Shloka 45
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
यन्मैथुनादिगृहमेधिसुखं हि तुच्छं कण्डूयनेन करयोरिव दु:खदु:खम् । तृप्यन्ति नेह कृपणा बहुदु:खभाज: कण्डूतिवन्मनसिजं विषहेत धीर: ॥ ४५ ॥
yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tucchaṁ kaṇḍūyanena karayor iva duḥkha-duḥkham tṛpyanti neha kṛpaṇā bahu-duḥkha-bhājaḥ kaṇḍūtivan manasijaṁ viṣaheta dhīraḥ
गृहमेधींचे मैथुनादी सुख तुच्छ आहे; ते जणू खाज कमी करण्यासाठी दोन्ही हात चोळण्यासारखे—क्षणिक आराम, मग पुन्हा दुःखच दुःख। असे कृपण, जे अनेक दुःखांचे भागी आहेत, वारंवार भोगूनही तृप्त होत नाहीत. पण धीर पुरुष कामरूपी खाज सहन करतो आणि मूढांच्या दुःखात पडत नाही।
Materialists think that sexual indulgence is the greatest happiness in this material world, and therefore they make elaborate plans to satisfy their senses, especially the genitals. This is generally found everywhere, and specifically found in the Western world, where there are regular arrangements to satisfy sex life in different ways. Actually, however, this has not made anyone happy. Even the hippies, who have given up all the materialistic comforts of their fathers and grandfathers, cannot give up the sensational happiness of sex life. Such persons are described here as kṛpaṇas, misers. The human form of life is a great asset, for in this life one can fulfill the goal of existence. Unfortunately, however, because of a lack of education and culture, people are victimized by the false happiness of sex life. Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore advises one not to be misled by this civilization of sense gratification, and especially not by sex life. Rather, one should be sober, avoid sense gratification and be Kṛṣṇa conscious. The lusty person, who is compared to a foolish miser, never gets happiness by sense gratification. The influence of material nature is very difficult to surpass, but as stated by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) , mām eva ye prapadyante, māyām etāṁ taranti te: if one voluntarily submits to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, he can be saved very easily.
FAQs
This verse says that pleasure centered on sex and its byproducts is trivial and self-perpetuating—like scratching an itch—bringing repeated misery rather than lasting satisfaction.
While offering prayers, Prahlāda contrasts fleeting sense pleasure with true spiritual welfare, showing that a devotee seeks liberation and service to the Lord rather than gṛhamedhī enjoyment.
Treat sensual urges as temporary impulses: avoid feeding them repeatedly, practice restraint and devotional focus, and seek deeper satisfaction through dharma and bhakti rather than compulsive pleasure.