Text 41]
Further Inquiries by Vidura
299
TRANSLATION
My dear sage, I have put all these questions before you with a view to know the pastimes of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the friend of all, so kindly describe them for all those who have lost their vision.
PURPORT
Vidura put forward many varieties of questions with a view to understand the principles of transcendental loving service to the Lord. As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā  (Bg. 2.41), devotional service to the Lord is one, and the mind of the devotee is not diverted to the many branches of uncertainties. Vidura's purpose was to be situated in that service to the Lord, wherein one merges undivertedly. He claimed the friendship of Maitreya Muni, not because he was Maitreya's son but because Maitreya was actually the friend of all who have lost their spiritual vision due to material influence.
TEXT 41
सर्वे वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च तपो दानानि चानघ । जीवाभयप्रदानस्य न कुर्वीरन् कलामपि ॥४१॥
sarve vedāś ca yajñāś ca tapo dānāni cānagha jīvābhaya-pradānasya na kurvīran kalām api
sarve —all kinds of;  vedāḥ —divisions of the  Vedas ;  ca —also;  yajñāḥ —sacrifices;  ca —also;  tapaḥ —penances;  dānāni —charities;  ca —and;  anagha —O spotless one;  jīva —the living entity;  abhaya —immunity from material pangs;  pradānasya —of one who gives such assurance;  na —not;  kurvīran —can be equalized;  kalām —even partially;  api —certainly.
TRANSLATION
O spotless one, your answers to all these questions will grant immunity to all material miseries. Such charity is greater than all Vedic charities, sacrifices, penances, etc.
PURPORT
The highest perfectional work of charity is to give people in general immunity from the anxieties of material existence. This can be done only