Verse 2.4.221

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.4.221:

यथा स-काम-भक्ता हि भुक्त्वा तत्-कामितं फलम् ।
काले भक्ति-प्रभावेन योग्यं विन्दन्ति तत्-फलम् ॥ २२१ ॥

yathā sa-kāma-bhaktā hi bhuktvā tat-kāmitaṃ phalam |
kāle bhakti-prabhāvena yogyaṃ vindanti tat-phalam || 221 ||

yathā–as; sa-kāma-bhaktāḥ–materially motivated devotees; hi–indeed; bhuktvā–having enjoyed; tat–that; kāmitam–desired; phalam–fruit; kāle–in due course of time; bhakti-prabhāveṇa–by the influence of devotional service; yogyam–proper; vindanti–they attain; tat–that; phalam–the beneficial result.

In the beginning, sakāma devotees, those who worship for personal desires, do not receive the result befitting bhakti. Rather, they receive only the insignificant sense gratification that they desired. However, in due course of time, by the influence of bhakti they eventually attain the real fruit of devotion.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)

Śrī Nārada speaks two verses beginning with yathā to show that neophyte, or kaniṣṭha, devotees also become elevated in due course of time. He says, “Materially motivated (sakāma) devotees first obtain an insignificant result in the form of sense gratification, according to their respective desires. Later on, they are transformed into high-class devotees and obtain the real fruit of bhakti, which is beyond any self-interest. In due course of time, their superiority is also established.”