Text 22] The Residents of Jambadvipa Offer Prayers 193

mat-prdptaye—to obtain my mercy; aja—Lord Brahma; isa—Lord
Siva; sura—the other demigods, headed by King Indra, Candra and
Varuna; asura-ddayah—as well as the demons; tapyante—undergo;
ugram—severe; tapah—austerity; aindriye dhiyah—whose minds are
absorbed in thoughts of superior sense gratification; rte—unless;
bhavat-pada-pardyanat—one who is wholly and solely engaged in the
service of the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet; na—not; mém—me; vin-
danti—obtain; aham—I; tvat—in You; hrdayah—whose hearts;
yatah—therefore; ajita—O unconquerable one.

TRANSLATION

O supreme unconquerable Lord, when they become absorbed in
thoughts of material enjoyment, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, as
well as other demigods and demons, undergo severe penances and
austerities to receive my benedictions. But I do not favor anyone,
however great he may be, unless he is always engaged in the ser-
vice of Your lotus feet. Because I always keep You within my heart,
I cannot favor anyone but a devotee.

PURPORT

In this verse the goddess of fortune, Laksmidevi, 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
Durgadevi, a material expansion of the goddess of fortune, not by
Laksmidevi herself. Those who desire material wealth worship
Durgadevi with the following mantra: dhanam dehi ripam dehi ripa-
pati-bhajarn dehi. “‘O worshipable mother Durgadevi, please give me
wealth, strength, fame, a good wife and so on.” By pleasing goddess
Durga one can obtain such benefits, but since they are temporary, they
result only in méyd-sukha (illusory happiness). As stated by Prahlada
Maharaja, mayd-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimidhan: those who work
very hard for material benefits are vimiidhas, foolish rascals, because
such happiness will not endure. On the other hand, devotees like
Prahlada and Dhruva Maharaja achieved extraordinary material
