FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.7.46

ते वै विदन्त्यतितरन्ति च देवमायां स्त्रीशूद्रहूणशबरा अपि पापजीवा: । यद्यद्भुतक्रमपरायणशीलशिक्षा- स्तिर्यग्जना अपि किमु श्रुतधारणा ये ॥ ४६ ॥
te vai vidanty atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
[te vai vidanty atitaranti cha deva-maayaam]
strī-śūdra-hūṇa-śabarā api pāpa-jīvāḥ
[stree-shoodra-hoona-shabaraa api paapa-jeevaah]
yady adbhuta-krama-parāyaṇa-śīla-śikṣās
[yady adbhuta-krama-paraayana-sheela-shikshaas]
tiryag-janā api kim u śruta-dhāraṇā ye
[tiryag-janaa api kim u shruta-dhaaranaa ye]
te — such persons vai — undoubtedly vidanti — do know atitaranti — surpass ca — also deva-māyām — the covering energy of the Lord strī — such as women śūdra — the laborer class of men hūṇa — the mountaineers śabarāḥ — the Siberians, or those lower than the śūdras api — although pāpa-jīvāḥ — sinful living beings yadi — provided adbhuta-krama — one whose acts are so wonderful parāyaṇa — those who are devotees śīla — behavior śikṣāḥ — trained by tiryak-janāḥ — even those who are not human beings api — also kim — what u — to speak of śruta-dhāraṇāḥ — those who have taken to the idea of the Lord by hearing about Him ye — those.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
te vai vidanty atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
te
such persons
vai
undoubtedly
vidanti
do know
atitaranti
surpass
ca
also
deva-māyām
the covering energy of the Lord
strī-śūdra-hūṇa-śabarā api pāpa-jīvāḥ
strī
such as women
śūdra
the laborer class of men
hūṇa
the mountaineers
śabarāḥ
the Siberians, or those lower than the śūdras
api
although
pāpa-jīvāḥ
sinful living beings
yady adbhuta-krama-parāyaṇa-śīla-śikṣās
yadi
provided
adbhuta-krama
one whose acts are so wonderful
parāyaṇa
those who are devotees
śīla
behavior
śikṣāḥ
trained by
tiryag-janā api kim u śruta-dhāraṇā ye
tiryak-janāḥ
even those who are not human beings
api
also
kim
what
u
to speak of
śruta-dhāraṇāḥ
those who have taken to the idea of the Lord by hearing about Him
ye
those.
Surrendered souls, even from groups leading sinful lives, such as women, the laborer class, the mountaineers and the Siberians, or even the birds and beasts, can also know about the science of Godhead and become liberated from the clutches of the illusory energy by surrendering unto the pure devotees of the Lord and by following in their footsteps in devotional service.

Sometimes there are inquiries as to how one can surrender unto the Supreme Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) the Lord asked Arjuna to surrender unto Him, and therefore persons unwilling to do so question where God is and to whom they should surrender. The answer to such questions or inquiries is given herein very properly. The Personality of Godhead may not be present before one’s eyes, but if one is sincere in wanting such guidance the Lord will send a bona fide person who can guide one properly back home, back to Godhead. There is no need of material qualifications for making progress on the path of spiritual realization. In the material world, when one accepts some particular type of service, he is required to possess some particular type of qualification also. Without this one is unfit for such service. But in the devotional service of the Lord the only qualification required is surrender. Surrendering oneself is in one’s own hand. If one likes, he can surrender immediately, without delay, and that begins his spiritual life. The bona fide representative of God is as good as God Himself. Or, in other words, the loving representative of the Lord is more kind and more easy to approach. A sinful soul cannot approach the Lord directly, but such a sinful man can very easily approach a pure devotee of the Lord. And if one agrees to put himself under the guidance of such a devotee of the Lord, he can also understand the science of God and can also become like the transcendental pure devotee of the Lord and thus get his liberation back to Godhead, back home for eternal happiness.

So realization of the science of Godhead and relief from the unnecessary, useless struggle for existence are not at all difficult for the willing candidate. But they are very difficult for persons who are not surrendered souls but only simple, profitless speculators.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Women, śūdras, Hūṇas, Śabaras and other sinfully born persons also certainly cross over the material world and know the Lord if they learn about the qualities of the devotees of the Lord. If even animals can understand, how much more quickly can humans, who hear from the mouth of guru, understand the Lord?
Commentary

Not only those great persons but even lower persons have realized his powers. If they learn about the qualities of those devotees who have surrendered to the Supreme Lord, who takes great steps; if they learn about devotees who do not discriminate between high and low, they also know the powers of the Lord, even if they are swans, elephants, parrots or cranes (tiryag-janā). What then to speak of how quickly humans, who hear the name and form of the Lord from the mouth of a guru, can know the Lord?

Even those from groups labeled 'sinful' — women, laborers, mountaineers, even birds and beasts — can come to know God by following pure devotees. No background disqualifies anyone. Spiritual realization is not a privilege of birth.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I quietly hold that some people are too 'lowly' for this path?
  • Whom could I help bring closer to a pure devotee this week?
📝 My note

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