SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - Prabhupada

Text 38] Prahlida, the Saintly Son of Hirayaka8ipu 277that the rest of the body may live happily. Similarly, even one'sown son, if unfavorable, must be rejected, although born of one'sown body.PURPORTSri Caitanya Mahiiprabhu has instructed all devotees of the Lord to behumbler than the grass and more tolerant than trees; otherwise therewill always he disturbances to their execution of devotional service. Hereis a vivid example of how a devotee is disturbed by a nondevotee, eventhough the nondevotee is an affectionate father. The material world issuch that a nondevotee father becomes an enemy of a devotee son. Havingdetermined to kill even his son, Hiral).yakasipu gave the example ofamputating a part of one's body that has become septic and therefore injuriousto the rest of the body. The same example, of course, may also heapplied to nondevotees. Ciil).akya Pai).Qita advises, tyaja durjanasarhsargambhaja sadhu-samagamam. Devotees actually serous aboutadvancing in spiritual life should give up the company of nondevoteesand always keep company with devotees. To he too attached to materialexistence is ignorance because material existence is temporary andmiserable. Therefore devotees who are determined to perform tapasya(penances and austerities) to realize the self, and who are determined tobecome advanced in spiritual consciousness, must give up the companyof atheistic nondevotees. Prahlada Maharaja maintained an attitude ofnoncooperation with the philosophy of his father, Hiral).yakasipu, yet hewas tolerant and humble. Hiral).yakasipu, however, being a nondevotee,was sopolluted that he was even prepared to kill his own son. Hejustified this by putting forward the logic of amputation.:tJ(f8tl:R:TEXT 38;oo: I\l?!Uitf'A II IIsarvair upayair hantavyasambhoja-5ayandsanaisuhrl-linga-dhara §atrurmuner dm ivendriyam