Shloka 17
यस्यामेव कवय आत्मानमविरतं विविधवृजिनसंसारपरितापोपतप्यमानमनुसवनं स्नापयन्तस्तयैव परया निर्वृत्या ह्यपवर्गमात्यन्तिकं परमपुरुषार्थमपि स्वयमासादितं नो एवाद्रियन्ते भगवदीयत्वेनैव परिसमाप्तसर्वार्था: ॥ १७ ॥
yasyām eva kavaya ātmānam avirataṁ vividha-vṛjina-saṁsāra-paritāpopatapyamānam anusavanaṁ snāpayantas tayaiva parayā nirvṛtyā hy apavargam ātyantikaṁ parama-puruṣārtham api svayam āsāditaṁ no evādriyante bhagavadīyatvenaiva parisamāpta-sarvārthāḥ.
In that supreme devotion, the sages constantly bathe the self—scorched by the many miseries of sinful material existence—in devotional service. By that highest bliss they are fully satisfied, and even liberation personified comes to serve them. Yet the devotees do not accept it, for by belonging to the Lord they have fulfilled all aims and risen beyond material desires.
Devotional service unto the Lord is the highest attainment for anyone desiring liberation from the tribulations of material existence. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (6.22), yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ: “Gaining this, one thinks there is no greater gain.” When one attains the service of the Lord, which is non-different from the Lord, one does not desire anything material. Mukti means relief from material existence. Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura says: muktiḥ mukulitāñjaliḥ sevate ’smān. For a devotee, mukti is not a very great achievement. Mukti means being situated in one’s constitutional position. The constitutional position of every living being is that of the Lord’s servant; therefore when a living entity is engaged in the Lord’s loving service, he has already attained mukti. Consequently a devotee does not aspire for mukti, even if it is offered by the Supreme Lord Himself.
FAQs
Yes. This verse explains that devotees who taste the supreme bliss of devotion do not even separately value moksha, because belonging to Bhagavān makes all goals feel already fulfilled.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks while describing Ṛṣabhadeva’s teachings—highlighting that pure devotees repeatedly immerse themselves in bhakti to cool the soul burned by saṁsāra, and thus transcend even the desire for liberation.
The verse recommends repeated immersion in devotion—regular hearing/chanting, remembrance, and service—so the mind and heart are “bathed” in spiritual joy, reducing worldly heat and re-centering life around Bhagavān.