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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 2.4.201, 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 2.4.201 contained in Chapter 4—Vaikuntha (the spiritual world)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.4.201:

भक्त्य�-आनन्�-विशेषा� लीला-विग्रह-धारिणः �
तय� भगवत� शक्त्य� चिद् -विला�-स्वरूपया � २०� �

bhakty-ԲԻ岹-śṣҲ ī--ṇa� |
ٲ 󲹲ٲ� śٲ cid --svaū貹yā || 201 ||

bhakti–of devotional service; ԲԻ岹–b; śṣҲ–for special; ī-–pastime forms; ṇa�–they accept; ٲ–by that; 󲹲ٲ�–of the Lord; śٲ–through the potency; cit–s辱ٳܲ; –for pastimes; -ū貹–the internal.

Just to experience the special bliss of pure loving service to the Lord, devotees assume forms at will in accordance with the necessity of particular pastimes. This is arranged by 󲹲’s internal pastime potency.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Śī Gopa-ܳ might ask, “What is the nature of this special liberation? In reply, speaks this verse beginning with bhakti. He says, “Desiring the special bliss of service to 󲹲, devotees assume spiritual bodies in accordance with the necessity of particular pastimes.�

But Gopa-ܳ might object, “These liberated souls have obtained oneness with Brahman. How can they assume different bodies for the sake of performing pastimes?� Śī 岹 replies, “The devotees assume bodies by the influence of 󲹲’s transcendental pastime potency.� This opinion clearly establishes the master/servitor, or sevya-sevaka, relationship between 󲹲 and His devotees.

Gopa-ܳ might express another doubt, saying, “If the devotees were to attain oneness with Brahman (brahma-ū貹), then they would receive only minute happiness like the liberated souls receive, no more than that. In other words, if the devotees� forms were not condensed embodiments of sac-cid-ԲԻ岹, they would receive approximately the same amount of happiness as the liberated souls.� In this regard, the established truth is that since the devotees� forms are actually condensed embodiments of sac-cid-ԲԻ岹, they automatically experience intense happiness much greater than that of the liberated souls. This has been explained earlier in Śī Bṛhad-岵峾ṛt (2.2.176). The happiness of liberated souls arises from knowledge–knowledge that they are spiritual beings by nature. Therefore, the bliss they receive is minute.

In this way all opposing arguments are reconciled or harmonized.

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