Shloka 48
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
यूयं नृलोके बत भूरिभागा लोकं पुनाना मुनयोऽभियन्ति । येषां गृहानावसतीति साक्षाद् गूढं परं ब्रह्म मनुष्यलिङ्गम् ॥ ४८ ॥
yūyaṁ nṛ-loke bata bhūri-bhāgā lokaṁ punānā munayo ’bhiyanti yeṣāṁ gṛhān āvasatīti sākṣād gūḍhaṁ paraṁ brahma manuṣya-liṅgam
நாரத முனி கூறினார்—மகாராஜா யுதிஷ்டிரா! நீங்கள் பாண்டவர்கள் மிகப் பெரும் பாக்கியசாலிகள்; ஏனெனில் மறைந்த பரம்பிரம்மமான ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணன் மனித ரூபத்தில் உங்கள் அரண்மனையில் வாசம் செய்கிறான். இதை அறிந்த உலகைத் தூய்மைப்படுத்தும் முனிவர்கள் இடையறாது உங்கள் இல்லத்திற்கு வருகிறார்கள்.
After hearing about the activities of Prahlāda Mahārāja, a pure devotee should be very anxious to follow in his footsteps, but such a devotee might be disappointed, thinking that not every devotee can come to the standard of Prahlāda Mahārāja. This is the nature of a pure devotee; he always thinks himself to be the lowest, to be incompetent and unqualified. Thus after hearing the narration of Prahlāda Mahārāja’s activities, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, who was on the same standard of devotional service as Prahlāda, might have been thinking of his own humble position. Nārada Muni, however, could understand Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s mind, and therefore he immediately encouraged him by saying that the Pāṇḍavas were not less fortunate; they were as good as Prahlāda Mahārāja because although Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared for Prahlāda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His original form as Kṛṣṇa was always living with the Pāṇḍavas. Although the Pāṇḍavas, because of the influence of Kṛṣṇa’s yoga-māyā, could not think of their fortunate position, every saintly person, including the great sage Nārada, could understand it, and therefore they constantly visited Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
FAQs
This verse says that munis who purify the worlds naturally come to such fortunate people, indicating the sanctifying power of saintly association (sadhu-sanga).
After Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared, Prahlada glorifies the Lord’s intimate presence among devotees—though the Supreme is transcendental Brahman, He can remain ‘hidden’ in approachable, humanlike dealings for His bhaktas.
Seek regular association with genuine devotees and saints, and treat devotional spaces—especially the home—as a place for the Lord’s presence through worship, kirtana, and service.