Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

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

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.4.65, 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 1.4.65 contained in Chapter 4—Bhakta (the devotee)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.4.65:

दासः सखा वाहनम् आसनं ध्वज-च्छत्रं वितानं व्यजनं च वन्दी ।
मन्त्री भिषग् योध-पतिः सहाय-श्रेष्ठो महा-कीर्ति-विवर्धनश् च ॥ ६५ ॥

dāsaḥ sakhā vāhanam āsanaṃ dhvaja-cchatraṃ vitānaṃ vyajanaṃ ca vandī |
mantrī bhiṣag yodha-patiḥ sahāya-śreṣṭho mahā-kīrti-vivardhanaś ca || 65 ||

You are Bhagavān’s servant, friend, carrier, seat, flag and umbrella, canopy, fan, bard, adviser, doctor, chief commander, best assistant, and you are the promoter of His great fame.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

In relation to services performed by Śrī Hanumān the two ślokas beginning with dāsaḥ are spoken. Here, he briefly describes the words of Śrī Prahlāda with helā-vilaṅghitāgādha (see verse 43) and so on.

You are the qualified authority for various kinds of services to Bhagavān; therefore, you are a servant (dāsa). Being worthy of His confidence, you are a friend (sakhā). Otherwise, Bhagavān would not have sent you to search for Śrī Sītā-devī by giving you His own ring. You always remain at the side of Bhagavān Śrī Rāmacandra, and because your gigantic body appears to be a flag (dhvaja) in the distance, you can inform everyone of the arrival of Lord Rāmacandra. Similarly, with your tail spread open like an umbrella (chatra), you shield the Lord from the harsh sun rays and severe dust storms; therefore, you are like the moonlight, or by fanning Him with your tail, you become like a fan (vyajana). Or else, at the time of carrying Bhagavān with your upraised tail seen in a distance like a banner, you are a flag. Therefore, by giving the proof that fanning your tail removes excessive heat also, both words are not separately mentioned (dhvaja-cchatram).

You are the orator of many kinds of stutis or eulogies; therefore, you are a director (vandī). Having brought the divine medicine of viśalya-karaṇī for treating wounds generated from weapons, you are the doctor (bhīsak), and due to possessing extraordinary intellect and bravery, you are the commander of the military (yodha-pati). Also, amongst all assistants, which includes all the monkeys, you are the best of helpers (sahāya-śreṣṭha).

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