তুলযাম লবেনাপি ন স্বর্গং নাপুনর্ভবম্ ভগবত্সংগিসংগস্য মর্ত্যানাং কিমুতাশিষঃ
तुलयाम लवेनापि न स्वर्गं नापुनर्भवम् भगवत्संगिसंगस्य मर्त्यानां किमुताशिषः
tulayāma lavenāpi na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kimutāśiṣaḥ
Synonyms
tulayāma—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-saṅgi-saṅgasya—of the association of devotees who are always associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; martyānām—of persons destined to die; kim uta—what; āśiṣaḥ—the blessings..
Translation
" 'The value of a moment's association with a devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of 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.'
Purport
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, headed by Śaunaka 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.