Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 19

Prahlāda Instructs the Sons of Demons: Begin Bhakti from Childhood; Household Attachment as Bondage; Nārāyaṇa as the All-Pervading Supersoul

Devanagari script

न ह्यच्युतं प्रीणयतो बह्वायासोऽसुरात्मजा: । आत्मत्वात्सर्वभूतानां सिद्धत्वादिह सर्वत: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

na hy acyutaṁ prīṇayato bahv-āyāso ’surātmajāḥ ātmatvāt sarva-bhūtānāṁ siddhatvād iha sarvataḥ

Translation

诸位阿修罗之子啊，取悦不堕的那罗延并不需多大辛劳；祂是众生的至上灵与父，因此无论何种境况，皆可轻易以奉爱敬拜祂。

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• acyutam: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• acyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• prīṇayataḥ: of (one) pleasing
• prīṇayataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prīṇ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रसन्नं कुर्वतः/तोषयतः’ (of one who pleases)

• bahu-āyāsaḥ: much effort
• bahu-āyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + āyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (बहुश्चासौ आयासः)

• asura-ātma-jāḥ: O sons of demons
• asura-ātma-jāḥ: Sambodhana/Addressed (सम्बोधन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (असुरस्य आत्मजाः)

• ātmatvāt: because (He is) the Self
• ātmatvāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; कारणार्थे ‘-त्वात्’ (because of being the Self)

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• siddhatvāt: because (it is) already accomplished
• siddhatvāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु), एकवचन; कारणार्थे ‘-त्वात्’ (because of being already accomplished/perfect)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• sarvataḥ: everywhere / in all ways
• sarvataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सर्वतः = सर्वदिक्/सर्वप्रकारेण (adverb: in every way/from all sides)

Purport

One may ask, “One is certainly very attached to family life, but if one gives up family life to be attached to the service of the Lord, one must undergo the same endeavor and trouble. Therefore, what is the benefit of taking the trouble to engage in the service of the Lord?” This is not a valid objection. The Lord asserts in Bhagavad-gītā (14.4) :

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

How can one please Acyuta (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa) according to Srimad Bhagavatam?

Prahlāda teaches that pleasing Acyuta does not demand excessive hardship; since the Lord is the Self within all beings and present everywhere, sincere bhakti offered with a straightforward heart is effective.

Why does Prahlāda Mahārāja say bhakti does not require great endeavor?

He emphasizes the Lord’s nearness: Acyuta is already established everywhere as the indwelling Self (Paramātmā), so devotion is accessible and not dependent on extraordinary external feats.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

Instead of thinking spirituality requires extreme rituals or renunciation, one can begin steady devotion now—remembering the Lord, offering one’s work and conduct to Him, and seeing His presence in all beings.