FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.6

ఏతావాన్ సాంఖ్యయోగాభ్యాం స్వధర్మపరినిష్ఠయా । జన్మలాభ: పర: పుంసామన్తే నారాయణస్మృతి: ॥ ౬ ॥
etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
[etaavaan saankhya-yogaabhyaam]
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
[sva-dharma-parinishthayaa]
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
[janma-laabhah parah pumsaam]
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ
[ante naaraayana-smritih]
etāvān — all these sāṅkhya — complete knowledge of matter and spirit yogābhyām — knowledge of mystic power sva-dharma — particular occupational duty pariniṣṭhayā — by full perception janma — birth lābhaḥ — gain paraḥ — the supreme puṁsām — of a person ante — at the end nārāyaṇa — the Personality of Godhead smṛtiḥ — remembrance.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
etāvān
all these
sāṅkhya
complete knowledge of matter and spirit
yogābhyām
knowledge of mystic power
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
sva-dharma
particular occupational duty
pariniṣṭhayā
by full perception
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
janma
birth
lābhaḥ
gain
paraḥ
the supreme
puṁsām
of a person
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ
ante
at the end
nārāyaṇa
the Personality of Godhead
smṛtiḥ
remembrance.
The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.

Nārāyaṇa is the transcendental Personality of Godhead beyond the material creation. Everything that is created, sustained, and at the end annihilated is within the compass of the mahat-tattva (material principle) and is known as the material world. The existence of Nārāyaṇa, or the Personality of Godhead, is not within the jurisdiction of this mahat-tattva, and as such the name, form, attributes, etc., of Nārāyaṇa are beyond the jurisdiction of the material world. By the speculation of empiric philosophy, which discerns matter from spirit, or by cultivation of mystic powers, which ultimately helps the performer to reach any planet of the universe or beyond the universe, or by discharge of religious duties, one can achieve the highest perfection, provided one is able to reach the stage of nārāyaṇa-smṛti, or constant remembrance of the Personality of Godhead. This is possible only by the association of a pure devotee, who can give a finishing touch to the transcendental activities of all jṣānīs, yogīs or karmīs, in terms of prescribed duties defined in the scriptures. There are many historical instances of the achievement of spiritual perfection, such as that of the Sanakādi Ṛṣis or the nine celebrated Yogendras, who attained perfection only after being situated in the devotional service of the Lord. None of the devotees of the Lord ever deviated from the path of devotional service by taking to other methods as adopted by the jṣānīs or yogīs. Everyone is anxious to achieve the highest perfection of his particular activity, and it is indicated herein that such perfection is nārāyaṇa-smṛti, for which everyone must endeavor his best. In other words, life should be molded in such a manner that one is able to progressively remember the Personality of Godhead in every step of life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
For persons fixed in jṣāna, yoga and karma, gaining such a birth, with remembrance of Nārāyaṇa while rejecting the other processes, is the best.
Commentary

If persons doing jṣāna, karma or other processes become devotees by association with devotees, they do not again perform those other processes. They become successful. That is expressed in this verse. For jṣānīs, yogīs and karmīs, to attain such a birth is best. What birth is that? That is a successful birth if, with the end of jṣāna, yoga and karma (ante–not literally the end but by approximation), pure bhakti, remembrance of Nārāyaṇa, appears, as in the case of the Kumāras, Nava-yogendras, Prācīnabarhi and others. “At the end” signifies that even if they give up bhakti, they do not again practice the other processes. Thus it is said:

etāvān eva yajatām iha niḥśreyasodayaḥ | bhagavaty acalo bhāvo yad bhāgavata-saṅgataḥ ||

Auspiciousness arises for the worshippers of devatās if firm devotion for the Lord arises from association with devotees. SB 2.3.11

Others say the verse means “At the end of this life, remembering Nārāyaṇa is the supreme attainment.”

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