FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.4

పితృదేవమనుష్యాణాం వేదశ్చక్షుస్తవేశ్వర । శ్రేయస్త్వనుపలబ్ధేఽర్థే సాధ్యసాధనయోరపి ॥ ౪ ॥
pitṛ-deva-manuṣyānāṁ
[pitri-deva-manushyaanaam]
vedaś cakṣus taveśvara
[vedash chakshus taveshvara]
śreyas tv anupalabdhe ’rthe
[shreyas tv anupalabdhe ’rthe]
sādhya-sādhanayor api
[saadhya-saadhanayor api]
pitṛ — of the forefathers deva — of the demigods manuṣyāṇām — of the human beings vedaḥ — the Vedic knowledge cakṣuḥ — is the eye tava — emanating from You īśvara — O Supreme Lord śreyaḥ — superior tu — indeed anupalabdhe — in that which cannot be directly perceived arthe — in the goals of human life, such as sense gratification, liberation, and attainment of heaven sādhya-sādhanayoḥ — both in the means and the end api — indeed.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pitṛ-deva-manuṣyānāṁ
pitṛ
of the forefathers
deva
of the demigods
manuṣyāṇām
of the human beings
vedaś cakṣus taveśvara
vedaḥ
the Vedic knowledge
cakṣuḥ
is the eye
tava
emanating from You
īśvara
O Supreme Lord
śreyas tv anupalabdhe ’rthe
śreyaḥ
superior
tu
indeed
anupalabdhe
in that which cannot be directly perceived
arthe
in the goals of human life, such as sense gratification, liberation, and attainment of heaven
sādhya-sādhanayor api
sādhya-sādhanayoḥ
both in the means and the end
api
indeed.
My dear Lord, to understand those things beyond direct experience — such as spiritual liberation or the attainment of heaven and similar material enjoyments — and in general to understand the means and end of all things, it is imperative that the forefathers, demigods and human beings consult the Vedic literatures, for these literatures, being Your own laws, constitute the highest evidence and revelation.

One might argue that while human beings are certainly prone to ignorance, the elevated forefathers and demigods are considered to be all-knowing within universal affairs. If such superior beings would communicate with the earth, then everyone could bypass Vedic knowledge in achieving his personal desire. This concept is denied here by the words vedaś cakṣuḥ. Even the demigods and forefathers have at best an ambiguous conception of supreme liberation, and even in material affairs they are subject to personal frustration. Although the demigods are all-powerful in awarding material benedictions to inferior species such as human beings, they are sometimes thwarted in their personal programs of sense gratification. A rich businessman, for example, may have no difficulty paying the insignificant salary of one of his innumerable workers, but the same wealthy man may be completely frustrated in his dealings with his own family and friends and may also be defeated in his attempts to expand his fortune by further investments. Although a rich man appears to be all-powerful to his subordinate workers, he must personally struggle to fulfill his personal desires. Similarly, the demigods and forefathers encounter many difficulties in maintaining and expanding their celestial standard of living. They must therefore constantly take shelter of superior Vedic knowledge. Even in the administration of cosmic affairs, they strictly follow the guidelines of the Vedas, which are the laws of God. If such fabulous entities as demigods must take shelter of the Vedas, we can just imagine the position of human beings, who are frustrated at virtually every step of their lives. Every human being should accept Vedic knowledge as the highest evidence in material and spiritual affairs. Uddhava points out to the Lord that if one accepts the authority of Vedic knowledge, it is seemingly impossible to reject the concept of material piety and sin. Thus Uddhava persists in examining the Lord’s controversial statement at the end of the last chapter.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Lord! Your Vedas are the best cause of knowledge for Pitṛs, devatās and humans. The Vedas are the means and goal of liberation and Svarga. The Vedas are not only the cause of liberation for humans but for devatās and Pitṛs as well. Your Vedas are the best source of knowledge (śreyaḥ cakṣuḥ). Why? For liberation and Svarga, the Vedas are the goal and the means.
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