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Shloka 24

Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul

तस्मात्सर्वेषु भूतेषु दयां कुरुत सौहृदम् । भावमासुरमुन्मुच्य यया तुष्यत्यधोक्षज: ॥ २४ ॥

tasmāt sarveṣu bhūteṣu dayāṁ kuruta sauhṛdam bhāvam āsuram unmucya yayā tuṣyaty adhokṣajaḥ

ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಹೇ ದೈತ್ಯಕುಮಾರರೇ, ಎಲ್ಲ ಜೀವಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೂ ದಯೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಹಾರ್ದ ತೋರಿರಿ. ಆಸುರಭಾವವನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ದ್ವೇಷ-ದ್ವೈತರಹಿತರಾಗಿ, ಅಧೋಕ್ಷಜ ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಯನ್ನು ಸಂತೋಷಪಡಿಸಿರಿ।

तस्मात्therefore
तस्मात्:
Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय; तस्मात्-प्रयोगः (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)
सर्वेषुin all
सर्वेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्
भूतेषुin living beings
भूतेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन
दयाम्compassion
दयाम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootदया (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन
कुरुतdo; practice
कुरुत:
Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्
सौहृदम्friendliness
सौहृदम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootसौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
भावम्disposition
भावम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
आसुरम्demoniac
आसुरम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootआसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भावम् इति विशेष्यस्य)
उन्मुच्यhaving given up
उन्मुच्य:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउन्मुच् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त), अव्ययभावः; ‘having cast off’
ययाby which
यया:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सम्बन्धः साधनत्वेन
तुष्यतिis pleased
तुष्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
TypeVerb
Rootतुष् (धातु)
Formलट् (present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
अधोक्षजःAdhokṣaja (the Lord)
अधोक्षजः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअधोक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) , bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: “One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service.” Prahlāda Mahārāja ultimately instructed his class friends, the sons of the demons, to accept the process of devotional service by preaching the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to everyone. Preaching is the best service to the Lord. The Lord will immediately be extremely satisfied with one who engages in this service of preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (18.69) . Na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ: “There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” If one sincerely tries his best to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness by preaching the glories of the Lord and His supremacy, even if he is imperfectly educated, he becomes the dearmost servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is bhakti. As one performs this service for humanity, without discrimination between friends and enemies, the Lord becomes satisfied, and the mission of one’s life is fulfilled. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore advised everyone to become a guru- devotee and preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness ( yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa ). That is the easiest way to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By such preaching, the preacher becomes satisfied, and those to whom he preaches are also satisfied. This is the process of bringing peace and tranquillity to the entire world.

A
Adhokṣaja

FAQs

In Bhagavatam 7.6.24, Prahlāda teaches that one should show mercy and friendly goodwill to all beings and abandon an asuric mindset—this disposition pleases the Lord (Adhokṣaja).

Prahlāda was instructing the sons of demons in school, urging them to give up demoniac tendencies and adopt devotional qualities like compassion and friendliness, which are favorable for pleasing the Supreme Lord.

Practice non-harm, kindness, and respectful conduct toward all; replace envy and cruelty with empathy and service—making daily choices that align with devotion and compassion.