Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 7: The Science of God | Chapter 8: Lord Nrisimhadeva Slays the King of the Demons |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.8.7
na kevalam me bhavataś ca rājan
sa vai balam balinām cāpareshām
pare 'vare 'mī sthira-jańgamā ye
brahmādayo yena vaśam pranītāh
SYNONYMS
śrī-prahrādah uvāca — Prahlāda Mahārāja replied; na — not; kevalam — only; me — of me; bhavatah — of yourself; ca — and; rājan — O great King; sah — he; vai — indeed; balam — strength; balinām — of the strong; ca — and; apareshām — of others; pare — exalted; avare — subordinate; amī — those; sthira-jańgamāh — moving or nonmoving living entities; ye — who; brahma-ādayah — beginning from Lord Brahmā; yena — by whom; vaśam — under control; pranītāh — brought.
TRANSLATION
Prahlāda Mahārāja said: My dear King, the source of my strength, of which you are asking, is also the source of yours. Indeed, the original source of all kinds of strength is one. He is not only your strength or mine, but the only strength for everyone. Without Him, no one can get any strength. Whether moving or not moving, superior or inferior, everyone, including Lord Brahmā, is controlled by the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.41):
"Know that all beautiful, glorious and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor." This is confirmed by Prahlāda Mahārāja. If one sees extraordinary strength or power anywhere, it is derived from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To give an example, there are different grades of fire, but all of them derive heat and light from the sun. Similarly, all living entities, big or small, are dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One's only duty is to surrender, for one is a servant and cannot independently attain the position of master. One can attain the position of master only by the mercy of the master, not independently. Unless one understands this philosophy, he is still a mūdha; in other words, he is not very intelligent. The mūdhas, the asses who do not have this intelligence, cannot surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Understanding the subordinate position of the living entity takes millions of births, but when one is actually wise he surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19):
"After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." Prahlāda Mahārāja was a great soul, a mahātmā, and therefore he completely surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord. He was confident that Krishna would give him protection under all circumstances.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness