Text 46] Prahlada Pacifies the Lord with Prayers 265

real purpose of human life is to attain liberation from material entangle-
ment. Such liberation may be achieved by many methods (tapasa
brahmacaryena Samena ca damena ca), but all of them more or less
depend on tapasya, austerity, which begins with celibacy. Sukadeva
Gosvami says that those who are vdsudeva-parayana, who have fully
surrendered to the lotus feet of Lord Vasudeva, Krsna, 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 serivce, all of
them are very easily performed.

Mauna, for example, does not mean that one should just stop speak-
ing. 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. Vaisnavas, however, do not observe such silence.
Silence means not speaking foolishly. Speakers at assemblies, con-
ferences and meetings generally speak foolishly like toads. This is de-
scribed by Srila Ripa Gosvami as vdco 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 non-
sense. One who is not a devotee must speak nonsensically because he does
not have the power to speak about the glories of Krsna. Thus whatever
he says is influenced by the illusory energy and is compared to the croak-
ing of a frog. One who speaks about the glories of the Lord, however, has
no need to be silent. Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, kirtaniyah sada
harih: 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 libera-
tion are not meant for the devotees. Kevalaya bhaktya: if one simply
engages in devotional service to the Lord, all ten methods of liberation
are automatically observed. Prahlada Maharaja’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. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam: a devotee is
already freed from material contamination. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura therefore said:
