Study a Verse

• A foolish man does not understand the values of human life, nor does he understand how he is wasting his valuable life simply for the maintenance of his family members.
• A foolish person, however, wastes such a valuable life without knowing how much he is losing, even according to monetary calculations.
• Even though such a materialistic person is always suffering threefold miseries, he is not intelligent enough to cease his materialistic way of life.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Threat → Steady faith. A vulnerable child remains inwardly unshaken.

Chapters 5–7 of Canto 7: Prahlāda refuses to abandon his devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 6: Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Such materialistic thoughts are always useless because in old age one cannot be trained in the spiritual way of life. Therefore, from the very beginning of life, one should engage in devotional service ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ).