Canto 9: LiberationChapter 21: The Dynasty of Bharata;

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.21.16

sa vai tebhyo namaskritya

nihsango vigata-sprihah

vasudeve bhagavati

bhaktya cakre manah param

SYNONYMS

sah -- he (King Rantideva); vai -- indeed; tebhyah -- unto Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and the other demigods; namah-kritya -- offering obeisances; nihsangah -- with no ambition to take any benefit from them; vigata-sprihah -- completely free from desires for material possessions; vasudeve -- unto Lord Vasudeva; bhagavati -- the Supreme Lord; bhaktya -- by devotional service; cakre -- fixed; manah -- the mind; param -- as the ultimate goal of life.

TRANSLATION

King Rantideva had no ambition to enjoy material benefits from the demigods. He offered them obeisances, but because he was factually attached to Lord Vishnu, Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he fixed his mind at Lord Vishnu's lotus feet.

PURPORT

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung:

anya devasraya nai, tomare kahinu bhai,

ei bhakti parama karana

If one wants to become a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, one should not hanker to take benedictions from the demigods. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.20), kamais tais tair hrita jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah: those befooled by the illusion of the material energy worship gods other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, although Rantideva was personally able to see Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, he did not hanker to take material benefits from them. Rather, he fixed his mind upon Lord Vasudeva and rendered devotional service unto Him. This is the sign of a pure devotee, whose heart is not adulterated by material desires.

anyabhilashita-sunyam

jnana-karmady-anavritam

anukulyena krishnanu-

silanam bhaktir uttama

[Madhya 19.167]

"One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service."

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