Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti
निरूप्यतामिह स्वार्थ: कियान्देहभृतोऽसुरा: । निषेकादिष्ववस्थासु क्लिश्यमानस्य कर्मभि: ॥ ४६ ॥
nirūpyatām iha svārthaḥ kiyān deha-bhṛto ’surāḥ niṣekādiṣv avasthāsu kliśyamānasya karmabhiḥ
হে বন্ধুসমূহ, হে অসুৰপুত্ৰগণ! জীৱে পূৰ্বকৰ্ম অনুসাৰে বিভিন্ন দেহ লাভ কৰে আৰু গৰ্ভসঞ্চাৰৰ পৰা আৰম্ভ কৰি জীৱনৰ সকলো অৱস্থাত সেই দেহক কেন্দ্ৰ কৰি কৰ্মফলৰ ক্লেশ ভোগ কৰে। সেয়ে ভালদৰে বিবেচনা কৰি কোৱা—দুখ-কষ্ট দিয়া কৰ্মত জীৱৰ প্ৰকৃত স্বাৰ্থ কি?
Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa jantur dehopapattaye. The living entity receives a particular type of body according to his karma, or fruitive activities. The material pleasure derived in the material world from one’s particular body is based on sexual pleasure: yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham. The entire world is working so hard only for sexual pleasure. To enjoy sexual pleasure and maintain the status quo of material life, one must work very hard, and because of such activities, one prepares himself another material body. Prahlāda Mahārāja places this matter to his friends, the asuras, for their consideration. Asuras generally cannot understand that the objects of sexual pleasure, the so-called pleasure of materialistic life, depend on extremely hard labor.
This verse urges one to discern the soul’s real benefit beyond temporary bodily concerns, since embodied life brings suffering from conception onward due to karma.
While instructing his demoniac schoolmates, Prahlāda challenges them to rethink material goals and recognize that karmic reactions bind the soul to suffering through all stages of life.
Reflect on long-term spiritual welfare rather than short-term gains, reduce harmful actions that create karmic reactions, and prioritize devotion and wisdom that free one from repeated distress.