Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6 - Chapter 1 - Verse 1

Sanskrit:

श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाचरजस्तम:स्वभावस्य ब्रह्मन् वृत्रस्य पाप्मन: ।नारायणे भगवति कथमासीद् दृढा मति: ॥ १ ॥

ITRANS:

śrī-parīkṣid uvācarajas-tamaḥ-svabhāvasyabrahman vṛtrasya pāpmanaḥnārāyaṇe bhagavatikatham āsīd dṛḍhā matiḥ

Translation:

King Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O learned brāhmaṇa, demons are generally sinful, being obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. How, then, could Vṛtrāsura have attained such exalted love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa?

Purport:

In this material world, everyone is obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. However, unless one conquers these modes and comes to the platform of goodness, there is no chance of one’s becoming a pure devotee. This is confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (7.28): “Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.” Since Vṛtrāsura was among the demons, Mahārāja Parīkṣit wondered how it was possible for him to have become such an exalted devotee.