Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 9
Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal
Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up
शुद्धिर्नृणां न तु तथेड्य दुराशयानां विद्याश्रुताध्ययनदानतप:क्रियाभि: । सत्त्वात्मनामृषभ ते यशसि प्रवृद्ध- सच्छ्रद्धया श्रवणसम्भृतया यथा स्यात् ॥ ९ ॥
śuddhir nṛṇāṁ na tu tatheḍya durāśayānāṁ vidyā-śrutādhyayana-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyābhiḥ sattvātmanām ṛṣabha te yaśasi pravṛddha- sac-chraddhayā śravaṇa-sambhṛtayā yathā syāt
Ô Seigneur digne d’adoration, ceux dont la conscience est souillée par l’illusion et nourrie de vains espoirs ne se purifient pas par le simple culte, l’étude des Veda, la charité, l’austérité et les rites. Ô Ṛṣabha suprême, seules les âmes pures qui, en écoutant Tes gloires, ont fait croître une foi transcendante et ferme, atteignent une pureté inaccessible à ceux qui en sont dépourvus.
Even if a pure devotee is lacking the above qualifications, such as Vedic study and austerity, if he has unflinching faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa the Lord will save him because of his devotion. On the other hand, if one becomes falsely proud of one’s material qualifications, including ordinary piety, but does not devote himself to hearing and chanting the glories of Kṛṣṇa, the result will ultimately be nil. The transcendental spirit soul cannot be purified by any amount of material piety, charity or scholarship. Only the transcendental Supreme Lord can purify the transcendental living entity by bestowing His mercy within the heart. The demigods were astonished at their good fortune. Even by hearing about Kṛṣṇa, one achieves all perfection, but they had entered the Lord’s own city and were seeing Him standing before them.
FAQs
This verse states that genuine purification arises most effectively from steadily increasing faith developed by hearing the Lord’s glories, especially for the pure-hearted.
Uddhava notes that for those whose hopes are misdirected toward material aims, external practices may not purify as deeply as devotionally hearing Krishna-kathā, which directly awakens faith and cleanses the heart.
Make regular time for attentive listening to Bhagavatam, Krishna-kathā, and bhakti teachings (in person or recordings), and let consistent hearing shape your faith and daily choices.