There was a special celebration at Sage Narada's hermitage. The hermitage was beautifully decorated with tender leaf garlands, flags, and decorative pillars.
Many sages had gathered at Narada's hermitage for the fifth birthday celebration of Prince Prahlada. During this time, Queen Kayadhu, along with Narada and Prahlada, adorned with all ornaments, arrived. Narada said, 'Daughter Kayadhu, sit on the altar and prepare for the worship. Let's begin Prahlada's birthday celebration with the worship of the Supreme Lord. Pray to God for the welfare of Prahlada. Prahlada, where is my 'Mahati'? Hand it over.' Receiving the 'Mahati' veena from Prahlada, Narada lovingly placed his hand on Prahlada's head and said, 'Child, come and sit on this seat. Now, I will invoke God.' He then started playing the veena and singing.
ರಾಗ : ಭೂಪ
ತಾಳ : ಆದಿ
ಕರುಣಾಕರ ರಂಗ ಬಾ ದೇವ |
ಚರಣಸೇವಕನ ಮೊರೆಯನು ಕೇಳಿ ನೀ
ವರವೈಕುಂಠದಿಂ ಭಕುತರ ಸೇವೆಯ | ಪ |
ಹರುಷದಿ ಕೈಗೊಳಲೆಂದೀ ಸಮಯದಿ || ಅ.ಪ. ||
Raga: Bhup
Tala: Adi
Compassionate Lord Ranga, come forth,
Hear the plea of Your devotee,
From Vaikuntha, where devotees serve You,
Joyfully accept at this opportune moment.
As everyone immersed in the joy of Narada's music, suddenly a divine light shone from the altar, and the form of Lord Narayana appeared in radiant glory. Seeing this, all inhabitants of the hermitage stood up exclaiming 'Victory to Narayana! Hail, Hail Madhava!' Queen Kayadhu and Narada stood up in astonishment, joining hands in reverence. Narada, overwhelmed with joy, resumed his singing.
ಮಂದಸ್ಮಿತವದನಾರವಿಂದ ಅಪ್ರಾಕೃತಗುಣಸಾಂದ್ರ |
ಮಂದರಗಿರಿಧರ ನಂದಕಂದ ಗೋವಿಂದ ಸದಾನಂದ ||
ಇಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಅಘನಂದನ ಕಳೆದಾನಂದನ ತಂದೀಯೋ |
ತಂದೆ! ಕಂದ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದನ ಪೊರೆ ನಿನಗೊಂದಿಪೆ ಶ್ರೀರಮಣ || cha ||
With a gentle smile on Your lotus-like face, rich in transcendental qualities,
O Mandara mountain bearer, delight of Nanda, Govinda, always blissful,
Today, our remover of sins, bringer of joy has come,
Father, embrace your son Prahlada, I offer him to you, beloved of Lakshmi.
As Narada sang with devotion, the divine form of the Lord smiled benignly, offering assurance. Overwhelmed, Narada prayed fervently, "O Merciful Lord! Have you, in response to your devotee's words, graced us with your physical presence? Oh Master, such affection you have for your devotees! How much your gentle, lotus-like feet must have suffered for our sake! Forgive us, Father," he said, touching and bowing before the divine form of Sri Hari.
Then a deep and majestic voice was heard, "Narada! Am I only in Vaikuntha and not here?" Hearing the voice of the Lord thrilled everyone. "Victory to Lakshmisha," everyone exclaimed, prostrating in reverence. Young Prahlada, gazing intently at the divine form, shed tears of joy. Holding cymbals in his hand, he forgot himself in ecstasy, singing and beginning to dance.
Top of Form
ರಾಗ : ಶ್ಯಾಮ
ತಾಳ : ಆದಿ
ಅಲ್ಲಿರುವೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವೆ ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ನೀನಿರುವೆ!
