Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 32
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
श्रीभगवानुवाच कृपालुरकृतद्रोहस्तितिक्षु: सर्वदेहिनाम् । सत्यसारोऽनवद्यात्मा सम: सर्वोपकारक: ॥ २९ ॥ कामैरहतधीर्दान्तो मृदु: शुचिरकिञ्चन: । अनीहो मितभुक् शान्त: स्थिरो मच्छरणो मुनि: ॥ ३० ॥ अप्रमत्तो गभीरात्मा धृतिमाञ्जितषड्गुण: । अमानी मानद: कल्यो मैत्र: कारुणिक: कवि: ॥ ३१ ॥ आज्ञायैवं गुणान् दोषान् मयादिष्टानपि स्वकान् । धर्मान् सन्त्यज्य य: सर्वान् मां भजेत स तु सत्तम: ॥ ३२ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca kṛpālur akṛta-drohas titikṣuḥ sarva-dehinām satya-sāro ’navadyātmā samaḥ sarvopakārakaḥ
Dù hiểu rõ các đức tính và lỗi lầm Ta đã chỉ dạy, cùng những bổn phận tôn giáo thông thường dành cho mình, nhưng ai nương trọn nơi chân sen của Ta, rồi buông bỏ mọi pháp hành ấy để chỉ thờ phụng một mình Ta, người ấy được xem là bậc tối thượng.
Verses 29-31 describe twenty-eight qualities of a saintly person, and verse 32 explains the highest perfection of life. According to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, the seventeenth quality ( mat-śaraṇa, or taking complete shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa) is the most important, and the other twenty-seven qualities automatically appear in one who has become a pure devotee of the Lord. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.18.12) , yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ. The twenty-eight saintly qualities may be described as follows.
FAQs
This passage lists compassion, non-malice, tolerance, truthfulness, purity, equal vision, self-control, simplicity, moderation, peacefulness, vigilance, humility, respect for others, friendliness, mercy, and wisdom—culminating in exclusive devotion to Kṛṣṇa.
It teaches that after understanding virtues and faults, the highest saintliness is to give up all other obligations as independent goals and worship Kṛṣṇa alone with full surrender.
Cultivate humility, compassion, and self-restraint; watch your own faults without self-deception; simplify desires; and make daily devotion to Kṛṣṇa (hearing, chanting, remembrance, service) the central priority.