Shloka 14
Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul
कुटुम्बपोषाय वियन्निजायु र्न बुध्यतेऽर्थं विहतं प्रमत्त: । सर्वत्र तापत्रयदु:खितात्मा निर्विद्यते न स्वकुटुम्बराम: ॥ १४ ॥
kuṭumba-poṣāya viyan nijāyur na budhyate ’rthaṁ vihataṁ pramattaḥ sarvatra tāpa-traya-duḥkhitātmā nirvidyate na sva-kuṭumba-rāmaḥ
Celui qui s’attache au soutien de sa famille ne voit pas qu’il gaspille sa vie précieuse. Bien qu’accablé par les trois misères, par complaisance envers les siens il ne développe pas le dégoût du monde.
A foolish man does not understand the values of human life, nor does he understand how he is wasting his valuable life simply for the maintenance of his family members. He is expert in calculating the loss of pounds, shillings and pence, but he is so foolish that he does not know how much money he is losing, even according to material considerations. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita gives the example that a moment of life cannot be purchased in exchange for millions of dollars. A foolish person, however, wastes such a valuable life without knowing how much he is losing, even according to monetary calculations. Although a materialistic person is expert in calculating costs and doing business, he does not realize that he is misusing his costly life for want of knowledge. Even though such a materialistic person is always suffering threefold miseries, he is not intelligent enough to cease his materialistic way of life.
FAQs
This verse says that excessive absorption in maintaining and enjoying one’s family can blind a person to the wasting of human lifespan, preventing detachment even amid constant frustration and suffering.
Prahlāda was instructing his schoolmates among the asuras, urging them to awaken to life’s real purpose—devotional service—rather than remaining careless and bound by material household attachment.
Do your duties, but regularly remember life’s goal—bhakti—by budgeting time for sādhana, reducing compulsive consumption, and viewing family care as service to God rather than as the sole source of happiness.