Shloka 1
Nārada Instructs the Pracetās: Bhakti as the Goal of All Paths
मैत्रेय उवाच तत उत्पन्नविज्ञाना आश्वधोक्षजभाषितम् । स्मरन्त आत्मजे भार्यां विसृज्य प्राव्रजन् गृहात् ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvāca tata utpanna-vijñānā āśv adhokṣaja-bhāṣitam smaranta ātmaje bhāryāṁ visṛjya prāvrajan gṛhāt
Maitreya said: Thereafter the Pracetās attained perfect knowledge in spiritual consciousness. Remembering the words and blessings of the Lord Adhokṣaja, they entrusted their wife with the care of a worthy son and departed from home to the life of renunciation.
After the Pracetās had finished their penances, they were blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord blessed them by telling them that after finishing their family life they would return home, back to Godhead, in due course of time. After finishing their family life, which lasted thousands of years according to the calculation of the demigods, the Pracetās decided to leave home, putting their wife in the charge of a son named Dakṣa. This is the process of Vedic civilization. In the beginning of life, as a brahmacārī, one has to undergo severe penances and austerities in order to be educated in spiritual values. The brahmacārī, or student, is never allowed to mingle with women and learn from the beginning of life about sex enjoyment. The basic flaw in modern civilization is that boys and girls are given freedom during school and college to enjoy sex life. Most of the children are varṇa-saṅkara, meaning “born of undesirable fathers and mothers.” Consequently, the whole world is in chaos. Actually, human civilization should be based on the Vedic principles. This means that in the beginning of life boys and girls should undergo penances and austerities. When they are grown, they should get married, live for some time at home and beget children. When the children are grown up, the man should leave home and search for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one can make one’s life perfect by going home to the kingdom of God.
FAQs
This verse says that once true realization arises from hearing about Adhokṣaja, one naturally becomes detached and can renounce household life, even after briefly remembering family ties.
Maitreya highlights the final pull of worldly affection; despite that remembrance, the power of realized knowledge born from devotion enables them to renounce and depart.
Regularly hear and contemplate teachings about the Supreme Lord; as conviction deepens, attachment loosens, enabling responsible living with inner renunciation and clear spiritual priorities.