Shloka 16
Lord Viṣṇu Instructs Pṛthu: Forgiveness, Ātmā-Deha Viveka, and the Bhakti Ideal of Kingship
वरं च मत्कञ्चन मानवेन्द्र वृणीष्व तेऽहं गुणशीलयन्त्रित: । नाहं मखैर्वै सुलभस्तपोभि- र्योगेन वा यत्समचित्तवर्ती ॥ १६ ॥
varaṁ ca mat kañcana mānavendra vṛṇīṣva te ’haṁ guṇa-śīla-yantritaḥ nāhaṁ makhair vai sulabhas tapobhir yogena vā yat sama-citta-vartī
O best of kings, I am captivated by your noble qualities and spotless conduct; therefore ask of Me whatever benediction you desire. One who lacks such elevated character cannot win My favor merely by sacrifices, severe austerities, or mystic yoga. Yet I remain perfectly equipoised within the heart of one who is himself equipoised in all circumstances.
Lord Viṣṇu was very pleased with Mahārāja Pṛthu’s good character and behavior and offered him a benediction. The Lord openly says that performing great sacrifices or undergoing the austerities of mystic yoga practice cannot satisfy Him. He is pleased only by elevated character and behavior. But these cannot develop unless one becomes a pure devotee of the Lord. Anyone who has developed unalloyed, unflinching devotional service unto the Lord develops his original good qualities as spirit soul. The spirit soul, as part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has all the good qualities of the Lord. When the spirit soul is contaminated by the material modes of nature, one is considered good or bad with reference to the material qualities. But when one is transcendental to all material qualities, all the good qualities come out. These qualities of a devotee, twenty-six in number, are listed as follows: (1) kind to everyone, (2) does not quarrel with anyone, (3) fixed in the Absolute Truth, (4) equal to everyone, (5) faultless, (6) charitable, (7) mild, (8) clean, (9) simple, (10) benevolent, (11) peaceful, (12) completely attached to Kṛṣṇa, (13) has no material hankering, (14) meek, (15) steady, (16) self-controlled, (17) does not eat more than required, (18) sane, (19) respectful, (20) humble, (21) grave, (22) compassionate, (23) friendly, (24) poetic, (25) expert, (26) silent. The Lord is satisfied by development of the transcendental qualities of the living entity and not by artificial performance of sacrifices and mystic yoga. In other words, unless one is fully qualified to become a pure devotee of the Lord, one cannot expect to be liberated from material entanglement.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord is not truly attained merely by sacrifices, austerities, or yoga; He is drawn to one established in equanimity and noble character.
After being pleased with Pṛthu’s righteous rule and devotion, the Lord appeared and invited him to ask a boon, emphasizing that divine favor is attracted by virtue and steady-minded devotion.
Cultivate steady-mindedness amid success and failure, act with integrity and good conduct, and keep devotion central—these qualities are described here as what truly draws the Lord’s mercy.