God Gives Good Fortune - The Source of All Auspiciousness
In the material world, people often proudly attribute their success, wealth, and beauty to their own hard work. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is a great illusion. The Vedic literatures consistently declare that all actual good fortune—whether material opulence or ultimate spiritual liberation—is a direct gift from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Source of All Auspiciousness
True success is never the product of independent material endeavor. According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, it is foolish to become falsely proud of one's acquisitions, because Lord Viṣṇu is the absolute source of all good fortune, which He mercifully distributes through the guidance of the Vedic principles.
- Lord Visnu and His activities can bestow all good fortune, directly and indirectly.
- It is not good to be falsely puffed up, saying that by one's own effort one has become opulent, learned, beautiful and so on. All such good fortune is achieved through the mercy of the Lord.
- Lord Visnu bestows all good fortune upon the living entities by teaching them to perform Vedic activities such as ritualistic ceremonies, mystic yoga, austerities, penances, and ultimately samadhi, ecstatic absorption in thoughts of You.
- Thus You (Lord Visnu) are worshiped by the Vedic principles (He bestows all good fortune upon the living entities by teach them to perform Vedic activities).
The Fortune of Seeing the Lord
The mere sight or association of the Supreme Lord is the highest benediction a living entity can achieve. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how simply placing one's eyes on the lotus feet of the Lord, or even being killed by His transcendental weapon, brings an unprecedented fortune that culminates in eternal liberation.
- He (the Lord) is always prepared to give shelter to the surrendered soul, and anyone so fortunate as to look upon Him feels all satisfaction. The Lord is always worthy to be the master of the surrendered soul, for He is the ocean of mercy.
- When Cupid came on one occasion to visit Lord Krsna, some devotee addressed him thus: "My dear Cupid, because you have been so fortunate as to have placed your eyesight on the lotus feet of Krsna."
- Dear Lord, by virtue of a moment's association with Lord Siva, who's very dear to You and who is Your most intimate friend, we were fortunate to attain You. You're the most expert physician, capable of treating the incurable disease of material existence.
- If someone is killed by the wheel of the Lord and is thus fortunate enough to see the arms of the Lord, that is sufficient for his liberation. Such good fortune is not achieved even by the great sages.
Benedictions to the Pure Devotees
The Supreme Personality of Godhead takes immense pleasure in showering blessings upon His surrendered servants. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights how the Lord personally appeared before exalted devotees like Dhruva Mahārāja and Prahlāda Mahārāja, affectionately assuring them of their eternal success and good fortune.
- The Lord is so merciful to His devotee that He immediately said to Dhruva Maharaja, Let there be all good fortune for you.
- The PG said: My dear Dhruva, son of the King, you have executed pious vows and I also know the desire within your heart. Although your desire is very ambitious and very difficult to fulfill, I shall favor you with its fulfillment. All good fortune unto you.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Prahlada, most gentle one, best of the family of the asuras, all good fortune unto you. I am very much pleased with you.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear son Prahlada, all good fortune unto you. For the time being, please go to the place known as Sutala and there enjoy happiness with your grandson and your other relatives and friends.
Taking Shelter for Ultimate Fortune
The miseries of material existence can only be cured by the grace of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the most intelligent action for any suffering soul is to abandon fear and take full shelter of the Lord through hearing and chanting, thereby achieving the supreme fortune of returning to the spiritual world.
- This is the opportune moment to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because He is naturally very kind and dear to the demigods, He will certainly bestow good fortune upon us.
- You should simply approach that Supreme Personality of Godhead to get relief, for this Sudarsana cakra is intolerable even to us. Go to Lord Visnu. He will certainly be kind enough to bestow all good fortune upon you.
- O best of learned persons, do not fear! I wish all good fortune to you. Become My devotees by hearing and chanting about Me and offering Me prayers, for these are certainly meant to award benedictions to all living entities.
- The brahmana was then fortunate enough to get an eternal place in Vaikuntha in the association of the Lord and His Laksmis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically dismantles the materialistic illusion that human beings are the independent architects of their own success. The Vedic literatures overwhelmingly confirm that all good fortune—whether it manifests as material opulence, intelligence, or spiritual liberation—is solely the causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Viṣṇu bestows His grace upon the conditioned souls by providing the Vedic directions meant to elevate them to the platform of ecstatic absorption in Him. The sheer potency of the Lord is so great that simply catching a glimpse of His transcendental form, associating with His intimate devotees, or even being killed by His Sudarśana cakra brings about a level of fortune that baffles the greatest sages. For His unalloyed devotees, the Lord is an ocean of mercy, personally appearing before exalted souls like Dhruva Mahārāja and Prahlāda Mahārāja to guarantee their eternal happiness and declare, "All good fortune unto you." Therefore, the ultimate perfection of life is to recognize one's total dependence on the Supreme Lord. By abandoning false pride and taking full shelter of the Lord through the processes of hearing and chanting, any suffering soul can attain the supreme, everlasting good fortune of an eternal place in Vaikuṇṭha.
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