Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 8
Nārada Instructs Dakṣa’s Sons; Allegory of the World; Dakṣa Curses Nārada
उवाच चाथ हर्यश्वा: कथं स्रक्ष्यथ वै प्रजा: । अदृष्ट्वान्तं भुवो यूयं बालिशा बत पालका: ॥ ६ ॥ तथैकपुरुषं राष्ट्रं बिलं चादृष्टनिर्गमम् । बहुरूपां स्त्रियं चापि पुमांसं पुंश्चलीपतिम् ॥ ७ ॥ नदीमुभयतो वाहां पञ्चपञ्चाद्भुतं गृहम् । क्वचिद्धंसं चित्रकथं क्षौरपव्यं स्वयं भ्रमि ॥ ८ ॥
uvāca cātha haryaśvāḥ kathaṁ srakṣyatha vai prajāḥ adṛṣṭvāntaṁ bhuvo yūyaṁ bāliśā bata pālakāḥ
大圣那罗陀说：“亲爱的哈利亚施瓦啊，你们尚未见过大地的尽头，所以仍是无知的少年。世间有一国，唯有一人居住；又有一穴，入者无复出者。其间有一极其不贞的女子，以种种迷人的衣饰自妆，而那国中唯一的男子便是她的夫。那国里有一条两向流动的河，有一座由二十五种要素构成的奇妙居所，有一只发出多样声响的天鹅，还有一件由剃刀般锋利、金刚般坚硬之物制成、能自行旋转的器具。你们未曾见此种种，怎能创造后裔呢？”
Nārada Muni saw that the boys known as the Haryaśvas were already purified because of living in that holy place and were practically ready for liberation. Why then should they be encouraged to become entangled in family life, which is so dark that once having entered it one cannot leave it? Through this analogy, Nārada Muni asked them to consider why they should follow their father’s order to be entangled in family life. Indirectly, he asked them to find within the cores of their hearts the situation of the Supersoul, Lord Viṣṇu, for then they would truly be experienced. In other words, one who is too involved in his material environment and does not look within the core of his heart is increasingly entangled in the illusory energy. Nārada Muni’s purpose was to get the sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa to divert their attention toward spiritual realization instead of involving themselves in the ordinary but complicated affairs of propagation. The same advice was given by Prahlāda Mahārāja to his father ( Bhāg. 7.5.5 ):
FAQs
Nārada uses symbolic, riddle-like language to redirect the Haryaśvas from material procreation toward deeper inquiry into the nature and limits of worldly existence and the path of spiritual realization.
Daksha’s sons were sent to expand population, but Nārada aimed to awaken detachment and higher purpose in them; the cryptic images serve as contemplative prompts that lead them away from worldly entanglement.
Before chasing expansion—career, wealth, or social status—one can first examine life’s ultimate aim, cultivate discernment, and prioritize practices that lead to inner freedom and devotion.