Shloka 4
Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti
एकदासुरराट् पुत्रमङ्कमारोप्य पाण्डव । पप्रच्छ कथ्यतां वत्स मन्यते साधु यद्भवान् ॥ ४ ॥
ekadāsura-rāṭ putram aṅkam āropya pāṇḍava papraccha kathyatāṁ vatsa manyate sādhu yad bhavān
ಓ ಪಾಂಡವ (ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರ), ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಅಸುರರಾಜ ಹಿರಣ್ಯಕಶಿಪು ತನ್ನ ಮಗನನ್ನು ಮಡಿಲೇರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಕೇಳಿದನು—ವತ್ಸ, ಗುರುಗಳಿಂದ ಕಲಿತ ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನಗೆ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮವೆನಿಸುವುದು ಯಾವುದು? ಹೇಳು.
Hiraṇyakaśipu did not ask his young son anything that would be very difficult for him to answer; instead, he gave the boy a chance to speak plainly about whatever he thought might be best. Prahlāda Mahārāja, of course, being a perfect devotee, knew everything and could say what the best part of life is. In the Vedas it is said, yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati: if one properly understands God, he can understand any subject matter very nicely. Sometimes we have to challenge big scientists and philosophers, but by the grace of Kṛṣṇa we emerge successful. It is impossible, practically speaking, for ordinary men to challenge scientists or philosophers concerning genuine knowledge, but a devotee can challenge them because the best of everything is known to a devotee by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.11) :
FAQs
In this verse, Hiraṇyakaśipu asks Prahlāda what he considers the most beneficial (sādhu) course of action—setting the stage for Prahlāda’s famous teachings that the highest good is devotion to the Supreme Lord.
Hiraṇyakaśipu outwardly shows affection to draw out what Prahlāda learned, intending to assess (and later oppose) the devotional inclination that conflicted with his anti-Viṣṇu ideology.
Regularly prioritize what truly benefits the soul—cultivating devotion, hearing sacred wisdom, and choosing values over ego-driven success—rather than chasing only temporary achievements.