SB 7.5.41

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Seventh Canto - Chapter 5: Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

SB 7.5.39-40 - SB 7.5.42

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 41

pare brahmaṇy anirdeśye

bhagavaty akhilātmani

yuktātmany aphalā āsann

apuṇyasyeva sat-kriyāḥ

SYNONYMS

pare — in the supreme; brahmaṇi — absolute; anirdeśye — who is not perceivable by the senses; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akhila-ātmani — the Supersoul of everyone; yukta-ātmani — on he whose mind was engaged (Prahlāda); aphalāḥ — without effect; āsan — were; apuṇyasya — of a person who has no assets in pious activities; iva — like; sat-kriyāḥ — good activities (like the performance of sacrifices or austerities).

TRANSLATION

Even though a person who has no assets in pious activities performs some good deed, it will have no result. Thus the weapons of the demons had no tangible effects upon Prahlāda Mahārāja because he was a devotee undisturbed by material conditions and fully engaged in meditating upon and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unchangeable, who cannot be realized by the material senses, and who is the soul of the entire universe.

PURPORT

Prahlāda Mahārāja was constantly and fully engaged in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is said, govinda-parirambhitaḥ. Prahlāda Mahārāja engaged himself always in meditation, and thus he was protected by Govinda. Just as a small child on the lap of his father or mother is fully protected, a devotee, in all conditions, is protected by the Supreme Lord. Does this mean that when Prahlāda Mahārāja was attacked by the demons, the Rākṣasas, Govinda was also attacked by the demons? This is not possible. There have been many attempts by the demons to hurt or kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He cannot be injured by any material means because He is always in transcendence. Therefore the words pare brahmaṇi are used here. The demons, the Rākṣasas, can neither see nor touch the Supreme Lord, although they may superficially think that they are striking the Lord's transcendental body with their material weapons. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described in this verse as anirdeśye. We cannot understand Him to be in a particular place, for He is all-pervasive. Moreover, He is akhilātmā, the active principle of everything, even material weapons. Those who cannot understand the position of the Lord are unfortunate. They may think that they can kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotee, but all their attempts will be futile. The Lord knows how to deal with them.

SB 7.5.39-40 - SB 7.5.42