Text 46]
Prahlāda Pacifies the Lord with Prayers
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real purpose of human life is to attain liberation from material entanglement. Such liberation may be achieved by many methods ( tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca ), but all of them more or less depend on  tapasya , austerity, which begins with celibacy. Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that those who are  vāsudeva-parāyaṇa , who have fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, automatically achieve the results of  mauna  (silence),  vrata  (vows) and other such methods simply by discharging devotional service. In other words, these methods are not so powerful. If one takes to devotional service, all of them are very easily performed.
Mauna , for example, does not mean that one should just stop speaking. The tongue is meant for speaking, although sometimes, to make a big show, a person remains silent. There are many who observe silence some day in a week. Vaiṣṇavas, however, do not observe such silence. Silence means not speaking foolishly. Speakers at assemblies, conferences and meetings generally speak foolishly like toads. This is described by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī as  vāco vegam . One who wants to say something can show himself to be a big orator, but rather than go on speaking nonsense, better to remain silent. This method of silence, therefore, is recommended for persons very attached to speaking nonsense. One who is not a devotee must speak nonsensically because he does not have the power to speak about the glories of Kṛṣṇa. Thus whatever he says is influenced by the illusory energy and is compared to the croaking of a frog. One who speaks about the glories of the Lord, however, has no need to be silent. Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends,  kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ : one should go on chanting the glories of the Lord twenty-four hours a day. There is no question of becoming  mauna , or silent.
The ten processes for liberation or improvement on the path of liberation are not meant for the devotees.  Kevalayā bhaktyā : if one simply engages in devotional service to the Lord, all ten methods of liberation are automatically observed. Prahlāda Mahārāja's proposal is that such processes may be recommended for the  ajitendriya , those who cannot conquer their senses. Devotees, however, have already conquered their senses.  Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam : a devotee is already freed from material contamination. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura therefore said: