Text 21
śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca
vededam asura-śreṣṭha
bhavān nanv ārya-sammataḥ
īhoparamayor nṝṇāṁ
padāny adhyātma-cakṣuṣā
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.
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.
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.