Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.3.35, 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 1.3.35 contained in Chapter 3—Prapancatita (beyond the Material Plane)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.3.35
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.3.35:
परीक्षिद् उवाच—
ततो महेश्वरो मातस् त्रपावनमिताननः ।
नारदं भगवद्-भक्तम् अवदद् वैष्णवाग्रणीः ॥ ३५ ॥parīkṣid uvāca—
tato maheśvaro mātas trapāvanamitānanaḥ |
nāradaṃ bhagavad-bhaktam avadad vaiṣṇavāgraṇīḥ || 35 ||Parīkṣit said: O mother, that exalted Vaiṣṇava, Śrī Maheśvara, hearing his own praises, dropped his head in shame and began speaking to Bhagavān’s great devotee, Śrī Nārada.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Why did Śrī Mahādeva lower his head in shame?
Due to hearing his own praises. or rather, the improbability of this kind of glorification, in other words, “Actually, I am not worthy of this.”
Such aggrandizing of character is valued about as much as a practical joke. Hence, out of modesty, he lowered his head. He is the most exalted of Vaiṣṇavas for this repugnance of any prestige as well.