न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै-
र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रै: |
एवंरूप: शक्य अहं नृलोके
द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर || 48||
na veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānair
na cha kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ
evaṁ-rūpaḥ śhakya ahaṁ nṛi-loke
draṣhṭuṁ tvad anyena kuru-pravīra
na—not; veda-yajña—by performance of sacrifice; adhyayanaiḥ—by study of the Vedas; na—nor; dānaiḥ—by charity; na—nor; cha—and; kriyābhiḥ—by rituals; na—not; tapobhiḥ—by austerities; ugraiḥ—severe; evam-rūpaḥ—in this form; śhakyaḥ—possible; aham—I; nṛi-loke—in the world of the mortals; draṣhṭum—to be seen; tvat—than you; anyena—by another; kuru-pravīra—the best of the Kuru warriors
Translation:
Neither by the study of the Vedas and sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe penances, is this form of Mine to be seen in the world of men by anyone but you, Ο chief of the Kurus.
Commentary:
It should not be misunderstood that Vedic study, yajnas and other rites and rituals prescribed in the Sastras are all useless. Without devotion to the Lord, these acts do not yield the highest results. Austerity by itself cannot lead to God-realisation without devotion (Bhakti). Whatever may be the efforts unless the field is watered, there is no harvest. So also the works of men bear no fruit without devotion.