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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 2.2.193, 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 2.2.193 contained in Chapter 2—Jnana (knowledge)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.193:

तत� सुखं वर्धतेऽभीक्ष्णम� अनन्तं परमं महत् �
� तु ब्रह्म-सुखं मुक्तौ वर्धते सीमवद् यथ� � १९� �

tat sukha� vardhate'bhīkṣṇam ananta� parama� mahat |
na tu brahma-sukha� muktau vardhate īvad yathā || 193 ||

tat–o that (bhakti); sukham–jDz; vardhate–iԳ𲹲; īṣṇ–iԳԳٱ; an-antam–without end; paramam–sܱ𳾱; mahat–g𲹳; na–ndz; tu–hǷɱ𱹱; brahma–o Brahman; sukham–the happiness; muktau–in liberation; vardhate–it increases; ī-vat–in a limited manner; ⲹٲ�–a.

Devotees experience that supremely great, infinite happiness of bhakti in perpetually increasing, ever-fresh ways. But the happiness of Brahman is bounded, and so liberated souls do not experience it in these ways.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

In this way, it is demonstrated that the happiness derived from devotion is far superior to the bliss of Brahman realization. To explain this, the 󲹰پ-śٰ speak this verse beginning with tat, saying that the happiness of serving the Lord with love increases at every moment to higher and higher levels.

Śī Gopa-ܳ may point out, “The phrase tat-ṛd (tat vardhate), meaning ‘that which expands or increases,� seems to indicate that at times, that happiness may also be confined or limited.�

The bhakti-śٰ explain, “The bliss of bhakti is infinite and unlimited. Although it reaches the ultimate limit of greatness, at every moment devotees still experience it to be ever-new, ever-sweet, and ever more excellent. However, the happiness of Brahman realization is different; it has limits and cannot develop to progressively higher degrees of bliss. Therefore, when those devoted to liberation say, ‘Liberation alone is the ultimate limit of happiness,� it is they themselves who have determined its limit.�

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