Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6 - Chapter 1 - Verse 75


Sanskrit:

आराध्यात्मप्रदं देवं स्वात्मानं जगदीश्वरम् ।को वृणीत गुणस्पर्शं बुध: स्यान्नरकेऽपि यत् ॥ ७५ ॥

ITRANS:

ārādhyātma-pradaṁ devaṁsvātmānaṁ jagad-īśvaramko vṛṇīta guṇa-sparśaṁbudhaḥ syān narake ’pi yat

Translation:

The ultimate goal of all ambitions is to become a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If an intelligent man serves the most dear Lord, who gives Himself to His devotees, how can he desire material happiness, which is available even in hell?

Purport:

An intelligent man will never aspire to become a devotee to achieve material happiness. That is the test of a devotee. As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches: “O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth.” A pure devotee never begs the Lord for material happiness in the shape of riches, followers, a good wife or even mukti. The Lord promises, however, yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham: “I voluntarily bring everything necessary for My service.”