Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.7.41
सर्वे वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च तपो दानानि चानघ ।
जीवाभयप्रदानस्य न कुर्वीरन् कलामपि ॥ ४१ ॥
sarve vedāś ca yajñāś ca
[sarve vedaash cha yajnaash cha]
tapo dānāni cānagha
[tapo daanaani chaanagha]
jīvābhaya-pradānasya
[jeevaabhaya-pradaanasya]
na kurvīran kalām api
[na kurveeran kalaam api]
Word-for-word
sarve
—
all kinds of
vedāḥ
—
divisions of the Vedas
ca
—
also
yajñāḥ
—
sacrifices
ca
—
also
tapaḥ
—
penances
dānāni
—
charities
ca
—
and
anagha
—
O spotless one
jīva
—
the living entity
abhaya
—
immunity from material pangs
pradānasya
—
of one who gives such assurance
na
—
not
kurvīran
—
can he equalized
kalām
—
even partially
api
—
certainly.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sarve vedāś ca yajñāś ca
sarve
all kinds of
vedāḥ
divisions of the Vedas
ca
also
yajñāḥ
sacrifices
ca
also
tapo dānāni cānagha
tapaḥ
penances
dānāni
charities
ca
and
anagha
O spotless one
jīvābhaya-pradānasya
jīva
the living entity
abhaya
immunity from material pangs
pradānasya
of one who gives such assurance
na kurvīran kalām api
na
not
kurvīran
can he equalized
kalām
even partially
api
certainly.
O spotless one, your answers to all these questions will grant immunity from all material miseries. Such charity is greater than all Vedic charities, sacrifices, penances, etc.
Purport
The highest perfectional work of charity is to give people in general immunity from the anxieties of material existence. This can be done only by performing activities in devotional service to the Lord. Such knowledge is incomparable. Cultivation of the knowledge in the Vedas, performance of sacrifice, and distribution of munificent charities all together cannot form even a part of the immunity from the pangs of material existence that is gained from devotional service. The charity of Maitreya not only will help Vidura, but, due to its universal nature, will deliver all others in all times. Thus Maitreya is immortal.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O sinless Maitreya! All the Vedas, sacrifices, charity and austerity cannot compare with a small particle of helping the jīva attain a solution to material existence.
Not only do I get deliverance by this, but you also gain great fame for having done pious acts.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Suffering is treated here as structural, not accidental. Once we stop expecting the material world to cooperate, we can begin actually using it for spiritual progress. The verse keeps returning to devotional service to the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- What 'if only X happens, I'll finally be fine' story are you still telling yourself?
- Where is māyā's hand most active in your week, and how could you cooperate with reality instead?
My note
Source: vedabase.io