स्वस्त्यस्तु विश्वस्य खल: प्रसीदतां
ध्यायन्तु भूतानि शिवं मिथो धिया ।
मनश्च भद्रं भजतादधोक्षजे
आवेश्यतां नो मतिरप्यहैतुकी ॥

svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ
dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā |
manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje
āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 5.18.9)

[Prahlāda Mahārāja prays to Śrī Nṛsiṁhadeva:] “May there be auspiciousness throughout the universe! May the wicked be pacified! May all beings meditate with their intelligence upon the welfare of one another! May their minds cultivate well-being! And may our hearts be immersed unconditionally in the Transcendent [i.e., Bhagavān]!”

Commentary

A practical summary of Śrī Viśvanāth Cakravartī’s Śrī Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on this verse is as follows:

Svasty astu viśvasya: may there be auspiciousness throughout the universe! That is, may there be auspiciousness for everyone, including the wicked!”

This is not possible, however, until the wicked stop oppressing the sādhus. So, “Khalaḥ prasīdatām: may the wicked be pacified! May they give up their anger and so on, and may they become virtuous and cooperative!”

Even if the wicked stop oppressing the sādhus, there will still be no auspiciousness throughout the universe as long as inimical living beings continue to attack each other. So, “Dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā: may all beings meditate with their intelligence upon the welfare of one another!”

Even if they do so, however, there will still be no auspiciousness throughout the universe as long as living beings maintain material attachment and pursue selfish enjoyment. So, “Manaḥ ca bhadram bhajatāt: may their minds cultivate well-being! That is, may they develop detachment!”

Well-being is not actually well-being, and detachment is not actually beneficial, however, if a person is devoid of bhakti. There is no real auspiciousness, well-being, or detachment without bhakti; all is inauspicious. So, “Adhokṣaje āveśyatām naḥ matiḥ api ahaitukī: may our hearts be immersed unconditionally in the Transcendent! That is, may the hearts of all beings throughout the universe along with my own become free from selfish desire (kāma) and immersed in the service of Śrī Bhagavān, the transcendent Lord!”

Because it is impossible for the heart to become immersed in Śrī Bhagavān without his grace, this prayer is offered at the lotus feet of Śrī Nṛsiṁhadeva by Śrī Prahlāda Mahārāja to evoke his grace upon all livings beings throughout the world, and it is known for certain that Śrī Bhagavān fulfills the prayers of his bhaktas who are unconditionally sheltered in his feet.

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