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 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nrisimhadeva with Prayers |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.9.12
tasmād aham vigata-viklava īśvarasya
sarvātmanā mahi grināmi yathā manīsham
nīco 'jayā guna-visargam anupravishtah
pūyeta yena hi pumān anuvarnitena
SYNONYMS
tasmāt — therefore; aham — I; vigata-viklavah — having given up contemplation of being unfit; īśvarasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-ātmanā — in full surrender; mahi — glory; grināmi — I shall chant or describe; yathā manīsham — according to my intelligence; nīcah — although lowborn (my father being a great demon, devoid of all good qualities); ajayā — because of ignorance; guna-visargam — the material world (wherein the living entity takes birth according to the contamination of the modes of nature); anupravishtah — entered into; pūyeta — may be purified; yena — by which (the glory of the Lord); hi — indeed; pumān — a person; anuvarnitena — being chanted or recited.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, although I was born in a demoniac family, I may without a doubt offer prayers to the Lord with full endeavor, as far as my intelligence allows. Anyone who has been forced by ignorance to enter the material world may be purified of material life if he offers prayers to the Lord and hears the Lord's glories.
PURPORT
It is clearly understood that a devotee does not need to be born in a very high family, to be rich, to be aristocratic or to be very beautiful. None of these qualifications will engage one in devotional service. With devotion one should feel, "God is great, and I am very small. Therefore my duty is to offer my prayers to the Lord." Only on this basis can one understand and render service to the Lord. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55):
"One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." Thus Prahlāda Mahārāja decided to offer his best prayers to the Lord, without consideration of his material position.
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