Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 18
Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul
यतो न कश्चित् क्व च कुत्रचिद् वा दीन: स्वमात्मानमलं समर्थ: । विमोचितुं कामदृशां विहार- क्रीडामृगो यन्निगडो विसर्ग: ॥ १७ ॥ ततो विदूरात् परिहृत्य दैत्या दैत्येषु सङ्गं विषयात्मकेषु । उपेत नारायणमादिदेवं स मुक्तसङ्गैरिषितोऽपवर्ग: ॥ १८ ॥
yato na kaścit kva ca kutracid vā dīnaḥ svam ātmānam alaṁ samarthaḥ vimocituṁ kāma-dṛśāṁ vihāra- krīḍā-mṛgo yan-nigaḍo visargaḥ
เป็นที่แน่นอนว่า ผู้ไร้ความรู้ในพระผู้เป็นเจ้าสูงสุด ไม่ว่าเมื่อใดหรือที่ใดก็ไม่อาจปลดตนจากพันธนาการวัตถุได้ ผู้ติดสุขทางอินทรีย์และมุ่งหมายสตรี กลายเป็นของเล่นในมือสตรีผู้มีเสน่ห์ แล้วถูกล่ามด้วยโซ่แห่งลูกหลาน ดังนั้น โอ บุตรแห่งอสูร จงหลีกห่างจากคบหาพวกอสูรผู้หมกมุ่นในกามคุณ และจงพึ่งพิงพระนารายณ์ อาทิเทพผู้เป็นต้นกำเนิดแห่งเทวะทั้งปวง เพราะเป้าหมายสูงสุดของภักตะของพระนารายณ์คือ อปวรรค์—ความหลุดพ้น
Prahlāda Mahārāja has maintained the philosophical point of view that one should give up the dark well of family life and go to the forest to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ( hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta ). In this verse also, he stresses the same point. In the history of human society, no one, at any time or any place, has been liberated because of too much affection and attachment for his family. Even in those who are apparently very educated, the same family attachment is there. They cannot give up the association of their families, even in old age or invalidity, for they are attached to sense enjoyment. As we have several times discussed, yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham: so-called householders are simply attracted by sexual enjoyment. Thus they keep themselves shackled in family life, and furthermore they want their children to be shackled in the same way. Playing the parts of playboys in the hands of women, they glide down to the darkest regions of material existence. Adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām. Because they are unable to control their senses, they continue a life of chewing the chewed and therefore descend to the darkest material regions. One should give up the association of such demons and adhere to the association of devotees. Thus one will be able to be liberated from material bondage.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a helpless, materially conditioned person cannot liberate himself by his own power; bondage continues through material creation and desire-driven vision.
He explains that when one lives under lust and sense-attraction, one is controlled by external forces and repeatedly bound, rather than acting with true spiritual independence.
Reduce lust-driven choices and seek higher guidance—cultivate devotion, discipline, and association that helps you break compulsive habits that keep you spiritually bound.