Shloka 37
Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti
अधोक्षजालम्भमिहाशुभात्मन: शरीरिण: संसृतिचक्रशातनम् । तद् ब्रह्मनिर्वाणसुखं विदुर्बुधा- स्ततो भजध्वं हृदये हृदीश्वरम् ॥ ३७ ॥
adhokṣajālambham ihāśubhātmanaḥ śarīriṇaḥ saṁsṛti-cakra-śātanam tad brahma-nirvāṇa-sukhaṁ vidur budhās tato bhajadhvaṁ hṛdaye hṛd-īśvaram
இந்த அசுபமான மனத்துடன் உடல் கொண்டவர்க்கு, அதோக்ஷஜனின் ஆதரவே சம்சாரச் சக்கரத்தை முறிக்கும் வழி. அதுவே பிரஹ்ம-நிர்வாண ஆனந்தம் என்று ஞானிகள் அறிவர். ஆகவே, நண்பர்களே, இதயத்தில் உறையும் ஹ்ருதீஸ்வர பரமாத்மாவை தியானித்து வழிபடுங்கள்.
Generally it is understood that by merging into the existence of Brahman, the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth, one becomes completely happy. The words brahma-nirvāṇa refer to connecting with the Absolute Truth, who is realized in three features: brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate. One feels brahma-sukha, spiritual happiness, by merging into the impersonal Brahman because the brahmajyoti is the effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koṭi . Yasya prabhā, the impersonal Brahman, consists of the rays of Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental body. Therefore whatever transcendental bliss one feels from merging in Brahman is due to contact with Kṛṣṇa. Contact with Kṛṣṇa is perfect brahma-sukha. When the mind is in touch with the impersonal Brahman one becomes satisfied, but one must advance further to render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for one’s remaining merged in the Brahman effulgence is not always assured. As it is said, āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ: one may merge in the Brahman feature of the Absolute Truth, but there is a chance that one may fall because of not being acquainted with Adhokṣaja, or Vāsudeva. Of course, such brahma-sukha undoubtedly eliminates material happiness, but when one advances through impersonal Brahman and localized Paramātmā to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead in relationship with Him as a servant, friend, parent or conjugal lover, one’s happiness becomes all-pervading. Then one automatically feels transcendental bliss, just as one becomes happy seeing the shining of the moon. One acquires natural happiness upon seeing the moon, but when one can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s transcendental happiness increases hundreds and thousands of times. As soon as one is very intimately connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one surely becomes free from all material contamination. Yā nirvṛtis tanu-bhṛtām . This cessation of all material happiness is called nirvṛti or nirvāṇa. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī says in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.38):
FAQs
This verse says that taking shelter of Adhokṣaja—the Supreme Lord beyond material perception—cuts the wheel of saṁsāra for the embodied soul.
While instructing his demoniac schoolmates, Prahlāda points them to the most direct remedy for materialistic consciousness: devotion to the indwelling Lord (Hṛdīśvara/Paramātmā).
Practice inner remembrance—regular prayer, hearing and chanting the Lord’s names, and offering your intentions to the Paramātmā—so the mind turns from inauspicious habits toward bhakti.