110 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 7
nalam dvyatvarn devatvam
rsitvarh vasuratmajah
prinanaya mukundasya
na urttam na bahu-jnata
na dénam na tapo nejya
na Saucam na vratdni ca
priyate ’malaya bhaktya
harir anyad vidambanam
na—not; alam—sufficient; dvijatvam—being a perfect, highly
qualified brahmana; devatvam—being a demigod; rsituam—being a
saintly person; vd—or; asura-dtma-jah—O descendants of asuras;
prinandya—for pleasing; mukundasya—of Mukunda, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead; na vrttam—not good conduct; na—not; bahu-
jnata—vast learning; na—neither; danam—charity; na tapah—no
austerity; na—nor; ijya—worship; na—nor; Saucam—cleanliness; na
vratani—nor execution of great vows; ca—also; priyate—is satisfied;
amalaya—by spotless; bhaktya—devotional service; harih—the
Supreme Lord; anyat—other things; vidambanam—only show.
TRANSLATION
My dear friends, O sons of the demons, you cannot please the
Supreme Personality of Godhead by becoming perfect brahmanas,
demigods or great saints or by becoming perfectly good in eti-
quette or vast learning. None of these qualifications can awaken
the pleasure of the Lord. Nor by charity, austerity, sacrifice,
cleanliness or vows can one satisfy the Lord. The Lord is pleased
only if one has unflinching, unalloyed devotion to Him. Without
sincere devotional service, everything is simply a show.
PURPORT
Prahlada Maharaja concludes that one can become perfect by serving
the Supreme Lord sincerely by all means. Material elevation to life as a
brahmana, demigod, rsi and so on are not causes for developing love of
Godhead, but if one sincerely engages in the service of the Lord, his
