Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 10
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
ॐ नमो भगवते तुभ्यं पुरुषाय महात्मने । हरयेऽद्भुतसिंहाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने ॥ १० ॥
oṁ namo bhagavate tubhyaṁ puruṣāya mahātmane haraye ’dbhuta-siṁhāya brahmaṇe paramātmane
ઓં! હે ભગવન, મહાત્મા પરમ પુરુષ! દુઃખહર હરિ, અદ્ભુત નરસિંહરૂપ, પરમાત્મા બ્રહ્મ—તમને મારા સશ્રદ્ધ પ્રણામ।
In the previous verse Prahlāda Mahārāja has explained that a devotee can achieve the platform of bhagavattva, being as good as the Supreme Person, but this does not mean that the devotee loses his position as a servant. A pure servant of the Lord, although as opulent as the Lord, is still meant to offer respectful obeisances to the Lord in service. Prahlāda Mahārāja was engaged in pacifying the Lord, and therefore he did not consider himself equal to the Lord. He defined his position as a servant and offered respectful obeisances unto the Lord.
FAQs
In this verse, ‘adbhuta-siṁha’ means “the wondrous Lion,” referring to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva—God’s extraordinary form that protects the devotee and destroys adharma.
Prahlāda recognizes that the same Supreme Lord who appears as Nṛsiṁha is also the impersonal Absolute (Brahman) and the indwelling Supersoul (Paramātmā), showing the Lord’s complete transcendence and immanence.
It teaches wholehearted surrender—remembering God as protector (Hari), inner guide (Paramātmā), and ultimate reality (Brahman), especially when facing fear, injustice, or uncertainty.