Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 29
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
श्रीभगवानुवाच कृपालुरकृतद्रोहस्तितिक्षु: सर्वदेहिनाम् । सत्यसारोऽनवद्यात्मा सम: सर्वोपकारक: ॥ २९ ॥ कामैरहतधीर्दान्तो मृदु: शुचिरकिञ्चन: । अनीहो मितभुक् शान्त: स्थिरो मच्छरणो मुनि: ॥ ३० ॥ अप्रमत्तो गभीरात्मा धृतिमाञ्जितषड्गुण: । अमानी मानद: कल्यो मैत्र: कारुणिक: कवि: ॥ ३१ ॥ आज्ञायैवं गुणान् दोषान् मयादिष्टानपि स्वकान् । धर्मान् सन्त्यज्य य: सर्वान् मां भजेत स तु सत्तम: ॥ ३२ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca kṛpālur akṛta-drohas titikṣuḥ sarva-dehinām satya-sāro ’navadyātmā samaḥ sarvopakārakaḥ
The Supreme Lord said: O Uddhava, a saintly person is merciful, never harms others, and is tolerant toward all beings. Truth is his very substance; his heart is spotless; he is equal in happiness and distress and dedicates himself to the welfare of all. Material desires do not bewilder his intelligence; he has controlled his senses; he is gentle, pure, and free from possessiveness. He does not strive for worldly pursuits; he eats moderately; he remains peaceful and steady, taking Me alone as his shelter. He is vigilant, deep-hearted, patient, and has conquered six conditions—hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age, and death. He does not seek honor but gives honor to others; he is auspicious, friendly, compassionate, and poetically wise. Knowing the virtues and faults I have described, and taking complete refuge at My lotus feet, he ultimately renounces ordinary religious duties and worships Me alone; thus he is considered the best among all living beings.
Verses 29-31 describe twenty-eight qualities of a saintly person, and verse 32 explains the highest perfection of life. According to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, the seventeenth quality ( mat-śaraṇa, or taking complete shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa) is the most important, and the other twenty-seven qualities automatically appear in one who has become a pure devotee of the Lord. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.18.12) , yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ. The twenty-eight saintly qualities may be described as follows.