Shloka 7

Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer

Devanagari script

अस्तौषीद्धरिमेकाग्रमनसा सुसमाहित: । प्रेमगद्गदया वाचा तन्न्यस्तहृदयेक्षण: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

astauṣīd dharim ekāgra- manasā susamāhitaḥ prema-gadgadayā vācā tan-nyasta-hṛdayekṣaṇaḥ

Translation

પ્રહ્લાદે એકાગ્ર મનથી પૂર્ણ સમાધિમાં શ્રીહરી નૃસિંહદેવ પર મન અને દૃષ્ટિ સ્થિર કરી. પછી પ્રેમથી ગદગદ વાણીમાં, હૃદય અને નજર તેમને અર્પી, તેણે સ્તુતિ-પ્રાર્થના શરૂ કરી।

Synonyms

• अस्तौषीत्: praised
• अस्तौषीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• एकाग्रमनसा: with a one-pointed mind
• एकाग्रमनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (एकाग्रं मनः यस्य/यया); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; क्रियासाधन

• सुसमाहितः: well-composed / deeply concentrated
• सुसमाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सः)

• प्रेमगद्गदया: with a voice choked by love
• प्रेमगद्गदया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (प्रेम्णा गद्गदा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; वाचा इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वाचा: with speech / voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• तत्: on Him / His
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; विशेषण (हृदय-ईक्षण)

• न्यस्तहृदयेक्षणः: whose gaze was fixed in the heart (on Him)
• न्यस्तहृदयेक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-स्था/न्यस् (धातु) → न्यस्त (कृदन्त, क्त) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (हृदये न्यस्तम् ईक्षणं यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सः)

Purport

The word susamāhitaḥ means “very attentive” or “fully fixed.” The ability to fix the mind in this way is a result of yoga-siddhi, mystic perfection. As it is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.13.1) , dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ. One attains yogic perfection when he is freed from all material diversions and his mind is fixed upon the lotus feet of the Lord. This is called samādhi or trance. Prahlāda Mahārāja attained that stage beyond the senses. Because he was engaged in service, he felt transcendentally situated, and naturally his mind and attention became saturated in transcendence. In that condition, he began to offer his prayers as follows.

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda
• Hari
• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.7 say about how a devotee prays?

It describes prayer as one-pointed meditation on Lord Hari, with a composed mind, and speech naturally overwhelmed by love (prema).

Why did Prahlāda pray to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with a choked voice?

Because his devotion was intense and heartfelt—his love for the Lord made his voice falter, showing genuine bhakti rather than formal recitation.

How can I apply ekāgra (one-pointed focus) in devotion today?

Choose a regular time for japa or prayer, reduce distractions, and consciously place attention on the Lord—letting sincerity, not performance, be the center.