Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 4 Verse 33

Canto 7: The Science of God | Chapter 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.4.33

nodvigna-citto vyasaneṣu niḥspṛhaḥ

śruteṣu dṛṣṭeṣu guṇeṣv avastu-dṛk

dāntendriya-prāṇa-śarīra-dhīḥ sadā

praśānta-kāmo rahitāsuro 'suraḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; udvigna — agitated; cittaḥ — whose consciousness; vyasaneṣu — in dangerous conditions; niḥspṛhaḥ — without desire; śruteṣu — in things heard of (especially elevation to heavenly planets because of pious activities); dṛṣṭeṣu — as well as in temporal things seen; guṇeṣu — the objects of sense gratification under the modes of material nature; avastu-dṛk — seeing as if insubstantial; dānta — controlling; indriya — the senses; prāṇa — the living force; śarīra — the body; dhīḥ — and intelligence; sadā — always; praśānta — quieted; kāmaḥ — whose material desires; rahita — completely devoid of; asuraḥ — demoniac nature; asuraḥ — although born in a demoniac family.

TRANSLATION

Although Prahlāda Mahārāja was born in a family of asuras, he himself was not an asura but a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. Unlike the other asuras, he was never envious of Vaiṣṇavas. He was not agitated when put into danger, and he was neither directly nor indirectly interested in the fruitive activities described in the Vedas. Indeed, he considered everything material to be useless, and therefore he was completely devoid of material desires. He always controlled his senses and life air, and being of steady intelligence and determination, he subdued all lusty desires.

PURPORT

From this verse we discover that a man is not qualified or disqualified simply by birth. Prahlāda Mahārāja was an asura by birth, yet he possessed all the qualities of a perfect brāhmaṇa (brahmaṇyaḥ śīla-sampannaḥ). Anyone can become a fully qualified brāhmaṇa under the direction of a spiritual master. Prahlāda Mahārāja provided a vivid example of how to think of the spiritual master and accept his directions calmly.

<<< >>>

Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness