Shloka 18
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
सोऽहं प्रियस्य सुहृद: परदेवताया लीलाकथास्तव नृसिंह विरिञ्चगीता: । अञ्जस्तितर्म्यनुगृणन्गुणविप्रमुक्तो दुर्गाणि ते पदयुगालयहंससङ्ग: ॥ १८ ॥
so ’haṁ priyasya suhṛdaḥ paradevatāyā līlā-kathās tava nṛsiṁha viriñca-gītāḥ añjas titarmy anugṛṇan guṇa-vipramukto durgāṇi te pada-yugālaya-haṁsa-saṅgaḥ
ಹೇ ಪ್ರಭು ನೃಸಿಂಹದೇವ! ಮುಕ್ತ ಹಂಸ-ಭಕ್ತರ ಸಂಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಪರಮ ಪ್ರೇಮಮಯ ಸೇವೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತರಾಗಿ ನಾನು ತ್ರಿಗುಣಗಳ ಕಲ್ಮಷದಿಂದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಮುಕ್ತನಾಗಿ, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮದೇವ ಮತ್ತು ಶಿಷ್ಯಪರಂಪರೆಯ ಪಾದಚಿಹ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಸರಿಸಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಪ್ರಿಯ ಲೀಲಾಕಥೆಗಳ ಕೀರ್ತನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಹೀಗೆ ಅಜ್ಞಾನಸಾಗರವನ್ನು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ದಾಟುತ್ತೇನೆ।
A devotee’s life and duty are very well explained herein. As soon as a devotee can chant the holy name and glories of the Supreme Lord, he certainly comes to the liberated position. Attachment for glorifying the Lord by hearing and chanting the holy name and activities of the Lord ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ ) certainly brings one to the position where material contamination is absent. One should chant the bona fide songs received from the disciplic succession. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that the chanting is powerful when one follows the disciplic succession ( evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ ). Manufacturing many ways of chanting will never be effective. However, chanting the song or the narration left by the previous ācāryas ( mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ ) is extremely effective, and this process is very easy. Therefore in this verse Prahlāda Mahārāja uses the word añjaḥ (“easily”). Accepting the thoughts of exalted authorities through disciplic succession is certainly much easier than the method of mental speculation, by which one tries to invent some means to understand the Absolute Truth. The best process is to accept the instructions of the previous ācāryas and follow them. Then God realization and self-realization become extremely easy. By following this easy method, one is liberated from the contamination of the material modes of nature, and thus one can certainly cross the ocean of nescience, in which there are many miserable conditions. By following in the footsteps of the great ācāryas, one associates with the haṁsas or paramahaṁsas, those who are completely freed from material contamination. Indeed, by following the instructions of the ācāryas one is always freed from all material contamination, and thus one’s life becomes successful, for one reaches the goal of life. This material world is miserable, regardless of one’s standard of life. Of this there is no doubt. Attempts to mitigate the miseries of material existence by material methods will never be successful. One must take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness to become really happy; otherwise happiness is impossible. One might say that becoming advanced in spiritual life also involves tapasya, voluntary acceptance of some inconvenience. However, such inconvenience is not as dangerous as material attempts to mitigate all miseries.
FAQs
This verse says one crosses difficulties easily by continually glorifying the Lord’s līlā-kathā and taking shelter of His lotus feet in the association of pure devotees.
After the Lord protected Prahlāda and destroyed Hiraṇyakaśipu, Prahlāda offers prayers to pacify the Lord and to express the path of deliverance through devotion and glorification.
Seek steady satsanga—study Bhagavatam with sincere devotees, chant regularly, and keep company that inspires remembrance of God rather than anxiety and distraction.