The Arrival of the Vaiṣṇavas
One day, the illustrious bhakta of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, Prahlāda Mahārāja, was deeply engaged in arcana-sevā, the worship of Lord Viṣṇu. At that moment, a palace guard came with a message:
“Two Vaiṣṇavas have come to see you and are waiting at the door.”
Prahlāda, always respectful to saints and sādhus, replied with folded hands:
“Please ask the Vaiṣṇavas to wait for a moment.”
But, fully absorbed in his service, he forgot about them.
The Pain of Neglect
The Vaiṣṇavas, left unattended for a long time, eventually gave up hope, blamed their misfortune, and quietly departed.
This seemingly small mistake—delaying honor to a devotee—had a grave spiritual consequence. Though unintentional, it pierced the spiritual heart of Prahlāda. A veil of illusion covered his mind.
Prahlāda’s Transformation
Suddenly, anger and bitterness arose in Prahlāda’s heart. Overcome by confusion, he began to utter shocking words:
“Viṣṇu is the enemy of my father! He sides with the devas, who have always stood against our race. I will go to Vaikuṇṭha and destroy Him!”
The entire demon clan echoed the cry:
“Prepare! Prepare!”
A massive army was assembled. Prahlāda, once the emblem of devotion, now marched to war against the Lord’s eternal realm.
The Power of Offense
How is this possible? The story reveals a crucial truth:
Even a great devotee can fall into illusion when the heart is touched by Vaiṣṇava-aparādha.
This tale, preserved in the scriptures, is not meant to slander Prahlāda, but to warn all spiritual seekers. Just one misstep—disrespecting a devotee, even unintentionally—can have devastating effects on the heart and mind.
Rescued by the Guru’s Mercy
But just as darkness cannot endure the rising sun, Prahlāda was saved by the mercy of his spiritual master. By the blessings of his guru, his vision was restored, and his heart purified once again.
Lesson:
Never underestimate the seriousness of offending a Vaiṣṇava. The Name of the Lord will forgive offenses against itself, but not offenses against His devotees.
As stated in the Padma Purāṇa:
“nāmnād balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhir
na vidyate tasya yamair hi śuddhiḥ”
(One who thinks he can sin on the strength of chanting cannot be purified even by strict penance.)
Let this story of Prahlāda remind us: respect, serve, and always remain humble before the devotees—for the Lord Himself resides in their hearts.
