Shloka 31

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

गुरुशुश्रूषया भक्त्या सर्वलब्धार्पणेन च । सङ्गेन साधुभक्तानामीश्वराराधनेन च ॥ ३० ॥ श्रद्धया तत्कथायां च कीर्तनैर्गुणकर्मणाम् । तत्पादाम्बुरुहध्यानात तल्लिङ्गेक्षार्हणादिभि: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

guru-śuśrūṣayā bhaktyā sarva-labdhārpaṇena ca saṅgena sādhu-bhaktānām īśvarārādhanena ca

Translation

শ্ৰদ্ধাৰে ভগৱানৰ কথা শ্ৰৱণ কৰি তেওঁৰ গুণ-কৰ্মৰ কীৰ্তন কৰিব লাগে। তেওঁৰ পদপদ্ম ধ্যান কৰি, শাস্ত্ৰ আৰু গুৰুৰ বিধি অনুসাৰে বিগ্ৰহ দৰ্শন-অৰ্চনা আদি কৰিব লাগে।

Synonyms

• गुरु-शुश्रूषया: by service to the guru
• गुरु-शुश्रूषया: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सर्व-लब्ध-अर्पणेन: by offering all that is obtained
• सर्व-लब्ध-अर्पणेन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लब्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• सङ्गेन: by association
• सङ्गेन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• साधु-भक्तानाम्: of saintly devotees
• साधु-भक्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• ईश्वर-आराधनेन: by worship of the Lord
• ईश्वर-आराधनेन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आराधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

Purport

In the previous verse it has been said that the process which immediately increases one’s love and affection for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the best of the many thousands of ways to become free from the entanglement of material existence. It is also said, dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām: actually the truth of religious principles is extremely confidential. Nonetheless, it can be understood very easily if one actually adopts the principles of religion. As it is said, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: the process of religion is enunciated by the Supreme Lord because He is the supreme authority. This is also indicated in the previous verse by the word bhagavatoditaḥ. The injunctions or directions of the Lord are infallible, and their benefits are fully assured. According to His directions, which are explained in this verse, the perfect form of religion is bhakti-yoga.

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja
• Īśvara (the Supreme Lord)
• Guru (spiritual master)
• Sādhu-bhaktas (saintly devotees)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say are the main practices of bhakti?

This verse lists core bhakti practices: serving the guru, offering one’s gains to the Lord, associating with saintly devotees, worshiping the Lord, hearing His narrations with faith, chanting His qualities and deeds, meditating on His lotus feet, and honoring His forms and representations.

Why did Prahlāda Mahārāja teach these practices to his schoolmates?

Prahlāda instructed the sons of demons to turn their intelligence toward devotion to the Supreme Lord, showing that bhakti is accessible through daily, practical disciplines like hearing, chanting, worship, and saintly association.

How can I apply śravaṇa and kīrtana in modern life according to this shloka?

Set a daily rhythm of hearing Bhagavatam/Krishna-kathā (talks, reading) with faith and regularly chanting the Lord’s names and qualities, while keeping company—online or in person—with sincere devotees and offering your work’s results to God.