Among the numerous captivating anecdotes narrated by Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, one of the most quoted instances is when Lord Nrisimha descended on earth and had a conversation with His beloved devotee Prahlada. The enthralling part of the story is how a small child confronts the Lord over a boon and eventually leaves Him speechless and mesmerised. Although we may have heard it many times, each time we do, we discover a new dimension to it. Through this single episode of God's incarnation, Shri Maharaj Ji explained many spiritual principles that are the tenets of devotion and must be assimilated and practiced by spiritual aspirants.
1. God is all-pervading; He is present even in an inanimate stone pillar, and that too, in the palace of a demon! This illustrates the principle of प्रभु व्यापक सर्वत्र समाना, "God is equally present everywhere."
2. No one is immortal; everyone has to leave this body. The mighty demon Hiranyakashipu possessed the strength of thousands of elephants, so much so that a single strike with his club shattered a huge stone pillar of his palace. Despite his strength and the boon he received from Brahma, he ultimately had to leave his body.
3. Human intellect is limited. The demon applied all his might and intelligence to ask for a boon from Brahma, but could he surpass the all-knowing, all-mighty, all-pervading God? Even with our greatest intellect, we cannot think beyond the material world.
4. God embodies conflicting dualities. He is both extremely fearsome and extremely calm at the same time.
उग्र भी कृष्ण हैं गोविंद राधे।
लक्ष्मी भी डरीं नरसिंह ते बता दे॥ ७०५७॥
अनुग्र नरसिंह गोविंद राधे।
प्रह्लाद हित अति शान्त बता दे॥ ७०५८॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
5. Devotion makes one fearless. Even celestial beings are awed by God's presence, yet Prahlada, with child-like innocence, approached Him boldly. Despite the presence of many gods and goddesses like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva who came to offer their obeisance, no one had the courage to face this ferocious manifestation except Prahlada. There was one lion outside and one inside Prahlada's heart!
6. Devotion imposes no age restrictions. Bhakti can be practiced at any age; in fact, the sooner, the better. That is what Prahlada preached to his demon friends at the age of four.
कौमार आचरेत्प्राज्ञो धर्मान्भागवतानिह ।
दुर्लभं मानुषं जन्म तदप्यध्रुवमर्थदम् ॥ (भागवत 7.6.1)
Prahlada was a disciple of Sage Narada who had graced him with complete knowledge of the scriptures.
स्मरण भक्ति द्वारा गोविंद राधे।
प्रह्लाद ने लक्ष्य पाया बता दे॥ ४०७०॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
7. Do not ask God for anything; if one does, he is no different from a businessman.
यस्त आशिष आशास्ते न स भृत्यः स वै वणिक्॥ (भागवत 7.10.4)
When Prahlada was prodded to ask for a boon by Lord Nrisimha, he declined. He clarified that he is a servant and a true servant engages selflessly in the service of his master. If he wishes to ask for something, he behaves like a master instead. Who can know our requirements better than the all-knowing, omnipresent God, who is constantly watching from within us?
कामना ने तोहिं मारा गोविंद राधे।
तू भी कामनाओं को मारि के दिखा दे॥ ५२०४॥
मन को ऐसा बना गोविंद राधे।
कामना का कछु रहे काम ना बता दे॥ ५२०५॥
प्रह्लाद वर माँगा गोविंद राधे।
माँगने की मेरी कामना मिटा दे॥ ५२०६॥
हरि यदि पूछें का दें गोविंद राधे।
हरि को बता दे गोपीप्रेम दिला दें॥ ५२०७॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
8. Once a desire arises, it makes one insane. Such a person resorts to telling lies and committing sinful acts to fulfill his desire. Prahlada further explains,
इन्द्रियाणि मनः प्राण आत्मा धर्मो धृतिर्मतिः।
ह्रीः श्रीस्तेज स्मृतिः सत्यं यस्य नश्यन्ति जन्मना॥ (भागवत 7.10.8)
“The growth of desires in the mind causes the destruction of all noble faculties of man – the strength of his senses, his mind, his vital energy, and of his body. He loses his sense of righteousness, determination, understanding, good fortune, modesty, prowess, memory, and adherence to truth.”
