Prahlada Stuti

Verse 1

ब्रह्मादयः सुरगणा मुनयोऽथ सिद्धाः सत्त्वैकतानगतयो वचसां प्रवाहैः । नाराधितुं पुरुगुणैरधुनापि पिप्रुः किं तोष्टुमर्हति स मे हरिरुग्रजातेः ॥

brahma:dayah sura-gana: munayo'tha siddha:h sattvaika-tha:na-gatayo vachasa:m prava:haih | na:ra:dhithum puru-gunair adhuna:pi piprrih kim thoshtum arhati sa me harir ugra-ja:theh ||

Even Brahma and the host of devas, the silent munis and the perfected siddhas — masters of pure-sattva speech — could not, even now, fully please him with their many virtues. Then how shall I, born of a fierce demon-lineage, hope to satisfy that Hari?

Bha:gavatha 7.9.8 — Prahlada's opening declaration of inadequacy.

Verse 2

मन्ये धनाभिजनरूपतपःश्रुतौजस्- तेजःप्रभाव-बल-पौरुष-बुद्धि-योगाः । नाराधनाय हि भवन्ति परस्य पुंसो भक्त्या तुतोष भगवान् गजयूथपाय ॥

manye dhana:bhijana-ru:pa-thapah-sruthaujas- thejah-prabha:va-bala-paurusha-buddhi-yo:ga:h | na:ra:dhana:ya hi bhavanti parasya pumso bhakthya: thuthosha bhagava:n gaja-yu:thapa:ya ||

Wealth, lineage, beauty, austerity, scholarship, vital strength, splendor, influence, prowess, valor, intellect, even yoga — none of these by themselves can please the Supreme Person. By bhakti alone the Lord was satisfied — for the king of elephants (Gajendra).

Bha:gavatha 7.9.9 — bhakti above every worldly qualification.

Verse 3

विप्राद्द्विषड्गुणयुतादरविन्दनाभ- पादारविन्दविमुखात्श्वपचं वरिष्ठम् । मन्ये तदर्पितमनोवचनेहितार्थ- प्राणं पुनाति स कुलं न तु भूरिमानः ॥

vipra:d dvi-shad-guna-yutha:d aravinda-na:bha- pa:da:ravinda-vimukha:th svapacam varishtham | manye tad-arpita-mano-vachane:hitha:rtha- pra:nam puna:thi sa kulam na tu bhu:ri-ma:nah ||

More worthy than a bra:hmana endowed with the twelve virtues but turned away from the lotus-feet of him whose navel bears the lotus, I consider the cha:nda:la who has surrendered to him his mind, speech, deeds, wealth, and very life — he sanctifies his entire lineage; not so the proud one of high birth.

Bha:gavatha 7.9.10 — the most-cited verse on bhakti's universality.

Verse 4

नैवात्मनः प्रभुरयं निजलाभपूर्णो मानं जनादविदुषः करुणो वृणीते । यद्यज्जनो भगवते विदधीत मानं तच्चात्मने प्रतिमुखस्य यथा मुखश्रीः ॥

naiva:thmanah prabhur ayam nija-la:bha-pu:rno: ma:nam jana:d avidhushah karuno vruni:the | yad yaj jano bhagavate vidadhi:tha ma:nam tac cha:thmane pratimukhasya yatha: mukha-sri:h ||

This Lord, complete in his own being, has no need of honour from the unenlightened; out of compassion he accepts it. Whatever honour a devotee offers to the Bhagava:n, that returns to himself — as the beauty of one's own face shines back from a mirror.

Bha:gavatha 7.9.11.

Verse 5

तस्मादहं विगतविक्लव ईश्वरस्य सर्वात्मना महि गृणामि यथा मनीषम् । नीचोऽजया गुणविसर्गमनुप्रविष्टः पूयेत येन हि पुमाननुवर्णितेन ॥

thasma:d aham vigata-viklava i:svarasya sarva:thmana: mahi grina:mi yatha: mani:sham | ni:co'jaya: guna-visargam anupravishtah pu:ye:tha yena hi puma:n anuvarnithena ||

Therefore, free of trembling, with all my being I sing — as my understanding allows — the greatness of the Lord. By that very singing, even one fallen low and entered into the play of the gunas through ma:ya: becomes purified.

Bha:gavatha 7.9.12 — Prahlada's resolution to praise.

Verse 6

त्रस्ता वयं त्वदुरुगायविषादिग्धमुखाद् भीताः पलायनपरा नवथुर्न लोकाः । यस्मात्ते स्थाणुरचलोऽतिनिगूढधारः त्वत्पादपद्मयुगलं शरणं प्रपन्नाः ॥

thrastha: vayam tvad-uru-ga:ya-visha-digdha-mukha:d bhi:tha:h pala:yana-para: navathur na lo:ka:h | yasma:th te stha:nur acalo'ti-nigu:dha-dha:rah tvat-pa:da-padma-yugalam saranam prapanna:h ||

We are afraid, fled in terror, of your face that drips with the venom-tipped fangs of your great roar — yet the worlds do not perish, for your two lotus-feet, immovable as a pillar, hold us. To them we have come for refuge.

A loose rendering of the prapatti-verses of the chapter; bha:va preserved.

Verse 7

नैवोद्विजे पर दुरत्ययवैतरण्यास् त्वद्वीर्यगायनमहामृतमग्नचित्तः । शोचे ततो विमुखचेतस इन्द्रियार्थ- मायासुखाय भरमुद्वहतो विमूढान् ॥

naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitharanya:s tvad-vi:rya-ga:yana-maha:mritha-magna-ciththah | soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriya:rtha- ma:ya:-sukha:ya bharam udvahato vimu:dha:n ||

I do not fear, O Supreme, even the impassable Vaitharani: — my mind is drowned in the vast nectar of singing your prowess. I grieve only for the deluded, whose minds are turned away from you, who carry the heavy burden for the sake of the illusory pleasures of the senses.

Bha:gavatha 7.9.43 — the celebrated verse in which Prahlada says he weeps not for himself but for the world.

Verse 8

प्रायेण देव मुनयः स्वविमुक्तिकामा मौनं चरन्ति विजने न परार्थनिष्ठाः । नैतान् विहाय कृपणान् विमुमुक्ष एको नान्यं त्वदस्य शरणं भ्रमतोऽनुपश्ये ॥

pra:ye:na deva munayah sva-vimukti-ka:ma: maunam caranti vijane na para:rtha-nishtha:h | naitha:n viha:ya kripana:n vimumuksha eko na:nyam tvad asya saranam bhramato'nupasye ||

Most sages, O Lord, desiring their own liberation, walk in silence in solitude, not committed to others' welfare. I cannot abandon these wretched ones and seek liberation alone — and for the world that wanders, I see no refuge other than you.

Bha:gavatha 7.9.44 — Prahlada's bodhisattva-like vow.