Verse 2.4.216

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.4.216:

यद्यप्य् अशेष-सत्-कर्म-फलतोऽधिकम् उत्तमम् ।
तेषाम् अपि फलत्य् एव तत्-पूजा-फलम् आत्मना ॥ २१६ ॥

yadyapy aśeṣa-sat-karma-phalato'dhikam uttamam |
teṣām api phalaty eva tat-pūjā-phalam ātmanā || 216 ||

yadi api–although; aśeṣa–all; sat-karma–of ordinary pious deeds; phalataḥ–than the results; adhikam–better; uttamam–transcendental; teṣām–of them; api–even; phalati–bears fruit; eva–certainly; tat–of Him (the Deity); pūjā-phalam–the result of worship; ātmanā–by itself.

Although the result of worshiping the Deity of Bhagavān in this way is superior to and more excellent than the fruit of unlimited ordinary pious acts, …

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)

Śrī Gopa-kumāra might ask, “How is it possible that the worship of Bhagavān will not yield some result? If it is successful, how can it be criticized?” In reply to this, Śrī Nārada speaks two verses, beginning here with yadi api. He says, “Those who worship the Deity of Bhagavān for their personal interest naturally receive pure, immense, uninterrupted sense enjoyment. What is the nature of this sense enjoyment? It is superior to the results of all pious acts. This means that it is devoid of the defect of the enjoyment of heaven.”