Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 7: The Science of God | Chapter 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiranyakaśipu |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.5.1
SYNONYMS
śrī-nāradah uvāca — the great saint Nārada said; paurohityāya — to work as priest; bhagavān — the most powerful; vritah — chosen; kāvyah — Śukrācārya; kila — indeed; asuraih — by the demons; shanda-amarkau — Shanda and Amarka; sutau — sons; tasya — of him; daitya-rāja — of the King of the demons, Hiranyakaśipu; griha-antike — near the residence.
TRANSLATION
The great saint Nārada Muni said: The demons, headed by Hiranyakaśipu, accepted Śukrācārya as their priest for ritualistic ceremonies. Śukrācārya's two sons, Shanda and Amarka, lived near Hiranyakaśipu's palace.
PURPORT
The beginning of the life story of Prahlāda is recounted as follows. Śukrācārya became the priest of the atheists, especially Hiranyakaśipu, and thus his two sons, Shanda and Amarka, resided near Hiranyakaśipu's residence. Śukrācārya should not have become the priest of Hiranyakaśipu because Hiranyakaśipu and his followers were all atheists. A brāhmana should become the priest of a person interested in the advancement of spiritual culture. The very name Śukrācārya, however, indicates a person interested in obtaining benefits for his sons and descendants, regardless of how the money comes. A real brāhmana would not become a priest for atheistic men.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness