264 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 9

mauna—silence; vrata—vows; sruta—Vedic knowledge; tapah—
austerity; adhyayana—study of scripture; sva-dharma—executing
varnasrama-dharma; vyakhya—explaining the sdstras; rahah—living
in a solitary place; japa—chanting or reciting mantras; samddhayah—
remaining in trance; @pavargyah—these are ten types of activities for
advancing on the path of liberation; prayah—generally; param—the
only means; purusa—O my Lord; te—all of them; tu—but; ajita-
indriyanadm—of persons who cannot control the senses; vdrtah —means
of living; bhavanti—are; uta—so it is said; na—not; va—or; atra—in
this connection; tu—but; dambhikanadm—of persons who are falsely
proud.

TRANSLATION

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are ten prescribed
methods on the path to liberation—to remain silent, not to speak
to anyone, to observe vows, to amass all kinds of Vedic knowledge,
to undergo austerities, to study the Vedas and other Vedic
literatures, to execute the duties of varnasrama-dharma, to explain
the sastras, to stay in a solitary place, to chant mantras silently, and
to be absorbed in trance. These different methods for liberation
are generally only a professional practice and means of livelihood
for those who have not conquered their senses. Because such per-
sons are falsely proud, these procedures may not be successful.

PURPORT
As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.1.15):
kecit kevalaya bhaktya
vasudeva-parayanah
agham dhunvanti kartsnyena
niharam iva bhaskarah

“Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional ser-
vice to Krsna can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility
that they will revive. He can do this simply by discharging devotional
service, just as the sun can immediately dissipate fog by its rays.” The
