Shloka 15
Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti
श्रीनारद उवाच एतावद्ब्राह्मणायोक्त्वा विरराम महामति: । तं सन्निभर्त्स्य कुपित: सुदीनो राजसेवक: ॥ १५ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca etāvad brāhmaṇāyoktvā virarāma mahā-matiḥ taṁ sannibhartsya kupitaḥ sudīno rāja-sevakaḥ
Nārada dit : après avoir dit cela, le magnanime Prahlāda se tut. Alors ces brāhmaṇas de nom, serviteurs du roi, le réprimandèrent avec colère et, très affligés, parlèrent ainsi pour le châtier.
The word śukra means “semen.” The sons of Śukrācārya were brāhmaṇas by birthright, but an actual brāhmaṇa is one who possesses the brahminical qualities. The brāhmaṇas Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, being seminal sons of Śukrācārya, did not actually possess real brahminical qualifications, for they engaged as servants of Hiraṇyakaśipu. An actual brāhmaṇa is very much satisfied to see anyone, not to speak of his disciple, become a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Such brāhmaṇas are meant to satisfy the supreme master. A brāhmaṇa is strictly prohibited from becoming a servant of anyone else, for that is the business of dogs and śūdras. A dog must satisfy his master, but a brāhmaṇa does not have to satisfy anyone; he is simply meant to satisfy Kṛṣṇa ( ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam ). That is the real qualification of a brāhmaṇa. Because Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka were seminal brāhmaṇas and had become servants of such a master as Hiraṇyakaśipu, they unnecessarily wanted to chastise Prahlāda Mahārāja.
FAQs
Nārada explains that after speaking to a brāhmaṇa, the noble person stopped, and then an angry royal servant rebuked him—showing how worldly power often reacts harshly toward spiritual voices.
The verse highlights the clash between spiritual counsel and royal authority: a servant, driven by anger and duty to the king, responds by censuring the one who has spoken to the brāhmaṇa.
Maintain steadiness and dignity when confronted by aggressive or power-driven speech, and recognize that devotion and truthfulness may invite opposition from worldly systems.