| Canto 7: The Science of God | Chapter 9: Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nrisimhadeva with Prayers |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.9.54
SYNONYMS
prīnanti — try to please; hi — indeed; atha — because of this; mām — Me; dhīrāh — those who are sober and most intelligent; sarva-bhāvena — in all respects, in different modes of devotional service; sādhavah — persons who are very well behaved (perfect in all respects); śreyas-kāmāh — desiring the best benefit in life; mahā-bhāga — O you who are so fortunate; sarvāsām — of all; āśishām — kinds of benedictions; patim — the master (Me).
TRANSLATION
My dear Prahlāda, you are very fortunate. Please know from Me that those who are very wise and highly elevated try to please Me in all different modes of mellows, for I am the only person who can fulfill all the desires of everyone.
PURPORT
The words dhīrāh sarva-bhāvena do not mean "in whichever way you like." Bhāva is the preliminary condition of love of Godhead.
athāsaktis tato bhāvas
tatah premābhyudañcati
(Bhakti-rasāmrita-sindhu 1.4.16)
The bhāva stage is the final division before one reaches love of Godhead. The word sarva-bhāva means that one can love the Supreme Personality of Godhead in different transcendental modes of mellows, beginning with dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya. In the śānta stage, one is on the border of loving service to the Lord. Pure love of Godhead begins from dāsya and develops to sakhya, vātsalya and then mādhurya. Still, in any of these five mellows one can render loving service to the Supreme Lord. Since our main business is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can render service from any of the above-mentioned platforms of love.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness