Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 7.14 , compassionately reveals the only formula for everlasting peace:
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया |
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ||
daivī hyeṣhā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā |
mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te ||
"My
divine energy Maya, consisting of the three modes of nature, is very
difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto me cross over it
easily."
Therefore,
the only way to transform this material existence in to an incessant
celebration is to immerse all our senses in the divine color. Many
devotees - Ambarish, Prithu, Janak - have done this before, and most
importantly Prahlād, whose glorious life we celebrate on the day of
Holi.
While
Prahlād was a child, his father Hiraṇyakaśipu sent him to Sanda and
Amarka, Sukracharya's two sons, to be educated. One day, he took Prahlād
on his lap, and affectionately asked, "My dear son, what is the best
subject that you have studied at the gurukul so far?"
"O
Father, I have learnt that any person, who considers himself as the
body, falls in a steep, dark well, with no water but only suffering.
Therefore, one should take the shelter of the Supreme Lord," responded
the spiritually exalted Prahlād. Exasperated, Hiraṇyakaśipu asked Sanda
and Amarka to take Prahlād back to the gurukul and teach him while
ensuring that no Vishnu devotee influences his intellect.
Less
did Hiraṇyakaśipu know of how Prahlād, the pure-hearted devotee of
Vishnu, learnt everything that Devarishi Narad instructed him while he
was in his mother's womb. Although born in the family of asura, he was
absorbed in the thoughts of Vishnu, and was completely devoid of
material desires. Therefore, when Hiraṇyakaśipu asked him again what
knowledge was the best, Prahlād replied;
श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम्
अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम्
इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन्नवलक्षणा
क्रियेत भगवत्यद्धा तन्मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमम्
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye'dhītam uttamam (Shrimad Bhagavatham 7.5. 23-24)
"Listening
to God's glorious pastimes, chanting His names and eulogizing His
traits, constantly remembering Him and discerning Him everywhere,
dedicating all actions at His lotus feet, worshiping Him, prostrating to
Him, serving Him, perceiving Him as a friend and well-wisher, and
surrendering to Him completely are the nine spiritual practices. I
consider this as the highest knowledge."
Prahlād's
words infuriated Hiraṇyakaśipu, who considered himself as God and
forced everybody in his empire to worship him. Therefore, he tried to
annihilate Prahlād in every possible way he could think. However,
Prahlad blissfully continued worshipping the Lord and chanting His name
every waking moment, even when Holika, Hiraṇyakaśipu's sister, tried to
destroy him in the fire.
When
the Lord descended as Nṛsiṁha bhagavan and offered to bestow any boon
upon him, Prahlād humbly pleaded, "O my Lord, I am a servant who asks
for nothing from his master. However, since I have to obey your orders, I
pray you bless me with a heart that never asks you for anything."
Such
is the nature of a true devotee. When we realize God is our ultimate
goal, the external world stops tormenting us, and we can cross the
bhav-sāgar (material ocean) very easily. Moreover, every second of our
existence here on earth becomes a fulfilling moment. The more we desire
to perform every act for His pleasure, the purer our mind becomes,
leading to peace and joy.
you.
