Chapter 10: Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees

 

7.10.1

śrī-nārada uvāca

bhakti-yogasya tat sarvam

antarāyatayārbhakaḥ

manyamāno hṛṣīkeśaḿ

smayamāna uvāca ha

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Nārada Muni said; bhakti-yogasya — of the principles of devotional service; tat — those (blessings or benedictions offered by Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva); sarvam — each and every one of them; antarāyatayā — because of being impediments (on the path of bhakti-yoga); arbhakaḥ — Prahlāda Mahārāja, although only a boy; manyamānaḥ — considering; hṛṣīkeśam — unto Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva; smayamānaḥ — smiling; uvāca — said; ha — in the past.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The saint Nārada Muni continued: Although Prahlāda Mahārāja was only a boy, when he heard the benedictions offered by Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva he considered them impediments on the path of devotional service. Thus he smiled very mildly and spoke as follows.

 

7.10.2

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

mā māḿ pralobhayotpattyā

saktaḿkāmeṣu tair varaiḥ

tat-sańga-bhīto nirviṇṇo

mumukṣus tvām upāśritaḥ

 

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca — Prahlāda Mahārāja said (to the Supreme Personality of Godhead); mā — please do not; mām — me; pralobhaya — allure; utpattyā — because of my birth (in a demoniac family); saktam — (I am already) attached; kāmeṣu — to material enjoyment; taiḥ — by all those; varaiḥ — benedictions of material possessions; tat-sańga-bhītaḥ — being afraid of such material association; nirviṇṇaḥ — completely detached from material desires; mumukṣuḥ — desiring to be liberated from material conditions of life; tvām — unto Your lotus feet; upāśritaḥ — I have taken shelter.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because I was born in an atheistic family I am naturally attached to material enjoyment. Therefore, kindly do not tempt me with these illusions. I am very much afraid of material conditions, and I desire to be liberated from materialistic life. It is for this reason that I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet.

 

7.10.3

bhṛtya-lakṣaṇa-jijñāsur

bhaktaḿ kāmeṣv acodayat

bhavān saḿsāra-bījeṣu

hṛdaya-granthiṣu prabho

 

bhṛtya-lakṣaṇa-jijñāsuḥ — desiring to exhibit the symptoms of a pure devotee; bhaktam — the devotee; kāmeṣu — in the material world, where lusty desires predominate; acodayat — has sent; bhavān — Your Lordship; saḿsāra-bījeṣu — the root cause of being present in this material world; hṛdaya-granthiṣu — which (desire for material enjoyment) is in the cores of the hearts of all conditioned souls; prabho — O my worshipable Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my worshipable Lord, because the seed of lusty desires, which is the root cause of material existence, is within the core of everyone's heart, You have sent me to this material world to exhibit the symptoms of a pure devotee.

 

7.10.4

nānyathā te 'khila-guro

ghaṭeta karuṇātmanaḥ

yas ta āśiṣa āśāste

na sa bhṛtyaḥ sa vai vaṇik

 

na — not; anyathā — otherwise; te — of You; akhila-guro — O supreme instructor of the entire creation; ghaṭeta — such a thing can happen; karuṇā-ātmanaḥ — the Supreme Person, who is extremely kind to His devotees; yaḥ — any person who; te — from You; āśiṣaḥ — material benefits; āśāste — desires (in exchange for serving You); na — not; saḥ — such a person; bhṛtyaḥ — a servitor; saḥ — such a person; vai — indeed; vaṇik — a merchant (who wants to get material profit from his business).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Otherwise, O my Lord, O supreme instructor of the entire world, You are so kind to Your devotee that You could not induce him to do something unbeneficial for him. On the other hand, one who desires some material benefit in exchange for devotional service cannot be Your pure devotee. Indeed, he is no better than a merchant who wants profit in exchange for service.

 

7.10.5

āśāsāno na vai bhṛtyaḥ

svāminy āśiṣa ātmanaḥ

na svāmī bhṛtyataḥ svāmyam

icchan yo rāti cāśiṣaḥ

 

āśāsānaḥ — a person who desires (in exchange for service); na — not; vai — indeed; bhṛtyaḥ — a qualified servant or pure devotee of the Lord; svāmini — from the master; āśiṣaḥ — material benefit; ātmanaḥ — for personal sense gratification; na — nor; svāmī — the master; bhṛtyataḥ — from the servant; svāmyam — the prestigious position of being the master; icchan — desiring; yaḥ — any such master who; rāti — bestows; ca — also; āśiṣaḥ — material profit.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A servant who desires material profits from his master is certainly not a qualified servant or pure devotee. Similarly, a master who bestows benedictions upon his servant because of a desire to maintain a prestigious position as master is also not a pure master.

