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TEXT 21
dharmah kvacit tatra na bhuta-sauhrdam
tyagah kvacit tatra na mukti-karanam
viryam na pumso sty aja-vega-niskrtam
na hi dvitiyo guna-sanga-varjitah
SYNONYMS
dharmahreligion; kvacitone may have full knowledge of; tatratherein; nanot; bhuta-sauhrdamfriendship with other living entities; tyagahrenunciation; kvacitone may possess; tatratherein; nanot; mukti-karanamthe cause of liberation; viryampower; nanot; pumsahof any person; astithere may be; aja-vega-niskrtamno release from the power of time; nanor; hiindeed; dvitiyahthe second one; guna-sanga-varjitahcompletely freed from the contamination of the modes of nature.
TRANSLATION
Someone may possess full knowledge of religion but still not be kind to all living entities. In someone, whether human or demigod, there may be renunciation, but that is not the cause of liberation. Someone may possess great power and yet be unable to check the power of eternal time. Someone else may have renounced attachment to the material world, yet he cannot compare to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, no one is completely freed from the influence of the material modes of nature.
PURPORT
The statement dharmah kvacit tatra na bhuta-sauhrdam is very important in this verse. We actually see that there are many Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and religionists of other cults who adhere to their religious principles very nicely but are not equal to all living entities. Indeed, although they profess to be very religious, they kill poor animals. Such religion has no meaning. Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.8) says:
One may be very expert in following the religious principles of his own sect, but if he has no tendency to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his observance of religious principles is simply a waste of time. One must develop a sense of loving Vasudeva (vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]). The sign of a devotee is that he is a friend to everyone (suhrdam sarva-bhutanam). A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. This is the difference between a superficially religious person and a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
We find that there have been many great heroes in history, but they could not escape from the cruel hands of death. Even the greatest hero cannot escape from the ruling power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead when Krsna comes as death. That is described by Krsna Himself: mrtyuh sarva-haras caham. The Lord, appearing as death, takes away a heros so-called power. Even Hiranyakasipu could not be saved when Nrsimhadeva appeared before him as death. Ones material strength is nothing before the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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