Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 21
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
धर्म: क्वचित् तत्र न भूतसौहृदं त्याग: क्वचित् तत्र न मुक्तिकारणम् । वीर्यं न पुंसोऽस्त्यजवेगनिष्कृतं न हि द्वितीयो गुणसङ्गवर्जित: ॥ २१ ॥
dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdaṁ tyāgaḥ kvacit tatra na mukti-kāraṇam vīryaṁ na puṁso ’sty aja-vega-niṣkṛtaṁ na hi dvitīyo guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ
有人通达诸法，却未必对一切众生怀慈；有人有出离之相，却未必成为解脱之因；有人威力宏大，却不能遏止时间的洪流；有人舍离对诸性（guṇa）的执著，却仍不能与至上人格神相比。故无人能完全脱离自然三性之影响。
The statement dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdam is very important in this verse. We actually see that there are many Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and religionists of other cults who adhere to their religious principles very nicely but are not equal to all living entities. Indeed, although they profess to be very religious, they kill poor animals. Such religion has no meaning. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8) says:
FAQs
This verse warns that “dharma” is incomplete if it lacks bhūta-sauhṛda—friendliness and compassion toward all living beings—showing that real dharma must be humane and God-centered, not merely ritual or social duty.
He points out that external or prideful renunciation may still be bound to the guṇas and thus may not become a genuine cause of moksha; liberation requires purification beyond material association.
Evaluate spirituality by outcomes: increased compassion, reduced sense-compulsion, and less attachment to ego and material qualities—rather than by labels like “religious,” “renounced,” or “strong.”