 

7.10.6

ahaḿ tv akāmas tvad-bhaktas

tvaḿ ca svāmy anapāśrayaḥ

nānyathehāvayor artho

rāja-sevakayor iva

 

aham — as far as I am concerned; tu — indeed; akāmaḥ — without material desire; tvat-bhaktaḥ — fully attached to You without motivation; tvam ca — Your Lordship also; svāmī — the real master; anapāśrayaḥ — without motivation (You do not become the master with motivation); na — not; anyathā — without being in such a relationship as master and servant; iha — here; āvayoḥ — our; arthaḥ — any motivation (the Lord is the pure master, and Prahlāda Mahārāja is the pure devotee with no materialistic motivation); rāja — of a king; sevakayoḥ — and the servitor; iva — like (just as a king exacts taxes for the benefit of the servant or the citizens pay taxes for the benefit of the king).

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, I am Your unmotivated servant, and You are my eternal master. There is no need of our being anything other than master and servant. You are naturally my master, and I am naturally Your servant. We have no other relationship.

 

7.10.7

yadi dāsyasi me kāmān

varāḿs tvaḿ varadarṣabha

kāmānāḿ hṛdy asaḿrohaḿ

bhavatas tu vṛṇe varam

 

yadi — if; dāsyasi — want to give; me — me; kāmān — anything desirable; varān — as Your benediction; tvam — You; varada-ṛṣabha — O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can give any benediction; kāmānām — of all desires for material happiness; hṛdi — within the core of my heart; asaḿroham — no growth; bhava taḥ — from You; tu — then; vṛṇe — I pray for; varam — such a benediction.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, best of the givers of benediction, if You at all want to bestow a desirable benediction upon me, then I pray from Your Lordship that within the core of my heart there be no material desires.

 

7.10.8

indriyāṇi manaḥ prāṇa

ātmā dharmo dhṛtir matiḥ

hrīḥ śrīs tejaḥ smṛtiḥ satyaḿ

yasya naśyanti janmanā

 

indriyāṇi — the senses; manaḥ — the mind; prāṇaḥ — the life air; ātmā — the body; dharmaḥ — religion; dhṛtiḥ — patience; matiḥ — intelligence; hrīḥ — shyness; śrīḥ — opulence; tejaḥ — strength; smṛtiḥ — memory; satyam — truthfulness; yasya — of which lusty desires; naśyanti — are vanquished; janmanā — from the very beginning of birth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, because of lusty desires from the very beginning of one's birth, the functions of one's senses, mind, life, body, religion, patience, intelligence, shyness, opulence, strength, memory and truthfulness are vanquished.

 

7.10.9

vimuñcati yadā kāmān

mānavo manasi sthitān

tarhy eva puṇḍarīkākṣa

bhagavattvāya kalpate

 

vimuñcati — gives up; yadā — whenever; kāmān — all material desires; mānavaḥ — human society; manasi — within the mind; sthitān — situated; tarhi — at that time only; eva — indeed; puṇḍarīka-akṣa — O lotus-eyed Lord; bhagavattvāya — to be equally as opulent as the Lord; kalpate — becomes eligible.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, when a human being is able to give up all the material desires in his mind, he becomes eligible to possess wealth and opulence like Yours.

 

7.10.10

oḿ namo bhagavate tubhyaḿ

puruṣāya mahātmane

haraye 'dbhuta-siḿhāya

brahmaṇe paramātmane

 

oḿ — O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead; namaḥ — I offer my respectful obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Supreme Person; tubhyam — unto You; puruṣāya — unto the Supreme Person; mahā-ātmane — unto the Supreme Soul, or the Supersoul; haraye — unto the Lord, who vanquishes all the miseries of devotees; adbhuta-siḿhāya — unto Your wonderful lionlike form as Nṛsiḿhadeva; brahmaṇe — unto the Supreme Brahman; parama-ātmane — unto the Supreme Soul.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, full of six opulences, O Supreme Person! O Supreme Soul, killer of all miseries! O Supreme Person in the form of a wonderful lion and man, let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

 

7.10.11

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

naikāntino me mayi jātv ihāśiṣa

āśāsate 'mutra ca ye bhavad-vidhāḥ

tathāpi manvantaram etad atra

daityeśvarāṇām anubhuńkṣva bhogān

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; na — not; ekāntinaḥ — unalloyed, without desires except for the one desire for devotional service; me — from Me; mayi — unto Me; jātu — any time; iha — within this material world; āśiṣaḥ — benedictions; āśāsate — intent desire; amutra — in the next life; ca — and; ye — all such devotees who; bhavat-vidhāḥ — like you; tathāpi — still; manvantaram — the duration of time until the end of the life of one Manu; etat — this; atra — within this material world; daitya-īśvarāṇām — of the opulences of materialistic persons; anubhuńkṣva — you can enjoy; bhogān — all material opulences.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlāda, a devotee like you never desires any kind of material opulences, either in this life or in the next. Nonetheless, I order you to enjoy the opulences of the demons in this material world, acting as their king until the end of the duration of time occupied by Manu.

