Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 45
Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint
स्वात्मवृत्तं मयेत्थं ते सुगुप्तमपि वर्णितम् । व्यपेतं लोकशास्त्राभ्यां भवान्हि भगवत्पर: ॥ ४५ ॥
svātma-vṛttaṁ mayetthaṁ te suguptam api varṇitam vyapetaṁ loka-śāstrābhyāṁ bhavān hi bhagavat-paraḥ
പ്രഹ്ലാദ മഹാരാജാ, നിങ്ങൾ ആത്മസാക്ഷാത്കാരിയും ഭഗവദ്ഭക്തനും ആകയാൽ ജനാഭിപ്രായത്തെയും പേരുകേട്ട ശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളെയും നിങ്ങൾ പരിഗണിക്കുന്നില്ല. അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് എന്റെ ആത്മാനുഭൂതിയുടെ രഹസ്യചരിത്രവും ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളോട് മടിയില്ലാതെ പറഞ്ഞത്.
A person who is actually a devotee of Kṛṣṇa does not care about so-called public opinion and Vedic or philosophical literatures. Prahlāda Mahārāja, who is such a devotee, always defied the false instructions of his father and the so-called teachers who were appointed to teach him. Instead, he simply followed the instructions of Nārada Muni, his guru, and thus he always remained a stalwart devotee. This is the nature of an intelligent devotee. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam instructs, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ. One who is actually very intelligent must join the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, realizing his own self as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, and thus practice constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
FAQs
In this verse, 'bhagavat-para' means one whose supreme goal is Bhagavān alone; such a devotee’s life is guided primarily by devotion to the Lord rather than by merely social custom or ritual formalism.
Nārada explains he can disclose even a well-hidden, personal spiritual standard because Yudhiṣṭhira is devoted to the Supreme Lord and can understand principles that transcend ordinary worldly norms.
Prioritize sincere devotion and integrity of purpose—align daily choices with service to God—while using social and religious rules as supportive tools rather than as the ultimate goal.