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
ผู้เชี่ยวชาญในศัพทพรหม คือคัมภีร์พระเวท หากไม่พยายามตั้งจิตไว้ในพระผู้เป็นเจ้าสูงสุดแล้ว ความเพียรของเขาย่อมให้ผลเป็นเพียงความเหนื่อยยากเท่านั้น ดุจคนตรากตรำเลี้ยงโคที่ไม่ให้น้ำนม
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.