TEXT 53
naham vedair na tapasa
na danena na cejyaya
sakya evam-vidho drastum
drstavan asi mam yatha
SYNONYMS
na--never; aham--I; vedaih--by study of the Vedas; na--never; tapasa--by serious penances; na--never; danena--by charity; na--never; ca--also; ijyaya--by worship; sakyah--it is possible; evam-vidhah--like this; drastum--to see; drstavan--seeing; asi--you are; mam--Me; yatha--as.
TRANSLATION
The form which you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means that one can see Me as I am.
PURPORT
Krsna first appeared before His parents Devaki and Vasudeva in a four-handed form, and then He transformed Himself into the two-handed form. This mystery is very difficult to understand for those who are atheists or who are devoid of devotional service. For scholars who have simply studied Vedic literature by way of speculation or out of mere academic interest, Krsna is not easy to understand. Nor is He to be understood by persons who officially go to the temple to offer worship. They make their visit, but they cannot understand Krsna as He is. Krsna can be understood only through the path of devotional service, as explained by Krsna Himself in the next verse.
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