The Saints Glorify the Lord
Following the account of Hiranyaksa's history, Prahlada described how advanced saints and sages continuously glorify the Supreme Lord through philosophical discussion, devotional songs, and meditation on divine qualities. This glorification constitutes their natural expression—not duty performed reluctantly but joyful overflow of realized love. Understanding how perfected beings relate to the Supreme provides practitioners with both inspiration and practical guidance for developing similar consciousness through one's own practice at whatever stage one currently occupies.
Prahlada explained that glorification serves multiple purposes simultaneously. For the saints themselves, it provides ever-fresh engagement with the object of their love—by contemplating and expressing the Supreme's unlimited qualities, they experience increasing satisfaction that never diminishes through familiarity. For those who hear such glorification, it purifies consciousness by directing attention toward transcendent reality. For the Supreme Himself, devotees' glorification provides pleasure—though He is completely self-satisfied, He delights in His devotees' affection expressed through appreciation of His qualities and activities.
He described various modes of glorification. Some saints emphasize the Supreme's power and majesty—His creation and maintenance of countless universes, His unlimited potency that makes all phenomena possible, His supreme position as the source of all existence. Others focus on His compassion—His protection of devotees, His descent into material creation to restore proper principles, His patience with conditioned souls' endless mistakes. Still others glorify His beauty—His transcendent form, His enchanting activities, His sweet dealings with intimate associates. All these approaches are authentic, each emphasizing different aspects of one infinite reality.
Prahlada taught that glorification differs fundamentally from mundane praise. Material praise often involves flattery motivated by desire for reward or exaggeration beyond truth. Glorification of the Supreme describes actual reality—yet because His qualities are unlimited, even eternal glorification cannot exhaust them. The Supreme's magnificence exceeds any expression, so devotees never face the problem of repetition. Each moment's contemplation reveals fresh appreciation. This inexhaustible quality distinguishes divine from material glorification and explains why saints never tire of their practice.
Most importantly, he emphasized that glorification is accessible to practitioners at all levels, not reserved for perfected beings. Even those with limited understanding can sincerely appreciate whatever they have realized about the Supreme's nature. This sincere appreciation, regardless of philosophical sophistication, pleases the Supreme and attracts His reciprocal mercy. As one continues glorifying according to one's current understanding, that understanding naturally deepens through the Supreme's grace. Thus glorification serves as both expression of present realization and catalyst for future development—a practice that grows naturally from beginning stages through ultimate perfection.