Shloka 8
Adhyāya 222 — ब्रह्मस्थानप्राप्ति: मोक्षधर्मे समत्वव्रतम्
Attaining the Brahman-Station: The Vow of Equanimity in Mokṣadharma
(भक्त भागवतं नित्यं नारायणपरायणम् । ध्यायन्तं परमात्मानं हिरण्यकशिपो: सुतम् ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | bhaktaṃ bhāgavataṃ nityaṃ nārāyaṇaparāyaṇam | dhyāyantaṃ paramātmānaṃ hiraṇyakaśipoḥ sutam || śakraḥ prahlādam āsīnam ekānte saṃyatendriyam | bubhutsamānas tatprajñām abhigamya idam abravīt ||
Bhishma said: Prahlada, the son of Hiranyakashipu, was ever a devoted servant of the Lord—steadfastly surrendered to Narayana—and he remained absorbed in meditation on the Supreme Self. Seeing Prahlada seated in solitude, with his senses restrained, Shakra (Indra) approached him, wishing to understand the nature of his insight and intelligence, and spoke these words.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast devotion to Nārāyaṇa, expressed through disciplined senses and sustained meditation on the Paramātmā, is presented as the mark of true wisdom; such inner stability becomes worthy even of Indra’s inquiry.
Bhīṣma describes Prahlāda sitting alone in self-restraint and contemplation of the Supreme Self; Indra (Śakra), eager to understand Prahlāda’s wisdom, approaches him and begins a conversation.