FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.8.21

धर्म: क्‍वचित् तत्र न भूतसौहृदं त्याग: क्‍वचित् तत्र न मुक्तिकारणम् । वीर्यं न पुंसोऽस्त्यजवेगनिष्कृतं न हि द्वितीयो गुणसङ्गवर्जित: ॥ २१ ॥
dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdaṁ
[dharmah kvachit tatra na bhoota-sauhridam]
tyāgaḥ kvacit tatra na mukti-kāraṇam
[tyaagah kvachit tatra na mukti-kaaranam]
vīryaṁ na puṁso ’sty aja-vega-niṣkṛtaṁ
[veeryam na pumso ’sty aja-vega-nishkritam]
na hi dvitīyo guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ
[na hi dviteeyo guna-sanga-varjitah]
dharmaḥ — religion kvacit — one may have full knowledge of tatra — therein na — not bhūta-sauhṛdam — friendship with other living entities tyāgaḥ — renunciation kvacit — one may possess tatra — therein na — not mukti-kāraṇam — the cause of liberation vīryam — power na — not puṁsaḥ — of any person asti — there may be aja-vega-niṣkṛtam — no release from the power of time na — nor hi — indeed dvitīyaḥ — the second one guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ — completely freed from the contamination of the modes of nature.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdaṁ
dharmaḥ
religion
kvacit
one may have full knowledge of
tatra
therein
na
not
bhūta-sauhṛdam
friendship with other living entities
tyāgaḥ kvacit tatra na mukti-kāraṇam
tyāgaḥ
renunciation
kvacit
one may possess
tatra
therein
na
not
mukti-kāraṇam
the cause of liberation
vīryaṁ na puṁso ’sty aja-vega-niṣkṛtaṁ
vīryam
power
na
not
puṁsaḥ
of any person
na hi dvitīyo guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ
asti
there may be
aja-vega-niṣkṛtam
no release from the power of time
na
nor
hi
indeed
dvitīyaḥ
the second one
guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ
completely freed from the contamination of the modes of nature.
Someone may possess full knowledge of religion but still not be kind to all living entities. In someone, whether human or demigod, there may be renunciation, but that is not the cause of liberation. Someone may possess great power and yet be unable to check the power of eternal time. Someone else may have renounced attachment to the material world, yet he cannot compare to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, no one is completely freed from the influence of the material modes of nature.

The statement dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdam is very important in this verse. We actually see that there are many Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and religionists of other cults who adhere to their religious principles very nicely but are not equal to all living entities. Indeed, although they profess to be very religious, they kill poor animals. Such religion has no meaning. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8) says:

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ notpādayed yadi ratiṁ śrama eva hi kevalam

One may be very expert in following the religious principles of his own sect, but if he has no tendency to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his observance of religious principles is simply a waste of time. One must develop a sense of loving Vāsudeva ( vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ). The sign of a devotee is that he is a friend to everyone ( suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām ). A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. This is the difference between a superficially religious person and a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

We find that there have been many great heroes in history, but they could not escape from the cruel hands of death. Even the greatest hero cannot escape from the ruling power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead when Kṛṣṇa comes as death. That is described by Kṛṣṇa Himself: mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham. The Lord, appearing as death, takes away a hero’s so-called power. Even Hiraṇyakaśipu could not be saved when Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared before him as death. One’s material strength is nothing before the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Some have dharma, but are not friendly to all beings. Some indulge in charity but are not interested in liberation. Some have strength but cannot prevent the attack of time. Some are devoid of attraction to material and spiritual qualities, but cannot be a suitable companion. Some, the karmīs like Śukrācārya, have dharma, but are not friendly to all beings since they are interested in material facility, such as being a priest for demons. Thus their dharma is useless. Some give in charity (tyāgaḥ) like Dakṣa, but they are not interested in liberation. Thus their charity is useless. Some have strength like Śumbha and Niśumbha, but they cannot stop the force of time. Some are detached from all material and spiritual qualities, like the Kumāras, but they cannot be suitable companions, because her spiritual form and fragrance would be useless for them.
Knowledge of dharma without kindness to all beings is hollow. Power without victory over time is fragile. Even renunciation does not equal the Supreme. Religion that does not produce love of God is, in Bhāgavata language, mere labor.
Reflection Questions
  • Does my religious practice produce kindness to all beings, or just sectarian identity?
  • What 'good quality' of mine am I overestimating as if it were complete?
📝 My note

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