Verse 1.1.11

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.1.11:

भगवद्-भक्ति-शास्त्राणाम् अयं सारस्यः सङ्ग्रहः ।
अनुभूतस्य चैतन्य-देवे तत्-प्रिय-रूपतः ॥ ११ ॥

bhagavad-bhakti-śāstrāṇām ayaṃ sārasyaḥ saṅgrahaḥ |
anubhūtasya caitanya-deve tat-priya-rūpataḥ || 11 ||

This book is the collective essence of śāstras relating to pure devotional service to Śrī Bhagavān and realized by service to Śrī Caitanya-deva. It has been first tasted and experienced by His dearmost Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, and for this reason, a treasure posited by him alone.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Now he expounds upon the subject matter of the scripture through the verse beginning with bhagavad-bhakti, devotional service to Śrī Bhagavān. This is the essence of all scriptures related to bhakti that were present beforehand. Here sāra or essence refers only to pure devotional truths (tattvas), and by the compound word sāra-saṅgraha, the collected essence, the author dispells the ego of creating this book alone. Thus the authenticity of this book has been established.

Here the author explains how he compiled his book. In some places he uses entire verses of the original book, in other places portions of verses, and yet in other places only their meanings are quoted. The author compiled the present book in this way. If someone says that the inclusion of numerous bhakti-śāstras is extremely difficult to accomplish, especially due to the rarity of those bhakti-śāstras and the difficulty in understanding the tattvas or devotional truths, how is it possible then to gather their essence? In reply, he explains that it is by perceived realization (anubhūta). Just as it is not so difficult to gather the essence of absolute truths (tattva-vastu) when grasped by direct perception (sākṣātkāra) by one’s subtle mind and intelligence (bahira antaḥkaraṇa); similarly, these essential absolute truths have been collected.

One might raise the ensuing doubt: “How then was the essence of the absolute truths (sāra-vastu) realized?” In reply to this, he says, “From the personal form of Śrī Vāsudeva who is the personal Deity of Śrī Caitanya-deva’s heart. In other words, this has been realized by service such as meditation on the form (śrī-rūpa) that is most dear to Śrī Caitanya-deva, namely, the beautiful, threefold-bending form of Śrīmān Nanda-kiśora who is expertly playing on His flute.”

It is because of the indwelling Supersoul (antaryāmi) in everyone, and by the favor of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa who bestows causeless, spontaneous mercy of such bhakti-tattvas or devotional truths automatically in everyone’s heart. On the other hand, this has been realized from Śrī Caitanya-deva, particularly through the special realization of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya-deva who is the beloved form of Śrī Śacīnandana who assumed the dress of a renunciant with a majestic, divine golden form. Or else, this becomes cognizant through the mercy of that exalted personality named Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, the dearmost of Śrī Caitanya-deva. Therefore, this is realized or clearly perceived by the special mercy of Śrī Bhagavān. Due to this, the collection of the essence of bhakti-śāstras has not been difficult.

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Antaryamin, Sakshatkara, Bhaktishastra, Bhagavadbhakti, Shrirupa, Absolute truth, Direct perception, Pure devotional service, Shri Shacinandana, Exalted personality, Threefold bending form, Personal form, Shri Vasudeva, Indwelling Supersoul, Shri Bhagavan, Special mercy, Bhagavan Shri Krishna, Mercy of Shri Bhagavan, Shri Rupa Gosvami, Meditation on the form.