Prayers

Today is the all auspicious Sri Krishna Janmashtmi.

ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ

prātikūlyasya varjanam

rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso

goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā

ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye

ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ  [CC Madhya 22.100]

This verse lays down the formula for a succesful prayer

dainya, ātma-nivedana, goptṛtve varaṇa‘

avaśya rakṣībe kṛṣṇa’—viśvāsa, pālana

“The ways of saranagati are humility, dedication of the self, acceptance of the Lord as one’s only maintainer, faith that Krishna will surely protect,…”

bhakti-anukūla-mātra kāryera svīkara

bhakti-pratikūla-bhāva varjanāńgikāra

“…execution of only those acts favorable to pure devotion, and renunciation of conduct adverse to pure devotion.”

ṣaḍ-ańga śaraṇāgati hoibe jāhāra

tāhāra prārthanā śune śrī-nanda-kumāra

“The youthful son of Nanda Maharaja, Sri Krishna, hears the prayers of anyone who takes refuge in Him by this six-fold practice.”

Thakur Bhaktivinoda, a vaishnav scholar, in his deep humility prays

kāńdiyā kāńdiyā bole āmi to’ adhama

śikhāye śaraṇāgati koro he uttama

“I am certainly the lowest of men, but please make me the best of men by teaching me the ways of saranagati”

When we pray for ourselves, God listens. When we pray for others, God acts.

How God listens to our prayers and reciprocates with them is his independent will. However, what is in our hands is, to pray constantly.