Shloka 5
Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance
आशासानो न वै भृत्य: स्वामिन्याशिष आत्मन: । न स्वामी भृत्यत: स्वाम्यमिच्छन्यो राति चाशिष: ॥ ५ ॥
āśāsāno na vai bhṛtyaḥ svāminy āśiṣa ātmanaḥ na svāmī bhṛtyataḥ svāmyam icchan yo rāti cāśiṣaḥ
Le serviteur qui désire des profits matériels de son maître n’est pas un serviteur qualifié. De même, le maître qui accorde des dons pour préserver son prestige de « maître » n’est pas un maître pur.
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.20) , kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ. “Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods.” A demigod cannot become master, for the real master is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demigods, to keep their prestigious positions, bestow upon their worshipers whatever benedictions the worshipers want. For example, once it was found that an asura took a benediction from Lord Śiva by which the asura would be able to kill someone simply by placing his hands on that person’s head. Such benedictions are possible to receive from the demigods. If one worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, the Lord will never offer him such condemned benedictions. On the contrary, it is said in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.88.8) , yasyāham anugṛhnāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ. If one is too materialistic but at the same time wants to be a servant of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, because of His supreme compassion for the devotee, takes away all his material opulences and obliges him to be a pure devotee of the Lord. Prahlāda Mahārāja distinguishes between the pure devotee and the pure master. The Lord is the pure master, the supreme master, whereas an unalloyed devotee with no material motives is the pure servant. One who has materialistic motivations cannot become a servant, and one who unnecessarily bestows benedictions upon his servant to keep his own prestigious position is not a real master.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a genuine devotee (servant) serves the Lord without expecting personal benedictions; such desire-based exchange is not pure bhakti.
After being offered boons by Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, Prahlāda clarified that his devotion is not motivated by rewards—he seeks only loving service, not benefits.
Serve and worship with sincerity—do your duties, prayer, and seva as an offering, reducing the habit of bargaining with God for outcomes.