Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17
Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons
तन्निशम्याथ मुनयो विस्मिता मुक्तसंशया: । भूयांसं श्रद्दधुर्विष्णुं यत: शान्तिर्यतोऽभयम् ॥ १४ ॥ धर्म: साक्षाद् यतो ज्ञानं वैराग्यं च तदन्वितम् । ऐश्वर्यं चाष्टधा यस्माद् यशश्चात्ममलापहम् ॥ १५ ॥ मुनीनां न्यस्तदण्डानां शान्तानां समचेतसाम् । अकिञ्चनानां साधूनां यमाहु: परमां गतिम् ॥ १६ ॥ सत्त्वं यस्य प्रिया मूर्तिर्ब्राह्मणास्त्विष्टदेवता: । भजन्त्यनाशिष: शान्ता यं वा निपुणबुद्धय: ॥ १७ ॥
tan niśamyātha munayo vismitā mukta-saṁśayāḥ bhūyāṁsaṁ śraddadhur viṣṇuṁ yataḥ śāntir yato ’bhayam
Amazed upon hearing Bhṛgu’s account, the sages were freed from all doubts and became convinced that Viṣṇu is the greatest Lord. From Him come peace; fearlessness; the essential principles of religion; detachment with knowledge; the eightfold powers of mystic yoga; and His glorification, which cleanses the mind of all impurities. He is known as the supreme destination for those who are peaceful and equipoised — the selfless, wise saints who have given up all violence. His most dear form is that of pure goodness, and the brāhmaṇas are His worshipable deities. Persons of keen intellect who have attained spiritual peace worship Him without selfish motives.
By becoming devoted to the Personality of Godhead, one easily attains divine knowledge and detachment from sense gratification, without separate endeavor. As described in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (11.2.42) :
FAQs
This verse praises anāśiṣaḥ—devotees who worship Viṣṇu without material demands—describing them as śānta (peaceful) and guided by refined intelligence.
Here Viṣṇu is described as especially associated with sattva, the mode that supports clarity, peace, and spiritual discernment—qualities that naturally nourish devotion.
Serve and pray with the intention to please the Lord rather than to secure outcomes—do your duties sincerely, reduce selfish bargaining in prayer, and cultivate calmness and clarity (sattva) through disciplined living.