Shloka 49
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
¨ हिंस्रं द्रव्यमयं काम्यमग्निहोत्राद्यशान्तिदम् । दर्शश्च पूर्णमासश्च चातुर्मास्यं पशु: सुत: ॥ ४८ ॥ एतदिष्टं प्रवृत्ताख्यं हुतं प्रहुतमेव च । पूर्तं सुरालयारामकूपाजीव्यादिलक्षणम् ॥ ४९ ॥
hiṁsraṁ dravyamayaṁ kāmyam agni-hotrādy-aśāntidam darśaś ca pūrṇamāsaś ca cāturmāsyaṁ paśuḥ sutaḥ
अग्निहोत्र, दर्श, पूर्णमास, चातुर्मास्य, पशु व सोमयज्ञ असे कर्मकांडी यज्ञ पशुहिंसा व अन्नधान्यादि मौल्यवान द्रव्यांच्या दाहाने युक्त असतात; ते शांती देत नाहीत, तर भौतिक कामना व चिंता वाढवितात। वैश्वदेव-पूजा, बलिहरण तसेच देवालये, धर्मशाळा, उद्याने, विहिरी, अन्नवाटप व लोकहितकार्य—इष्ट-पूर्त म्हणविले तरी—मुळात भोगासक्तीचीच लक्षणे आहेत।
FAQs
In this verse, Prahlāda explains that rituals performed for material gain—though Vedic—remain desire-driven and cannot grant true peace of heart.
He is not rejecting Vedic authority; he is pointing out that when such rites are pursued for results and involve harm, they keep one bound to unrest rather than leading to devotion and liberation.
Prioritize inner transformation—truthfulness, compassion, and devotion—over external religiosity performed mainly for status, gain, or enjoyment.