Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 1
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
श्रीनारद उवाच भक्तियोगस्य तत्सर्वमन्तरायतयार्भक: । मन्यमानो हृषीकेशं स्मयमान उवाच ह ॥ १ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca bhakti-yogasya tat sarvam antarāyatayārbhakaḥ manyamāno hṛṣīkeśaṁ smayamāna uvāca ha
Nārada Muni poursuivit : Bien que Prahlāda ne fût qu’un enfant, en entendant les bénédictions offertes par Nṛsiṁhadeva, il les considéra comme des obstacles sur la voie du bhakti-yoga. Il sourit doucement et parla ainsi.
Material achievements are not the ultimate goal of devotional service. The ultimate goal of devotional service is love of Godhead. Therefore although Prahlāda Mahārāja, Dhruva Mahārāja, Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja and many devotee kings were materially very opulent, they accepted their material opulence in the service of the Lord, not for their personal sense gratification. Of course, possessing material opulence is always fearful because under the influence of material opulence one may be misdirected from devotional service. Nonetheless, a pure devotee ( anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam ) is never misdirected by material opulence. On the contrary, whatever he possesses he engages one hundred percent in the service of the Lord. When one is allured by material possessions, they are considered to be given by māyā, but when one uses material possessions fully for service, they are considered God’s gifts, or facilities offered by Kṛṣṇa for enhancing one’s devotional service.
FAQs
This verse notes that impediments can arise even for a devotee, yet Prahlāda remains steady—taking Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord Viṣṇu) as his shelter and responding without fear.
Because he sees the Lord as his protector and controller of all circumstances; his faith in Hṛṣīkeśa makes him inwardly fearless and composed.
Treat difficulties as tests that need not shake devotion—remember the Lord’s guidance, restrain reactive senses, and respond with steadiness rather than anxiety.