Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 22
Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura
यस्य भक्तिर्भगवति हरौ नि:श्रेयसेश्वरे । विक्रीडतोऽमृताम्भोधौ किं क्षुद्रै: खातकोदकै: ॥ २२ ॥
yasya bhaktir bhagavati harau niḥśreyaseśvare vikrīḍato ’mṛtāmbhodhau kiṁ kṣudraiḥ khātakodakaiḥ
Wer im hingebungsvollen Dienst an Bhagavān Hari, dem Herrn des höchsten Heils, fest gegründet ist, schwimmt im Ozean des Nektars. Wozu bräuchte er das Wasser kleiner Gräben?
Vṛtrāsura has formerly prayed ( Bhāg. 6.11.25 ), na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na ca pārameṣṭhyaṁ na sārva-bhaumaṁ na rasādhipatyam. “I do not want the facilities for happiness on Brahmaloka, Svargaloka or even Dhruvaloka, not to speak of this earth or the lower planets. I simply want to return home, back to Godhead.” This is the determination of a pure devotee. A pure devotee is never attracted to any exalted position within this material world. He simply wants to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead like the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana — Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa’s father and mother (Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā), Kṛṣṇa’s friends and Kṛṣṇa’s servants. He wants to associate with Kṛṣṇa’s atmosphere of Vṛndāvana’s beauty. These are the highest ambitions of a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Devotees of Lord Viṣṇu may aspire for a position in Vaikuṇṭhaloka, but a devotee of Kṛṣṇa never aspires even for the facilities of Vaikuṇṭha; he wants to return to Goloka Vṛndāvana and associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa in His eternal pastimes. Any material happiness is like water in a ditch, whereas the spiritual happiness eternally enjoyed in the spiritual world is like an ocean of nectar in which a devotee wants to swim.
FAQs
This verse says that one devoted to Lord Hari tastes an “ocean of nectar,” making worldly enjoyments like small, shallow waters—insignificant by comparison.
Even in battle, Vṛtrāsura reveals his inner identity as a pure devotee, teaching Indra (and listeners) that the highest goal is loving devotion to the Lord, not victory, power, or heavenly gain.
Prioritize daily bhakti—hearing, chanting, prayer, and service—so deeper spiritual taste grows; then lesser temptations naturally feel “small,” like shallow water compared to an ocean.