Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Bhakti as the Supreme Process; Detachment and the Rudiments of Meditation
निष्किञ्चना मय्यनुरक्तचेतस: शान्ता महान्तोऽखिलजीववत्सला: । कामैरनालब्धधियो जुषन्ति ते यन्नैरपेक्ष्यं न विदु: सुखं मम ॥ १७ ॥
niṣkiñcanā mayy anurakta-cetasaḥ śāntā mahānto ’khila-jīva-vatsalāḥ kāmair anālabdha-dhiyo juṣanti te yan nairapekṣyaṁ na viduḥ sukhaṁ mama
ನಿಷ್ಕಿಂಚನರು, ನನ್ನಲ್ಲೇ ಅನುರಕ್ತಚಿತ್ತರು, ಶಾಂತರು, ಅಹಂಕಾರರಹಿತರು, ಸರ್ವಜೀವಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕರುಣೆಯುಳ್ಳ ಮಹಾತ್ಮರು—ವಿಷಯಕಾಮಗಳು ಅವರ ಬುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಕದಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ; ಅವರು ನನ್ನಲ್ಲೇ ಆ ನಿರಪೇಕ್ಷ ಸುಖವನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಅದು ಇತರರಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯದು।
The pure devotees always experience transcendental bliss in their service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of pleasure; thus they are completely detached from material pleasure and do not desire even liberation. Since all others have some personal desire, they cannot experience such happiness. Pure devotees always desire to give Kṛṣṇa conscious happiness to all others, and therefore they are called mahāntaḥ, or great souls. In the course of a devotee’s service, many opportunities for sense gratification arise, but a pure devotee is not tempted or attracted and does not fall down from his exalted transcendental position.
FAQs
This verse says a pure devotee is niṣkiñcana (without material claim), lovingly attached to Kṛṣṇa, peaceful, compassionate to all beings, and not controlled by material desires.
Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on the defining traits of exalted devotees and the unique, self-sufficient happiness found in devotion—superior to pleasure dependent on external objects.
Reduce dependency on sense-gratification, cultivate steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa through sādhana (japa, śravaṇa, kīrtana), and practice compassion—then inner contentment becomes less dependent on changing circumstances.