Verse Text
yathā vā –
na kācid abhavad guror bhajana-yantraṇe ’bhijṣatā
na sādhana-vidhau ca te śrama-lavasya gandho ’py abhūt |
gato ’si caritārthatāṁ paramahaṁsa-mṛgya-śriyā
mukunda-pada-padmayoḥ praṇaya-sīdhuno dhārayā ||288||
Translation
Another example: You are not known to have suffered pains in service of the guru, and you have no trace of exerting even a drop of labor in following the rules of sādhana. But you have succeeded in attaining the river of nectar made of prema coming from the two lotus feet of Mukunda, which are the wealth sought by paramahaṁsas.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Remembering that the wives of the brāhmaṇas attained perfection of prema by discussing the qualities of the Lord in good association, it is still unclear whether some sort of purification is first necessary for attaining prema by mercy. Thus another example is given (yathā vā), which shows attainment of prema with no purificatory preparation. This is a verse spoken by Ṇārada to Śukadeva.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
There is a similar statement by Nārada, addressed to Śukadeva Gosvāmī: “My dear Śukadeva Gosvāmī, you never took the trouble to reside under the care of a spiritual master, and yet you have attained such a great status of transcendental knowledge. You never took the trouble to undergo severe austerities, and still, how wonderful it is that you have been situated in the most perfect stage of love of Godhead.”