Shloka 56
Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti
ते तु तद्गौरवात्सर्वे त्यक्तक्रीडापरिच्छदा: । बाला अदूषितधियो द्वन्द्वारामेरितेहितै: ॥ ५६ ॥ पर्युपासत राजेन्द्र तन्न्यस्तहृदयेक्षणा: । तानाह करुणो मैत्रो महाभागवतोऽसुर: ॥ ५७ ॥
te tu tad-gauravāt sarve tyakta-krīḍā-paricchadāḥ bālā adūṣita-dhiyo dvandvārāmeritehitaiḥ
હે રાજેન્દ્ર! પ્રહ્લાદ મહારાજ પ્રત્યે આદર‑સ્નેહથી તે બધા બાળકો રમકડાં છોડીને, દ્વંદ્વ અને દેહસુખમાં રત ગુરુઓના ઉપદેશોથી હજી અદૂષિત બુદ્ધિ ધરાવી, તેમને ઘેરીને બેસી ગયા; હૃદય અને નજર તેમની ઉપર સ્થિર કરીને શ્રદ્ધાથી સાંભળવા લાગ્યા।
The words bālā adūṣita-dhiyaḥ indicate that the children, being of a tender age, were not as polluted by materialistic life as their fathers. Prahlāda Mahārāja, therefore, taking advantage of the innocence of his class friends, began teaching them about the importance of spiritual life and the insignificance of materialistic life. Although the teachers Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka were instructing all the boys in the materialistic life of religion, economic development and sense gratification, the boys were not much polluted. Therefore, with great attention they wanted to hear from Prahlāda Mahārāja about Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, the gurukula plays an extremely important part in our activities because right from childhood the boys at the gurukula are instructed about Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus they become steady within the cores of their hearts, and there is very little possibility that they will be conquered by the modes of material nature when they are older.
FAQs
This verse shows that when a saintly child like Prahlāda speaks, other children with unspoiled minds can naturally set aside play and become receptive to spiritual instruction.
Because they felt reverence for Prahlāda’s gravity and purity, and his words directed them toward what is truly beneficial beyond material dualities.
Create space to pause distractions and hear genuine spiritual guidance—especially in formative years or daily routines—so the mind stays clean and oriented toward bhakti.