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Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

by Śī Śīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.2.161, 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 2.2.161 contained in Chapter 2—Jnana (knowledge)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.161:

कि� वानुस्थितय� सम्यक् तयैव सुलभोऽस्ति सः �
श्रुति-स्मृतीना� कासांचित� संमतिस� तत्र लक्षित� � १६� �

ki� vānusthiٲ samyak tayaiva sulabho'sti � |
śruti-smṛtīnā� kāsāṃcit saṃmatis tatra ṣi || 161 ||

ki� vā–fܰٳǰ; Գṣṭ󾱳ٲ–by the execution; samyakDZ; ٲ–by that (bhakti); eva–iԻ; -�–easily attained; asti–it is; –t󲹳; śܳپ-ṛtī峾–of the Śܳپ and ṛt; ñ–of some; پ�–a𳾱Գ; tatra–t; ṣi–iԻ徱ٱ.

Alternatively, one may easily attain liberation by properly executing devotional service alone (with no need of knowledge). This opinion was also supported by some of the Śܳپ and ṛt.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

(By Śīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)

Śī Gopa-ܳ says, “Those ʳܰṇa and Ā further their argument with the following alternative: ‘Liberation is easily achieved if one becomes completely free from desires and attachments and practices bhagavad-bhakti by following the path of the saints.’�

In the verse, the word eva, meaning ‘only� or ‘alone,� indicates the full independence of loving service to the Lord. Bhakti is by nature free from desires and does not depend on any other practice (󲹲Բ).

It is stated in the ṛh-īⲹ ʳܰṇa (32.6, 4.30):

भक्तिर� दृढा भवेद� यस्य दे�-देवे जनार्दने
श्रेयांस� तस्य सिध्यन्त� भक्तिमन्तो’धिकास� तत�

bhaktir dṛḍhā bhaved yasya deva-deve janārdane
śreyāṃsi tasya sidhyanti bhaktimanto’dhikās tata�

Those who have unshakeable devotion to the lotus feet of Śī Janārdana, who is God even of the gods, effortlessly achieve all auspiciousness and good fortune. Therefore, bhakti alone is the super-excellent process.

जीवन्त� जन्तवः सर्व� यथ� मातरम् आश्रिताः
तथ� भक्तिम� समाश्रित्य सर्व� जीवन्त� सिद्धय�

jīvanti jantava� sarve yathā mātaram āśritā�
tathā bhaktim samāśritya sarvā jīvanti siddhaya�

Just as all living beings survive under the care of their mothers, similarly, all the mystic perfections, or siddhis, exist by taking shelter of bhakti alone.

Here, the word siddhi is to be understood as liberation. Although liberation is not directly mentioned in these two verses, it has been implied.

It is stated in Śīmad 󲹲-ī (11.54):

भक्त्य� त्व् अनन्यय� शक्य अहम् एव�-विधो’र्जुन
ज्ञातु� द्रष्टुं � तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं � परन्तप

bhaktyā tv ananyayā śakya aham eva�-vidho’rjuna
jñātu� draṣṭu� ca tattvena praveṣṭu� ca parantapa

Only by performing unalloyed service (ԲԲ-󲹰پ) unto Me can one understand the truth about Me and see Me before his very eyes. Then one can enter into Me, that is, one can associate with Me and reside in my company.

Ѵǰṣa is implicit in the phrase ‘entrance into Me (󲹲),� meaning that liberation can be attained effortlessly by the performance of bhakti.

Gopa-ܳ continues, “Some Śܳپ and ṛt devoted to 󲹲 nodded their heads and gestured in agreement of the statement that liberation can be attained only by loving devotion to the Lord.� The meaning of their gesturing is that the words of those Śܳپ and ṛt do not directly or explicitly establish bhakti as the cause of liberation, but this conclusion can be ascertained from their purports. A subject matter is more highly respected when its principles are ascertained in its commentaries.

It is stated in Padma ʳܰṇa (-ṇḍ 92.26):

अपत्यं द्रविण� दारा हारा हर्म्य� हय� गजाः
सुखानि स्वर्ग-मोक्षौ � � दूरे हर�-भक्तित�

apatya� draviṇa� dārā hārā harmya� hayā gajā�
sukhāni svarga-ǰṣau ca na dūre hari-bhaktita�

In this world, one derives happiness from sons, grandsons, wealth, women, objects of enjoyment, palaces, horses, elephants, etc. And in Svarga, much higher varieties of enjoyment are found. However, all such pleasures, even up to the pleasure of ǰṣa, are easily accessible (na dūre) by devotion to Śī Hari.

In this verse, the term na dūre (not far) signifies ‘quite close.� All these types of happiness are readily bestowed by bhakti to Śī Hari.

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