Question: Who was Prahlad Maharaja in his previous life?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
There are at least two versions of his past life. We can safely assume that these occur in two distinct yuga cycles, in which Nrsimha & Prahlada both appear.
- One is found in SB 7.10.3 – namely, Prahlada was a Vaikuntha Vasi, sent by the Lord to this world to teach the ways of pure devotional service.
- Santana Goswami’s Hari-bhakti-vilasa 14.418-441, when discussing the glories of observing Nåsiàha-caturdaçé, quotes from Brhan Nrsimha Purana.
Prahlada said: O Supreme Lord! I bow down to You. O Lord Nrsimhadeva, I offer my obeisances to You. I am Your devotee. O Lord of lords, I now express to You my heartfelt inquiry. O Lord, how did I develop such intense devotion for You? O my Lord, kindly tell me — how did I become Your exalted devotee?
Lord Narasimhadeva said: O greatly learned one! O my son, listen carefully as I explain to you the reason for your devotion to Me that has made you very dear to Me.
In the ancient times, you were born as a brahmana but you did not study any of the scriptures. Your name was Vasudeva and you became attached to a prostitute.
In that birth, you became so attached to a prostitute that you did not bother to perform any pious activity, except for a single vow in relation to Me. As a result of observing that vow, you developed exalted devotion for Me.
Prahlada then said: O Lord Nrsimhadeva! O Acyuta! O Supreme Lord, who was my father in that lifetime? What was my duty? How did I observe Your vow, even though I was attached to a prostitute? Kindly explain all this to me in detail.
Lord Nrsimhadeva said: In ancient times, there was a brahmana who was well-versed in the Vedic literature. He lived in the city of Avantipura and was known as Vasu Sarma.
This pious brahmana used to perform fire sacrifice every day. He was very expert in performing all kinds of Vedic rituals and as such, he would satisfy the best of demigods by performing the agnistoma sacrifice. In that state of living, he did not commit any sinful activity.
His wife was very pious and humble. She was famous throughout the three worlds. She was chaste, expert in performing all kinds of pious activities, and always eager to serve her husband.
That exalted brahmana begot five sons within the womb of his wife. These sons were very pious, learned, and devoted to their father. Among them, you were the youngest and you became attached to a prostitute.
Due to being attached to a prostitute, you became accustomed to drinking wine and performing other sinful activities, so that you never engaged in the study of the Vedas.
You spent most of your time at the house of the prostitute. One day, however, you and her quarreled.
Because of that quarrel, you missed your meal that day and as a result, you unknowingly observed a sacred vow in relation to Me.
Because of that quarrel with the prostitute, you did not sleep the entire night. The prostitute also did not eat anything, nor did she sleep that night in your association.
