← Canto 7: The Science of God

Chapter 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers

Verse 55 of 55
SB 7.9.55

श्रीनारद उवाच एवं प्रलोभ्यमानो ऽपि वरैर्लोकप्रलोभनैः एकान्तित्वाद्भगवति नैच्छत्तानसुरोत्तमः

śrī-nārada uvāca evaṁ pralobhyamāno 'pi varair loka-pralobhanaiḥ ekāntitvād bhagavati naicchat tān asurottamaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-nāradaḥ uvācathe great saint Nārada said; evamthus; pralobhyamānaḥbeing allured or induced; apialthough; varaiḥby benedictions; lokaof the world; pralobhanaiḥby different kinds of allurements; ekāntitvātbecause of being solely surrendered; bhagavatiunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; na aicchatdid not want; tānthose benedictions; asura-uttamaḥPrahlāda Mahārāja, the best of the family of asuras..

Translation

Nārada Muni said: Prahlāda Mahārāja was the best person in the family of asuras, who always aspire for material happiness. Nonetheless, although allured by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who offered him all benedictions for material happiness, because of his unalloyed Kṛṣṇa consciousness he did not want to take any material benefit for sense gratification.

Purport

Pure devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja and Dhruva Mahārāja do not aspire for any material benefit at any stage of devotional service. When the Lord was present before Dhruva Mahārāja, Dhruva did not want to take any material benefit from the Lord: svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce. As a pure devotee, he could not ask the Lord for any material benefit. In this regard, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed us:

na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi
[Śikṣāṣṭaka 4]

"O my Lord, Jagadīśa, I do not pray for benedictions by which to achieve material wealth, popularity or beauty. My only desire is to serve You. Kindly engage me in the service of the servant of Your servant."

Verse 55 of 55
Prabhupāda Says