FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.55

श्रीनारद उवाच एवं प्रलोभ्यमानोऽपि वरैर्लोकप्रलोभनै: । एकान्तित्वाद् भगवति नैच्छत्तानसुरोत्तम: ॥ ५५ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca
[shree-naarada uvaacha]
evaṁ pralobhyamāno ’pi
[evam pralobhyamaano ’pi]
varair loka-pralobhanaiḥ
[varair loka-pralobhanaih]
ekāntitvād bhagavati
[ekaantitvaad bhagavati]
naicchat tān asurottamaḥ
[naichchat taan asurottamah]
śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — the great saint Nārada said evam — thus pralobhyamānaḥ — being allured or induced api — although varaiḥ — by benedictions loka — of the world pralobhanaiḥ — by different kinds of allurements ekāntitvāt — because of being solely surrendered bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead na aicchat — did not want tān — those benedictions asura-uttamaḥ — Prahlāda Mahārāja, the best of the family of asuras..
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-nārada uvāca
śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca
the great saint Nārada said
evaṁ pralobhyamāno ’pi
evam
thus
pralobhyamānaḥ
being allured or induced
varair loka-pralobhanaiḥ
api
although
ekāntitvād bhagavati
varaiḥ
by benedictions
loka
of the world
pralobhanaiḥ
by different kinds of allurements
ekāntitvāt
because of being solely surrendered
bhagavati
unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
naicchat tān asurottamaḥ
na aicchat
did not want
tān
those benedictions
asura-uttamaḥ
Prahlāda Mahārāja, the best of the family of asuras..
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.

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

“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.”

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva with Prayers.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nārada said: Prahlāda, the best person in the demonic family, though tempted by the worldly allurements that other people desire, did not want them, since he was dedicated solely to the Lord. He did not want those things because he was fully dedicated to the Lord. Such a person does not want any material benediction. Thus ends the commentary on the Ninth Chapter of the Seventh Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas. Chapter Ten The Lord Offers Benedictions to Prahlāda
Although offered all material benedictions by the Lord Himself, Prahlāda — born in a family that craves material happiness — refused them, holding only unalloyed Kṛṣṇa-consciousness. The mark of a pure devotee is what they decline when finally given the choice.
Reflection Questions
  • If the Lord offered you every material wish, what would your refusal reveal about your devotion?
  • Which 'yes' to material benediction have you given that a purer heart would decline?
📝 My note

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