Shloka 39
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
एतावच्छेय इत्याह प्रह्मादो ब्रह्मवादिनम् । शुश्रूषितस्तेन तदा दैत्येन्द्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्,इतना ही श्रेय है, यह बात प्रह्नादने उस ब्रह्मवादी ब्राह्मगसे कहा। इसके बाद भी उसके सेवा-शुश्रूषा करनेपर दैत्यराजने उससे यह बात कही--
etāvac chreya ity āha prahrādo brahmavādinam | śuśrūṣitas tena tadā daityendro vākyam abravīt ||
Prahlāda berkata kepada brāhmaṇa yang tekun dalam wacana suci: “Sekadar inilah sesungguhnya kebaikan tertinggi.” Namun, walaupun telah dilayani dan dihormati olehnya, raja para Daitya itu lalu mengucapkan kata-kata selanjutnya.
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds śreyas—true welfare or the highest good—as the aim of instruction, and implies that humility and service (śuśrūṣā) prepare a person to receive deeper ethical guidance beyond an initial summary.
Prahrāda addresses a brahmavādin, stating that “this much is the highest good.” Despite the brahmavādin’s continued attentive service, the Daitya lord then proceeds to speak further, indicating a continuation or deepening of the counsel.