Text 56]
The Process of Devotional Service
357
TRANSLATION
“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.
PURPORT
According to astronomical calculations,  lava  is one eleventh of one second.
TEXT 55
তুলদ্বাম লবেনাপি ন স্বর্গং নাপুনর্ভবম্ । ভগবৎসঙ্গিসঙ্গস্ত্র মর্ত্যানাং কিমৃতাশিষ: ॥ ৫৫ ॥
tulayāma lavenāpi
    na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya
    martyānāṁ kimutāśiṣaḥ
SYNONYMS
tulayāma —we make equal;  lavena —with one instant;  api —even;  na —not;  svargam —heavenly planets;  na —nor;  apunaḥ-bhavam —merging into the existence of the Supreme;  bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya —of the association of devotees who are always associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead;  martyānām —of persons destined to die;  kim uta —what;  āśiṣaḥ —the blessings.
TRANSLATION
“‘The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.’
PURPORT
This is a quotation from  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, headed by Śaunaka Rṣi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.
TEXT 56
কৃষ্ণ কৃপালু অজুনৈরে লক্ষ্য করিয়া। 
জগতেরে রাখিয়াছেন উপদেশ দিয়া ॥ ৫৬ ॥