FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.57

क्षणार्धेनापि तुलये न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् । भगवत्सङ्गिसङ्गस्य मर्त्यानां किमुताशिष: ॥ ५७ ॥
kṣaṇārdhenāpi tulaye
[kshanaardhenaapi tulaye]
na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
[na svargam naapunar-bhavam]
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya
[bhagavat-sangi-sangasya]
martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ
[martyaanaam kim utaashishah]
kṣaṇa-ardhena — by half a moment api — even tulaye — compare na — never svargam — heavenly planets na — neither apunaḥ-bhavam — merging into the Supreme bhagavat — the Supreme Personality of Godhead saṅgi — associate saṅgasya — one who takes advantage of associating martyānām — of the conditioned soul kim uta — what is there āśiṣaḥ — blessings.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kṣaṇārdhenāpi tulaye
kṣaṇa-ardhena
by half a moment
api
even
tulaye
compare
na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
na
never
svargam
heavenly planets
na
neither
apunaḥ-bhavam
merging into the Supreme
bhagavat
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya
saṅgi
associate
saṅgasya
one who takes advantage of associating
martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ
martyānām
of the conditioned soul
kim uta
what is there
āśiṣaḥ
blessings.
If one by chance associates with a devotee, even for a fraction of a moment, he no longer is subject to attraction by the results of karma or jñāna. What interest then can he have in the benedictions of the demigods, who are subject to the laws of birth and death?

Out of three kinds of men — the karmīs, jñānīs and bhaktas — the bhakta is described herein as the most exalted. Śrīla Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī has sung, kaivalyaṁ narakāyate tridaśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate ( Caitanya-candrāmṛta ). The word kaivalya means to merge into the effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the word tridaśa-pūr refers to the heavenly planets where the demigods live. Thus for a devotee, kaivalya-sukha, or merging into the existence of the Lord, is hellish because the bhakta considers it suicidal to lose his individuality and merge into the effulgence of Brahman. A bhakta always wants to retain his individuality in order to render service to the Lord. Indeed, he considers promotion to the upper planetary systems to be no better than a will-o’-the-wisp. Temporary, material happiness holds no value for a devotee. The devotee is in such an exalted position that he is not interested in the actions of karma or jñāna. The resultant actions of karma and jñāna are so insignificant to a devotee situated on the transcendental platform that he is not in the least interested in them. Bhakti-yoga is sufficient to give the bhakta all happiness. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6) , yayātmā suprasīdati. One can be fully satisfied simply by devotional service, and that is the result of association with a devotee. Without being blessed by a pure devotee, no one can be fully satisfied, nor can anyone understand the transcendental position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
What to speak of any blessings on this earth, or on Svarga, even the blessing of liberation cannot compare with even half a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord. But he should desire association with devotees. By half a moment’s association he obtains such results. How much more he will gain by several moments’ association. And how much more result will be obtained if the association takes place with devotion, which produces further bhakti? And how much more result if the association takes place with prema, the final result of bhakti? Svarga, the result of karma, and liberation (apunarbhavam), the result of jñāna, cannot compare with a half a moment’s association with the devotees. What to speak of comparing it to jñāna, to karma, and finally to blessings in the present world such as a kingdom?
Brief association with a devotee removes attachment to karma and jñāna — and demigod-benedictions lose appeal. The infection of devotion is fast; even a fraction of a moment can rearrange your interest.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose 'fraction of a moment' rearranged my interest forever, and have I credited them?
  • Where am I overestimating the time required to be infected?
📝 My note

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