Devanagari
श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच
वेदेदमसुरश्रेष्ठ भवान् नन्वार्यसम्मत: ।
ईहोपरमयोर्नृणां पदान्यध्यात्मचक्षुषा ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca
vededam asura-śreṣṭha
bhavān nanv ārya-sammataḥ
īhoparamayor nṝṇāṁ
padāny adhyātma-cakṣuṣā
Synonyms
śrī
—
brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca — the brāhmaṇa replied
;
veda
—
know very well
;
idam
—
all these things
;
asura
—
śreṣṭha — O best of the asuras
;
bhavān
—
you
;
nanu
—
indeed
;
ārya
—
sammataḥ — whose activities are approved by civilized men
;
īhā
—
of inclination
;
uparamayoḥ
—
of decreasing
;
nṝṇām
—
of the people in general
;
padāni
—
different stages
;
adhyātma
—
cakṣuṣā — by transcendental eyes .
Translation
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 and thus know clearly the results of acceptance and rejection of things as they are.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The brāhmaṇa said: O best of the demons! Respected by the jṣānīs, you are aware of this by your internal vision. You know the results of man’s action with and without desire.
By your inner vision (adhyāma-cakṣūṣā) you know this. What do I know? You know the results (sthānāni) of work with desire and with no desire (ihoparamayoḥ). If I did not realize the suffering of people who make themselves fat by endeavoring for enjoyment, I would make those endeavors. This is his indication.
Purport
A pure devotee like Prahlāda Mahārāja can understand the minds of others because of his pure vision in devotional service. A devotee like Prahlāda Mahārāja can study another man’s character without difficulty.