Shloka 48
Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti
तस्मादर्थाश्च कामाश्च धर्माश्च यदपाश्रया: । भजतानीहयात्मानमनीहं हरिमीश्वरम् ॥ ४८ ॥
tasmād arthāś ca kāmāś ca dharmāś ca yad-apāśrayāḥ bhajatānīhayātmānam anīhaṁ harim īśvaram
અતએવ ધર્મ, અર્થ અને કામ—આ બધું પરમેશ્વરની ઇચ્છા પર આધારિત છે. તેથી, હે મિત્રો, ભક્તોના પગલાં અનુસરો; નિષ્કામ બની, સંપૂર્ણ રીતે પ્રભુની વ્યવસ્થા પર નિર્ભર રહી, અંતર્યામી ઈશ્વર હરિની ભક્તિસેવામાં આરાધના કરો.
These are words of intelligence. Everyone should know that in every stage of life we are dependent upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the dharma, religion, which we accept should be that which is recommended by Prahlāda Mahārāja — bhāgavata-dharma. This is the instruction of Kṛṣṇa: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. To take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa means to act according to the rules and regulations of bhāgavata-dharma, devotional service. As far as economic development is concerned, we should discharge our occupational duties but fully depend on the lotus feet of the Lord for the results. Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana: “You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action.” According to one’s position, one should perform his duties, but for the results one should fully depend upon Kṛṣṇa. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings that our only desire should be to perform the duties of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We should not be misled by the karma-mīmāṁsā philosophy, which concludes that if we work seriously the results will come automatically. This is not a fact. The ultimate result depends upon the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In devotional service, therefore, the devotee completely depends upon the Lord and honestly performs his occupational duties. Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja advised his friends to depend completely on Kṛṣṇa and worship Him in devotional service.
FAQs
This verse states that wealth (artha), enjoyment (kāma), and even religiosity (dharma) are ultimately sheltered in and dependent upon Lord Hari; therefore one should worship Him first and foremost.
Prahlāda instructs the sons of demons that all goals people chase—prosperity, pleasure, and duty—are fulfilled properly only when centered on devotion to the Supreme Controller, Hari.
Make bhakti the priority: begin daily chanting/remembering Hari, align work and desires with dharma, and treat success as secondary—because the real support of life’s goals is devotion to the Lord.