ಪುಲ್ಲನಯನ ನಾರಾಯಣ ವಂದಿಪೆ ಸೊಲ್ಲಿದು ಸಟೆಯಲ್ಲ || ಪ ||
ಆಕಾಶದಿ ನೀನಿರುವೆ! ಸಾಕಾರನೆ ವಾಯ್ದಗ್ರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿರುವೆ
ನಾಕಮರ್ತ್ಯಪಾತಾಳಸಿಂಧುಗಿರಿ ವನದರಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವೆ ದೇವ || ಅ.ಪ. ||
ಸಕಲಜೀವ ಸಂಪ್ರೇರಕ ಸರ್ವಾಂತರ್ಗತ ಸರ್ವೇಶ |
ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿ ನಿಜಭಕ್ತನ ಪೊರೆಯಲು ಬಂದೆಯಾ ಶ್ರೀರಮಣ || cha ||
Raga: Shyama
Tala: Adi
You exist everywhere, here and there, in every place!
Lotus-eyed Narayana, I praise you, your glory is beyond words. || P ||
You are in the sky! You manifest in fire and air,
In heaven, on earth, in the underworld, in oceans, mountains, and forests, O God. || A.P. ||
O enlivener of all beings, omnipresent,
Lord of all, You've come visibly to protect your true devotee, O Sri Raman. || Chorus ||
Everyone listened to the profound and philosophical praises of young Prahlada and were amazed by his devotion and identification with the divine. Narada Muni was indescribably happy to see that the seed of devotion he had planted in Prahlada had borne fruit in just five years. He was overjoyed to see his efforts had been successful.
Prahlada, after offering prostrations to the divine form, prayed, “O Supreme Lord, Vasudeva, the ruler of the world, I see you in your holy form! I am blessed by your vision, Father. My grandfather Narada described your enchanting form and beauty, your infinite virtues, incomprehensible powers, and unmatched glory. Ah! Today I see your divine auspicious form that he described! O refuge of truth, your world-beautiful form resides in my heart-lotus. Lord, lover of devotees! Just the thought of your name fills my mind with joy, and my body shivers in ecstasy. God, I have imprisoned your form in the cave of my heart! You can't escape from me now! I will always be with you, inside and outside, protecting me! Tell me, Lord, will you always stay with me?”
Then the same powerful and melodious voice was heard again. "Narada, what a beautiful boy he is! It seems as if my son, Brahma, has specially created him. Though young, his heart is so vast, his mind so pure and mature. He is your disciple, isn't he? Then what more to ask? Dear Prahlada! It's my resolve to uplift those who worship and revere me with pure, selfless love. Indeed, O King of Devotees! You have captured me. Bound by the ties of your devotion, I must always be with you. Don't worry, dear child, I will always be with you and come running whenever you call me. May auspiciousness be upon you.”
After this, the divine light in the pavilion and the manifest divine aura in the statue vanished, and the decorated form of Lord Narayana shone as before. Observing this, the devotees exclaimed, “Victory to Kamalakanta!” and praised Prahlada, saying, “O young devotee Prahlada! You who have pleased Srihari are fortunate and great.
Overwhelmed with joy, Narada Muni affectionately embraced his dear disciple, young Prahlada, and said, "Blessed child! My efforts have now borne fruit. O Queen! Thanks to your and Prahlada's merits, everyone was able to witness the divine aura of the Lord in His deity form. We were all fortunate to hear the divine voice of the Supreme Lord. Your fortune is boundless to have a son like Prahlada. As the Lord has promised in His reassuring words, 'Those who worship Me with undivided devotion, to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have,' He is indeed taking care of Prahlada's welfare. Our dear disciple Prahlada will be known in the world as the greatest devotee, and he will earn eternal fame."
Kayadu, with humility and devotion, replied, "Father, all this is the result of your grace," and paid her respects.
Then Narada Muni arranged for Kayadu and Prahlada to perform the aarti to the deity. He blessed them and the residents of the ashram with prasad. He then made Prahlada perform aarti with the help of sage children and blessed him with Vedic chants.
After hosting all the invited sages and munis, and after they had eaten, Narada ensured that Prahlada received blessings from all the sages and munis.
After the grand celebration of Prahlada's birthday, Narada sent Kayadu, Prahlada, and the royal family back to the capital.
