B.G 9.30 to 33
अपि चेत् सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्। साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग् व्यवसितो हि सः ॥३०॥
Even if one is extremely ill-behaved, if he worships Me with exclusive devotion, he is to be considered saintly, for he is rightly resolved.
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति। कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति ॥३१॥
He quickly becomes righteous and attains eternal peace; O son of Kunti, understand conclusively that My devotee never perishes.
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः। स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥३२॥
Even those of sinful birth - women, merchants, and labourers, if they take refuge in Me, O Arjuna, they too attain the supreme destination.
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा। अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥३३॥
What to speak then of virtuous Brahmins and royal sages who are devoted? Having attained this impermanent and joyless world, worship Me.
Gīta Bhāshya 9.30 to 33
The Lord devotees generally does not misbehave. But because of unwinding of karma, temporarily he may misbehave. Such exceptions are rare and not common.
न भवत्येव प्रायः तद् भक्तः सुदुराचारः। तथापि बहुपुण्येन यदि कथञ्चित् भवति तर्हि साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः ॥३०॥
Generally, a devotee does not become extremely ill-behaved; yet, because of excessive merit, somehow, he does, even then he is to be considered saintly.
कुतः क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा। देवदेवांशादिषु एव च तद्भवति। उक्तं च शाण्डिल्यशाखायाम् -
How does such a one quickly become righteous? It happens only for those deities, sages and those who have portions of the deities or sages. This is also stated in the Śāṇḍilya branch of the Vedas.
"नाविरतो दुश्चरितान्नाभक्तो नासमाहितः। सम्यग् भक्तो भवेत् कञ्चित् वासुदेवेऽमलाशयः। देवर्षयस्तदंशाश्च भवन्ति क्व च ज्ञानतः॥
"One who has not turned away from evil conduct, who is not devoted, and who is not composed - none of them can truly become a proper devotee of Vāsudeva with a pure heart. Divine sages and those who are their portions become through their knowledge."
इति।
- stated thus.
अतः अन्यः कश्चित् भवति चेत् डाम्भिकत्वेन सोनुमेयः। साधारणपापानां तत्सन्गात् महत्यपि कथञ्चित् भक्तिः भवति। साधारणभक्तिर्वा इतरेषाम् -
Therefore, if some other person appears (to be a devotee), he is to be inferred as hypocritical. Even among great sinners, devotion may arise rarely from their association (with great devotees). Elsewhere, there is usually only ordinary devotion:
"स शठमतिरुपयाति योऽर्थतृष्णां तमधमचेष्टमवैहि नास्य भक्तिः।"
"He who, with a deceitful mind, pursues craving for wealth - know him to be of vile conduct; he has no true devotion."
इति श्रीविष्णुपुराणे।
- stated thus in the Śrī Viṣṇu Purāṇa.
