tulayÄma lavenÄpi
na svargaá¹ nÄpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saá¹…gi-saá¹…gasya
martyÄnÄá¹ kim utÄÅ›iá¹£aḥ
tulayÄma - we make equal; lavena - with one instant; api - even; na - not; svargam - heavenly planets; na - nor; apunaḥ-bhavam - merging into the existence of the Supreme; bhagavat-saá¹…gi-saá¹…gasya - of the association of devotees who are always associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; martyÄnÄm - of persons destined to die; kim uta - what to speak of; ÄÅ›iá¹£aḥ - the blessings.
“ ‘The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.’
This is a quotation from ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimiá¹£Äraṇya, headed by Åšaunaka Ṛṣi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.
