Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 45
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
धर्मो भागवतानां च भगवान्येन गम्यते । आख्यानेऽस्मिन्समाम्नातमाध्यात्मिकमशेषत: ॥ ४५ ॥
dharmo bhāgavatānāṁ ca bhagavān yena gamyate ākhyāne ’smin samāmnātam ādhyātmikam aśeṣataḥ
至上人格神を真に理解させる宗教原理はバガヴァタ・ダルマと呼ばれる。ゆえにこの物語には、その霊的真理が余すところなく正しく説かれている。
Through the principles of religion, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Brahman (the impersonal feature of the Supreme Lord) and Paramātmā (the localized aspect of the Lord). When one is well conversant with all these principles, he becomes a devotee and performs bhāgavata-dharma. Prahlāda Mahārāja, the spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession, advised that this bhāgavata-dharma be instructed to students from the very beginning of their education ( kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha ). To understand the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the real purpose of education. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ. One must simply hear about and describe Lord Viṣṇu and His various incarnations. This narration concerning Prahlāda Mahārāja and Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, therefore, has properly described spiritual, transcendental subjects.
FAQs
Bhāgavata-dharma is the devotional path and conduct of the Lord’s devotees—dharma that directly leads one to attain Bhagavān, as summarized here as the essential teaching of this narration.
He concludes the Prahlāda-centered narration by stating that it has already conveyed the complete essence of devotees’ dharma and full spiritual instruction (ādhyātmika-jñāna).
Live in a way that directly supports remembrance and service of Bhagavān—cultivating devotion, integrity, and spiritual understanding—so that one’s daily duties become a path to God-realization.