Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana ҴDz峾ī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.1.11, English translation, including commentary (Dig-darshini-tika): an important Vaishnava text dealing with the importance of devotional service. The Brihad-bhagavatamrita, although an indepent Sanskrit work, covers the essential teachings of the Shrimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata-purana). This is verse 1.1.11 contained in Chapter 1—Bhauma (the earthly plane)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.1.11
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.1.11:
भगवद�-भक्त�-शास्त्राणाम् अय� सारस्य� सङ्ग्रहः �
अनुभूतस्� चैतन्य-देवे तत�-प्रि�-रूपत� � ११ �bhagavad-bhakti-śāstrāṇām aya� sya� saṅgraha� |
Գܲūٲsya caitanya-deve tat-priya-rūpata� || 11 ||This book is the collective essence of śٰ relating to pure devotional service to Śrī and realized by service to Śrī Caitanya-deva. It has been first tasted and experienced by His dearmost Śrī ū貹 ҴDz峾ī, and for this reason, a treasure posited by him alone.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana ҴDz峾ī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Now he expounds upon the subject matter of the scripture through the verse beginning with bhagavad-bhakti, devotional service to Śrī . This is the essence of all scriptures related to bhakti that were present beforehand. Here or essence refers only to pure devotional truths (tattvas), and by the compound word -saṅgraha, the collected essence, the author dispells the ego of creating this book alone. Thus the authenticity of this book has been established.
Here the author explains how he compiled his book. In some places he uses entire verses of the original book, in other places portions of verses, and yet in other places only their meanings are quoted. The author compiled the present book in this way. If someone says that the inclusion of numerous bhakti-śٰ is extremely difficult to accomplish, especially due to the rarity of those bhakti-śٰ and the difficulty in understanding the tattvas or devotional truths, how is it possible then to gather their essence? In reply, he explains that it is by perceived realization (Գܲūٲ). Just as it is not so difficult to gather the essence of absolute truths (tattva-vastu) when grasped by direct perception (ṣāt) by one’s subtle mind and intelligence (bahira antaḥkaraṇa); similarly, these essential absolute truths have been collected.
One might raise the ensuing doubt: “How then was the essence of the absolute truths (-vastu) realized?� In reply to this, he says, “From the personal form of Śrī ܻ𱹲 who is the personal Deity of Śrī Caitanya-deva’s heart. In other words, this has been realized by service such as meditation on the form (śī-ū貹) that is most dear to Śrī Caitanya-deva, namely, the beautiful, threefold-bending form of Śrīmān Ի岹-쾱śǰ who is expertly playing on His flute.�
It is because of the indwelling Supersoul (Գٲ峾) in everyone, and by the favor of Śrī ṛṣṇa who bestows causeless, spontaneous mercy of such bhakti-tattvas or devotional truths automatically in everyone’s heart. On the other hand, this has been realized from Śrī Caitanya-deva, particularly through the special realization of Śrī ṛṣṇa Caitanya-deva who is the beloved form of Śrī Śacīnandana who assumed the dress of a renunciant with a majestic, divine golden form. Or else, this becomes cognizant through the mercy of that exalted personality named Śrī ū貹 ҴDz峾ī, the dearmost of Śrī Caitanya-deva. Therefore, this is realized or clearly perceived by the special mercy of Śrī . Due to this, the collection of the essence of bhakti-śٰ has not been difficult.