Text 18] Prahlāda Instructs His Demoniac Schoolmates
23
philosophers and scientists are all engaged in foolish activities, thinking, “This is mine, and this is yours.” The scientists invent nuclear weapons and collaborate with the big leaders to protect the interests of their own nation or society. In this verse, however, it is clearly stated that despite their so-called advanced knowledge, they actually have the same mentality as cats and dogs. As cats, dogs and other animals, not knowing their true interest in life, become increasingly involved in ignorance, the so-called educated person who does not know his own self-interest or the true goal of life becomes increasingly involved in materialism. Therefore Prahlāda Mahārāja advises everyone to follow the principles of  varṇāśrama-dharma . Specifically, at a certain point one must give up family life and take to the renounced order of life to cultivate spiritual knowledge and thus become liberated. This is further discussed in the following verses.
TEXTS 17–18
यतो न कश्चित् क च कुत्रचिद् वा 
    दीनः स्वमात्मानमलं समर्थः । 
    विमोचितुं कामदृशां विहार- 
    क्रीडामृगो यन्निगडो विसर्गः ॥१७॥ 
    ततो विदूरात् परिहृत्य दैत्या 
    दैत्येषु सङ्गं विषयात्मकेषु । 
    उपेत नारायणमादिदेवं 
    स मुक्तसङ्गैरिषितोऽपवर्गः ॥१८॥
yato na kaścit kva ca kutracid vā 
    dīnaḥ svam ātmānam alaṁ samarthaḥ 
    vimocituṁ kāma-dṛśāṁ vihāra- 
    krīḍā-mṛgo yan-nigaḍo visargaḥ
tato vidūrāt parihṛtya daityā 
    daityeṣu saṅgaṁ viṣayātmakeṣu 
    upeta nārāyaṇam ādi-devaṁ 
    sa mukta-saṅgair iṣito 'pavargaḥ