 

7.10.12

kathā madīyā juṣamāṇaḥ priyās tvam

āveśya mām ātmani santam ekam

sarveṣu bhūteṣv adhiyajñam īśaḿ

yajasva yogena ca karma hinvan

 

kathāḥ — messages or instructions; madīyāḥ — given by Me; juṣamāṇaḥ — always hearing or contemplating; priyāḥ — extremely pleasing; tvam — yourself; āveśya — being fully absorbed in; mām — Me; ātmani — within the core of your heart; santam — existing; ekam — one (the same Supreme Soul); sarveṣu — in all; bhūteṣu — living entities; adhiyajñam — the enjoyer of all ritualistic ceremonies; īśam — the Supreme Lord; yajasva — worship; yogena — by bhakti-yoga, devotional service; ca — also; karma — fruitive activities; hinvan — giving up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It does not matter that you are in the material world. You should always, continuously, hear the instructions and messages given by Me and always be absorbed in thought of Me, for I am the Supersoul existing in the core of everyone's heart. Therefore, give up fruitive activities and worship Me.

 

7.10.13

bhogena puṇyaḿ kuśalena pāpaḿ

kalevaraḿ kāla-javena hitvā

kīrtiḿ viśuddhāḿ sura-loka-gītāḿ

vitāya mām eṣyasi mukta-bandhaḥ

 

bhogena — by feelings of material happiness; puṇyam — pious activities or their results; kuśalena — by acting piously (devotional service is the best of all pious activities); pāpam — all kinds of reactions to impious activities; kalevaram — the material body; kāla-javena — by the most powerful time factor; hitvā — giving up; kīrtim — reputation; viśuddhām — transcendental or fully purified; sura-loka-gītām — praised even in the heavenly planets; vitāya — spreading all through the universe; mām — unto Me; eṣyasi — you will come back; mukta-bandhaḥ — being liberated from all bondage.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Prahlāda, while you are in this material world you will exhaust all the reactions of pious activity by feeling happiness, and by acting piously you will neutralize impious activity. Because of the powerful time factor, you will give up your body, but the glories of your activities will be sung in the upper planetary systems, and being fully freed from all bondage, you will return home, back to Godhead.

 

7.10.14

ya etat kīrtayen mahyaḿ

tvayā gītam idaḿ naraḥ

tvāḿ ca māḿ ca smaran kāle

karma-bandhāt pramucyate

 

yaḥ — anyone who; etat — this activity; kīrtayet — chants; mahyam — unto Me; tvayā — by you; gītam — prayers offered; idam — this; naraḥ — human being; tvām — you; ca — as well as; mām ca — Me also; smaran — remembering; kāle — in due course of time; karma-bandhāt — from the bondage of material activities; pramucyate — becomes free.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One who always remembers your activities and My activities also, and who chants the prayers you have offered, becomes free, in due course of time, from the reactions of material activities.

 

7.10.15-17

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

varaḿ varaya etat te

varadeśān maheśvara

yad anindat pitā me

tvām avidvāḿs teja aiśvaram

 

viddhāmarṣāśayaḥ sākṣāt

sarva-loka-guruḿ prabhum

bhrātṛ-heti mṛṣā-dṛṣṭis

tvad-bhakte mayi cāghavān

 

tasmāt pitā me pūyeta

durantād dustarād aghāt

pūtas te 'pāńga-saḿdṛṣṭas

tadā kṛpaṇa-vatsala

 

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca — Prahlāda Mahārāja said; varam — benediction; varaye — I pray; etat — this; te — from You; varada-īśāt — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who offers benedictions even to such exalted demigods as Brahmā and Śiva; mahā-īśvara — O my Supreme Lord; yat — that; anindat — vilified; pitā — father; me — my; tvām — You; avidvān — without knowledge of; tejaḥ — strength; aiśvaram — supremacy;

 

viddha — being polluted; amarṣa — with anger; āśayaḥ — within the heart; sākṣāt — directly; sarva-loka-gurum — unto the supreme spiritual master of all living beings; prabhum — unto the supreme master; bhrātṛ-hā — the killer of his brother; iti — thus; mṛṣā-dṛṣṭiḥ — falsely envious because of a false conception; tvat-bhakte — unto Your devotee; mayi — unto me; ca — and; agha-vān — who committed heavily sinful activities;

 

tasmāt — from that; pitā — father; me — my; pūyeta — may be purified; durantāt — very great; dustarāt — difficult to pass over; aghāt — from all sinful activities; pūtaḥ — (although he was) purified; te — of You; apāńga — by the glance over him; saḿdṛṣṭaḥ — being looked at; tadā — at that time; kṛpaṇa-vatsala — O You who are merciful to the materialistic.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: O Supreme Lord, because You are so merciful to the fallen souls, I ask You for only one benediction. I know that my father, at the time of his death, had already been purified by Your glance upon him, but because of his ignorance of Your beautiful power and supremacy, he was unnecessarily angry at You, falsely thinking that You were the killer of his brother. Thus he directly blasphemed Your Lordship, the spiritual master of all living beings, and committed heavily sinful activities directed against me, Your devotee. I wish that he be excused for these sinful activities.

