na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu
kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād
anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 18.69
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Srila Prabhupada.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
There is no other whom I love so much as the person who teaches bhakti.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
18.69 There never exists nor has existed anyone other than such a person as described, who does greater service to Me than he. In the future too, there will not be another such. The first reference is to those who are not worthy to hear the Gita. It is meant to teach that explaining it to them is more displeasing to the Lord than not teaching to those who are worthy.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
Continuing further Lord Krishna confirms that there is no human more pleasing or dearer to Him any where in creation which according to the Bhagavat Purana comprises 400,000 species of human beings; then the devotee of His who reveals Srimad Bhagavad-Gita to His devotees. Nor will there be anyone more dear or pleasing to Him in the future.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
Lord Krishna now reveals why one who serves Him in the previous way certainly attains communion with Him and that is because among all the 400,000 species of human beings in the material creation as confirmed in Srimad Bhagavatam none is more exalted and dear to Lord Krishna then the devotee who imparts the knowledge of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita to His devotees and none will ever be more exalted and dear to Him in the future.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
18.69 Ca, and; tasmat, as compared with him, with the one who hands down the Scripture; na kascit, none else; manusyesu, among human beings; is priya-krt-tamah, the best accomplisher of what is dear; me, to Me, i.e., among the present human beings, surely none else other than him exists who is a better accomplisher of what I cherish. Moreover, na bhavita, nor will there be in future; anyah, anyone else, a second person; bhuvi, in he world, here; priyatarah, dearer; tasmat, than him. [It may be argued that, since for a seeker of Liberation meditation is the best means for It, therefore he will have no inclination to transmit scriptural teachings. To this the Lord’s answer is: One longing for Liberation has a duty to impart this scriptural teaching to one possessing the aforesaid qualities.]
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
18.68-72 Ya idam etc. upto Dhananjaya. The very act of explaining this among My devotees is itself an act of cultivating devotion towards Me. Whosoever shall declare etc : Whosoever directs the mind [of the devotees] by face to face method, following the best procedure prescribed in the scriptures; i.e., he who shall impart [this knowledge] – he becomes one with Me. This is an injunction [concerning the result] and not a sentence of praise. Likewise is [the case] in other places also.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
bhavita na ca me tasmad
anyah priya-taro bhuvi
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
na — never; ca — and; tasmāt — than him; manuṣyeṣu — among men; kaścit — anyone; me — to Me; priya-kṛt-tamaḥ — more dear; bhavitā — will become; na — nor; ca — and; me — to Me; tasmāt — than him; anyaḥ — another; priya-taraḥ — dearer; bhuvi — in this world.
