Chaitanya Bhagavata
by Bhumipati Dāsa | 2008 | 1,349,850 words
The Chaitanya Bhagavata 3.8.131, English translation, including a commentary (Gaudiya-bhasya). This text is similair to the Caitanya-caritamrita and narrates the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, proclaimed to be the direct incarnation of Krishna (as Bhagavan) This is verse 131 of Antya-khanda chapter 8—“Mahaprabhu’s Water Sports in Narendra- sarovara”.
Verse 3.8.131
Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 3.8.131:
ভক্তি বিনা কেবল বিদ্যায, তপস্যায কিছু নাহি হয, সবে দুঃখ-মাত্র পায ॥ ১৩১ ॥
भक्ति विना केवल विद्याय, तपस्याय किछु नाहि हय, सबे दुःख-मात्र पाय ॥ १३१ ॥
bhakti vinā kevala vidyāya, tapasyāya kichu nāhi haya, sabe duḥkha-mātra pāya || 131 ||
bhakti vina kevala vidyaya, tapasyaya kichu nahi haya, sabe duhkha-matra paya (131)
English translation:
(131) Knowledge and austerity have no value without devotional service. They bring only misery.
Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:
Proficiency in knowledge and austerities that are opposed to the service of the Supreme Lord certainly result in distress. Only a person who has devotion to the Supreme Lord is qualified in real knowledge and austerity.
In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (11.12.9) it is stated:
yaṃ na yogena sāṅkhyena
dāna-vrata-tapo-’dhvaraiḥ vyākhyā-svādhyāya-sannyāsaiḥ prāpnuyād yatnavān api
“Even though one engages with great endeavor in the mystic yoga system, philosophical speculation, charity, vows, penances, ritualistic sacrifices, teaching of Vedic mantras to others, personal study of the Vedas, or the renounced order of life, still one cannot achieve Me.” The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (11.14.20-21) further states:
na sādhayati māṃ yogo na sāṅkhyaṃ dharma uddhava na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo yathā bhaktir mamorjitā
bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ śraddhayātmā priyaḥ satām bhaktiḥ punāti man-niṣṭhā śva-pākān api sambhavāt
“My dear Uddhava, the unalloyed devotional service rendered to Me by My devotees brings Me under their control. I cannot be thus controlled by those engaged in mystic yoga, Sāṅkhya philosophy, pious work, Vedic study, austerity, or renunciation. Only by practicing unalloyed devotional service with full faith in Me can one obtain Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am naturally dear to My devotees, who take Me as the only goal of their loving service. By engaging in such pure devotional service, even dog-eaters can purify themselves from the contamination of their low birth.”