वचस्तवैतज्जनदेव सूनृतं
कुलोचितं धर्मयुतं यशस्करम् ।
यस्य प्रमाणं भृगवः साम्पराये
पितामहः कुलवृद्धः प्रशान्तः ॥२॥
Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca
vacas tavaitaj jana-deva sÅ«ná¹›taá¹
kulocitaṠdharma-yutaṠyaśas-karam
yasya pramÄṇaá¹ bhá¹›gavaḥ sÄmparÄye
pitÄmahaḥ kula-vá¹›ddhaḥ praÅ›Äntaḥ
Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; vacaḥ - words; tava - your; etat - this kind of; jana-deva - O King of the people; sÅ«-ná¹›tam - very true; kula-ucitam - exactly befitting your dynasty; dharma-yutam - completely in accord with the principles of religion; yaÅ›aḥ-karam - fit for spreading your reputation; yasya - of whom; pramÄṇam - the evidence; bhá¹›gavaḥ - the brÄhmaṇas of the Bhá¹›gu dynasty; sÄmparÄye - in the next world; pitÄmahaḥ - your grandfather; kula-vá¹›ddhaḥ - the oldest in the family; praÅ›Äntaḥ - very peaceful (PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja).
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O King, you are indeed exalted because your present advisors are the brÄhmaṇas who are descendants of Bhá¹›gu and because your instructor for your future life is your grandfather, the peaceful and venerable PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja. Your statements are very true, and they completely agree with religious etiquette. They are in keeping with the behavior of your family, and they enhance your reputation.
PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja is a vivid example of a pure devotee. Someone might argue that since PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja, even though very old, was attached to his family, and specifically to his grandson Bali MahÄrÄja, how could he be an ideal example? Therefore this verse uses the word praÅ›Äntaḥ. A devotee is always sober. He is never disturbed by any conditions. Even if a devotee remains in gá¹›hastha life and does not renounce material possessions, he should still be understood to be praÅ›Änta, sober, because of his pure devotion to the Lord. ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu therefore said:
kibÄ vipra, kibÄ nyÄsÄ«, śūdra kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettÄ, sei ‘guru’ haya
“Whether one is a brÄhmaṇa, a sannyÄsÄ« or a śūdra — regardless of what he is — he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa.†(Cc. Madhya 8.128) Anyone completely aware of the science of Kṛṣṇa, regardless of his status in life, is a guru. Thus PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja is a guru in all circumstances.
Here His Lordship VÄmanadeva also teaches sannyÄsÄ«s and brahmacÄrÄ«s that one should not ask more than necessary. He wanted only three paces of land, although Bali MahÄrÄja wanted to give Him anything He wanted.