 

7.10.18

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

triḥ-saptabhiḥ pitā pūtaḥ

pitṛbhiḥ saha te 'nagha

yat sādho 'sya kule jāto

bhavān vai kula-pāvanaḥ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; triḥ-saptabhiḥ — seven multiplied by three (that is to say, twenty-one); pitā — father; pūtaḥ — purified; pitṛbhiḥ — with your forefathers; saha — all together; te — your; anagha — O most sinless personality (Prahlāda Mahārāja); yat — because; sādho — O great saintly person; asya — of this person; kule — in the dynasty; jātaḥ — took birth; bhavān — you; vai — indeed; kula-pāvanaḥ — the purifier of the whole dynasty.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlāda, O most pure, O great saintly person, your father has been purified, along with twenty-one forefathers in your family. Because you were born in this family, the entire dynasty has been purified.

 

7.10.19

yatra yatra ca mad-bhaktāḥ

praśāntāḥ sama-darśinaḥ

sādhavaḥ samudācārās

te pūyante 'pi kīkaṭāḥ

 

yatra yatra — wherever and whenever; ca — also; mat-bhaktāḥ — My devotees; praśāntāḥ — extremely peaceful; sama-darśinaḥ — equipoised; sādhavaḥ — decorated with all good qualities; samudācārāḥ — equally magnanimous; te — all of them; pūyante — are purified; api — even; kīkaṭāḥ — a degraded country or the inhabitants of such a place.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Whenever and wherever there are peaceful, equipoised devotees who are well behaved and decorated with all good qualities, that place and the dynasties there, even if condemned, are purified.

 

7.10.20

sarvātmanā na hiḿsanti

bhūta-grāmeṣu kiñcana

uccāvaceṣu daityendra

mad-bhāva-vigata-spṛhāḥ

 

sarva-ātmanā — in all respects, even in the modes of anger and jealousy; na — never; hiḿsanti — they are envious; bhūta-grāmeṣu — among all species of life; kiñcana — toward any one of them; ucca-avaceṣu — the lower and higher living entities; daitya-indra — O my dear Prahlāda, King of the Daityas; mat-bhāva — because of devotional service unto Me; vigata — given up; spṛhāḥ — all material modes of anger and greed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Prahlāda, King of the Daityas, because of being attached to devotional service to Me, My devotee does not distinguish between lower and higher living entities. In all respects, he is never jealous of anyone.

 

7.10.21

bhavanti puruṣā loke

mad-bhaktās tvām anuvratāḥ

bhavān me khalu bhaktānāḿ

sarveṣāḿ pratirūpa-dhṛk

 

bhavanti — become; puruṣāḥ — persons; loke — in this world; mat-bhaktāḥ — My pure devotees; tvām — you; anuvratāḥ — following in your footsteps; bhavān — you; me — My; khalu — indeed; bhaktānām — of all devotees; sarveṣām — in different mellows; pratirūpa-dhṛk — tangible example.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those who follow your example will naturally become My pure devotees. You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps.

 

7.10.22

kuru tvaḿ preta-kṛtyāni

pituḥ pūtasya sarvaśaḥ

mad-ańga-sparśanenāńga

lokān yāsyati suprajāḥ

 

kuru — perform; tvam — you; preta-kṛtyāni — the ritualistic ceremony performed after death; pituḥ — of your father; pūtasya — already purified; sarvaśaḥ — in all respects; mat-ańga — My body; sparśanena — by touching; ańga — My dear child; lokān — to planets; yāsyati — he will be elevated; su-prajāḥ — to become a devotee-citizen.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear child, your father has already been purified just by the touch of My body at the time of his death. Nonetheless, the duty of a son is to perform the śrāddha ritualistic ceremony after his father's death so that his father may be promoted to a planetary system where he may become a good citizen and devotee.

 

7.10.23

pitryaḿ ca sthānam ātiṣṭha

yathoktaḿ brahmavādibhiḥ

mayy āveśya manas tāta

kuru karmāṇi mat-paraḥ

 

pitryam — paternal; ca — also; sthānam — place, throne; ātiṣṭha — sit upon; yathā-uktam — as described; brahmavādibhiḥ — by the followers of Vedic civilization; mayi — unto Me; āveśya — being fully absorbed; manaḥ — the mind; tāta — My dear boy; kuru — just execute; karmāṇi — the regulative duties; mat-paraḥ — just for the sake of My work.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After performing the ritualistic ceremonies, take charge of your father's kingdom. Sit upon the throne and do not be disturbed by materialistic activities. Please keep your mind fixed upon Me. Without transgressing the injunctions of the Vedas, as a matter of formality you may perform your particular duties.

