युक्तात्मन्यफला आसन्नपुण्यस्येव सत्क्रियाः ॥४१॥
pare brahmaṇy anirdeśye
bhagavaty akhilÄtmani
yuktÄtmany aphalÄ Äsann
apuṇyasyeva sat-kriyÄḥ
pare - in the supreme; brahmaṇi - absolute; anirdeÅ›ye - who is not perceivable by the senses; bhagavati - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akhila-Ätmani - the Supersoul of everyone; yukta-Ätmani - on he whose mind was engaged (PrahlÄda); aphalÄḥ - without effect; Äsan - were; apuṇyasya - of a person who has no assets in pious activities; iva - like; sat-kriyÄḥ - good activities (like the performance of sacrifices or austerities).
Even though a person who has no assets in pious activities performs some good deed, it will have no result. Thus the weapons of the demons had no tangible effects upon PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja because he was a devotee undisturbed by material conditions and fully engaged in meditating upon and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unchangeable, who cannot be realized by the material senses, and who is the soul of the entire universe.
PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja was constantly and fully engaged in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is said, govinda-parirambhitaḥ. PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja engaged himself always in meditation, and thus he was protected by Govinda. Just as a small child on the lap of his father or mother is fully protected, a devotee, in all conditions, is protected by the Supreme Lord. Does this mean that when PrahlÄda MahÄrÄja was attacked by the demons, the RÄká¹£asas, Govinda was also attacked by the demons? This is not possible. There have been many attempts by the demons to hurt or kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He cannot be injured by any material means because He is always in transcendence. Therefore the words pare brahmaṇi are used here. The demons, the RÄká¹£asas, can neither see nor touch the Supreme Lord, although they may superficially think that they are striking the Lord’s transcendental body with their material weapons. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described in this verse as anirdeÅ›ye. We cannot understand Him to be in a particular place, for He is all-pervasive. Moreover, He is akhilÄtmÄ, the active principle of everything, even material weapons. Those who cannot understand the position of the Lord are unfortunate. They may think that they can kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotee, but all their attempts will be futile. The Lord knows how to deal with them.
