Shloka 40
Nārada Instructs Prācīnabarhiṣat: The Purañjana Narrative Begins
City of Nine Gates
पितृदेवर्षिमर्त्यानां भूतानामात्मनश्च ह । क्षेम्यं वदन्ति शरणं भवेऽस्मिन् यद्गृहाश्रम: ॥ ४० ॥
pitṛ-devarṣi-martyānāṁ bhūtānām ātmanaś ca ha kṣemyaṁ vadanti śaraṇaṁ bhave ’smin yad gṛhāśramaḥ
La mujer continuó: Según las autoridades, en esta existencia el āśrama del cabeza de familia es un refugio benéfico y seguro, grato a los antepasados, a los devas, a los ṛṣis, a los humanos, a todos los seres y a uno mismo. Por ello es provechoso.
According to the Vedic system, when one is born in this material world he has many obligations. He has obligations to the demigods — the demigods of the sun and moon, King Indra, Varuṇa, etc. — because they are supplying the necessities of life. We receive heat, light, water and all other natural amenities through the mercy of the demigods. We are also indebted to our forefathers, who have given us these bodies, paternal property, intelligence, society, friendship and love. Similarly, we are indebted to the general public for politics and sociology, and we are also indebted to lower animals such as horses, cows, asses, dogs and cats. In this way, as soon as one is born in this material world as a human being, he has so many obligations and is bound to repay all these obligations. If he does not repay them, he is further entangled in the process of birth and death. The gṛhamedhī, however, who is overly addicted to material things, does not know that if he simply takes shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, he is immediately freed from all obligations to others. Unfortunately a gṛhamedhī does not have any interest in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Prahlāda Mahārāja says:
FAQs
This verse says gṛhastha life is a secure shelter in the world because it sustains forefathers, demigods, sages, humans, all creatures, and oneself through responsible, dharmic living.
Pṛthu teaches that household life, when guided by dharma and devotion, becomes a support-system for society and a stable platform for one’s own spiritual advancement.
Live responsibly—serve family and society, practice charity and hospitality, honor ancestors and sacred duties, and center life on devotion—so your home becomes a shelter for others and for your own spiritual growth.