 

7.10.24

śrī-nārada uvāca

prahrādo 'pi tathā cakre

pitur yat sāmparāyikam

yathāha bhagavān rājann

abhiṣikto dvijātibhiḥ

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Nārada Muni said; prahrādaḥ — Prahlāda Mahārāja; api — also; tathā — in that way; cakre — executed; pituḥ — of his father; yat — whatever; sāmparāyikam — ritualistic ceremonies performed after death; yathā — even as; āha — order; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rājan — O King Yudhiṣṭhira; abhiṣiktaḥ — he was enthroned in the kingdom; dvi-jātibhiḥ — by the brāhmaṇas present.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Nārada Muni continued: Thus, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead ordered, Prahlāda Mahārāja performed the ritualistic ceremonies for his father. O King Yudhiṣṭhira, he was then enthroned in the kingdom of Hiraṇyakaśipu, as directed by the brāhmaṇas.

 

7.10.25

prasāda-sumukhaḿ dṛṣṭvā

brahmā narahariḿ harim

stutvā vāgbhiḥ pavitrābhiḥ

prāha devādibhir vṛtaḥ

 

prasāda-sumukham — whose face was bright because the Supreme Lord was pleased; dṛṣṭvā — seeing this situation; brahmā — Lord Brahmā; nara-harim — unto Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva; harim — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stutvā — offering prayers; vāgbhiḥ — by transcendental words; pavitrābhiḥ — without any material contamination; prāha — addressed (the Lord); deva-ādibhiḥ — by other demigods; vṛtaḥ — surrounded.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā, surrounded by the other demigods, was bright-faced because the Lord was pleased. Thus he offered prayers to the Lord with transcendental words.

 

7.10.26

śrī-brahmovāca

deva-devākhilādhyakṣa

bhūta-bhāvana pūrvaja

diṣṭyā te nihataḥ pāpo

loka-santāpano 'suraḥ

 

śrī-brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; deva-deva — O my Lord, Lord of all the demigods; akhila-adhyakṣa — owner of the whole universe; bhūta-bhāvana — O cause of all living entities; pūrva-ja — O original Personality of Godhead; diṣṭyā — by Your example or because of our good fortune; te — by You; nihataḥ — killed; pāpaḥ — most sinful; loka-santāpanaḥ — giving trouble to the entire universe; asuraḥ — the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: O Supreme Lord of all lords, proprietor of the entire universe, O benedictor of all living entities, O original person [ādi-puruṣa], because of our good fortune You have now killed this sinful demon, who was giving trouble to the entire universe.

 

7.10.27

yo 'sau labdha-varo matto

na vadhyo mama sṛṣṭibhiḥ

tapo-yoga-balonnaddhaḥ

samasta-nigamān ahan

 

yaḥ — the person who; asau — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); labdha-varaḥ — being given the extraordinary benediction; mattaḥ — from me; na vadhyaḥ — not to be killed; mama sṛṣṭibhiḥ — by any living being created by me; tapaḥ-yoga-bala — by austerity, mystic power and strength; unnaddhaḥ — thus being very proud; samasta — all; nigamān — Vedic injunctions; ahan — disregarded, transgressed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This demon, Hiraṇyakaśipu, received from me the benediction that he would not be killed by any living being within my creation. With this assurance and with strength derived from austerities and mystic power, he became excessively proud and transgressed all the Vedic injunctions.

 

7.10.28

diṣṭyā tat-tanayaḥ sādhur

mahā-bhāgavato 'rbhakaḥ

tvayā vimocito mṛtyor

diṣṭyā tvāḿ samito 'dhunā

 

diṣṭyā — by fortune; tat-tanayaḥ — his son; sādhuḥ — who is a great saintly person; mahā-bhāgavataḥ — a great and exalted devotee; arbhakaḥ — although a child; tvayā — by Your Lordship; vimocitaḥ — released; mṛtyoḥ — from the clutches of death; diṣṭyā — also by great fortune; tvām samitaḥ — perfectly under Your shelter; adhunā — now.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By great fortune, Hiraṇyakaśipu's son Prahlāda Mahārāja has now been released from death, for although he is a child, he is an exalted devotee. Now he is fully under the protection of Your lotus feet.

