Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18
Bondage and Liberation Under Māyā; Two Birds Analogy; Marks of the Saintly Devotee
शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातो न निष्णायात् परे यदि । श्रमस्तस्य श्रमफलो ह्यधेनुमिव रक्षत: ॥ १८ ॥
śabda-brahmaṇi niṣṇāto na niṣṇāyāt pare yadi śramas tasya śrama-phalo hy adhenum iva rakṣataḥ
શબ્દબ્રહ્મ—વેદસાહિત્ય—માં નિષ્ણાત બન્યો હોય, પરંતુ પરમ પુરુષ ભગવાન પર મન સ્થિર કરવાનો પ્રયત્ન ન કરે, તો તેની મહેનતનું ફળ માત્ર મહેનત જ રહે છે. તે દૂધ ન આપતી ગાયને કષ્ટથી પાળવા જેવું છે.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the word pare (“the Supreme”) in this verse indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than the impersonal Brahman, because Lord Kṛṣṇa, the speaker of these instructions, makes references in later verses to His personality as the Supreme. An impersonal interpretation in this case would be eka-deśānvaya uttara-ślokārtha-tātparya-virodhaḥ, or a contradictory interpretation that creates illogical conflict with other ślokas (verses) spoken in the same context.
FAQs
It says that even deep mastery of the Vedas is ultimately fruitless if it does not lead to firm realization of the Supreme Lord—such effort becomes mere toil, like guarding a barren cow.
Krishna was instructing Uddhava that the goal of scripture is direct realization and devotion to the Supreme; scholarship alone, without surrender and bhakti, does not deliver the highest benefit.
Study scripture with the aim of transformation—cultivate devotion, chanting, prayer, and service—so knowledge matures into realization rather than remaining only intellectual learning.