Shloka 35
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
स त्वात्मयोनिरतिविस्मित आश्रितोऽब्जं कालेन तीव्रतपसा परिशुद्धभाव: । त्वामात्मनीश भुवि गन्धमिवातिसूक्ष्मं भूतेन्द्रियाशयमये विततं ददर्श ॥ ३५ ॥
sa tv ātma-yonir ativismita āśrito ’bjaṁ kālena tīvra-tapasā pariśuddha-bhāvaḥ tvām ātmanīśa bhuvi gandham ivātisūkṣmaṁ bhūtendriyāśayamaye vitataṁ dadarśa
માતા વિના જન્મેલા આત્મ-યોની બ્રહ્મા અત્યંત આશ્ચર્યચકિત થયા. તેમણે કમળનો આશ્રય લીધો અને લાંબા સમય સુધી કઠોર તપથી ભાવ શુદ્ધ કર્યો. ત્યારબાદ, હે ઈશ, તેમણે તમને પોતાના દેહ, ઇન્દ્રિયો અને અંતઃકરણમાં સર્વત્ર વ્યાપ્ત જોયા—જેમ ધરતીમાં અતિ સૂક્ષ્મ સુગંધ પણ અનુભવાય છે.
Here the statement of self-realization ahaṁ brahmāsmi, which is interpreted by the Māyāvāda philosophy to mean “I am the Supreme Lord,” is explained. The Supreme Lord is the original seed of everything ( janmādy asya yataḥ; ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate ). Thus the Supreme Lord extends everywhere, even throughout our bodies, because our bodies are made of material energy, which is the Lord’s separated energy. One should realize that since the Supreme Lord spreads throughout one’s body and since the individual soul is a part of the Supreme Lord, everything is Brahman ( sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma ). This realization was achieved by Lord Brahmā after he was purified, and it is possible for everyone. When one is completely in knowledge of ahaṁ brahmāsmi, he thinks, “I am part of the Supreme Lord, my body is made of His material energy, and therefore I have no separate existence. Yet although the Supreme Lord is spread everywhere, He is different from me.” This is the philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva. An example given in this regard is that of the aroma within the earth. In the earth there are aromas and colors, but one cannot see them. Actually we find that when flowers grow from the earth, they appear with different colors and aromas, which they have certainly gathered from the earth, although in the earth we cannot see them. Similarly, the Supreme Lord, by His different energies, spreads throughout one’s body and soul, although we cannot see Him. An intelligent man, however, can see the Supreme Lord existing everywhere. Aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham: the Lord is within the universe and within the atom by His different energies. This is the real vision of the Supreme Lord for the intelligent man. Brahmā, the first created being, became the most intelligent person by his tapasya, austerity, and thus he came to this realization. We must therefore take all knowledge from Brahmā, who became perfect by his tapasya.
FAQs
This verse says Brahmā, after long and intense austerity with purified consciousness, saw the Lord within himself—subtle like fragrance—pervading the elements, senses, and mind.
Prahlāda cites Brahmā as an example that even the greatest created being attains true vision of the Lord only by taking shelter and purifying the heart—thereby glorifying Nṛsiṁhadeva’s all-pervading supremacy.
It points to cultivating inner purity through devotion and discipline so one perceives the Lord’s presence behind thoughts, senses, and experiences, rather than only seeking Him externally.