद्रा वायुभोजना: ॥ २३ ॥
tasyai namo ’stu kāṣṭhāyai yatrātmā harir īśvaraḥ yad gatvā na nivartante śāntāḥ sannyāsino ’malāḥ
এইদৰে কৈ, সংযত আত্মা আৰু একাগ্ৰ বুদ্ধিৰ নিৰ্মল দেৱতাসকলে নিদ্ৰাহীন হৈ, কেৱল প্ৰাণবায়ুত জীৱন ধৰি, হৃষীকেশক উপাসনা কৰিলে।
The two words tasyai kāṣṭhāyai are very significant. Everywhere, in every direction, in every heart and in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in His features as Brahman and Paramātmā. Then what is the purpose of saying tasyai kāṣṭhāyai — “in that direction where Hari is situated”? During Hiraṇyakaśipu’s time, his influence was everywhere, but he could not force his influence into the places where the Supreme Personality of Godhead had His pastimes. For example, on this earth there are such places as Vṛndāvana and Ayodhyā, which are called dhāmas. In the dhāma, there is no influence from Kali-yuga or any demon. If one takes shelter of such a dhāma, worship of the Lord becomes very easy, and resultant spiritual advancement quickly takes place. In fact, in India one may still go to Vṛndāvana and similar places to achieve the results of spiritual activities quickly.
FAQs
This verse states that when one attains the Supreme Lord Hari—realized as the indwelling Self and Controller—pure, peaceful renunciants do not return to material bondage.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes the supreme destination where Hari is realized, while narrating events surrounding Hiraṇyakaśipu’s oppression and the broader cosmic situation.
Cultivate inner purity and steadiness (śānti), reduce attachment, and orient life toward remembering and realizing Hari as the Lord within—so spiritual progress becomes irreversible.