Devotee (2): Prabhupāda? Before this question was asked you were talking about the ślokas that Lord Caitanya left for us. I can't understand. On one hand He says that we don't want to be delivered from this material ocean, we just want to serve. Then in one of the other ślokas He pleads with Kṛṣṇa to deliver Him from this ocean of death and fix Him up as one of the atoms of His lotus feet. This seems to be a contradiction to me, I can't . . .
Prabhupāda: What is that contradiction? Please explain.
Devotee (2): Well, it seems like . . . you explained before that we shouldn't try to pray to be delivered from this material ocean. We should just try to serve Kṛṣṇa, wherever we are, and be delivered from the ocean of death. Seems to be a plea to take Him out of this material ocean.
Prabhupāda: That na dhanaṁ na janam, mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatu me bhaktir ahaitukī: "Let me situated in Your service." This is the prayer. And another prayer is:
- ayi nanda-tanuja
- patitaṁ kiṅkaraṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
- kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-
- sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya.
- (CC Antya 20.32, Śikṣāṣṭaka 5)
Another that, "You simply fix me up as a dust on Your lotus feet." So in one śloka He says: "You engage me in Your service"; in another śloka He says: "You fix me up as the dust of Your lotus . . ." What is the difference? There is no difference.