Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.11.47

ishtā-pūrtena mām evam

yo yajeta samāhitah

labhate mayi sad-bhaktim

mat-smritih sādhu-sevayā

SYNONYMS

ishtā — by sacrificial performances for one's own benefit; pūrtena — and pious works for the benefit of others, such as digging wells; mām — Me; evam — thus; yah — one who; yajeta — worships; samāhitah — with mind fixed in Me; labhate — such a person obtains; mayi — in Me; sat-bhaktim — unflinching devotional service; mat-smritih — realized knowledge of Me; sādhu — with all superior qualities; sevayā — by service.

TRANSLATION

One who has executed sacrificial performances and pious works for My satisfaction, and who thus worships Me with fixed attention, obtains unflinching devotional service unto Me. By the excellent quality of his service such a worshiper obtains realized knowledge of Me.

PURPORT

The word ishtā-pūrtena, which means "sacrificial performances and pious works," does not indicate deviation from the pure devotional service of the Lord. Lord Krishna, or Vishnu, is called Yajña, or the Lord of sacrifice, and in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) Lord Krishna says, bhoktāram yajña-tapasām: "I am the actual enjoyer of all sacrifice." The highest sacrifice is to chant the holy names of the Lord, and by taking shelter of the Lord's names, one will acquire unflinching devotion and realized knowledge of the Absolute Truth. A realized devotee is very attentive in his devotional service, taking it as his life and soul. He keeps himself fit for devotional service by constantly worshiping and glorifying the lotus feet of the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such hari-nāma-kīrtana and guru-pūjā are the only practical methods by which one can achieve pure devotional service. When hari-kīrtana is expanded, it is called krishna-sańkīrtana. One should not dry up by performing unauthorized austerities or sacrifices; rather, one should engage with all enthusiasm in the great sacrifice of śrī-krishna-sańkīrtana, which enables one to easily achieve the highest perfection of human life.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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