Verse 2.10.99

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 2.10.99:

জাতি, কুল, ক্রিযা, ধনে কিছু নাহি করে প্রেম-ধন, আর্তি বিনা না পাই কৃষ্ণেরে ॥ ৯৯ ॥

जाति, कुल, क्रिया, धने किछु नाहि करे प्रेम-धन, आर्ति विना ना पाइ कृष्णेरे ॥ ९९ ॥

jāti, kula, kriyā, dhane kichu nāhi kare prema-dhana, ārti vinā nā pāi kṛṣṇere || 99 ||

jati, kula, kriya, dhane kichu nahi kare prema-dhana, arti vina na pai krsnere (99)

English translation:

(99) Good birth, noble family, pious activities, and material wealth cannot award one the treasure of love of God. Only by intense desire can one achieve Kṛṣṇa.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

If one is proud of family prestige he cannot develop devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. One cannot achieve Kṛṣṇa’s service by aristocracy, pious deeds, or immense wealth. Only by intense love for Kṛṣṇa is Kṛṣṇa obtained.

Unless one has love for Kṛṣṇa, he cannot become a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, even if he is rich, aristocratic, or expert in fruitive activities. In the Padyāvalī it is stated:

Kṛṣṇa-bhakti rasa-bhāvitā-mati kriyatāṃ yadi kuto ‘pi labhyate. tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṃjanma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate

“Pure devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be had even by performing pious activities for millions of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price—that is, intense greed to obtain it. If it is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.” In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (1.8.26) it is stated:

janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir edhamāna-madaḥ pumān naivārhaty abhidhātuṃ vai tvām akiñcana-gocaram

“My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.” It is also stated in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (10.60.14):

niṣkiñcanā vayaṃ śaśvan niṣkiñcana-jana-priyāḥ tasmā tprāyeṇa na hy āḍhyā māṃ bhajanti su-madhyame

“We have no material possessions, and We are dear to those who similarly have nothing. Therefore, O slender one, the wealthy hardly ever worship Me.” The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (8.22.26) also states:

janma-karma-vayo-rūpa- vidyaiśvarya-dhanādibhiḥ yady asya na bhavet stambhas tatrāyaṃ mad-anugrahaḥ

“If a human being is born in an aristocratic family or a higher status of life, if he performs wonderful activities, if he is youthful, if he has personal beauty, a good education and good wealth, and if he is nonetheless not proud of his opulences, it is to be understood that he is especially favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”