Shloka 25
Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul
तुष्टे च तत्र किमलभ्यमनन्त आद्ये किं तैर्गुणव्यतिकरादिह ये स्वसिद्धा: । धर्मादय: किमगुणेन च काङ्क्षितेन सारं जुषां चरणयोरुपगायतां न: ॥ २५ ॥
tuṣṭe ca tatra kim alabhyam ananta ādye kiṁ tair guṇa-vyatikarād iha ye sva-siddhāḥ dharmādayaḥ kim aguṇena ca kāṅkṣitena sāraṁ juṣāṁ caraṇayor upagāyatāṁ naḥ
ಅನಂತ ಆದಿ ಭಗವಂತನು ತೃಪ್ತನಾದರೆ ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ಏನು ಅಲಭ್ಯ? ಗುಣಾತೀತರಾದ ಸಿದ್ಧರಿಗೆ ಧರ್ಮ-ಅರ್ಥ-ಕಾಮ-ಮೋಕ್ಷಗಳೇನು ಬೇಕು? ನಾವು ಅವರ ಪದ್ಮಪಾದಗಳನ್ನೇ ಸದಾ ಕೀರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ।
In an advanced civilization, people are eager to be religious, to be economically well situated, to satisfy their senses to the fullest extent, and at last to attain liberation. However, these are not to be magnified as desirable. Indeed, for a devotee these are all very easily available. Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura said, muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjali sevate ’smān dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ. Liberation always stands at the door of a devotee, ready to carry out his orders. Material advancement in religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation simply wait to serve a devotee at the first opportunity. A devotee is already in a transcendental position; he does not need further qualifications to be liberated. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26) , sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate: a devotee is transcendental to the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature because he is situated on the Brahman platform.
FAQs
It says the true essence is to worship and glorify the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet; all other goals become secondary or automatically fulfilled when the Lord is pleased.
Because dharma and similar pursuits, when sought without devotion, lack lasting value; Prahlāda teaches that bhakti to the original, unlimited Lord is the root that fulfills everything.
Make devotion primary—regularly chant, hear, and glorify the Lord—while treating career, duty, and comfort as supportive, not ultimate.