Shloka 46
यदा यस्यानुगृह्णाति भगवानात्मभावित: । स जहाति मतिं लोके वेदे च परिनिष्ठिताम् ॥ ४६ ॥
yadā yasyānugṛhṇāti bhagavān ātma-bhāvitaḥ sa jahāti matiṁ loke vede ca pariniṣṭhitām
When Bhagavān, moved by His own causeless mercy, bestows grace upon someone, the awakened devotee abandons worldly pursuits and the Vedic ritualism of karma, and becomes firmly established in pure bhakti.
In the previous verse, those who are in knowledge have been described as unable to appreciate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, this verse indicates that those who are followers of the Vedic rituals, as well as those who are followers of fruitive activities, are unable to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In these two verses both the karmīs and jñānīs are described as unfit to understand Him. As described by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, only when one is completely free from mental speculation and fruitive activity ( anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam ) can one engage in pure devotional service without being polluted by material desires. The significant word ātma-bhāvitaḥ indicates that the Lord is awakened in one’s mind if one constantly thinks of Him. A pure devotee is always thinking of the lotus feet of the Lord ( sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ ). A pure devotee cannot remain a moment without being absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This constant thinking of the Lord is described in Bhagavad-gītā as satata-yuktānām, always engaging in the Lord’s service. Bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam: this is devotional service in love and affection. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead dictates to the pure devotee from within, the devotee is saved from all material activities. Even the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies are considered material activities because by such activities one is simply elevated to other planetary systems, the residential abodes of the demigods. Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25) :
FAQs
This verse says that when Bhagavān grants special mercy, a person naturally abandons worldly thinking and even rigid attachment to ritualistic Vedic pursuits, turning toward exclusive devotion.
Because karma-kāṇḍa (ritual for material results) is not the final goal; by the Lord’s grace one seeks the essence—loving devotion to Bhagavān—rather than remaining fixed in fruitive religiosity.
Prioritize sincere devotion—hearing, chanting, and serving—over mere external religiosity for status or rewards, and pray for the Lord’s guidance so inner transformation replaces routine-only practice.