Shloka 48
Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa
Prelude to Samudra-manthana
नावम: कर्मकल्पोऽपि विफलायेश्वरार्पित: । कल्पते पुरुषस्यैव स ह्यात्मा दयितो हित: ॥ ४८ ॥
nāvamaḥ karma-kalpo ’pi viphalāyeśvarārpitaḥ kalpate puruṣasyaiva sa hy ātmā dayito hitaḥ
ఈశ్వరునికి అర్పించిన కార్యం, చిన్నదైనా, ఎప్పటికీ వ్యర్థం కాదు. భగవానుడు పరమ తండ్రి; ఆయన జీవుల ఆత్మగా అత్యంత ప్రియుడు, ఎల్లప్పుడూ వారి మేలుకోసం సిద్ధంగా ఉంటాడు.
In Bhagavad-gītā (2.40) , the Lord says svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt: this dharma, devotional service, is so important that even if performed to a very small, almost negligible extent, it can give one the supreme result. There are many instances in the history of the world in which even a slight service rendered to the Lord has saved a living entity from the greatest danger. Ajāmila, for example, was saved by the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the greatest danger, that of going to hell. He was saved simply because he chanted the name Nārāyaṇa at the end of his life. When Ajāmila chanted this holy name of the Lord, Nārāyaṇa, he did not chant knowingly; actually he was calling his youngest son, whose name was Nārāyaṇa. Nonetheless, Lord Nārāyaṇa took this chanting seriously, and thus Ajāmila achieved the result of ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ, remembering Nārāyaṇa at the end of life. If one somehow or other remembers the holy name of Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa or Rāma at the end of life, he immediately achieves the transcendental result of going back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even a small or seemingly insignificant act becomes meaningful and never fruitless when it is offered to the Supreme Lord, who is the true well-wisher of all.
In distress while being attacked by the crocodile, Gajendra surrendered and praised the Lord’s benevolence, declaring that any act dedicated to Him becomes successful because the Lord is the dearest well-wisher of every soul.
Offer your daily duties—work, study, family care—as service to God with sincerity; even small efforts done in that spirit gain lasting spiritual value.