śāstre yuktau ca nipuṇaḥ
sarvathā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
prauḍha-śraddho 'dhikārī yaḥ
sa bhaktāv uttamo mataḥ

 śāstre - in the revealed scriptures; yuktau - in logic; ca - also; nipuṇaḥ - expert; sarvathā - in all respects; dṛḍha-niścayaḥ - who is firmly convinced; prauḍha - deep; śraddhaḥ - who has faith; adhikārī - eligible; yaḥ - who; saḥ - he; bhaktau - in devotional service; uttamaḥ - highest; mataḥ - is considered.


Text

“ ‘One who is expert in logic and in understanding the revealed scriptures, and who always has firm conviction and deep faith that is not blind, is to be considered a topmost devotee in devotional service.’

Purport

This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.17), by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.