Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 22
Devotion in Kimpuruṣa-varṣa and the Glory of Bhārata-varṣa
Rāmacandra & Nara-Nārāyaṇa; Rivers, Varṇāśrama, and Liberation
किं दुष्करैर्न: क्रतुभिस्तपोव्रतै- र्दानादिभिर्वा द्युजयेन फल्गुना । न यत्र नारायणपादपङ्कज- स्मृति: प्रमुष्टातिशयेन्द्रियोत्सवात् ॥ २२ ॥
kiṁ duṣkarair naḥ kratubhis tapo-vratair dānādibhir vā dyujayena phalgunā na yatra nārāyaṇa-pāda-paṅkaja- smṛtiḥ pramuṣṭātiśayendriyotsavāt
Die Devas fahren fort: Nachdem wir schwierige vedische Opfer, Askesen, Gelübde und Wohltätigkeit vollzogen haben, erreichten wir diese Stellung in den Himmelswelten. Doch welchen Wert hat das? Hier sind wir in übermäßige Sinnesfreuden verstrickt und können daher kaum der Lotosfüße des Herrn Nārāyaṇa gedenken; durch das Übermaß an Genuss haben wir sie fast vergessen.
The land of Bhārata-varṣa is so exalted that by taking birth there one can not only attain the heavenly planets but also go directly back home, back to Godhead. As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25) :
FAQs
This verse says that sacrifices, vows, austerities, charity, and even heavenly attainments become pointless if they do not preserve remembrance of Nārāyaṇa’s lotus feet; sense indulgence can steal that remembrance.
He calls it phalguna—insignificant—because celestial rewards are temporary and can increase sense enjoyment, which may cause forgetfulness of Nārāyaṇa, the real goal.
Prioritize practices that strengthen daily remembrance of God (japa, kīrtana, śravaṇa, sāttvika living); evaluate even “good” achievements by whether they deepen devotion or inflate sense pleasure and distraction.