Pure devotion to Krishna instantly purifies the heart where all austere practices fail.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.15 — August 1, 1971, New York 710801SB-NEW YORK [48:55 Minutes] SB-06.01.15_710801SB-NEW YORK Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. So we are not going to be misled by anyone. We simply worship the original person, ādi-puruṣa.
Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi **. kecit kevalayā bhaktyā vāsudeva-parāyaṇāḥ aghaṁ dhunvanti kārtsnyena nīhāram iva bhāskaraḥ [SB 6.1.15] Śrīdhara Svāmī is giving his commentation in this connection, that tasya ati duṣkarād mukham eva anyāt prāyaścittaṁ kecit kīrtanena, evaṁ mūḍho bhakti pradhāna virala iti darśayet[?]. Kevalayā tapa-ādibhir nirapekṣaya[?]. Śrīdhara Svāmī's explaining this word, kevalayā, "simply by devotional service," kevalayā bhaktyā—but without being dependent on other processes. The other processes we have described: tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena damena [SB 6.1.13], by observing celibacy. Now take for example celibacy. In this age especially...
Why especially in this or that? All over the world, to remain a brahmacārī is little difficult. One who can, it is very good. But it is difficult.
So brahmacaryeṇa, by practicing celibacy, a life of celibacy, even one has the intention, the association, the society is so much polluted that one cannot. It is very difficult. So in bhakti-yoga it is not very strict that one has to observe celibacy strictly. He can marry.
Marriage is allowed, but not for indulgence. But because a man requires a woman or a woman requires a man, there is sacred marriage. This man and woman is educated that he or she is not this body. Therefore advancement of this education will stop him for this bodily enjoyment. Just like eating also.
We are eating; we are not fasting. We are eating. But we are eating just to maintain the body and soul together, not extravagantly. Although we have very nice plates, kṛṣṇa-prasādam, but we do not make any palatable dishes for enjoyment.
We make all nice things for Kṛṣṇa, and we take prasādam. Therefore the material effect of eating, it does not act upon the devotees. So therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, "By one stroke, kevalayā—without waiting for the austerity, undergoing severe penance, austerity, celibacy, controlling the mind, controlling the senses, and giving in charity, performing great sacrifices, to become..., becoming very truthful, clean—but without waiting for all these things, simply by one stroke, accepting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one immediately ascends the highest position." There is ample proof in our Society. They had never any austerity, penance or celibacy or they tried to control the senses or mind or they gave any big amount of charities or they observed cleanliness. Nothing of the sort.