 

7.10.29

etad vapus te bhagavan

dhyāyataḥ paramātmanaḥ

sarvato goptṛ santrāsān

mṛtyor api jighāḿsataḥ

 

etat — this; vapuḥ — body; te — Your; bhagavan — O Supreme Personality of Godhead; dhyāyataḥ — those who meditate upon; parama-ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Person; sarvataḥ — from everywhere; goptṛ — the protector; santrāsāt — from all kinds of fear; mṛtyoḥ api — even from fear of death; jighāḿsataḥ — if one is envied by an enemy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are the Supreme Soul. If one meditates upon Your transcendental body, You naturally protect him from all sources of fear, even the imminent danger of death.

 

7.10.30

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

maivaḿ vibho 'surāṇāḿ te

pradeyaḥ padma-sambhava

varaḥ krūra-nisargāṇām

ahīnām amṛtaḿ yathā

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead replied (to Brahmā); mā — do not; evam — thus; vibho — O great person; asurāṇām — unto the demons; te — by you; pradeyaḥ — bestow benedictions; padma-sambhava — O Lord Brahmā, born from the lotus flower; varaḥ — benediction; krūra-nisargāṇām — persons who are by nature very cruel and jealous; ahīnām — to snakes; amṛtam — nectar or milk; yathā — just as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Personality of Godhead replied: My dear Lord Brahmā, O great lord born from the lotus flower, just as it is dangerous to feed milk to a snake, so it is dangerous to give benedictions to demons, who are by nature ferocious and jealous. I warn you not to give such benedictions to any demon again.

 

7.10.31

śrī-nārada uvāca

ity uktvā bhagavān rājaḿs

tataś cāntardadhe hariḥ

adṛśyaḥ sarva-bhūtānāḿ

pūjitaḥ parameṣṭhinā

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Nārada Muni said; iti uktvā — saying this; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rājan — O King Yudhiṣṭhira; tataḥ — from that place; ca — also; antardadhe — disappeared; hariḥ — the Lord; adṛśyaḥ — without being visible; sarva-bhūtānām — by all kinds of living entities; pūjitaḥ — being worshiped; parameṣṭhinā — by Lord Brahmā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada Muni continued: O King Yudhiṣṭhira, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is not visible to an ordinary human being, spoke in this way, instructing Lord Brahmā. Then, being worshiped by Brahmā, the Lord disappeared from that place.

 

7.10.32

tataḥ sampūjya śirasā

vavande parameṣṭhinam

bhavaḿ prajāpatīn devān

prahrādo bhagavat-kalāḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; sampūjya — worshiping; śirasā — by bowing the head; vavande — offered prayers; parameṣṭhinam — to Lord Brahmā; bhavam — to Lord Śiva; prajāpatīn — to the great demigods entrusted with increasing the population; devān — to all the great demigods; prahrādaḥ — Prahlāda Mahārāja; bhagavat-kalāḥ — influential parts of the Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja then worshiped and offered prayers to all the demigods, such as Brahmā, Śiva and the Prajāpatis, who are all parts of the Lord.

 

7.10.33

tataḥ kāvyādibhiḥ sārdhaḿ

munibhiḥ kamalāsanaḥ

daityānāḿ dānavānāḿ ca

prahrādam akarot patim

 

tataḥ — thereafter; kāvya-ādibhiḥ — with Śukrācārya and others; sārdham — and with; munibhiḥ — great saintly persons; kamala-āsanaḥ — Lord Brahmā; daityānām — of all the demons; dānavānām — of all the giants; ca — and; prahrādam — Prahlāda Mahārāja; akarot — created; patim — the master or king.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, along with Śukrācārya and other great saints, Lord Brahmā, whose seat is on the lotus flower, made Prahlāda the king of all the demons and giants in the universe.

 

7.10.34

pratinandya tato devāḥ

prayujya paramāśiṣaḥ

sva-dhāmāni yayū rājan

brahmādyāḥ pratipūjitāḥ

 

pratinandya — congratulating; tataḥ — thereafter; devāḥ — all the demigods; prayujya — having offered; parama-āśiṣaḥ — exalted benedictions; sva-dhāmāni — to their respective abodes; yayuḥ — returned; rājan — O King Yudhiṣṭhira; brahma-ādyāḥ — all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā; pratipūjitāḥ — being thoroughly worshiped (by Prahlāda Mahārāja).

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King Yudhiṣṭhira, after all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, were properly worshiped by Prahlāda Mahārāja, they offered Prahlāda their utmost benedictions and then returned to their respective abodes.

 

7.10.35

evaḿ ca pārṣadau viṣṇoḥ

putratvaḿ prāpitau diteḥ

hṛdi sthitena hariṇā

vaira-bhāvena tau hatau

 

evam — in this way; ca — also; pārṣadau — the two personal associates; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; putratvam — becoming the sons; prāpitau — having gotten; diteḥ — of Diti; hṛdi — within the core of the heart; sthitena — being situated; hariṇā — by the Supreme Lord; vaira-bhāvena — by conceiving as an enemy; tau — both of them; hatau — were killed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus the two associates of Lord Viṣṇu who had become Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu, the sons of Diti, were both killed. By illusion they had thought that the Supreme Lord, who is situated in everyone's heart, was their enemy.

