Shloka 24
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
तस्मादमूस्तनुभृतामहमाशिषोऽज्ञ आयु: श्रियं विभवमैन्द्रियमाविरिञ्च्यात् । नेच्छामि ते विलुलितानुरुविक्रमेण कालात्मनोपनय मां निजभृत्यपार्श्वम् ॥ २४ ॥
tasmād amūs tanu-bhṛtām aham āśiṣo ’jña āyuḥ śriyaṁ vibhavam aindriyam āviriñcyāt necchāmi te vilulitān uruvikrameṇa kālātmanopanaya māṁ nija-bhṛtya-pārśvam
અતએવ, હે પ્રભુ, દેહધારીઓની દીર્ઘ આયુષ્ય, શ્રી, વૈભવ અને ઇન્દ્રિયસુખ જેવી આશિષો—બ્રહ્માથી માંડીને ચીંટી સુધી—મને નથી જોઈએ. તમે કાલાત્મા છો; તમારા પરાક્રમે બધું વિખેરાઈ જાય છે. કૃપા કરીને મને તમારા શુદ્ધ ભક્તના સાન્નિધ્યમાં રાખો અને તેના સચ્ચા સેવક તરીકે સેવા કરાવો।
By studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, every intelligent man can get experience like that of Prahlāda Mahārāja through the historical incidents mentioned in this great literature of spiritual knowledge. By following in the footsteps of Prahlāda Mahārāja, one should gain thorough experience that all material opulence is perishable at every moment. Even this body, for which we try to acquire so many sensual pleasures, may perish at any time. The soul, however, is eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre: the soul is never vanquished, even when the body is destroyed. An intelligent man, therefore, should care for the happiness of the spirit soul, not of the body. Even if one receives a body with a long duration of life, like those of Lord Brahmā and the other great demigods, it will also be destroyed, and therefore an intelligent man should be concerned with the imperishable spirit soul.
FAQs
Prahlāda rejects common worldly boons—longevity, prosperity, influence, and even the highest post of Brahmā—because they are temporary and ultimately destroyed by the Lord’s potency and by Time.
Prahlāda values association and service of the Lord’s devotees over any material achievement; he prays to be removed from worldly entanglement and situated in the company of the Lord’s bhṛtyas (servants).
Prioritize devotion and devotee-association over status and consumption—use resources in service, remember time’s impermanence, and seek steady spiritual practices that keep you close to bhakti.