Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śī Śīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.3.177, 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 2.3.177 contained in Chapter 3—Bhajana (loving service)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.3.177
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.3.177:
प्रभोः कृपा-पू�-बलेन भक्तेः प्रभावतो वा खल� दर्शनं स्यात् �
अत� परिच्छिन्न-दृशापि सिद्ध्येन् निरन्तरं तन� मनसै� सम्यक् � १७� �� ṛp-ū-balena ٱ� prabhāvato khalu 岹śԲ� |
ٲ� paricchinna-dṛśāpi siddhyen nirantara� tan manasaiva samyak || 177 ||�–of the Lord; ṛp–of mercy; ū–a flood; balena–by the power; ٱ�–of devotional service; 屹ٲ�–by the power; –o; khalu–iԻ; 岹śԲ‵Dz; –may be; ٲ�–t; paricchinna dṛś�–with limited eyes; api–a; sidhyet–may be effected; nirantaram–cDzԲٲԳ; tat–t; Բ–by the mind; iva–as if; samyak–tǰdzܲ.
By the power of the Lord’s abundant mercy or by the influence of bhakti, the Lord can be seen even with the limited material eyes. That vision is as constant and thorough as that held in vision of the mind.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhānuda
(By Śīla Sanātana Gosmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Śī Gopa-ܳ might posit, “Even if one sees Bhagan with his eyes, which are limited in function and small in size, at times the Lord may disappear from one’s sight and one will experience separation from Him. However, when one receives 岹śԲ of Bhagan in the mind, no obstacle comes to frustrate the bliss of seeing Him. This is because the mind, due to the potency of being subtle, is allpervading.�
To dispel this apprehension, the ղṇṭ associates speak this verse beginning with �, concluding their commentary on the opinion of ʾ貹ⲹԲ. They say, “Without the Lord’s mercy one cannot see Him. Whether divine vision comes by His grace or by the influence of bhakti, without mercy, there is no 岹śԲ. This being the case, one can then say that the material eyes and the mind are equally qualified to receive continuous and complete 岹śԲ of Bhagan.�
Alternatively, the ղṇṭ associates are speaking about the magnificence and power of Bhagan’s mercy. To show the glories of bhakti, which is unlimitedly powerful, in the reasoning mentioned above, it is said that vision of the Lord is to be had by the influence of bhakti alone.
“Therefore, the limited sense of vision has the ability to see the full beauty of all the limbs of Bhagan without any hindrance, just as that beauty is seen in the vision of the all-pervading, subtle mind.