Radhanath Swami and Giriraj Swami spoke during the evening program.
“Prahlada Maharaja said, ‘My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Narada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?’ Prahlada said this to Lord Nrismhadeva. He was speaking to the Lord face-to-face, but still he was remembering his spiritual master, who had saved him. Srila Prabhupada quoted this verse in the mood of service to his spiritual master. And we who follow in the line of Srila Prabhupada have the same mood—How could we give up his service?
“Other verses that Prahlada spoke to Lord Nrismhadeva also exemplify Srila Prabhupada’s mood. Prahlada prayed,
naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas
tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah
soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-
maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan
‘O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies, and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.43) And,
prayena deva munayah sva-vimukti-kamaÂ
maunam caranti vijane na parartha-nisthah
naitan vihaya krpanan vimumuksa eko nanyam
tvad asya saranam bhramato ‘nupasye
‘My dear Lord Nrsimhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the mountains or forest to meditate with vows of silence. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Krishna consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.44)  This was very much Srila Prabhupada’s mood.”
—Giriraj Swami
Nrsimha-caturdasi, Radhanath Swami
Nrsimha-caturdasi, Giriraj Swami
