Shloka 9
Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul
को गृहेषु पुमान्सक्तमात्मानमजितेन्द्रिय: । स्नेहपाशैर्दृढैर्बद्धमुत्सहेत विमोचितुम् ॥ ९ ॥
ko gṛheṣu pumān saktam ātmānam ajitendriyaḥ sneha-pāśair dṛḍhair baddham utsaheta vimocitum
ज्याच्या इंद्रिया जिंकल्या नाहीत आणि जो गृहस्थाश्रमात आसक्त आहे, तो स्नेहाच्या दृढ पाशांनी बांधलेला स्वतःला कसा मुक्त करील?
Prahlāda Mahārāja’s first proposal was kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha: “One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life — in other words, from the tender age of childhood — to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements.” Dharmān bhāgavatān means the religious principle of reviving our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For this purpose Kṛṣṇa personally advises, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: “Give up all other duties and surrender unto Me.” While in the material world we manufacture so many duties in the name of so many isms, but our actual duty is to free ourselves from the cycle of birth, death, old age and disease. For this purpose, one must first be liberated from material bondage, and especially from household life. Household life is actually a kind of license for a materially attached person by which to enjoy sense gratification under regulative principles. Otherwise there is no need of entering household life.
FAQs
This verse warns that if one is attached to home and has uncontrolled senses, affectionate bonds become like strong ropes that make self-liberation extremely difficult.
Prahlada was instructing his schoolmates that material affection and sense-gratification keep the soul tied to samsara, and that one should turn toward devotion to the Lord instead of deepening worldly bondage.
Cultivate sense-control and consciously reduce possessiveness in relationships by practicing bhakti (hearing, chanting, remembrance), so affection becomes purified rather than a binding attachment.