# Cc. Ādi 8.17 > জ্ঞানতঃ সুলভা মুক্তির্ভুক্তির্যজ্ঞাদিপুণ্যতঃ । > সেয়ং সাধনসাহস্রৈর্হরিভক্তিঃ সুদুর্লভা ॥১৭॥ ## Text > jñānataḥ su-labhā muktir > bhuktir yajñādi-puṇyataḥ > seyaṁ sādhana-sāhasrair > hāri-bhaktiḥ su-durlabhā ## Synonyms *jñānataḥ*—by cultivation of knowledge; *su-labhā*—easily obtainable; *muktiḥ*—liberation; *bhuktiḥ*—sense enjoyment; *yajña-ādi*—performance of sacrifices, etc.; *puṇyataḥ*—and by performing pious activities; *sā*—that; *iyam*—this; *sādhana-sāhasraiḥ*—execution of thousands of sacrifices; *hari-bhaktiḥ*—devotional service; *su-durlabhā*—is very rare. ## Translation **"By cultivating philosophical knowledge one can understand his spiritual position and thus be liberated, and by performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it."** ## Purport Prahlāda Mahārāja instructs: > matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā > mitho 'bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām > [[sb/7/5/30|(Bhāg. 7.5.30)]] > > naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ > spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ > mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-'bhiṣekaṁ > niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat > [[sb/7/5/32|(Bhāg. 7.5.32)]] These *ślokas* are to be discussed. Their purport is that one cannot obtain *kṛṣṇa-bhakti,* or the devotional service of the Lord, by official execution of the Vedic rituals. One has to approach a pure devotee. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings, *chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā:* "Who has been elevated without rendering service to a pure Vaiṣṇava?" It is the statement of Prahlāda Mahārāja that unless one is able to accept the dust from the lotus feet of a pure Vaiṣṇava there is no possibility of achieving the platform of devotional service. That is the secret. The above-mentioned *tantra-vacana,* quoted from the *Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu* (1.1.36), is our perfect guidance in this connection.