Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 13 Verse 46

muneh śrutvāsureśvarah

SYNONYMS

śrī-nāradah uvāca — Śrī Nārada Muni said; dharmam — the occupational duty; pāramahamsyam — of the paramahamsas, the most perfect human beings; vai — indeed; muneh — from the saintly person; śrutvā — thus hearing; asura-īśvarah — the King of the asuras, Prahlāda Mahārāja; pūjayitvā — by worshiping the saintly person; tatah — thereafter; prītah — being very pleased; āmantrya — taking permission; prayayau — left that place; griham — for his home.

TRANSLATION

Nārada Muni continued: After Prahlāda Mahārāja, the King of the demons, heard these instructions from the saint, he understood the occupational duties of a perfect person [paramahamsa]. Thus he duly worshiped the saint, took his permission and then left for his own home.

PURPORT

As quoted in Caitanya-caritāmrita (Madhya 8.128), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said:

kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya

yei krishna-tattva-vettā sei 'guru' haya

A guru, or spiritual master, can be anyone who is well conversant with the science of Krishna. Therefore although Prahlāda Mahārāja was a grihastha ruling over the demons, he was a paramahamsa, the best of human beings, and thus he is our guru. In the list of gurus, or authorities, Prahlāda Mahārāja's name is therefore mentioned:

svayambhūr nāradah śambhuh

kumārah kapilo manuh

prahlādo janako bhīshmo

balir vaiyāsakir vayam

(Bhāg. 6.3.20)

The conclusion is that a paramahamsa is an exalted devotee (bhagavat-priya). Such a paramahamsa may be in any stage of life — brahmacāri, grihastha, vānaprastha or sannyāsa — and be equally liberated and exalted.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Thirteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "The Behavior of a Perfect Person."

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