Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
श्रीउद्धव उवाच साधुस्तवोत्तमश्लोक मत: कीदृग्विध: प्रभो । भक्तिस्त्वय्युपयुज्येत कीदृशी सद्भिरादृता ॥ २६ ॥ एतन्मे पुरुषाध्यक्ष लोकाध्यक्ष जगत्प्रभो । प्रणतायानुरक्ताय प्रपन्नाय च कथ्यताम् ॥ २७ ॥
śrī-uddhava uvāca sādhus tavottama-śloka mataḥ kīdṛg-vidhaḥ prabho bhaktis tvayy upayujyeta kīdṛśī sadbhir ādṛtā
ശ്രീ ഉദ്ധവൻ പറഞ്ഞു: ഹേ ഉത്തമശ്ലോക പ്രഭോ! നിങ്ങൾ ഏതു തരത്തിലുള്ളവനെ സാദു-ഭക്തനായി കരുതുന്നു? മഹാഭക്തർ ആദരിക്കുന്ന, അങ്ങേക്ക് അർപ്പിക്കേണ്ട ഭക്തിസേവ ഏതു വിധത്തിലുള്ളതാണ്?
In the previous verse it was stated that one can achieve the Lord’s supreme abode by associating with devotees. Therefore, Uddhava naturally inquires about the symptoms of a distinguished devotee whose association can promote one to the kingdom of God. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī notes that the Personality of Godhead knows who is actually a sincere devotee because the Lord is always attached to His loving servitors. Similarly, pure devotees can expertly explain the proper methods of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa because they are already absorbed in love of Kṛṣṇa. Uddhava herein requests Lord Kṛṣṇa to describe the qualities of a devotee and asks the Lord to explain the devotional service that the devotees themselves approve as worthy to be offered to the Lord.
FAQs
In this verse Uddhava asks Kṛṣṇa to define the true ‘sādhu’—a devotee recognized by the Lord—and to describe the distinguishing traits that make one genuinely saintly.
Uddhava seeks clear guidance from Kṛṣṇa on how devotion should be practiced correctly and what kind of devotee is truly approved by the Lord, so that his own life and conduct can align with the standard honored by the virtuous.
Use this verse as a prompt to evaluate your practice: seek devotion that is God-centered and respected by genuinely good devotees—cultivating sincerity, humility, and consistent service rather than mere display.