Shloka 37
Prahlāda Rejects Demonic Diplomacy and Proclaims Navadhā Bhakti
परोऽप्यपत्यं हितकृद्यथौषधं स्वदेहजोऽप्यामयवत्सुतोऽहित: । छिन्द्यात्तदङ्गं यदुतात्मनोऽहितं शेषं सुखं जीवति यद्विवर्जनात् ॥ ३७ ॥
paro ’py apatyaṁ hita-kṛd yathauṣadhaṁ sva-dehajo ’py āmayavat suto ’hitaḥ chindyāt tad aṅgaṁ yad utātmano ’hitaṁ śeṣaṁ sukhaṁ jīvati yad-vivarjanāt
जंगलातील औषधी वनस्पती परकी असली तरी गुणकारी असल्यास जपली जाते, तसेच परका मनुष्य हितकारक असल्यास पुत्राप्रमाणे रक्षण करावा. परंतु स्वतःचा मुलगा जर रोगाप्रमाणे हानिकारक असेल, तर शरीराचा तो भाग कापून टाकावा ज्यामुळे उरलेले शरीर सुखाने जगू शकेल.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has instructed all devotees of the Lord to be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than trees; otherwise there will always be disturbances to their execution of devotional service. Here is a vivid example of how a devotee is disturbed by a nondevotee, even though the nondevotee is an affectionate father. The material world is such that a nondevotee father becomes an enemy of a devotee son. Having determined to kill even his son, Hiraṇyakaśipu gave the example of amputating a part of one’s body that has become septic and therefore injurious to the rest of the body. The same example, of course, may also be applied to nondevotees. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita advises, tyaja durjana-saṁsargaṁ bhaja sādhu-samāgamam. Devotees actually serious about advancing in spiritual life should give up the company of nondevotees and always keep company with devotees. To be too attached to material existence is ignorance because material existence is temporary and miserable. Therefore devotees who are determined to perform tapasya (penances and austerities) to realize the self, and who are determined to become advanced in spiritual consciousness, must give up the company of atheistic nondevotees. Prahlāda Mahārāja maintained an attitude of noncooperation with the philosophy of his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, yet he was tolerant and humble. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, being a nondevotee, was so polluted that he was even prepared to kill his own son. He justified this by putting forward the logic of amputation.
FAQs
This verse teaches that anything—even a close bodily relation—should be renounced if it harms one’s spiritual and moral well-being, just as a diseased limb may be removed for the health of the whole body.
While instructing the sons of demons, Prahlāda emphasized discernment and dharma: true benefit should be accepted even from outsiders, and harmful influence should be rejected even if it comes from one’s own family or intimate circle.
Choose guidance and company that increases virtue, clarity, and devotion; set firm boundaries with influences that push one toward anger, intoxication, cruelty, or irreligion—even if they come from close relationships.