Shloka 19
Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa
तद्भक्तानां द्वेषणं चाहुरार्यास्तद्वाक्यानां दूषणं द्वेष एव / नच द्वेषैः संयुता ये च लोके कन्ये दृश्यन्ते न तु भक्ताः कदाचित्
tadbhaktānāṃ dveṣaṇaṃ cāhurāryāstadvākyānāṃ dūṣaṇaṃ dveṣa eva / naca dveṣaiḥ saṃyutā ye ca loke kanye dṛśyante na tu bhaktāḥ kadācit
يُعلن النبلاء أن بغضَ عبّاده، وكذلك الطعنَ في كلماتهم، ليس إلا بغضًا بعينه. وأما الذين اقترنوا بهذا البغض، يا فتاة، فقد يُرَون في العالم؛ لكن العابدين الصادقين لا يكونون كذلك قط.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra; the verse includes a vocative 'kanye' as a textual address)
Concept: Hatred toward Viṣṇu’s devotees and disparagement of their words is itself dveṣa; genuine devotees are characterized by absence of such envy and fault-finding.
Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as purification of antaḥkaraṇa through amātsarya (non-envy) and sat-saṅga; the Lord is approached through honoring His devotees.
Application: Practice bhakta-sammāna: refrain from gossip and doctrinal nitpicking aimed at devotees; when disagreement arises, speak with respect and focus on shared devotion.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.17-18 (dveṣa as pride and bheda-buddhi toward Viṣṇu); Garuda Purana 3.24.20-21 (transition to exemplars like Prahlāda)
FAQs
This verse treats hatred of devotees and fault-finding in their words as the same core vice—dveṣa—implying it obstructs genuine devotion and dharmic conduct.
By defining malice toward devotees as a serious inner impurity, the verse frames speech and intention as karmically formative—purifying them is part of preparing for a safer post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.
Avoid slander and hostile criticism of sincere practitioners; practice restraint in speech, interpret others charitably, and correct disagreements without contempt.