42 The Nectar of Devotion

dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I do not want any
resultant benediction from my religious life, nor do I want any
economic development, nor do I want to enjoy sense gratification,
nor liberation. I simply pray to be an eternal servant at Your lotus
feet. Kindly oblige me and give me this benediction.”

In the same Hayasirsa Purana, after Nrsimhadeva wanted to give
benediction to Prahlada Maharaj, Prahlada did not accept any
material benediction and simply asked the favor of the Lord to
remain His eternal devotee. In this connection, Prahlada Maharaj
cited the example of Hanuman, the eternal servitor of Lord
Ramacandra, who also set an example by never asking any material
favor from the Lord. He always remained engaged in His service.
That is the ideal character of Hanuman, for which he is still wor-
shiped by all devotees. Prahlada Maharaj also offered his respectful
obeisances unto Hanuman. There is a well-known verse spoken by
Hanuman in which he says, ‘“‘My dear Lord, if You like You can give
me salvation from this material existence, or the privilege of merging
into Your existence, but I do not wish any of these things. I do
not want anything which diminishes my relationship with You as
master and servant, even after liberation.”

In a similar passage in Ndarada-pajicardtra it is stated, “My dear
Lord, I do not wish any perfectional stage by performing the ritualis-
tic religious ceremonies or by economic development or by sense
gratification or liberation. I simply pray that You grant me the favor
of keeping me under Your lotus feet. I do not wish any kind of
liberation such as salokya, to reside on Your planet, or sdrupya, to
have the same bodily features as You. I simply pray for Your favor
that I may be always engaged in Your loving service.”

Similarly, in the Sixth Canto, 14th Chapter, 4th verse of Srimad-
Bhagavatam, Maharaj Pariksit inquires from Sukadeva Gosvami, “My
dear brahmana, I understand that the demon Vrtrasura was a great
sinful person and that his mentality was completely absorbed in the
modes of passion and ignorance. How did he develop to such a
perfectional stage of devotional service to Narayana? I have heard
that even great persons who have undergone severe austerities and
who are liberated with full knowledge must strive to become
