Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.4.51, 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 1.4.51 contained in Chapter 4—Bhakta (the devotee)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.4.51
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.4.51:
स्वामिन् कप�-पतिर� दास्ये इत्य�-आद�-वचनै� खल� �
प्रसिद्ध� महिम� तस्य दास्यम� एव प्रभोः कृपा � ५१ �svāmin kapi-patir dāsye ity-ādi-vacanai� khalu |
prasiddho mahimā tasya ⲹ eva prabho� kṛpā || 51 ||O Prabhu, certainly his talented glories have become well-known by scriptural words such as ‘kapi-patir dāsye�. Thus, servitorship alone is proof of the mercy of the Lord.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Concluding his speech here, Śrī ʰ岹 says: “O 岹 Prabhu, in this verse his glories are celebrated too.�
As Śī-岵ٲ says (Bhakti-峾ṛt-sindhu 2.263, 265):
शारङ्ग�-श्रवणे परीक्षिद् अभवद� वैयासकिः कीर्तन�
प्रह्लाद� स्मरणे तद�-अङ्ग्ःरि-भजने लक्ष्मी� पृथु� पूजन�
अक्रूरस् त्व् अभिवन्दन� कप�-पतिर� दास्ये’थ सख्ये’र्जुन�
सर्व-स्वात्�-निवेदन� बलिर� अभूद� भक्त� कथ� वर्ण्यतेśāraṅgi-śravaṇe parīkṣid abhavad vaiyāsaki� kīrtane
prahlāda� smaraṇe tad-aṅgḥri-bhajane lakṣmī� pṛthu� pūjane
akrūras tv abhivandane kapi-patir dāsye’tha sakhye’rjuna�
sarva-svٳ-nivedane balir abhūd bhakta� katha� varṇyateKing ʲīṣi attained perfection by the eka mukhyāṅga Բ (one-pointed practice) of hearing (śṇa) about the holy names, form, pastimes and so on of Śrī ṛṣṇa; Śrī Śܰ첹𱹲 by recitation (īٲԲ);Śrī ʰ岹 by remembering (ṇa); Śrī ṣmī by serving the lotus feet (岹-𱹲Բ); King ṛt by worshipping Śrī վṣṇ (arcanam);Akrūra by offering prayers (vandanam); Śrī Hanuman by rendering personal services (ⲹ); Arjuna by his friendship (sakhyam);and Bali Mahārāja by his complete self-surrender (ٳ-nivedana).�
Here, the mention of ⲹ indicates 貹-Բ or “the pre-eminent rendering of personal services.�
According to the explanation of Śī Swāmīpāda, it is not 첹貹Բ or the offering of one’s fruitive activities. As a matter of fact, this kind of comes by the mercy of the Lord, concluding in the engagement of all the senses as well as the body, mind and words.
The reason is that this body is the sanctuary of all external and internal senses. Just as when taking bath, the body becomes purified, all the senses automatically become purified. Similarly, by personal services through the body, all the limbs of devotion such as remembrance are achieved. Therefore, the attribute of rendering personal service is comparatively superior to constant remembrance. In those services, direct service to Śrī Ramācandra is even more praiseworthy. Remembrance (ṇa) is largely an indirect or remote activity. Therefore, Śrī ʰ岹, knowing Śrī ᲹԳܳ to be superior in rank, began to glorify him repeatedly.