[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on July 4th, 1997, in Holland, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 21]
Srila Gurudeva: The demon children are saying to Prahlada, “How do you know these things? How are you established in this and how can we do this?”
Prahlada Maharaja told them that it was due to the mercy of Narada that he became like this. “When I was in the womb of my mother, for sixty thousand years or more, daily Narada Gosvami used to read Srimad-Bhagavatam, Veda, and Upanisad. He taught me everything. Everything.” Who arranged this? Krsna arranged this. Krsna is so merciful, causelessly merciful. If you are praying to His lotus feet, He will arrange everything. He will arrange a bonafide guru. If you want money and praise and all worldly things, then He will manage a worldly and unqualified guru. If you have done anything sincerely, then Krsna will arrange a very qualified guru. Valmikiji was a robber and dacoit, but the causeless mercy of Narada Muni was there. He couldn’t even utter, “Rama Rama,” so his Gurudeva told him that he should utter only, “Mara Mara.”
We are doing siddha, properly, but nothing is coming. Valmiki did the opposite and he realized Lord Rama and got the mercy of Rama. He wrote the Ramayana before Rama even performed His pastimes. If the guru is bonafide, then the disciples can become bonafide. However, it is not guaranteed. If a devotee has any chaste and qualified guru but he is not following his Gurudeva, then what will happen? What will be the result? Therefore, the disciple should carry out the order of his spiritual master, obey him, and follow his character. Then mercy will come.
Prahlada Maharaja is telling them, “guru susrusaya,” everyone should serve his Gurudeva, and whatever you do, do it for the pleasure of Krsna. You should not sleep for yourself. Most people are sleeping for themselves. If you are sleeping, then sleep for Krsna, thinking, “For tomorrow, I will be a very bonafide servant of Krsna.” Don’t eat or take anything. Instead, you should serve maha-prasadam. If you are following Prahlada Maharaja, then very quickly you will become a chaste Vaisnava. Therefore we should try to be like Prahlada Maharaja.