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Shloka 46

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?

nirūpyatāmlet it be ascertained
nirūpyatām:
Vidhi (विधि/imperative)
TypeVerb
Rootnir-√rūp (धातु)
FormLoṭ (लोट्/Imperative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग)
ihahere (in this world)
iha:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiha (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of place/time
svārthaḥone’s true self-interest
svārthaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sva-artha ‘one’s own good’
kiyānhow great?
kiyān:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootkiyat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; interrogative adjective qualifying svārthaḥ
deha-bhṛtaḥof embodied beings
deha-bhṛtaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootdeha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (प्रातिपदिक; from √bhṛ धातु)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; tatpuruṣa ‘body-bearers’
asurāḥO demons
asurāḥ:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootasura (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural
niṣeka-ādiṣuin (stages) beginning with conception
niṣeka-ādiṣu:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootniṣeka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; tatpuruṣa: niṣekādi ‘conception etc.’
avasthāsuin conditions/states
avasthāsu:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootavasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural
kliśyamānasyaof the suffering one
kliśyamānasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeAdjective
Root√kliś (धातु)
FormPresent passive participle (शानच्/मान), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; masculine/neuter; ‘of one being afflicted’
karmabhiḥby actions (karma)
karmabhiḥ:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

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.

P
Prahlāda Mahārāja

FAQs

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.