Shloka 17
Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul
यतो न कश्चित् क्व च कुत्रचिद् वा दीन: स्वमात्मानमलं समर्थ: । विमोचितुं कामदृशां विहार- क्रीडामृगो यन्निगडो विसर्ग: ॥ १७ ॥ ततो विदूरात् परिहृत्य दैत्या दैत्येषु सङ्गं विषयात्मकेषु । उपेत नारायणमादिदेवं स मुक्तसङ्गैरिषितोऽपवर्ग: ॥ १८ ॥
yato na kaścit kva ca kutracid vā dīnaḥ svam ātmānam alaṁ samarthaḥ vimocituṁ kāma-dṛśāṁ vihāra- krīḍā-mṛgo yan-nigaḍo visargaḥ
भगवंताच्या तत्त्वज्ञानाविना कोणालाही कोणत्याही देशकाळात बंधनातून स्वतःला मुक्त करता आलेले नाही. इंद्रियभोगात आसक्त व स्त्रीलोलुप जन मोहक स्त्रियांच्या हातातील खेळणे बनून संतती-परंपरेच्या बेड्यांनी जखडले जातात. म्हणून, हे दानवपुत्रांनो, विषयात्म दैत्यांची संगत दूरून टाळा आणि आदिदेव नारायणाची शरण घ्या; त्यांच्या भक्तांचे परम ध्येय अपवर्ग—मुक्ती आहे.
Prahlāda Mahārāja has maintained the philosophical point of view that one should give up the dark well of family life and go to the forest to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ( hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta ). In this verse also, he stresses the same point. In the history of human society, no one, at any time or any place, has been liberated because of too much affection and attachment for his family. Even in those who are apparently very educated, the same family attachment is there. They cannot give up the association of their families, even in old age or invalidity, for they are attached to sense enjoyment. As we have several times discussed, yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham: so-called householders are simply attracted by sexual enjoyment. Thus they keep themselves shackled in family life, and furthermore they want their children to be shackled in the same way. Playing the parts of playboys in the hands of women, they glide down to the darkest regions of material existence. Adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām. Because they are unable to control their senses, they continue a life of chewing the chewed and therefore descend to the darkest material regions. One should give up the association of such demons and adhere to the association of devotees. Thus one will be able to be liberated from material bondage.
FAQs
This verse says a helpless conditioned soul cannot fully liberate himself; material creation and repeated birth become the very shackles that bind him, especially when driven by lust-centered vision.
He warns his classmates that sense-driven society treats the soul like a toy for enjoyment; under lust and material desire, one is led, controlled, and kept bound.
Reduce lust-driven consumption and seek spiritual shelter—daily bhakti practices and saintly association—so life is not spent as an instrument of mere pleasure and social pressure.