 

7.10.36

punaś ca vipra-śāpena

rākṣasau tau babhūvatuḥ

kumbhakarṇa-daśa-grīvau

hatau tau rāma-vikramaiḥ

 

punaḥ — again; ca — also; vipra-śāpena — being cursed by the brāhmaṇas; rākṣasau — the two Rākṣasas; tau — both of them; babhūvatuḥ — incarnated as; kumbhakarṇa-daśa-grīvau — known as Kumbhakarṇa and the ten-headed Rāvaṇa (in their next birth); hatau — they also were killed; tau — both of them; rāma-vikramaiḥ — by the extraordinary strength of Lord Rāmacandra.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being cursed by the brāhmaṇas, the same two associates took birth again as Kumbhakarṇa and the ten-headed Rāvaṇa. These two Rākṣasas were killed by Lord Rāmacandra's extraordinary power.

 

7.10.37

śayānau yudhi nirbhinna-

hṛdayau rāma-śāyakaiḥ

tac-cittau jahatur dehaḿ

yathā prāktana-janmani

 

śayānau — being laid down; yudhi — on the battlefield; nirbhinna — being pierced; hṛdayau — in the core of the heart; rāma-śāyakaiḥ — by the arrows of Lord Rāmacandra; tat-cittau — thinking or being conscious of Lord Rāmacandra; jahatuḥ — gave up; deham — body; yathā — even as; prāktana-janmani — in their previous births.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pierced by the arrows of Lord Rāmacandra, both Kumbhakarṇa and Rāvaṇa lay on the ground and left their bodies, fully absorbed in thought of the Lord, just as they had in their previous births as Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu.

 

7.10.38

tāv ihātha punar jātau

śiśupāla-karūṣa-jau

harau vairānubandhena

paśyatas te samīyatuḥ

 

tau — both of them; iha — in this human society; atha — in this way; punaḥ — again; jātau — took their births; śiśupāla — Śiśupāla; karūṣa-jau — Dantavakra; harau — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vaira-anubandhena — by the bondage of considering the Lord an enemy; paśyataḥ — were looking on; te — while you; samīyatuḥ — merged or went into the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

They both took birth again in human society as Śiśupāla and Dantavakra and continued in the same enmity toward the Lord. It is they who merged into the body of the Lord in your presence.

 

7.10.39

enaḥ pūrva-kṛtaḿ yat tad

rājānaḥ kṛṣṇa-vairiṇaḥ

jahus te 'nte tad-ātmānaḥ

kīṭaḥ peśaskṛto yathā

 

enaḥ — this sinful activity (of blaspheming the Supreme Lord); pūrva-kṛtam — executed in previous births; yat — which; tat — that; rājānaḥ — kings; kṛṣṇa-vairiṇaḥ — always acting as enemies of Kṛṣṇa; jahuḥ — gave up; te — all of them; ante — at the time of death; tat-ātmānaḥ — attaining the same spiritual body and form; kīṭaḥ — a worm; peśaskṛtaḥ — (captured by) a black drone; yathā — just like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Not only Śiśupāla and Dantavakra but also many, many other kings who acted as enemies of Kṛṣṇa attained salvation at the time of death. Because they thought of the Lord, they received spiritual bodies and forms the same as His, just as worms captured by a black drone obtain the same type of body as the drone.

 

7.10.40

yathā yathā bhagavato

bhaktyā paramayābhidā

nṛpāś caidyādayaḥ sātmyaḿ

hares tac-cintayā yayuḥ

 

yathā yathā — just as; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktyā — by devotional service; paramayā — supreme; abhidā — incessantly thinking of such activities; nṛpāḥ — kings; caidya-ādayaḥ — Śiśupāla, Dantavakra and others; sātmyam — the same form; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-cintayā — by constantly thinking of Him; yayuḥ — returned home, back to Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

By devotional service, pure devotees who incessantly think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead receive bodies similar to His. This is known as sārūpya-mukti. Although Śiśupāla, Dantavakra and other kings thought of Kṛṣṇa as an enemy, they also achieved the same result.

 

7.10.41

ākhyātaḿ sarvam etat te

yan māḿ tvaḿ paripṛṣṭavān

damaghoṣa-sutādīnāḿ

hareḥ sātmyam api dviṣām

 

ākhyātam — described; sarvam — everything; etat — this; te — unto you; yat — whatever; mām — unto me; tvam — you; paripṛṣṭavān — inquired; damaghoṣa-suta-ādīnām — of the son of Damaghoṣa (Śiśupāla) and others; hareḥ — of the Lord; sātmyam — equal bodily features; api — even; dviṣām — although they were inimical.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Everything you asked me about how Śiśupāla and others attained salvation although they were inimical has now been explained to you by me.

