Text 26] Prayers by the Demigods 157
cetananaém). Every living entity, therefore, must search for eternal hap-
piness, not temporary happiness. The words satyam param dhimahi in-
dicate that one should search for the Absolute Truth, not the relative
truth.

While offering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Nrsitnhadeva, Prahlada Maharaja said:

balasya neha Saranam pitarau nrsimha
nartasya cdégadam udanvati majjato nauh
Generally it is understood that the protectors for a child are his parents,
but this is not actually the fact. The real protector is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihdijasestas
tavad vibho tanu-bhrtam tvad-upeksitandm
(Bhag. 7.9.19)

If neglected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a child, despite the
presence of his parents, will suffer, and a diseased person, despite all
medical help, will die. In this material world, where there is a struggle
for existence, men have invented many means for protection, but these
are useless if the Supreme Personality of Godhead rejects them.
Therefore the demigods purposefully say, satydtmakam tvdm saranam
prapannah: ‘Real protection can be obtained from You, O Lord, and
therefore we surrender unto You.”

The Lord demands that one surrender unto Him (sarva-dharman
parityajya mém ekam saranam vraja), and He further says:

sakrd eva prapanno yas
tavdsmiti ca ydacate
abhayam sarvadé tasmai
dadaémy etad vrata mama

“If one surrenders unto Me sincerely, saying, ‘My Lord, from this day I
am fully surrendered unto You,’ I always give him protection. That is My
vow.” (Ramayana, Yuddha-kanda 18.33) The demigods offered their
