4
Knowing Krsna
as He |s

We do not need any high qualifications to offer
prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Whatever our social or intellectual position may be,
we can offer prayers. We do not have to be very
learned or very scholarly, nor do we have to present
our prayers in nicely selected words that are poet-
ical, rhetorical or metaphorical. None of this is
required, although if it is there it is very nice. We
simply have to express our feelings, but in order to
be able to do this we have to be aware of our position.
Once we are aware of our position, our feelings can
be expressed sincerely and automatically.

What is our position? This has been taught by
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who teaches us how to
pray in his prayer:

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
“O almighty Lord! I have no desire to accumulate
wealth, nor have I any desire to enjoy beautiful
women, nor do I want any number of followers.
What I want only is that I may have Your causeless
devotional service in my life—birth after birth.”
(Siksastakam, 4)
_ In this prayer the word jagadisa means ‘“‘Lord of
the universe.” Jagat means universe, and isa means
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