Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 17
Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti
भवतामपि भूयान्मे यदि श्रद्दधते वच: । वैशारदी धी: श्रद्धात: स्त्रीबालानां च मे यथा ॥ १७ ॥
bhavatām api bhūyān me yadi śraddadhate vacaḥ vaiśāradī dhīḥ śraddhātaḥ strī-bālānāṁ ca me yathā
亲爱的朋友们，若你们能对我的话生起信心，仅凭这份信心，你们也能领悟超越之智，如同我一般，虽是幼童亦然。同样，女子也能凭信心明了何者为灵、何者为物。
These words of Prahlāda Mahārāja are very important in regard to knowledge descending by the disciplic succession. Even when Prahlāda Mahārāja was a baby within the womb of his mother, he became fully convinced of the existence of the supreme power because of hearing the powerful instructions of Nārada and understood how to attain perfection in life by bhakti-yoga. These are the most important understandings in spiritual knowledge.
FAQs
This verse teaches that genuine faith in devotional teachings gives rise to clear, expert understanding (vaiśāradī dhī), meaning realization grows from sincere trust and practice.
Prahlāda was encouraging the sons of demons to trust his bhakti-centered instructions, assuring them that true understanding comes from faith—even if one is young or socially underestimated.
Begin with sincere faith in authentic bhakti teachings, apply them steadily (hearing, chanting, remembrance), and let clarity develop through practice rather than waiting for perfect intellectual certainty first.