Shloka 29
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
प्रह्मदस्त्वब्रवीद् विप्रं क्षणो नास्ति द्विजर्षभ । त्रैलोक्यराज्यसक्तस्य ततो नोपदिशामि ते
prahmadas tv abravīd vipraṁ kṣaṇo nāsti dvijarṣabha | trailokya-rājya-saktasya tato nopadiśāmi te ||
প্ৰহ্লাদে ব্ৰাহ্মণক ক’লে—“দ্বিজশ্ৰেষ্ঠ! মোৰ এক মুহূৰ্তও অবকাশ নাই। ত্ৰিলোকৰ ৰাজ্যকাৰ্যত মই নিমগ্ন; সেয়ে আপোনাক উপদেশ দিব নোৱাৰোঁ।”
घतयाट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment to power and administrative burdens can crowd out higher instruction and spiritual counsel; it implicitly warns that even lofty sovereignty is a distraction if it leaves no time for dharma-teaching and inner cultivation.
A Brahmin approaches Prahmada seeking instruction, but Prahmada declines, stating he is fully occupied with the governance of the three worlds and lacks even a moment to offer counsel.