9. If one gives up all his desires, he equals God - says Prahlada,
विमुञ्चति यदा कामान्मानवो मनसि स्थितान् ।
तर्ह्येव पुण्डरीकाक्ष भगवत्त्वाय कल्पते ॥ (भागवत 7.10.9)
Shri Maharaj Ji, in his composition Radha Govind Geet, explains that the individual soul (Jeeva) has been under the influence of Maya or material desires since eternity. Only when the Jeeva redirects its desires towards Lord Krishna, can it be liberated from the clutches of material desires. Prahlad, as a child devotee, exemplified this by being completely engulfed with the desire to serve Lord Krishna,
जीव तो सदा ही गोविंद राधे।
माया ग्रह ते गृहीत है बता दे॥ ४१२७॥
कृष्णग्रह लगे जब गोविंद राधे।
माया ग्रह तब ही छोड़े बता दे॥ ४१२८॥
प्रह्लाद बालक गोविंद राधे।
कृष्णरूपीग्रह ते थे ग्रस्त बता दे॥ ४१२९॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
10. Only the mind is the doer and cause of all attachments. Internally Prahlada was a renunciate, but following God's instructions, he ruled for 306,720,000 years and carried out his worldly duties externally.
हरिभक्त हो के गोविंद राधे।
ध्रुव प्रह्लाद आदि राज्य करा दे॥ २०८१॥
नृसिंह प्रह्लाद ते गोविंद राधे।
एक मन्वन्तर तक राज्य करा दे॥ २०८२॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
- Nrisimha's avatar was the fourteenth incarnation of God.
चौदहवाँ तो है गोविंद राधे।
अवतार नरसिंह रूप बता दे॥ ६८८०॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
Shri Maharaj Ji has elaborately revealed the secrets of God's avatars in Radha Govind Geet, showcasing the various divine incarnations, including the awe-inspiring avatar of Lord Nrisimha.
Through these teachings, Shri Maharaj Ji imparts profound wisdom, emphasising the importance of devotion and the eternal principles embedded in divine scriptures. Each lesson from these narratives serves as a guiding light for seekers on their spiritual journey, leading them towards enlightenment and inner fulfillment.
Book Reference:
Radha Govind Geet - Hindi: https://www.jkpliterature.org.in/en/product/radha-govind-geet
Kamana aur Upasana: https://www.jkpliterature.org.in/en/product/kamna-aur-upasna
Among the numerous captivating anecdotes narrated by Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, one of the most quoted instances is when Lord Nrisimha descended on earth and had a conversation with His beloved devotee Prahlada. The enthralling part of the story is how a small child confronts the Lord over a boon and eventually leaves Him speechless and mesmerised. Although we may have heard it many times, each time we do, we discover a new dimension to it. Through this single episode of God's incarnation, Shri Maharaj Ji explained many spiritual principles that are the tenets of devotion and must be assimilated and practiced by spiritual aspirants.
1. God is all-pervading; He is present even in an inanimate stone pillar, and that too, in the palace of a demon! This illustrates the principle of प्रभु व्यापक सर्वत्र समाना, "God is equally present everywhere."
2. No one is immortal; everyone has to leave this body. The mighty demon Hiranyakashipu possessed the strength of thousands of elephants, so much so that a single strike with his club shattered a huge stone pillar of his palace. Despite his strength and the boon he received from Brahma, he ultimately had to leave his body.
3. Human intellect is limited. The demon applied all his might and intelligence to ask for a boon from Brahma, but could he surpass the all-knowing, all-mighty, all-pervading God? Even with our greatest intellect, we cannot think beyond the material world.
4. God embodies conflicting dualities. He is both extremely fearsome and extremely calm at the same time.
उग्र भी कृष्ण हैं गोविंद राधे।
लक्ष्मी भी डरीं नरसिंह ते बता दे॥ ७०५७॥
अनुग्र नरसिंह गोविंद राधे।
प्रह्लाद हित अति शान्त बता दे॥ ७०५८॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
5. Devotion makes one fearless. Even celestial beings are awed by God's presence, yet Prahlada, with child-like innocence, approached Him boldly. Despite the presence of many gods and goddesses like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva who came to offer their obeisance, no one had the courage to face this ferocious manifestation except Prahlada. There was one lion outside and one inside Prahlada's heart!
6. Devotion imposes no age restrictions. Bhakti can be practiced at any age; in fact, the sooner, the better. That is what Prahlada preached to his demon friends at the age of four.
कौमार आचरेत्प्राज्ञो धर्मान्भागवतानिह ।
दुर्लभं मानुषं जन्म तदप्यध्रुवमर्थदम् ॥ (भागवत 7.6.1)
Prahlada was a disciple of Sage Narada who had graced him with complete knowledge of the scriptures.
स्मरण भक्ति द्वारा गोविंद राधे।
प्रह्लाद ने लक्ष्य पाया बता दे॥ ४०७०॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
7. Do not ask God for anything; if one does, he is no different from a businessman.
यस्त आशिष आशास्ते न स भृत्यः स वै वणिक्॥ (भागवत 7.10.4)
When Prahlada was prodded to ask for a boon by Lord Nrisimha, he declined. He clarified that he is a servant and a true servant engages selflessly in the service of his master. If he wishes to ask for something, he behaves like a master instead. Who can know our requirements better than the all-knowing, omnipresent God, who is constantly watching from within us?
कामना ने तोहिं मारा गोविंद राधे।
तू भी कामनाओं को मारि के दिखा दे॥ ५२०४॥
मन को ऐसा बना गोविंद राधे।
कामना का कछु रहे काम ना बता दे॥ ५२०५॥
प्रह्लाद वर माँगा गोविंद राधे।
माँगने की मेरी कामना मिटा दे॥ ५२०६॥
हरि यदि पूछें का दें गोविंद राधे।
हरि को बता दे गोपीप्रेम दिला दें॥ ५२०७॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
8. Once a desire arises, it makes one insane. Such a person resorts to telling lies and committing sinful acts to fulfill his desire. Prahlada further explains,
इन्द्रियाणि मनः प्राण आत्मा धर्मो धृतिर्मतिः।
ह्रीः श्रीस्तेज स्मृतिः सत्यं यस्य नश्यन्ति जन्मना॥ (भागवत 7.10.8)
“The growth of desires in the mind causes the destruction of all noble faculties of man – the strength of his senses, his mind, his vital energy, and of his body. He loses his sense of righteousness, determination, understanding, good fortune, modesty, prowess, memory, and adherence to truth.”
9. If one gives up all his desires, he equals God - says Prahlada,
विमुञ्चति यदा कामान्मानवो मनसि स्थितान् ।
तर्ह्येव पुण्डरीकाक्ष भगवत्त्वाय कल्पते ॥ (भागवत 7.10.9)
Shri Maharaj Ji, in his composition Radha Govind Geet, explains that the individual soul (Jeeva) has been under the influence of Maya or material desires since eternity. Only when the Jeeva redirects its desires towards Lord Krishna, can it be liberated from the clutches of material desires. Prahlad, as a child devotee, exemplified this by being completely engulfed with the desire to serve Lord Krishna,
जीव तो सदा ही गोविंद राधे।
माया ग्रह ते गृहीत है बता दे॥ ४१२७॥
कृष्णग्रह लगे जब गोविंद राधे।
माया ग्रह तब ही छोड़े बता दे॥ ४१२८॥
प्रह्लाद बालक गोविंद राधे।
कृष्णरूपीग्रह ते थे ग्रस्त बता दे॥ ४१२९॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
10. Only the mind is the doer and cause of all attachments. Internally Prahlada was a renunciate, but following God's instructions, he ruled for 306,720,000 years and carried out his worldly duties externally.
हरिभक्त हो के गोविंद राधे।
ध्रुव प्रह्लाद आदि राज्य करा दे॥ २०८१॥
नृसिंह प्रह्लाद ते गोविंद राधे।
एक मन्वन्तर तक राज्य करा दे॥ २०८२॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
चौदहवाँ तो है गोविंद राधे।
अवतार नरसिंह रूप बता दे॥ ६८८०॥ (राधा गोविन्द गीत)
Shri Maharaj Ji has elaborately revealed the secrets of God's avatars in Radha Govind Geet, showcasing the various divine incarnations, including the awe-inspiring avatar of Lord Nrisimha.
Through these teachings, Shri Maharaj Ji imparts profound wisdom, emphasising the importance of devotion and the eternal principles embedded in divine scriptures. Each lesson from these narratives serves as a guiding light for seekers on their spiritual journey, leading them towards enlightenment and inner fulfillment.
Book Reference:
Radha Govind Geet - Hindi: https://www.jkpliterature.org.in/en/product/radha-govind-geet
Kamana aur Upasana: https://www.jkpliterature.org.in/en/product/kamna-aur-upasna
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