SB 8.23.6
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 6
- śrī-prahrāda uvāca
- nemaṁ viriñco labhate prasādaṁ
- na śrīr na śarvaḥ kim utāpare 'nye
- yan no 'surāṇām asi durga-pālo
- viśvābhivandyair abhivanditāṅghriḥ
SYNONYMS
śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca — Prahlāda Mahārāja said; na — not; imam — this; viriñcaḥ — even Lord Brahmā; labhate — can achieve; prasādam — benediction; na — nor; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; na — nor; śarvaḥ — Lord Śiva; kim uta — what to speak of; apare anye — others; yat — which benediction; naḥ — of us; asurāṇām — the demons; asi — You have become; durga-pālaḥ — the maintainer; viśva-abhivandyaiḥ — by personalities like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, who are worshiped all over the universe; abhivandita-aṅghriḥ — whose lotus feet are worshiped.
TRANSLATION
Prahlāda Mahārāja said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are universally worshiped; even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva worship Your lotus feet. Yet although You are such a great personality, You have kindly promised to protect us, the demons. I think that such kindness has never been achieved even by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva or the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, what to speak of other demigods or common people.
PURPORT
The word durga-pāla is significant. The word durga means "that which does not go very easily." Generally durga refers to a fort, which one cannot very easily enter. Another meaning of durga is "difficulty." Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead promised to protect Bali Mahārāja and his associates from all dangers, He is addressed here as durga-pāla, the Lord who gives protection from all miserable conditions.