In plain words
Embodiments of Prema!
Mother, father, guru, God: we must always keep these words in mind. Their order carries an inner meaning. No word in this world is without an inner meaning. For every being, the mother shows the father. The father shows the guru. The guru shows God. Every single person must recognise the inner meaning of these four: mother, father, guru and God. In the same way, on the spiritual path we must learn the inner meaning of Bhakti, Jñāna, Vairāgya and Tattva. Bhakti brings about Jñāna. Jñāna fosters Vairāgya. This Vairāgya awakens the knowledge of Tattva. If we practise these four, we draw near to the path of Mukti. Of this, the Bhāgavatam is direct proof. Bhāgavatam means ‘bhā’, ‘ga’, ‘va’, ‘ta’, ‘mu’. The letter ‘bha’ stands for Bhakti. The letter ‘ga’ stands for Jñāna. The letter ‘va’ stands for Vairāgya. The letter ‘ta’ stands for Tattva. The letter ‘mu’ is itself the way to Mukti. So its inner meaning is that the Bhāgavatam is ‘that which grants Mukti through Bhakti, Jñāna, Vairāgya and Tattva’. Prahlāda too gave a mantra as teaching.
By this there is no good, no divine glory either: being born and born in the world, dying and dying, why toss about so? The road of no birth again, no death: to seek out that road is the noble intellect.