Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.1.43
तं सर्वभूतात्मभूतं प्रशान्तं समदर्शनम् ।
भगवत्तेजसा स्पृष्टं नाशक्नोद्धन्तुमुद्यमै: ॥ ४३ ॥
taṁ sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtaṁ
[tam sarva-bhootaatma-bhootam]
praśāntaṁ sama-darśanam
[prashaantam sama-darshanam]
bhagavat-tejasā spṛṣṭaṁ
[bhagavat-tejasaa sprishtam]
nāśaknod dhantum udyamaiḥ
[naashaknod dhantum udyamaih]
Word-for-word
tam
—
Him
sarva-bhūta-ātma-bhūtam
—
the soul in all entities
praśāntam
—
peaceful and without hatred, etc.
sama-darśanam
—
equal to everyone
bhagavat-tejasā
—
with the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
spṛṣṭam
—
protected
na
—
not
aśaknot
—
was able
hantum
—
to kill
udyamaiḥ
—
by great attempts and various weapons.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
taṁ sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtaṁ
tam
Him
sarva-bhūta-ātma-bhūtam
the soul in all entities
praśāntaṁ sama-darśanam
praśāntam
peaceful and without hatred, etc.
sama-darśanam
equal to everyone
bhagavat-tejasā spṛṣṭaṁ
bhagavat-tejasā
with the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
spṛṣṭam
protected
nāśaknod dhantum udyamaiḥ
na
not
aśaknot
was able
hantum
to kill
udyamaiḥ
by great attempts and various weapons.
The Lord, the Supersoul of all living entities, is sober, peaceful and equal to everyone. Since the great devotee Prahlāda was protected by the Lord’s potency, Hiraṇyakaśipu was unable to kill him, in spite of endeavoring to do so in various ways.
Purport
In this verse the word sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtam is very significant. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati: the Lord is equally situated in the core of everyone’s heart. Thus He cannot be envious of anyone or friendly to anyone; for Him everyone is the same. Although He is sometimes seen to punish someone, this is exactly like a father’s punishing his child for the child’s welfare. The Supreme Lord’s punishment is also a manifestation of the Lord’s equality. Therefore the Lord is described as praśāntaṁ sama-darśanam. Although the Lord has to execute His will properly, He is equipoised in all circumstances. He is equally disposed toward everyone.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
In spite of his many attempts, Hiraṇyakaśipu was unable to kill Prahlāda, who was dear to all beings like one’s own self, who was peaceful, who saw all others’ happiness and distress as his own, and who was imbued with the Lord’s power.
Prahlāda was dear like one’s very self to all beings (sarva-bhūtātma-bhūtam). He was peaceful, because of having no hatred towards his father, who tried to kill him. He saw his and others’ happiness and distress equally.
Personal Guidance
Despite every torture, Prahlāda could not be killed because the Lord protected him. The same Lord who is equal to everyone gives special, visible protection to those who give themselves fully. Equanimity in God is not the same as indifference.
Reflection Questions
- Where in your life has unseen protection clearly held you through impossible odds?
- What would full self-giving look like for you, knowing protection comes with it?
My note
Source: vedabase.io