In plain words
‘You mad fellow! God alone is the one who saves all; if you go on loving that God who is full of Prema, that Prema itself will save you,’ He said. Arjuna too asked the very same thing in the Bhagavad Gītā. ‘Kṛṣṇa! For whom do You have the greater affection? Whom do You hold dear?’ he asks. ‘Those who love Me steadily, selflessly, with firm faith, they alone are close to Me,’ He said. ‘The one who keeps that principle of Prema in view, who recognises the truth that the principle of Prema dwelling in all is one alone, and who goes on loving all: for him I have a boundless liking. Such a one alone is My dear disciple,’ He said. There is nothing in the world that Prema cannot achieve. Prema overcomes even harsh anger. It cools it. It is Prema alone, Prema and nothing else, that quenches even cruel feelings such as envy, pride and anger; when Prema is placed beside amṛta, this amṛta does not seem sweeter than Prema. Once, while the Buddha was on a journey, a demon full of envy came up before Him and said, ‘Buddha! Today you must make ready to be my food,’ and he raised his sword. The Buddha burst out laughing. ‘O demoness of envy. I love you too,’ He said. The moment she heard this word Prema, that demoness of envy too was changed; she took the form of a dove, a symbol of peace, and flew away. When so many changes come about the moment one hears the word Prema, how many more changes could we bring about when we have Prema itself! So, whatever we would achieve in this world, we can easily fulfil our desires through Prema. For this power of Prema, which can win even God, what is there in this world it cannot achieve? This Prema has five names. The first is śānta, the second dāsya, the third vātsalya, the fourth sakhya, the fifth mādhurya. All these, every one, are just other words for Prema. You may ask how śānta can be another word for Prema. What is Śānti? We think that śānta is merely keeping silent, no matter who says what, giving no answer and not opening one's mouth.