Shloka 19
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
बालस्य नेह शरणं पितरौ नृसिंह नार्तस्य चागदमुदन्वति मज्जतो नौ: । तप्तस्य तत्प्रतिविधिर्य इहाञ्जसेष्ट- स्तावद्विभो तनुभृतां त्वदुपेक्षितानाम् ॥ १९ ॥
bālasya neha śaraṇaṁ pitarau nṛsiṁha nārtasya cāgadam udanvati majjato nauḥ taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihāñjaseṣṭas tāvad vibho tanu-bhṛtāṁ tvad-upekṣitānām
હે નૃસિંહદેવ! દેહભાવમાં ફસાયેલા અને તમારી કૃપાથી ઉપેક્ષિત જીવ માટે અહીં કોઈ શાશ્વત શરણ નથી. જેમ માતા‑પિતા બાળકને સંપૂર્ણ બચાવી શકતા નથી, વૈદ્ય અને ઔષધ દુઃખિતને પૂર્ણ મુક્ત કરી શકતા નથી, અને સમુદ્રમાં ડૂબતા માણસને નાવ પણ નિશ્ચિત રક્ષા આપતી નથી—તેમ તેમના ઉપાયો ક્ષણિક અને અનિત્ય છે।
Through parental care, through remedies for different kinds of disease, and through means of protection on the water, in the air and on land, there is always an endeavor for relief from various kinds of suffering in the material world, but none of them are guaranteed measures for protection. They may be beneficial temporarily, but they afford no permanent benefit. Despite the presence of a father and mother, a child cannot be protected from accidental death, disease and various other miseries. No one can help, including the parents. Ultimately the shelter is the Lord, and one who takes shelter of the Lord is protected. This is guaranteed. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.31) , kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: “O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” Therefore, unless one is protected by the mercy of the Lord, no remedial measure can act effectively. One should consequently depend fully on the causeless mercy of the Lord. Although as a matter of routine duty one must of course accept other remedial measures, no one can protect one who is neglected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this material world, everyone is trying to counteract the onslaught of material nature, but everyone is ultimately fully controlled by material nature. Therefore even though so-called philosophers and scientists try to surmount the onslaught of material nature, they have not been able to do so. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (13.9) that the real sufferings of the material world are four — janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi (birth, death, old age and disease). In the history of the world, no one has been successful in conquering these miseries imposed by material nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ. Nature ( prakṛti ) is so strong that no one can overcome her stringent laws. So-called scientists, philosophers, religionists and politicians should therefore conclude that they cannot offer facilities to the people in general. They should make vigorous propaganda to awaken the populace and raise them to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Our humble attempt to propagate the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world is the only remedy that can bring about a peaceful and happy life. We can never be happy without the mercy of the Supreme Lord ( tvad-upekṣitānām ). If we keep displeasing our supreme father, we shall never be happy within this material world, in either the upper or lower planetary systems.
FAQs
This verse teaches that parents, medicine, and other material supports cannot ultimately protect a person if the Lord withholds His favor; real shelter is the Supreme Lord’s grace.
After Nṛsiṁhadeva killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, Prahlāda offered prayers to pacify the Lord and to affirm that only the Lord is the final refuge, beyond all worldly arrangements.
Use worldly help responsibly—family, doctors, safety measures—but place ultimate trust in God through prayer, devotion, and ethical living, recognizing that lasting protection depends on divine grace.