Prabhupāda: Prahlāda Mahārāja flatly refused in the presence of Nṛsiṁhadeva. "Sir, You are . . . we are so prone to accept this material benediction, and Your great personality is offering.
So this is a great allurement. Kindly save me. I am not a merchandise man, that I want something from You." That was his answer. He refused. You see? God wanted to give him something and he refused, and He was pleased, "Oh, here is My real servant." But He was given everything, but by his that refusal, He was very much pleased. Not that He was offended, "Oh, I am offering, and you are not accepting?" No. He was very much pleased.
Devotee: And . . . (indistinct) . . . with each other.
Prabhupāda: "Here is a real servant." That is the reciprocation between devotee and Kṛṣṇa. And devotee does not require anything. Why it shall be? Kṛṣṇa gives him all protection. Why should we bother Him, "Now give me protection"? My asking Him protection is the greatest job? No. If He wants to give me protection, without asking He will do that. Why should I ask Him and make my position degraded? The devotee never asks to Kṛṣṇa anything. He simply asks for the opportunity to serve His servant. Prahlāda Mahārāja says: "Give me opportunity to serve Your servant." He doesn't want to serve Him directly.
Devotee: What was it that that Lord Caitanya was saying? How does that go in Sanskrit? That He's a servant . . .
Prabhupāda: Yes. Lord Caitanya as a teacher, He is teaching us that gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ (CC Madhya 13.80): "I am a servant of the servant of the servant of the master of the gopīs, the maintainer of the gopīs." Kṛṣṇa is never directly approached.