न च तस्मान् मनुष्येषु कश्चिन् मे प्रियकृत्तमः । भविष्यति न च मे तस्माद् अन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि ॥
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ | bhaviṣyati na ca me tasmād anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi ||
No one among humans does dearer service to Me, nor is there another dearer to Me on earth, than the Gita-teacher.
Word by word (3)
- na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
- — nor (na ca) among humans (manuṣyeṣu = among-mankind) is there any (kaścit = any-one) who performs dearer service to Me (me priya-kṛttamaḥ = Me + dear-doing-most; priya-kṛt = dear-doer; superlative = dearest-service-doer) than that one (tasmāt = than-that-one) — the superlative claim: no one among humanity performs a more beloved service than the Gita-teacher
- bhaviṣyati na ca me tasmād anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi
- — nor (na ca) will there be (bhaviṣyati = will-be, future) another (anyaḥ = another) dearer (priya-taraḥ = comparative of priya = dearer) to Me (me) on earth (bhuvi = on-earth) than that one (tasmāt = than-that) — extending the superlative into the future: not just now, but ever, no one on earth will be dearer
- priya-kṛttamaḥ...priya-taraḥ
- — dearest service-doer + dearest to Me; two dimensions of the claim: (1) their SERVICE is the dearest to the Divine; (2) they THEMSELVES are the dearest to the Divine. The Gita-teacher is twice honored: for what they DO (priya-kṛt = dear-service) and for who they ARE in the Divine's eyes (priya-tara = dearest)
Nor among humans is there any who does dearer service to Me than that one; nor will there be another on earth dearer to Me than that one.
A modern analogy
V69 is Krishna's declaration of the highest honor for the Gita-teacher. Of all services any human can render — building temples, performing yajñas, practicing severe tapas, donating wealth — none is dearer to the Divine than teaching the Gita to qualified students. The reason is implicit in V68: because teaching the Gita is parā bhakti, and nothing is dearer to the Divine than parā bhakti.
V69 amplifies V68's promise with a superlative comparative that leaves no doubt about the value of Gita-transmission. The two forms (priya-kṛttamaḥ = dearest-service + priya-taraḥ = dearest-person) distinguish action (service) from being (relationship). The Gita-teacher is honored in both dimensions: their action is the most loving service; they themselves become the most beloved. This is the Gita's teaching-tradition theology: the lineage of Gita-teachers is the holiest lineage.
The future-tense bhaviṣyati na ca me...priya-taraḥ (there will not be in the future someone dearer) extends the claim across time. Krishna is making a statement about the eternal significance of Gita-transmission: in all future ages, any person who transmits this supreme teaching to qualified students will hold the highest place in the Divine's love. This is not hyperbole but a theological claim about the nature of the service: teaching V66 (the liberation-verse) to a qualified student potentially liberates that student — what service could be more aligned with the Divine's purpose?
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Nor is there any among men who does dearer service to Me than he; nor shall there be another on earth dearer to Me than he. [1]
Nor among men is there any who does dearer service to Me, nor shall there be another on earth dearer to Me, than he. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Amongst men there is none who can do Me a dearer service than he, nor shall any other on earth be dearer to Me than he. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Sat means: being/reality, goodness/virtue, and praiseworthy action — three registers of the one word.
Whoever teaches this supreme secret among My devotees, with supreme bhakti — comes to Me without doubt.
Seers with sins destroyed, doubts cut, self-controlled, devoted to all beings' welfare — they attain brahma-nirvāṇa.
Instrument, offering, fire, act, destination — all Brahman. One absorbed in Brahman-action reaches Brahman alone.
Therefore remember Me at all times and fight — mind and intellect fixed on Me, you will come to Me without doubt.
Whatever you do, eat, offer, give, or practise as austerity — do it all as mad-arpaṇam, an offering to Me.