OBSTACLES ON THE PATH OF DEVOTION
Śrī Hari Bhakti-sudhodaya 10.46-50
After a minister of Hiranyakasipu preached toBhakta Prahlad to give up the worship of LordVishnu, Prahlad replied:
vtāni vighnai śreyāsi prabho sarvāi sarvadāśreyastamā kathā siddhyen nivirghnā hari-bhāvanā
O my master, there is no doubt that when-ever one does good, one meets obstacles. It isa fact that in order to perform any auspiciousact there will be many difficulties to overcome.So how can the most auspicious hari-bhajanbe performed without facing obstacles? (47)
kadācit kasya cid vio ramate cañcala manadrāvayanty atha tad vighnā śārdulā haria yathā
Some unsteady persons with polluted heartspretend to be devotees of Lord Narayan. Butwhen they meet obstacles they give up hari-bhajan and flee like a deer from a tiger. (48)
sarveśa-bhāvanā-ni ha lobhayantī adā surārakāsi vā bhīayanti guravo vārayanti vā
Even if the gods offer them temptations, ifdemons place them in fearful situations, or ifelders advise them otherwise, devotees can-not be swayed from the path. (49)
durlaghyān īdśān vighnān dhiyā nirjitya ya sudhītam eva bhāvayan nātha sa tasya padam aśnute
In spite of the obstacles that naturally come,wise persons remain resolute. They remainfirm in their steadfast devotion to Sri Hari andattain the supreme goal of life. (50)
Bibliography
— Śrī Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya, of the Nāradīya Purāa. Englishtranslation by Tridandi Bhakti Prajnan Yati. Sri GaudiyaMath. Madras.1989.
— Śrī Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya, of the Nāradīya Purāa. Sanskritwith Bengali translation by Ram Narayan Vidyaratna. San-skrit Pustak Bhandar. Calcutta. Bengabda 1405.
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