Shloka 47
Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti
कर्माण्यारभते देही देहेनात्मानुवर्तिना । कर्मभिस्तनुते देहमुभयं त्वविवेकत: ॥ ४७ ॥
karmāṇy ārabhate dehī dehenātmānuvartinā karmabhis tanute deham ubhayaṁ tv avivekataḥ
ஜீவன், தன்னைத் தொடரும் இந்த உடலால் கர்மங்களைத் தொடங்குகிறது; அந்தக் கர்மங்களாலேயே மீண்டும் மற்றொரு உடலை உருவாக்குகிறது—இரண்டும் அவிவேகத்தால். ஒரு உடலைப் பெற்று அதனால் செயல் செய்து இன்னொரு உடலைச் செய்கிறது; இவ்வாறு கடும் அறியாமையால் பிறப்பு-இறப்பு சுழலில் உடலிலிருந்து உடலுக்கு இடம்பெயர்கிறது.
The living entity’s evolution through different types of bodies is conducted automatically by the laws of nature in bodies other than those of human beings. In other words, by the laws of nature ( prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni ) the living entity evolves from lower grades of life to the human form. Because of his developed consciousness, however, the human being must understand the constitutional position of the living entity and understand why he must accept a material body. This chance is given to him by nature, but if he nonetheless acts like an animal, what is the benefit of his human life? In this life one must select the goal of life and act accordingly. Having received instructions from the spiritual master and the śāstra, one must be sufficiently intelligent. In the human form of life, one should not remain foolish and ignorant, but must inquire about his constitutional position. This is called athāto brahma-jijñāsā. The human psychology gives rise to many questions, which various philosophers have considered and answered with various types of philosophy based upon mental concoction. This is not the way of liberation. The Vedic instructions say, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: to solve the problems of life, one must accept a spiritual master. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam: if one is actually serious in inquiring about the solution to material existence, one must approach a bona fide guru.
FAQs
This verse explains that the embodied soul performs actions through the body, and those same actions become the cause of producing another body—rebirth continuing due to ignorance and lack of discrimination.
Prahlada was teaching the sons of demons that material life runs on karma and ignorance: identifying with the body leads one to act, and those actions bind one to repeated embodiment unless one develops true spiritual discernment and devotion.
Act with awareness of the soul rather than bodily identity—reduce selfish, binding actions and cultivate devotional, God-centered living so that choices do not reinforce the cycle of compulsive desire and repeated suffering.