Shloka 42
Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint
नाहं निन्दे न च स्तौमि स्वभावविषमं जनम् । एतेषां श्रेय आशासे उतैकात्म्यं महात्मनि ॥ ४२ ॥
nāhaṁ ninde na ca staumi sva-bhāva-viṣamaṁ janam eteṣāṁ śreya āśāse utaikātmyaṁ mahātmani
लोकांचे स्वभाव वेगवेगळे असतात; म्हणून मी ना निंदा करतो ना स्तुती. मी फक्त त्यांचे कल्याण इच्छितो, अशी आशा ठेवून की ते परमात्मा, भगवान श्रीकृष्णामध्ये एकत्व मान्य करतील.
As soon as one comes to the platform of bhakti-yoga, one understands fully that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, is the goal of life ( vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ). This is the instruction of all the Vedic literature ( vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ, sarva dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ). There is no use in praising someone for material qualifications or blaspheming him for material disqualifications. In the material world, good and bad have no meaning because if one is good he may be elevated to a higher planetary system and if one is bad he may be degraded to the lower planetary systems. People of different mentalities are sometimes elevated and sometimes degraded, but this is not the goal of life. Rather, the goal of life is to become free from elevation and degradation and take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore a saintly person does not discriminate between that which is supposedly good and supposedly bad; rather, he desires for everyone to be happy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is the ultimate goal of life.
FAQs
Prahlada teaches that a devotee need not oscillate between blame and praise of people with mixed natures; instead one should wish their real welfare—spiritual alignment with the Supreme Lord.
In Canto 7, Chapter 13, Prahlada explains saintly conduct: rather than reacting to others’ faults or qualities, a devotee remains compassionate and prays for their ultimate good—devotional connection to the Lord.
Avoid impulsive criticism or flattery, and cultivate a prayerful, constructive attitude—wish others’ upliftment and encourage choices that bring them closer to dharma and devotion to God.