TEXT 37
nyasta-kridanako balo
jadavat tan-manastaya
krsna-graha-grhitatma
na veda jagad idrsam
SYNONYMS
nyastahaving given up; kridanakahall sportive activities or tendencies for childhood play; balaha boy; jada-vatas if dull, without activities; tat-manastayaby being fully absorbed in Krsna; krsna-grahaby Krsna, who is like a strong influence (like a graha, or planetary influence); grhita-atmawhose mind was fully attracted; nanot; vedaunderstood; jagatthe entire material world; idrsamlike this.
TRANSLATION
From the very beginning of his childhood, Prahlada Maharaja was uninterested in childish playthings. Indeed, he gave them up altogether and remained silent and dull, being fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness. Since his mind was always affected by Krsna consciousness, he could not understand how the world goes on being fully absorbed in the activities of sense gratification.
PURPORT
Prahlada Maharaja is the vivid example of a great person fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness. In Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 8.274) it is said:
A fully Krsna conscious person, although situated in this material world, does not see anything but Krsna, anywhere and everywhere. This is the sign of a maha-bhagavata. The maha-bhagavata sees Krsna everywhere because of his attitude of pure love for Krsna. As confirmed in the Brahma-samhita (5.38):
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love. He is seen in His eternal form of Syamasundara, situated within the heart of the devotee. An exalted devotee, or mahatma, who is rarely to be seen, remains fully conscious of Krsna and constantly sees the Lord within the core of his heart. It is sometimes said that when one is influenced by evil stars like Saturn, Rahu or Ketu, he cannot make advancement in any prospective activity. In just the opposite way, Prahlada Maharaja was influenced by Krsna, the supreme planet, and thus he could not think of the material world and live without Krsna consciousness. That is the sign of a maha-bhagavata. Even if one is an enemy of Krsna, a maha-bhagavata sees him to be also engaged in Krsnas service. Another crude example is that everything appears yellow to the jaundiced eye. Similarly, to a maha-bhagavata, everyone but himself appears to be engaged in Krsnas service.
Prahlada Maharaja is the approved maha-bhagavata, the supreme devotee. In the previous verse it was stated that he had natural attachment (naisargiki ratih). The symptoms of such natural attachment for Krsna are described in this verse. Although Prahlada Maharaja was only a boy, he had no interest in playing. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.42), viraktir anyatra ca: the symptom of perfect Krsna consciousness is that one loses interest in all material activities. For a small boy to give up playing is impossible, but Prahlada Maharaja, being situated in first-class devotional service, was always absorbed in a trance of Krsna consciousness. Just as a materialistic person is always absorbed in thoughts of material gain, a maha-bhagavata like Prahlada Maharaja is always absorbed in thoughts of Krsna.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/7/4/37

Previous: SB 7.4.36     Next: SB 7.4.38

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada