FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.4.67

मत्सेवया प्रतीतं ते सालोक्यादिचतुष्टयम् । नेच्छन्ति सेवया पूर्णा: कुतोऽन्यत् कालविप्लुतम् ॥ ६७ ॥
mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te
[mat-sevayaa prateetam te]
sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam
[saalokyaadi-chatushtayam]
necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ
[nechchanti sevayaa poornaah]
kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam
[kuto ’nyat kaala-viplutam]
Word-for-word
mat-sevayā — by being engaged fully in My transcendental loving service pratītam — automatically achieved te — such pure devotees are fully satisfied sālokya-ādi-catuṣṭayam — the four different types of liberation (sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi, what to speak of sāyujya) na — not icchanti — desire sevayā — simply by devotional service pūrṇāḥ — fully complete kutaḥ — where is the question anyat — other things kāla-viplutam — which are finished in the course of time.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te
mat-sevayā
by being engaged fully in My transcendental loving service
pratītam
automatically achieved
te
such pure devotees are fully satisfied
sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam
sālokya-ādi-catuṣṭayam
the four different types of liberation (sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi, what to speak of sāyujya)
necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ
na
not
icchanti
desire
sevayā
simply by devotional service
pūrṇāḥ
fully complete
kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam
kutaḥ
where is the question
anyat
other things
kāla-viplutam
which are finished in the course of time.
My devotees, who are always satisfied to be engaged in My loving service, are not interested even in the four principles of liberation [sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi], although these are automatically achieved by their service. What then is to be said of such perishable happiness as elevation to the higher planetary systems?
Purport

Śrīla Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura has estimated the value of liberation as follows:

muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjaliḥ sevate ’smān dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ

Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura realized that if one develops his natural devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mukti stands before him with folded hands to offer all kinds of service. In other words, the devotee is already liberated. There is no need for him to aspire for different types of liberation. The pure devotee automatically achieves liberation, even without desiring it.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
My devotees, who are always satisfied to be engaged in my service, are not interested even in the four principles of liberation [sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya and sārṣṭi], although these are automatically achieved by their service. What then is to be said of any perishable happiness? This verse shows their high position because of their lack of material desire. Though these types of liberation are achieved (pratītam) automatically, they do not desire them. These types of liberation are not destroyed by time, whereas other things such as attaining Brahmaloka are destroyed.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
His devotees are not interested even in the four liberations of sālokya, sārūpya, sāmīpya, sārṣṭi. The lower elevations come automatically; bhakti is uninterested in any reward beyond service itself.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'lower' liberation am I quietly aiming at while calling it bhakti?
  • What would change if service were truly the only reward I sought from service?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 4