Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord
सालोक्यसार्ष्टिसामीप्यसारूप्यैकत्वमप्युत । दीयमानं न गृह्णन्ति विना मत्सेवनं जना: ॥ १३ ॥
sālokya-sārṣṭi-sāmīpya- sārūpyaikatvam apy uta dīyamānaṁ na gṛhṇanti vinā mat-sevanaṁ janāḥ
Ein reiner Geweihter nimmt keinerlei Art von Befreiung an—sālokya, sārṣṭi, sāmīpya, sārūpya oder ekatva—selbst wenn sie angeboten wird, sofern sie nicht mit hingebungsvollem Dienst an Mir verbunden ist.
Lord Caitanya teaches us how to execute pure devotional service out of spontaneous love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Śikṣāṣṭaka, He prays to the Lord: “O Lord, I do not wish to gain from You any wealth, nor do I wish to have a beautiful wife, nor do I wish to have many followers. All I want from You is that in life after life I may remain a pure devotee at Your lotus feet.” There is a similarity between the prayers of Lord Caitanya and the statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Lord Caitanya prays, “in life after life,” indicating that a devotee does not even desire the cessation of birth and death. The yogīs and empiric philosophers desire cessation of the process of birth and death, but a devotee is satisfied even to remain in this material world and execute devotional service.
FAQs
This verse states that devotees do not accept even exalted forms of liberation—sālokya, sārṣṭi, sāmīpya, sārūpya, or ekatva—if those boons are without loving service (mat-sevana) to the Lord.
In Canto 3 Chapter 29, Lord Kapila explains pure bhakti, emphasizing that the devotee’s goal is service and love of God, not liberation as an end in itself.
Prioritize devotion over rewards: do daily remembrance, chanting, offering food, and selfless service, keeping the intention on pleasing the Lord rather than seeking status, powers, or even spiritual “achievements.”