Shloka 39
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
एतावच्छेय इत्याह प्रह्मादो ब्रह्मवादिनम् । शुश्रूषितस्तेन तदा दैत्येन्द्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
etāvac chreya ity āha prahrādo brahmavādinam | śuśrūṣitas tena tadā daityendro vākyam abravīt ||
Prahlāda disse àquele brāhmaṇa devotado ao discurso sagrado: “Isto, tão somente, é de fato o bem supremo.” Contudo, mesmo depois de ter sido servido e atendido por ele, o senhor dos Daityas então proferiu ainda outras palavras.
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.