5.2 Make me prayerfully ready and practically steady 

eta kṛpā koro prabhu 

kori nija-baśa

Grant this mercy on me, O Lord Omnipotent

Take charge of me and make my words potent

Active surrender in service

My dear Lord, this verse reveals the mood of active surrender that defines Srila Prabhupada’s devotion. While he candidly acknowledges that the task before him is impossible without your mercy, he is not asking you to do a miracle while he passively watches. He is prayerfully ready—asking you to take charge of him and to speak through him.

O Lord Almighty, even when I am ready to do your will, that does not bring the results into my control. What remains in my control is my effort, as you instruct in the Gita (2.47): to focus on action, not on results. He does not seek control of outcomes; he seeks alignment of will. Srila Prabhupada exemplifies this mood by praying that you take control of him—not that you magically change the circumstances around him. His focus is on endeavor—on making his heart receptive to transmit your message.

O merciful Lord, his subsequent actions reveal how he remains practically steady—continuing his service of speaking spiritual wisdom for as long as required and as long as he is capable, leaving it to you to decide if, when, and how results will manifest.

O unfailing Lord, when I face formidable challenges, please bless me to remain similarly ready and steady—ever prayerfully ready to do my part and ever practically steady in surrender to yours.