Not by effort alone

na vedayajñādhyayanairna dānaira- na ca kriyābhirna tapobhirugraiḥevaṃrūpaḥ śakya ahaṃ nṛloke draṣṭuṃ tvadanyena kurupravīra

Not by scripture, offerings, study, gifts, rituals or harsh austerity can anyone but you see Me in this form, hero of the Kurus.

What it means

Krishna explains how rare this was. Not through scripture study, yajna offerings, charity, rituals or tapas, harsh discipline. None of these alone could open this vision. Effort is good, but some doors open only through grace and love.

The story

Arjuna isn't a great scholar or ascetic. He's a warrior who loves his friend. And that, Krishna says, is what opened the door.

In your life

Think of someone who studied every relationship book but only found love when they stopped trying so hard and simply opened up. Keep practising, but leave room for grace.