Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 18
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
श्रीभगवानुवाच त्रि:सप्तभि: पिता पूत: पितृभि: सह तेऽनघ । यत्साधोऽस्य कुले जातो भवान्वै कुलपावन: ॥ १८ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca triḥ-saptabhiḥ pitā pūtaḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha te ’nagha yat sādho ’sya kule jāto bhavān vai kula-pāvanaḥ
Sri Bhagavan bersabda: “Wahai Prahlada, wahai yang suci dan saleh! Dengan kelahiranmu dalam keturunan ini, seluruh dinasti disucikan; ayahmu juga disucikan bersama dua puluh satu leluhur, kerana engkau pemurni keluarga.”
The word triḥ-saptabhiḥ means seven multiplied by three. In one’s family one can count back four or five generations — to one’s great-grandfather or even one’s great-grandfather’s father — but since the Lord mentions twenty-one forefathers, this indicates that the benediction expands to other families also. Before the present family in which one has taken birth, one must have been born in other families. Thus when a Vaiṣṇava takes birth in a family, by the grace of the Lord he purifies not only that family but also the families of his previous births.
FAQs
Yes. This verse states that when a saintly devotee is born in a family, the father along with forefathers becomes purified for twenty-one generations, showing the spiritual benefit of bhakti to one’s lineage.
Because the devotee’s saintly birth and devotion bring spiritual purification to the whole family line, uplifting even previous generations connected through ancestry.
By cultivating sincere devotion, good conduct, and spiritual practice, one can elevate the moral and spiritual atmosphere of the family, inspiring others and creating lasting positive influence across generations.