Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 50
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
तत्तेऽर्हत्तम नम: स्तुतिकर्मपूजा: कर्म स्मृतिश्चरणयो: श्रवणं कथायाम् । संसेवया त्वयि विनेति षडङ्गया किं भक्तिं जन: परमहंसगतौ लभेत ॥ ५० ॥
tat te ’rhattama namaḥ stuti-karma-pūjāḥ karma smṛtiś caraṇayoḥ śravaṇaṁ kathāyām saṁsevayā tvayi vineti ṣaḍ-aṅgayā kiṁ bhaktiṁ janaḥ paramahaṁsa-gatau labheta
Ainsi, ô Bhagavān, le plus digne d’hommages, je T’offre mes prosternations. Sans Te servir par les six formes de bhakti—prières et louanges, offrande des fruits du karma, adoration, action pour Toi, souvenir constant de Tes pieds de lotus et écoute de Tes gloires—qui peut obtenir la dévotion propre à la voie des paramahaṁsas?
The Vedas enjoin: nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena. One cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by studying the Vedas and offering prayers. Only by the grace of the Supreme Lord can one understand Him. The process of understanding the Lord, therefore, is bhakti. Without bhakti, simply following the Vedic injunctions to understand the Absolute Truth will not be helpful at all. The process of bhakti is understood by the paramahaṁsa, one who has accepted the essence of everything. The results of bhakti are reserved for such a paramahaṁsa, and this stage cannot be obtained by any Vedic process other than devotional service. Other processes, such as jñāna and yoga, can be successful only when mixed with bhakti. When we speak of jñāna-yoga, karma-yoga and dhyāna-yoga the word yoga indicates bhakti. Bhakti-yoga, or buddhi-yoga, executed with intelligence and full knowledge, is the only successful method for going back home, back to Godhead. If one wants to be liberated from the pangs of material existence, he should take to devotional service for quick attainment of this goal.
FAQs
This verse teaches that bhakti is cultivated through devoted praise, worship, service, remembrance of the Lord’s feet, hearing His narrations, and personal attendance—without such devotion, one cannot reach the paramahaṁsa path.
After Nṛsiṁhadeva protected him and killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, Prahlāda offered prayers describing pure devotion and emphasizing that only dedicated bhakti to the Lord grants the highest spiritual attainment.
Make daily space for hearing/reading the Lord’s stories, remembering Him, offering simple worship, and serving others as service to God—consistent practice gradually deepens devotion.