Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 49
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
स वा अयं ब्रह्म महद्विमृग्य- कैवल्यनिर्वाणसुखानुभूति: । प्रिय: सुहृद् व: खलु मातुलेय आत्मार्हणीयो विधिकृद्गुरुश्च ॥ ४९ ॥
sa vā ayaṁ brahma mahad-vimṛgya- kaivalya-nirvāṇa-sukhānubhūtiḥ priyaḥ suhṛd vaḥ khalu mātuleya ātmārhaṇīyo vidhi-kṛd guruś ca
Kṛṣṇa Lui-même est Brahman, car Il est la source même du Brahman impersonnel. De Lui émane la félicité du kaivalya et la joie du nirvāṇa que recherchent les grands sages; et pourtant, ce même Être suprême est votre ami le plus cher, votre bienfaiteur constant et votre proche parent comme fils de l’oncle maternel. Il est pour vous comme le corps et l’âme, digne d’adoration, tout en agissant comme votre serviteur et parfois comme votre maître spirituel.
There is always a difference of opinion about the Absolute Truth. One class of transcendentalists concludes that the Absolute Truth is impersonal, and another class concludes that the Absolute Truth is a person. In Bhagavad-gītā, the Absolute Truth is accepted as the Supreme Person. Indeed, that Supreme Person Himself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, instructs in Bhagavad-gītā, brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat. “The impersonal Brahman is My partial manifestation, and there is no truth superior to Me.” That same Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, acted as the supreme friend and relative of the Pāṇḍavas, and sometimes He even acted as their servant by carrying a letter from the Pāṇḍavas to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana. Because Kṛṣṇa was the well-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas, He also acted as guru by becoming the spiritual master of Arjuna. Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as his spiritual master ( śiṣyas te ’haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam ), and Kṛṣṇa sometimes chastised him. For example, the Lord said, aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase: “While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief.” The Lord also said, kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṁ viṣame samupasthitam: “My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you?” Such was the intimate relationship between the Pāṇḍavas and Kṛṣṇa. In the same way, a pure devotee of the Lord is always with Kṛṣṇa through thick and thin; his way of life is Kṛṣṇa. This is the statement of the authority Śrī Nārada Muni.
FAQs
This verse states that the same Supreme Brahman sought by great sages is also intimately related to devotees—here described as the Pāṇḍavas’ dear well-wisher and cousin—showing Bhagavān’s personal aspect alongside His absolute nature.
He emphasizes that the Lord is the source of dharma and scriptural order (vidhi) and also the ultimate guru, guiding souls internally as Paramātmā and externally through divine instruction.
Approach God not only as an abstract Absolute but as a caring guide and friend—worship with devotion, seek His direction as the inner teacher, and align daily choices with dharma.