Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 22
Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha
मत्प्राप्तयेऽजेशसुरासुरादय- स्तप्यन्त उग्रं तप ऐन्द्रियेधिय: । ऋते भवत्पादपरायणान्न मां विन्दन्त्यहं त्वद्धृदया यतोऽजित ॥ २२ ॥
mat-prāptaye ’jeśa-surāsurādayas tapyanta ugraṁ tapa aindriye dhiyaḥ ṛte bhavat-pāda-parāyaṇān na māṁ vindanty ahaṁ tvad-dhṛdayā yato ’jita
噢阿吉塔（Ajita），不可战胜的至上主！当沉溺于感官享乐之念时，梵天、湿婆以及诸天与阿修罗等，为求得我的赐福而行极严苦行。然而，除非他恒常依止并服务你的莲足，否则无论多么伟大，我都不加垂顾。因为我常将你安住于心；故我唯恩赐于你的奉献者。
In this verse the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmīdevī, clearly states that she does not bestow her favor on any materialistic person. Although sometimes a materialist becomes very opulent in the eyes of another materialist, such opulence is bestowed upon him by the goddess Durgādevī, a material expansion of the goddess of fortune, not by Lakṣmīdevī herself. Those who desire material wealth worship Durgādevī with the following mantra: dhanaṁ dehi rūpaṁ dehi rupavati bharyam dehi. “O worshipable mother Durgādevī, please give me wealth, strength, fame, a good wife and so on.” By pleasing Goddess Durgā one can obtain such benefits, but since they are temporary, they result only in māyā-sukha (illusory happiness). As stated by Prahlāda Mahārāja, māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān: those who work very hard for material benefits are vimūḍhas, foolish rascals, because such happiness will not endure. On the other hand, devotees like Prahlāda and Dhruva Mahārāja achieved extraordinary material opulences, but such opulences were not māyā-sukha. When a devotee acquires unparalleled opulences, they are the direct gifts of the goddess of fortune, who resides in the heart of Nārāyaṇa.
FAQs
This verse says that even great beings perform severe austerities, but without exclusive shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet (pure devotion), one cannot truly attain the Lord.
Prahlāda explains that real spiritual attainment is linked to surrender to the Lord; those who remain sense-oriented may do penance, but lack the bhakti-connection that reveals the Lord and His devotee.
Prioritize devotional shelter—regular prayer, chanting, and offering actions to the Lord—so spiritual practice is aimed at surrender and remembrance rather than ego or sense-driven achievement.