Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4 - Chapter 1 - Verse 21


Sanskrit:

न भजति कुमनीषिणां स इज्यांहरिरधनात्मधनप्रियो रसज्ञ: ।श्रुतधनकुलकर्मणां मदैर्येविदधति पापमकिञ्चनेषु सत्सु ॥ २१ ॥

ITRANS:

na bhajati kumanīṣiṇāṁ sa ijyāṁharir adhanātma-dhana-priyo rasa-jñaḥśruta-dhana-kula-karmaṇāṁ madair yevidadhati pāpam akiñcaneṣu satsu

Translation:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes very dear to those devotees who have no material possessions but are fully happy in possessing the devotional service of the Lord. Indeed, the Lord relishes the devotional activities of such devotees. Those who are puffed up with material education, wealth, aristocracy and fruitive activity are very proud of possessing material things, and they often deride the devotees. Even if such people offer the Lord worship, the Lord never accepts them.

Purport:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is dependent on His pure devotees. He does not even accept the offerings of those who are not devotees. A pure devotee is one who feels He does not possess anything material. A devotee is always happy in possessing the devotional service of the Lord. Devotees may sometimes appear materially poor, but because they are spiritually advanced and enriched, they are most dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such devotees are free from attachment to family, society, friendship, children and so on. They abandon affection for all these material possessions and are always happy in possessing the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. The Supreme Personality of Godhead understands the position of His devotee. If a person derides a pure devotee, he is never recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, the Supreme Lord never excuses one who offends a pure devotee. There are many examples of this in history. A great mystic yogī, Durvāsā Muni, offended the great devotee Ambarīṣa Mahārāja. The great sage Durvāsā was to be chastised by the Sudarśana cakra of the Lord. Even though the great mystic directly approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was never excused. Those on the path of liberation should be very careful not to offend a pure devotee.