Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.1.17.

Skandham-6.


Chapter-1.


Slokam-17. ( The path followed by pure devotees, who are well behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the sastras. )



sadhricino   hy    ayam    loke   panthah    kshemokutobhayah,



susilah    sadhavo     yatra    narayana-parayanah.






sadhricinah   =   just appropriate; 

hi   =   certainly; 

ayam   =   this; 

loke   =   in the world; 

panthah   =   path; 

kshemah   =   auspicious; 

akutah   bhayah   =   without fear; 

su-silah   =  well-behaved; 

sadhavah   =   saintly persons; 

yatra   =   wherein; 

narayana-parayanah   =   those who have taken the path of Narayana, devotional service, as their life and soul. 





One should not think that the person who takes to bhakti is one who cannot perform the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the karma-kandam section of the Vedas or is not sufficiently educated to speculate on spiritual subjects. Mayavadis generally allege that the bhakti path is for women and illiterates. This is a groundless accusation. The bhakti path is followed by the most learned scholars, such as the Rishis, and great Acharyas . These are the actual followers of the bhakti path. Regardless of whether or not one is educated or aristocratic, one must follow in their footsteps. One must follow the path of the mahajanas. The mahajanas are those who have taken to the path of devotional service,  for these great personalities are the perfect persons. 



As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.18.12):




“One who has unflinching devotion to the Personality of Godhead has all the good qualities of the demigods.” The less intelligent, however, misunderstand the bhakti path and therefore allege that it is for one who cannot execute ritualistic ceremonies or speculate. As confirmed here by the word sadhrīcīnaḥ, bhakti is the path that is appropriate, not the paths of karma-kandam and jnana-kandam.  Well-behaved saintly persons, but there is nevertheless some doubt about whether they are actually making progress, for they have not accepted the path of bhakti. On the other hand, those who follow the path of the Acharyas but furthermore their path is akuto-bhaya, which means free from fear. One should fearlessly follow the twelve mahajanas and their line of disciplic succession and thus be liberated from the clutches of maya.

To be continued ...