Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 25
Ambarīṣa’s Prayers to Sudarśana and the Deliverance of Durvāsā
एवं विधानेकगुण: स राजा परात्मनि ब्रह्मणि वासुदेवे । क्रियाकलापै: समुवाह भक्तिं ययाविरिञ्च्यान् निरयांश्चकार ॥ २५ ॥
evaṁ vidhāneka-guṇaḥ sa rājā parātmani brahmaṇi vāsudeve kriyā-kalāpaiḥ samuvāha bhaktiṁ yayāviriñcyān nirayāṁś cakāra
وهكذا فإن ذلك الملك، الموهوب بأنواعٍ من الصفات المتعالية، قد نمّى البهاكتي بأعماله كلها نحو فاسوديفا، البرهمن الأعلى والبرماتما. وبسبب تلك العبادة، رأى حتى أعلى كواكب هذا العالم المادي لا خير فيها أكثر من عوالم الجحيم.
An exalted and pure devotee like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa is in full awareness of Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān; in other words, a devotee of Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is in full knowledge of the other features of the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is realized in three features — Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān ( brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate ). A devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, knows everything ( vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti ) because Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, includes both Paramātmā and Brahman. One does not have to realize Paramātmā by the yoga system, for the devotee always thinking of Vāsudeva is the topmost yogī ( yoginām api sarveṣām ). And as far as jñāna is concerned, if one is a perfect devotee of Vāsudeva, he is the greatest mahātmā ( vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ). A mahātmā is one who has full knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Thus Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, being a devotee of the Personality of Godhead, was in full awareness of Paramātmā, Brahman, māyā, the material world, the spiritual world, and how things are going on everywhere. Everything was known to him. Yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati. Because the devotee knows Vāsudeva, he knows everything within the creation of Vāsudeva ( vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ). Such a devotee does not give much value to the highest standard of happiness within this material world.
FAQs
This verse says the king cultivated devotion to Vāsudeva specifically through his kriyā-kalāpa—his practical deeds and regulated responsibilities—showing that sincere duty offered to God becomes bhakti.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, describing the king’s devotion to Vāsudeva and its powerful results.
Do your responsibilities with devotion to Vāsudeva—turn work, family duties, and service into offerings—because consistent God-centered action steadily builds bhakti and spiritual elevation.