Verse Text
ataeva nārāyaṇa-vyūha-stave—
pati-putra-suhṛd-bhrātṛ-pitṛvan maitravad dharim |
ye dhyāyanti sadodyuktās tebhyo’pīha namo namaḥ ||308||
Translation
It is said in the Nārāyaṇa-vyūha-stava: I pay my respects repeatedly to those who constantly and eagerly meditate upon the Lord as their husband, son, well-wisher, brother, father or friend.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The suhṛt is one who acts for one’s benefit unconditionally. The maitra is a person with whom one engages in play. That is the difference between the two words. Kapila has said:
yeṣām ahaṁ priya ātmā sutaś ca sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam ||
Because the devotees accept Me as their son, friend, preceptor, benefactor and Supreme Deity, they cannot be deprived of their possessions at any time. SB 3.25.38
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
There is a statement in the Nārāyaṇa-vyūha-stava prayers that persons who are always engaged in thinking of the Lord as their husband, friend, father or well-wisher are always worshipable by everyone.