What to Ask from the Supreme - How God Gives Benedictions
It is natural for a conditioned soul in the material world to desire relief from suffering and an increase in opulence. Often, people turn to religion specifically for this purpose. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is indeed Varada, the ultimate bestower of all benedictions. However, he warns that we must be very careful about what we ask for, because while God gives benedictions freely, asking the unlimited Lord for temporary material things is a sign of great foolishness.
Foolishness of Material Desires
When a person does not understand the spiritual reality of the soul, they approach God like a merchant approaching a wealthy client. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently points out the irony of this situation: the Lord is ready to grant liberation from the cycle of birth and death, yet we ask Him for a slightly better position within the prison house of material existence.
- So this is our foolishness. When God comes to give us some benediction, we simply ask Him to load us down again with all these material bundles. We ask Him for more material things, for a happy family, for a large amount of money, a new car or whatever.
- She (one old woman) began to call God, "God, help me." And God came, "What you want?" "Kindly help me to get this bundle on my head." (laughter) Just see. God came to giving benediction, and she wanted to "Give this bundle again on my head."
- An inexperienced man generally does not know what to beg from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone is under the jurisdiction of the created material world, and no one knows what benediction to ask when praying to the Supreme Lord.
- Everyone is praying, "God, give me this benediction. Give me this benediction." So this is not pure devotional service. For some material profit one should not become a religious person or devotee of God.
Perfection of Dhruva Maharaja
The story of Dhruva Mahārāja is the classic example of how the Lord purifies the desires of His devotees. Dhruva performed severe austerities solely to gain a material kingdom greater than his father's. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when Dhruva finally saw the Supreme Lord face-to-face, his material desires vanished completely, and he refused the very benediction he had originally sought.
- Even such an exalted devotee as Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest for the sake of material benefit, but when he actually saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he refused to accept any material benediction.
- Dhruva Maharaja regrets his unfortunate position, for although he approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always able to give His devotee the highest benediction of cessation of the repetition of birth and death, he foolishly wanted something perishable.
- When Lord appeared before Dhruva Maharaja to give him benediction he refused it by saying, svamin krtartho'smi varam na yace - Now I am fully satisfied. I do not want any material benediction. (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 7.28) This is the perfection of life.
Compassion of Prahlada Maharaja
A pure Vaiṣṇava desires nothing for their own sense gratification. When Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva offered Prahlāda Mahārāja any benediction he desired, Prahlāda did not ask for wealth, power, or even his own liberation. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that Prahlāda's only concern was for the suffering of the conditioned souls and the opportunity to eternally serve the Lord's pure devotee.
- Nrsimhadeva offered Prahlada Maharaja all kinds of benedictions, but Prahlada Maharaja did not accept any of them, for he simply wanted to engage in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord.
- Nrsimha-deva wanted to give him benediction, blessings, "Whatever you like." He refused, he said "I'm not a mercantile devotee that I'll get some benefit from You, but first benediction I want that let me engage in service of Your servant, Narada Muni."
- When he was offered a benediction by Lord Nrsimhadeva, Prahlada Maharaja said: My dear Lord, whenever I chant I immediately merge in an ocean of transcendental bliss. I only lament to see others bereft of Your love.
- When he was offered a benediction by Lord Nrsimhadeva, Prahlada Maharaja said: My dear Lord, I only lament to see others bereft of Your love. I am simply lamenting for them and devising various plans to deliver them from the clutches of maya - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.43.
Ultimate Benediction
If we should not ask for material things, what should we ask for? Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the ultimate benediction is simply the opportunity to continue serving Kṛṣṇa in the association of His pure devotees. This association is the only thing that can guarantee our safe return to the spiritual world.
- This (associating with devotees life after life) is the best benediction that a devotee can ask of the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.3.
- When a devotee is actually engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, his engagement in itself is so perfect that there is no need to ask for further benediction.
- The benedictions (from demigods) will be finished at the end of the cosmic manifestation, along with those who bestow them. If one approaches Lord Visnu for benedictions, He will give him a benediction that will help him return home, back to Godhead.
- Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu prays: O my Lord! Your holy name alone can render all benediction upon the living beings, and therefore You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda - Siksastakam, 2.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly explains that Kṛṣṇa is ready to give us whatever we desire. If we want material opulence, He will provide it, but it will only bewilder us further in the cycle of birth and death. If we truly want the ultimate benefit, we must follow in the footsteps of Prahlāda and Dhruva, rejecting the temporary and begging only for the eternal benediction of pure devotional service.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God Gives Benedictions. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.