Enraged Lord is Pacified

Chapter 9

Seeing the Lord’s incredible fury, nobody had the courage to approach Him. Brahma ushered Prahlada forward, urging him to pacify the enraged Lord. Prahlada calmly stepped forth and was greeted with warm affection. Nrsinghadeva placed His hand upon Prahlada, who became infused with spiritual knowledge and thus recited beautiful prayers of glorification.

Prahlada explained how bhakti is the only way to attract the attention of the Lord – no material qualifications, abilities or achievements can impress Him. Only when we are devotionally connected to the Lord can we feel the happiness and security that we yearn for, since all other material plans are ultimately doomed for failure. Prahlada highlighted how the Lord is impartial, not seeing friends or enemies, but graciously reciprocating with each soul according to their desires and activities. That Supreme Lord appears in various forms to lovingly attract the living entities back to the spiritual world, and devotees like Prahlada dedicate their life to assisting the Lord in that mission.

The boy-saint thus expressed his feelings in great humility and prayed for mercy. The fearsome Lord smiled at His son and praised him for his shining Vaisnava character and qualities. Nrsinghadeva then offered Prahlada any benediction he desired.