Instructions of the Saintly Brāhmaṇa to Prahlāda Mahārāja

This article presents a thematic survey of the Saintly Brāhmaṇa's instructions given to Prahlāda Mahārāja regarding the nature of self-realization and the practice of absolute detachment. It organizes the verses found in the Vaniquotes category Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Verses Spoken by the Saintly Brāhmaṇa.

The dialogue between Prahlāda Mahārāja and the Saintly Brāhmaṇa is a meeting of two great souls—one an active devotee ruling a kingdom, and the other a renounced avadhūta living outside all social norms. The Brāhmaṇa's instructions serve as a powerful antidote to the materialistic fever of accumulating wealth and seeking sense gratification. He teaches that true happiness is found only within the self, not in the external world.

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa is the 52nd top speaker of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with 26 verses at Vanisource. He speaks only in the 7th (25 verses) and 8th canto (1 verse).

The Futility of Material Endeavor

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa explains to Prahlāda why he has ceased all material activities. After observing the world, he has concluded that the struggle for existence is futile because destiny controls all results, and the pursuit of sense gratification leads only to misery.

The Failure of Material Plans

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa points out that despite endless planning to avoid distress and achieve happiness, the living entity is constantly thwarted by material nature. Therefore, he has stopped struggling.

"I was being carried away by the waves of material nature's laws because of insatiable material desires, and thus I was engaging in different activities, struggling for existence in various forms of life."
"In the course of the evolutionary process, which is caused by fruitive activities due to undesirable material sense gratification, I have received this human form of life, which can lead to the heavenly planets, to liberation, to the lower species."
"The living entity tries to achieve happiness and rid himself of the causes of distress, but because the various bodies of the living entities are under the full control of material nature, all his plans in different bodies, one after another, are ultimately baffled."
"In this human form of life, men and women unite for the sensual pleasure of sex, but by actual experience we have observed that none of them are happy. Therefore, seeing the contrary results, I have stopped taking part in materialistic activities."

The Illusion of Happiness

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa compares the conditioned soul to a deer that chases a mirage, ignoring the water right in front of it. The happiness we seek outside is actually within.

"Just as a deer, because of ignorance, cannot see the water within a well covered by grass, but runs after water elsewhere, the living entity covered by the material body doesn't see the happiness within himself, but runs after happiness in the material world."
"In this way the conditioned soul living within the body forgets his self-interest because he identifies himself with the body. Because the body is material, his natural tendency is to be attracted by the varieties of the material world."
"A learned, thoughtful person must realize that material existence is illusion. This is possible only by self-realization. A self-realized person, who has actually seen the truth, should retire from all material activities."

The Misery of Wealth

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa describes the fear and anxiety that accompany the accumulation of money.

"Materialistic activities are always mixed with three kinds of miserable conditions - ādhyātmika, ādhidaivika and ādhibautika. Therefore, even if one achieves some success by performing such activities, what is the benefit of this success?"
"The brāhmaṇa continued: I am actually seeing how a rich man, who is a victim of his senses, is very greedy to accumulate wealth, and therefore suffers from insomnia due to fear from all sides, despite his wealth and opulence."
"Those who are considered materially powerful and rich are always full of anxieties because of governmental laws, thieves and rogues, enemies, family members, animals, birds, persons seeking charity, the inevitable time factor and even their own selves."
"Those in human society who are intelligent should give up the original cause of lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, attachment, poverty and unnecessary labor. The original cause of all of these is the desire for unnecessary prestige and money."

Lessons from Nature (The Python and the Bee)

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa derives his mode of living from the python (ajagara) and the bee (madhukarī). These two examples teach him to be satisfied with whatever comes of its own accord and to avoid hoarding.

The Python Vow (Ajagara-vṛtti)

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa explains that like a python, he does not move to find food but accepts whatever destiny brings him, maintaining a state of complete inactivity and patience.

"I do not endeavor to get anything, but am satisfied with whatever is achieved in its own way. If I do not get anything, I am patient and unagitated like a python and lie down in this way for many days."
"Sometimes I eat a very small quantity and sometimes a great quantity. Sometimes the food is very palatable, and sometimes it is stale. Sometimes prasāda is offered with great respect, and sometimes food is given neglectfully."
"Sometimes I (a saintly brāhmaṇa) lie on the surface of the earth, sometimes on leaves, grass or stone, sometimes on a pile of ashes, or sometimes, by the will of others, in a palace on a first-class bed with pillows."
"The bee and the python are two excellent spiritual masters who give us exemplary instructions regarding how to be satisfied by collecting only a little and how to stay in one place and not move."

The Bee Principle (Non-Hoarding)

From the bee, he learned that accumulating wealth is dangerous because it invites thieves and death, just as honey attracts those who kill the bees to take it.

"From the bumblebee I have learned to be unattached to accumulating money, for although money is as good as honey, anyone can kill its owner and take it away."

Indifference to Duality

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa demonstrates absolute equipoise in all circumstances. He accepts luxury and poverty, honor and dishonor, with the same indifferent spirit, knowing them to be temporary arrangements of destiny.

"To cover my body I use whatever is available, whether it be linen, silk, cotton, bark or deerskin, according to my destiny, and I am fully satisfied and unagitated."
"O my lord, sometimes I bathe myself very nicely, smear sandalwood pulp all over my body, put on a flower garland, and dress in fine garments and ornaments. Then I travel like a king on the back of an elephant or on a chariot or horse."
"Different people are of different mentalities. Therefore it is not my business either to praise them or to blaspheme them. I only desire their welfare, hoping that they will agree to become one with the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa."
"The saintly brāhmaṇa said: O best of the asuras, Prahlāda Mahārāja, who are recognized by advanced and civilized men, you are aware of the different stages of life because of your inherent transcendental eyes, with which you can see a man's character."

The Process of Self-Realization

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa outlines the internal process of withdrawing the senses and merging the false ego into the total material energy, ultimately realizing the spiritual nature.

"The actual form of life for the living entities is one of spiritual happiness, which is real happiness. This happiness can be achieved only when one stops all materialistic activities. Material sense enjoyment is simply imagination."
"The mental concoction of discrimination between good and bad should be accepted as one unit and then invested in the mind, which should then be invested in the false ego. The false ego should be invested in the total material energy."
"Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of all opulences, is predominant within the core of your heart because of your being a pure devotee. He always drives away all the darkness of ignorance, as the sun drives away the darkness of the universe."

Conclusion and Blessings

The Saintly Brāhmaṇa concludes his instructions by acknowledging Prahlāda's exalted status as a devotee who does not care for public opinion. He offers his blessings to the King.

"Prahlāda Mahārāja, you are certainly a self-realized soul and a devotee of the Supreme Lord. You do not care for public opinion or so-called scriptures. For this reason I have described to you without hesitation the history of my self-realization."
"My dear King, although you know everything, you have posed some questions, which I shall try to answer according to what I have learned by hearing from authorities. I cannot remain silent in this regard."
"The saintly brāhmaṇas, being pleased with the King, said to him: O King, please meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Keśava. He will save us from this impending danger and arrange for our well-being."

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

This article is a thematic compilation of the teachings presented in the Vaniquotes category Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by the Saintly Brahmana. We invite you to visit the link to read the complete collection of verses presented in alphabetical order.