Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 6
Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra
धौतात्मा पुरुष: कृष्णपादमूलं न मुञ्चति । मुक्त सर्वपरिक्लेश: पान्थ: स्वशरणं यथा ॥ ६ ॥
dhautātmā puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇa- pāda-mūlaṁ na muñcati mukta-sarva-parikleśaḥ pānthaḥ sva-śaraṇaṁ yathā
A pure devotee, whose heart has been cleansed by devotional service, never abandons the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Freed from all distress, he is fully satisfied there, as a traveler is content when, after a troubled journey, he reaches the shelter of home.
One who is not a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is not completely cleansed in the heart. But a perfectly cleansed person never quits the devotional service of the Lord. In discharging such devotional service, as ordered by Brahmājī to Nārada in the preaching of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, sometimes a representative of the Lord engaged in preaching work meets various so-called difficulties. This was exhibited by Lord Nityānanda when He delivered the two fallen souls Jagāi and Mādhāi, and similarly Lord Jesus Christ was crucified by the nonbelievers. But such difficulties are very gladly suffered by the devotees in preaching because in such activities, although apparently very severe, the devotees of the Lord feel transcendental pleasure because the Lord is satisfied. Prahlāda Mahārāja suffered greatly, but still he never forgot the lotus feet of the Lord. This is because a pure devotee of the Lord is so purified in his heart that he cannot leave the shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa in any circumstances. There is no self-interest in such service. The progress of culturing knowledge by the jñānīs or the bodily gymnastics by the yogīs are ultimately given up by the respective performers, but a devotee of the Lord cannot give up the service of the Lord, for he is ordered by his spiritual master. Pure devotees like Nārada and Nityānanda Prabhu take up the order of the spiritual master as the sustenance of life. They do not mind what becomes of the future of their lives. They take the matter very seriously, as the order comes from the higher authority, from the representative of the Lord, or from the Lord Himself.
FAQs
This verse says that when one’s heart is purified, one does not abandon Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, and by that shelter one becomes free from all distress.
Śukadeva uses the traveler analogy to show that Kṛṣṇa’s feet are the devotee’s true destination—once that shelter is attained, there is no reason to return to fear, instability, or worldly wandering.
Keep steady devotional shelter—regular hearing/chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s names and remembrance of His feet—so the mind has a “home” to return to, reducing the grip of distress and restlessness.