Shloka 22
यमस्य अधिकारभङ्गः — वैष्णवस्य लक्षणम्
Freedom from Yama through Hari-śaraṇāgati
कनकम् अपि रहस्य् अवेक्ष्य बुद्ध्या तृणम् इव यः समवैति वै परस्वम् भवति च भगवत्य् अनन्यचेताः पुरुषवरं तम् अवैहि विष्णुभक्तम्
kanakam api rahasy avekṣya buddhyā tṛṇam iva yaḥ samavaiti vai parasvam bhavati ca bhagavaty ananyacetāḥ puruṣavaraṃ tam avaihi viṣṇubhaktam
Kilalanin bilang pinakamahusay sa mga tao—deboto ni Vishnu—ang taong sa talino’y nakikita ang lihim na bitag kahit sa ginto at itinuturing iyon na parang damo; hindi natitinag sa yaman ng iba; at ang isip ay nakatuon lamang sa Mapalad na Panginoon, na walang ibang pinagtutuunan.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Concept: The true Viṣṇu-bhakta discerns the subtle bondage hidden in gold, treats it as grass, is unmoved by others’ wealth, and remains ananya-citta—without a second object—toward Bhagavān.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Actively audit desires around money and status; simplify possessions; redirect attention to one steady practice of devotion (japa, kīrtana, arcana).
Vishishtadvaita: Ananya-bhakti is not world-denial but re-ordering of attachment: all goods are secondary to the Lord, who alone is the ultimate object of the will.
Vishnu Form: Vasudeva
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Lakshmi Presence: Sri
FAQs
This verse treats gold as a subtle “hidden snare”; seeing through it and valuing it like grass is presented as a defining sign of a genuine Vishnu devotee and inner freedom.
Parāśara defines the exemplary person as one whose mind abides in Bhagavān alone—undivided by competing desires—showing that devotion is measured by exclusive inner orientation, not mere ritual.
Vishnu is the sole, sufficient focus of the devotee’s consciousness; the verse frames devotion to Bhagavān as the highest criterion of human excellence and spiritual authority.