 

7.10.42

eṣā brahmaṇya-devasya

kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ

avatāra-kathā puṇyā

vadho yatrādi-daityayoḥ

 

eṣā — all this; brahmaṇya-devasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by all brāhmaṇas; kṛṣṇasya — of Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead; ca — also; mahā-ātmanaḥ — the Supersoul; avatāra-kathā — narrations about His incarnations; puṇyā — pious, purifying; vadhaḥ — killing; yatra — wherein; ādi — in the beginning of the millennium; daityayoḥ — of the demons (Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu).

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this narration about Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, various expansions or incarnations of the Lord have been described, and the killing of the two demons Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu has also been described.

 

7.10.43-44

prahrādasyānucaritaḿ

mahā-bhāgavatasya ca

bhaktir jñānaḿ viraktiś ca

yāthārthyaḿ cāsya vai hareḥ

 

sarga-sthity-apyayeśasya

guṇa-karmānuvarṇanam

parāvareṣāḿ sthānānāḿ

kālena vyatyayo mahān

 

prahrādasya — of Prahlāda Mahārāja; anucaritam — characteristics (understood by reading or describing his activities); mahā-bhāgavatasya — of the great and exalted devotee; ca — also; bhaktiḥ — devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jñānam — complete knowledge of the Transcendence (Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān); viraktiḥ — renunciation of material existence; ca — also; yāthārthyam — just to understand each of them perfectly; ca — and; asya — of this; vai — indeed; hareḥ — always in reference to the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

 

sarga — of creation; sthiti — maintenance; apyaya — and annihilation; īśasya — of the master (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); guṇa — of the transcendental qualities and opulences; karma — and activities; anuvarṇanam — description within the disciplic succession; para-avareṣām — of different types of living entities known as demigods and demons; sthānānām — of the various planets or places to live; kālena — in due course of time; vyatyayaḥ — the annihilation of everything; mahān — although very great.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This narration describes the characteristics of the great and exalted devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja, his staunch devotional service, his perfect knowledge, and his perfect detachment from material contamination. It also describes the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of creation, maintenance and annihilation. Prahlāda Mahārāja, in his prayers, has described the transcendental qualities of the Lord and has also described how the various abodes of the demigods and demons, regardless of how materially opulent, are destroyed by the mere direction of the Lord.

 

7.10.45

dharmo bhāgavatānāḿ ca

bhagavān yena gamyate

ākhyāne 'smin samāmnātam

ādhyātmikam aśeṣataḥ

 

dharmaḥ — religious principles; bhāgavatānām — of the devotees; ca — and; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yena — by which; gamyate — one can understand; ākhyāne — in the narration; asmin — this; samāmnātam — is perfectly described; ādhyātmikam — transcendence; aśeṣataḥ — without reservations.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The principles of religion by which one can actually understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are called bhāgavata-dharma. In this narration, therefore, which deals with these principles, actual transcendence is properly described.

 

7.10.46

ya etat puṇyam ākhyānaḿ

viṣṇor vīryopabṛḿhitam

kīrtayec chraddhayā śrutvā

karma-pāśair vimucyate

 

yaḥ — anyone who; etat — this; puṇyam — pious; ākhyānam — narration; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; vīrya — the supreme power; upabṛḿhitam — in which is described; kīrtayet — chants or repeats; śraddhayā — with great faith; śrutvā — after properly hearing (from the right source); karma-pāśaiḥ — from the bondage of fruitive activities; vimucyate — becomes liberated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One who hears and chants this narration about the omnipotence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, is certainly liberated from material bondage without fail.

 

7.10.47

etad ya ādi-puruṣasya mṛgendra-līlāḿ

daityendra-yūtha-pa-vadhaḿ prayataḥ paṭheta

daityātmajasya ca satāḿ pravarasya puṇyaḿ

śrutvānubhāvam akuto-bhayam eti lokam

 

etat — this narration; yaḥ — anyone who; ādi-puruṣasya — of the original Personality of Godhead; mṛga-indra-līlām — pastimes as a lion and human being combined; daitya-indra — of the King of the demons; yūtha-pa — as strong as an elephant; vadham — the killing; prayataḥ — with great attention; paṭheta — reads; daitya-ātma-jasya — of Prahlāda Mahārāja, the son of the demon; ca — also; satām — among elevated devotees; pravarasya — the best; puṇyam — pious; śrutvā — hearing; anubhāvam — the activities; akutaḥ-bhayam — where there is no fear anywhere or at any time; eti — reaches; lokam — the spiritual world.

 

TRANSLATION