tataś cobhayato-dataḥ

rūpa-bheda-vidas tatra

tataś cobhayato-dataḥ

teṣāṁ bahu-padāḥ śreṣṭhāś

catuṣ-pādas tato dvi-pāt

 

Entities which can distinguish form are superior. Superior to them are entities with two sets of teeth. Superior to them are beings with many legs. Superior to them are animals with four legs. Superior to them are humans with two legs.

 

Beings who can distinguish forms such as crows are superior. Entities with upper and lower teeth such as snakes are superior. Those with many legs such as bees are superior. It should be understood that they have two sets of teeth since they can cut flowers or wood. Four legged animals are superior and two legged human beings are superior to them. Those beings later in the list are in general superior because of superior qualities. By knowledge from scriptures, it is understood that mountains like Govardhana and Veṅkatācala, and plants like tulasī, are superior and more worthy of respect because of even greater qualities, such as residing at the Lord’s abodes.  

 

 

|| 3.29.31||

tato varṇāś ca catvāras

teṣāṁ brāhmaṇa uttamaḥ

brāhmaṇeṣv api veda-jño

hy artha-jño 'bhyadhikas tataḥ

 

Among the humans, those within the varṇāśrama are superior. Among the varṇas, the bṛahmaṇas are the best. Among the brāhmaṇas, one who knows the Vedas is superior. Among the knowledgeable brāhmaṇas, one who knows the meaning of the Vedas is superior.

Tataḥ means among the humans.

 

|| 3.29.32 ||

artha-jñāt saṁśaya-cchettā

tataḥ śreyān sva-karma-kṛt

mukta-saṅgas tato bhūyān

adogdhā dharmam ātmanaḥ

 

Better than the knower of the meaning of the Vedas is the brāhmaṇa who can cut doubts. Better than the one who cuts doubts is the brāhmaṇa who also performs his duties completely. Better still is the jñānī who does not enjoy the results of his previous actions of dharma.

 

Better than the cutter of doubts, but does not perform all his duties, is a person who performs all his duties (and also cuts doubts). The liberated soul or jñānī is superior, because he does not accept the results of his previous actions of dharma.

 

 

|| 3.29.33 ||

tasmān mayy arpitāśeṣa-