20.58

na me ’bhaktas catur-vedi

mad-bhaktah sva-pacah priyah

tasmai deyam tato grahyam

sa ca pujyo yatha hy aham

SYNONYMS

na—not; me—My; abhaktah—devoid of pure devotional service; catuh-vedi—a scholar in the four Vedas; mat-bhaktah—My devotee; sva-pacah—even from a family of dog-eaters; priyah—very dear; tasmai—to him (a pure devotee, even though born in a very low family); deyam—should be given; tatah—from him; grahyam—should be accepted (remnants of food); sah—that person; ca—also; pujyah—worshipable; yatha—as much as; hi—certainly; aham—I " ’Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional service.

However, even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activity or mental speculation.

Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted.

Such devotees are as worshipable as I am.’

PURPORT

This verse is included in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (10.127) compiled by Sanatana Gosvami.