Shloka 57
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
क्षणार्धेनापि तुलये न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् । भगवत्सङ्गिसङ्गस्य मर्त्यानां किमुताशिष: ॥ ५७ ॥
kṣaṇārdhenāpi tulaye na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ
اگر کسی کو اتفاق سے بھگوان کے بھکت کی سنگت آدھے پل کے لیے بھی مل جائے تو وہ نہ سُورگ کو، نہ اپُنربھَو (موکش) کو اس کے برابر سمجھتا ہے۔ پھر جنم اور موت کے قانون کے تابع دیوتاؤں کی نعمتوں میں اس کی کیا رغبت رہ جائے گی؟
Out of three kinds of men — the karmīs, jñānīs and bhaktas — the bhakta is described herein as the most exalted. Śrīla Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī has sung, kaivalyaṁ narakāyate tridaśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate ( Caitanya-candrāmṛta ). The word kaivalya means to merge into the effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the word tridaśa-pūr refers to the heavenly planets where the demigods live. Thus for a devotee, kaivalya-sukha, or merging into the existence of the Lord, is hellish because the bhakta considers it suicidal to lose his individuality and merge into the effulgence of Brahman. A bhakta always wants to retain his individuality in order to render service to the Lord. Indeed, he considers promotion to the upper planetary systems to be no better than a will-o’-the-wisp. Temporary, material happiness holds no value for a devotee. The devotee is in such an exalted position that he is not interested in the actions of karma or jñāna. The resultant actions of karma and jñāna are so insignificant to a devotee situated on the transcendental platform that he is not in the least interested in them. Bhakti-yoga is sufficient to give the bhakta all happiness. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6) , yayātmā suprasīdati. One can be fully satisfied simply by devotional service, and that is the result of association with a devotee. Without being blessed by a pure devotee, no one can be fully satisfied, nor can anyone understand the transcendental position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even a brief moment of association with those connected to the Lord’s devotees is more valuable than attaining heaven or even liberation, because such association awakens pure bhakti.
In his devotional prayer-teachings, Lord Shiva emphasizes that bhakti is the highest goal; association with devotees nourishes loving service to Bhagavan, which surpasses impersonal liberation.
Seek regular contact with sincere devotees—through satsanga, hearing Bhagavatam, kirtan, and service—because even small, consistent association reshapes desires toward devotion rather than temporary gains.