Verse 11.53

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 11.53:

नाहं वेदैर् न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया ।
शक्य एवं-विधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवान् असि यन् मम ॥ ५३ ॥

nāhaṃ vedair na tapasā na dānena na cejyayā |
śakya evaṃ-vidho draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama || 53 ||

na–not; aham–I; vedaiḥ–by study of the Vedas; na–nor; tapasā–by austerities; na–not; dānena–by charitable acts; na–nor; ca–and; ījyayā–by sacrifice; śakyaḥ–possible; evaṃ-vidhaḥ–in this way; draṣṭum–to see; dṛṣṭavān asi–you have seen; yan–which; mama–My.

It is not possible to see this extremely rare form of Mine, which you now behold, merely by studying the Vedas, practising austerities, giving in charity or performing sacrifices.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

“If, like you, someone wants to see My eternal two-armed human form, considering it to be the essence of human endeavour, they will not be able to know or see it, even if they perform such processes as studying the Vedas and executing austerities. Have faith in this.”

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

One cannot obtain darśana of Śrī Kṛṣṇa in His most pleasing eternal human-like form–which was seen by the bhakta Arjuna–by studying the Vedas or by performing austerities, charity, worship, etc.

It is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.12.9):

yaṃ na yogena sāṅkhyena dāna-vrata-tapo-’dhvaraiḥ
vyākhyā-svādhyāya-sannyāsaiḥ prāpnuyād yatnavān api

Even by practices performed with great endeavour, such as mystic yoga, philosophical speculation, charity, vows, austerities, performance of sacrifice, teaching Vedic mantras, study of the Vedic scriptures, or entering the renounced order of life, one cannot achieve Me.

And furthermore it is said:

na sādhayati māṃ yogo na sāṅkhyaṃ dharma uddhava
na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo yathā bhaktir mamorjitā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.20)

My dear Uddhava, I am controlled only by the bhakti rendered to Me by My pure-hearted devotees. I can never be controlled by those who only study Sāṅkhya philosophy or other scriptures, or who perform mystic yoga, pious acts, austerity or renunciation.