Sound Bhakti

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Seventh Canto, ninth chapter, we get a kind of fruit because we hear the prayers that are coming from Prahlāda's heart, and from those we can learn many, many lessons. The fact that the Lord came to save Prahlāda and to answer his prayers, and hearing the prayers that Prahlāda offered, is an important exercise for the devotees because Prahlāda represents the foundational position from which one can actually enter into devotional service—that is, selfless service. As he says to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, who offers him benedictions, "I don't want anything," and he really means it because Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva had to ask him a few times. They said, "No, take something." And Prahlāda said, "No, you're my master. I'm your servant. I serve Your command, and that's what I do. I don't want anything, please." And so this is a foundational point for those who are entering into the realm of bhakti: "I don't want anything in return." This is where one starts to notice the reciprocation of the Lord in a ver