“Prahlada Maharaja prayed to Lord Nrsimhadeva that he forgive his father for his heinous activities and liberate him. This shows the saintly nature of a pure devotee—he is a friend to everyone. He doesn’t become his enemy’s enemy, but he is a friend even to his enemy. And Nrsimhadeva replied, ‘Because you were born in this family, the entire dynasty has been purified. Your father and twenty-one generations have all been liberated.’ Devotees are naturally kind-hearted. But often when they take up the path of devotional service their parents don’t like it. The devotee, being soft-hearted, does not want to cause pain to his relatives and loved ones. But at the same time he cannot deny his calling, as a soul, to the service of the Supreme Soul. So, this is an assurance to the devotee that even if one’s family members are not happy that one has become a devotee, just by virtue of one’s becoming a surrendered soul, the family members will all benefit. There are many instances of parents of devotees having a very auspicious death. As Srila Prabhupada said, ‘The parents of my disciples will realize their good fortune at the time of their passing away’—even if they don’t realize it during their lifetime.”
May 202016