In plain words
Better indeed is Jñāna than practice; than Jñāna, dhyāna is higher; than dhyāna, the giving up of the fruit of action; from giving up, Śānti follows at once.
The way we walk, the words we speak, the matters we tell, the work we do: all of these grow only through practice. A man born cruel has the chance to live as an embodiment of supreme Śānti. Ratnākara too, who waylaid travellers and robbed them, came to be the great sage Vālmīki. Through good teachings, through good conduct, through satsaṅga, man's saṃskāra grows. Today satsaṅga is what man needs most urgently.
If we are to have sound health, we must follow two paths for it. Physical health is something we urgently need. The filth that is inside must be sent out. The pure things that are outside must be sent in. Only then does this body gain health. In the same way health of mind too is urgently needed. Here we must send out the filth called bad qualities, bad thoughts, bad conduct and evil brooding that are in the mind. We must take in the sacred things called good qualities, good practices, good conduct and satsaṅga. "For the coming of the gods, and for the going of the demons," it is said. That is: "O gods, come into us. O demons, you who are in me, get out." Today we must make that effort. In the same way Prahlāda, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, was a great devotee. The father hated Hari. The son was dear to Hari. Between the two of them there was nothing in common at all. They lived out what was opposed, each to the other. For Hiraṇyakaśipu there was no God; for Prahlāda, there was. The question was: where is He? Prahlāda's answer was: "Have no doubt that He is here and not there." Hiraṇyakaśipu pointed to a pillar and asked, "Is God in this?" Prahlāda trusted that He was. Hiraṇyakaśipu smashed that pillar. Narasiṃha was gained by effort. What is its inner meaning? Our body itself is a pillar. Only when we smash this delusion of the body does God come forth from within it. Instead, today we keep making this delusion of the body grow day by day. We keep nourishing these desires of the senses. But Prahlāda, such a supreme devotee, full of complete faith, went on loving Hari. But to Prahlāda, such a supreme devotee, a son was born who was utterly wicked. He was Virocana. This Virocana did not believe in God. Yet the very one born to Virocana, such a man without belief in God, is the supreme treasure of story we have celebrated today. He was Bali Cakravarti. This Bali Cakravarti was Prahlāda's grandson. Bali Cakravarti was supremely devoted to Dharma. He kept guarding the welfare and the happiness of his people as the eyelid guards the eye. He was one who held the welfare of his people to be his own welfare. Such an emperor of Prema was the king of those days. All through his time the land went on in plenty.