Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 8
Prahlāda’s Prayers Pacify Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva
Prahlāda-stuti and the Lord’s Benediction Offer
श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच ब्रह्मादय: सुरगणा मुनयोऽथ सिद्धा: सत्त्वैकतानगतयो वचसां प्रवाहै: । नाराधितुं पुरुगुणैरधुनापि पिप्रु: किं तोष्टुमर्हति स मे हरिरुग्रजाते: ॥ ८ ॥
śrī-prahrāda uvāca brahmādayaḥ sura-gaṇā munayo ’tha siddhāḥ sattvaikatāna-gatayo vacasāṁ pravāhaiḥ nārādhituṁ puru-guṇair adhunāpi pipruḥ kiṁ toṣṭum arhati sa me harir ugra-jāteḥ
Prahlāda thưa: Ngay cả Brahmā cùng chư thiên, các hiền thánh và bậc siddha, tuy an trú trong sattva, cũng chưa thể làm hài lòng Đức Hari đầy vô lượng đức tính bằng dòng lời ca tụng tuyệt mỹ; huống chi con sinh trong dòng asura, làm sao có thể khiến Ngài thỏa lòng?
A Vaiṣṇava who is fully qualified to serve the Lord still thinks himself extremely low while offering prayers to the Lord. For example, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, the author of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, says:
FAQs
This verse teaches that even exalted beings cannot fully describe or satisfy the Lord by words alone; Prahlāda approaches Him with humility, implying that sincere devotion and surrender—not pride in eloquence—pleases the Lord.
Prahlāda contrasts his own smallness with the greatness of Brahmā, the devas, sages, and siddhas, showing that if even they cannot exhaust the Lord’s glories, he must rely on humility and heartfelt bhakti rather than qualification.
Approach prayer and worship without ego—focus on sincerity, steady remembrance, and service, accepting that God is unlimited and our words are limited, yet devotion offered with humility is meaningful.