Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 46
Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti
निरूप्यतामिह स्वार्थ: कियान्देहभृतोऽसुरा: । निषेकादिष्ववस्थासु क्लिश्यमानस्य कर्मभि: ॥ ४६ ॥
nirūpyatām iha svārthaḥ kiyān deha-bhṛto ’surāḥ niṣekādiṣv avasthāsu kliśyamānasya karmabhiḥ
诸友啊，阿修罗之子们！众生依往昔业行而得种种身，自入胎之始至人生诸境，皆因与此身相关之业而受苦。请你们细加思量：在只招致劳苦与悲惨的果报业中，众生真实的利益究竟何在？
Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa jantur dehopapattaye. The living entity receives a particular type of body according to his karma, or fruitive activities. The material pleasure derived in the material world from one’s particular body is based on sexual pleasure: yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham. The entire world is working so hard only for sexual pleasure. To enjoy sexual pleasure and maintain the status quo of material life, one must work very hard, and because of such activities, one prepares himself another material body. Prahlāda Mahārāja places this matter to his friends, the asuras, for their consideration. Asuras generally cannot understand that the objects of sexual pleasure, the so-called pleasure of materialistic life, depend on extremely hard labor.
FAQs
This verse urges one to discern the soul’s real benefit beyond temporary bodily concerns, since embodied life brings suffering from conception onward due to karma.
While instructing his demoniac schoolmates, Prahlāda challenges them to rethink material goals and recognize that karmic reactions bind the soul to suffering through all stages of life.
Reflect on long-term spiritual welfare rather than short-term gains, reduce harmful actions that create karmic reactions, and prioritize devotion and wisdom that free one from repeated distress.