Shloka 26
Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities
मा भैष्ट विबुधश्रेष्ठा: सर्वेषां भद्रमस्तु व: । मद्दर्शनं हि भूतानां सर्वश्रेयोपपत्तये ॥ २५ ॥ ज्ञातमेतस्य दौरात्म्यं दैतेयापसदस्य यत् । तस्य शान्तिं करिष्यामि कालं तावत्प्रतीक्षत ॥ २६ ॥
mā bhaiṣṭa vibudha-śreṣṭhāḥ sarveṣāṁ bhadram astu vaḥ mad-darśanaṁ hi bhūtānāṁ sarva-śreyopapattaye
Je connais la perversité de cet asura infâme; je l’arrêterai très bientôt. Jusque-là, attendez avec patience.
Sometimes people are very much eager to see God. In considering the word mad-darśanam, “seeing Me,” which is mentioned in this verse, one should note that in Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti. In other words, the ability to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead or to see Him or talk with Him depends on one’s advancement in devotional service, which is called bhakti. In bhakti there are nine different activities: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam. Because all these devotional activities are absolute, there is no fundamental difference between worshiping the Deity in the temple, seeing Him and chanting His glories. Indeed, all of these are ways of seeing Him, for everything done in devotional service is a means of direct contact with the Lord. The vibration of the Lord’s voice appeared in the presence of all the devotees, and although the person vibrating the sound was unseen to them, they were meeting or seeing the Lord because they were offering prayers and because the vibration of the Lord was present. Contrary to the laws of the material world, there is no difference between seeing the Lord, offering prayers and hearing the transcendental vibration. Pure devotees, therefore, are fully satisfied by glorifying the Lord. Such glorification is called kīrtana. Performing kīrtana and hearing the vibration of the sound Hare Kṛṣṇa is actually seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. One must realize this position, and then one will be able to understand the absolute nature of the Lord’s activities.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord’s appearance (mad-darśanam) is for the highest welfare (sarva-śreya) of all living beings—bringing protection, guidance, and the restoration of dharma.
Because the Lord knew Hiraṇyakaśipu’s extreme wickedness and assured the devas that He would soon bring his oppression to an end; they only needed to wait a little while.
By remembering that the Lord is aware of injustice and turmoil, and by practicing steady devotion and patience—trusting that divine protection and right order ultimately prevail.