Shloka 39
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
एन: पूर्वकृतं यत् तद् राजान: कृष्णवैरिण: । जहुस्तेऽन्ते तदात्मान: कीट: पेशस्कृतो यथा ॥ ३९ ॥
enaḥ pūrva-kṛtaṁ yat tad rājānaḥ kṛṣṇa-vairiṇaḥ jahus te ’nte tad-ātmānaḥ kīṭaḥ peśaskṛto yathā
কৃষ্ণৰ বৈৰী বহু ৰজাইও মৃত্যুকালে পূৰ্বকৃত পাপ ত্যাগ কৰিলে; কিয়নো তেওঁলোকে প্ৰভুক চিন্তা কৰিছিল, সেয়ে হৰিৰ সদৃশ দিব্য দেহ লাভ কৰিলে—যেনেকৈ ক’লা ভ্ৰমৰে ধৰা কীট ভ্ৰমৰৰ দৰে ৰূপ পায়।
The mystery of yogic meditation is explained here. Real yogīs always meditate on the form of Viṣṇu within their hearts. Consequently, at the time of death they give up their bodies while thinking of the form of Viṣṇu and thus attain Viṣṇuloka, Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where they receive bodily features the same as those of the Lord. From the Sixth Canto we have already learned that when the Viṣṇudūtas came from Vaikuṇṭha to deliver Ajāmila, they looked exactly like Viṣṇu, with four hands and the same features as Viṣṇu. Therefore, we may conclude that if one practices thinking of Viṣṇu and is fully absorbed in thinking of Him at the time of death, one returns home, back to Godhead. Even enemies of Kṛṣṇa who thought of Kṛṣṇa in fear ( bhaya ), such as King Kaṁsa, received bodies in a spiritual identity similar to that of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse states that even those inimical to Kṛṣṇa, if absorbed in Him at the end of life, can attain a transformed state—highlighting the liberating power of intense remembrance.
Prahlāda emphasizes the supremacy of devotion and remembrance: if even enemies become absorbed in Kṛṣṇa and attain a higher destination, then pure devotees—free from envy—are certainly blessed by the Lord.
Cultivate steady remembrance of God through mantra, prayer, and daily devotional habits so the mind naturally turns to Kṛṣṇa in critical moments, especially at life’s end.