Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

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

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.4.24-25, 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 1.4.24-25 contained in Chapter 4—Bhakta (the devotee)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).

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Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.4.24-25:

श्रीमन्-नृसिंह-लीला च मद्-अनुग्रहतो न सा ।
स्व-भक्त-देवता-रक्षां पार्षद-द्वय-मोचनम् ॥ २४ ॥
ब्रह्म-तत्-तनयादीनां कर्तुं वाक् सत्यताम् अपि ।
निज-भक्ति-महत्त्वं च सम्यग् दर्शयितुं परम् ॥ २५ ॥

śrīman-nṛsiṃha-līlā ca mad-anugrahato na sā |
sva-bhakta-devatā-rakṣāṃ pārṣada-dvaya-mocanam || 24 ||
brahma-tat-tanayādīnāṃ kartuṃ vāk satyatām api |
nija-bhakti-mahattvaṃ ca samyag darśayituṃ param || 25 ||

All of Śrī Nṛsiṃhadeva’s pastimes were not simply to favor me. On the other hand, those pastimes were for protecting the demigods who are His devotees, to liberate both His eternal associates (Jaya and Vijaya), to preserve the truth of Brahmā and his son’s words, and to demonstrate the lofty glories of His own bhakti.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

You may say that the killing of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the arch-enemy of bhakti, and the appearance and activities of Bhagavān in such a remarkable form (adbhuta-rūpa), are the signs of His supreme blessings upon me, so it is documented here that the divine will of Śrī Nṛsiṃhadeva enacted all these līlās, that they are not performed out of any divine mercy upon me. His accepting such a wonderful form and pastimes like the killing of Hiraṇyakaśipu were for the protection of His devotee Indra and the demigods, for freeing the two associates of Vaikuṇṭha, the guards Jaya and Vijaya from the curse of the four Kumāras, and to confirm that the words of the sons of Brahmā and sages headed by Sanaka to be truthful.

By the suffix ādi (and others) he enunciates clearly the truthfulness of the words of Śrī Nārada and Hiraṇyakaśipu about the descent of the doorkeeper Jaya. However, here the subject of the appearance of the form of Śrī Nṛsiṃha, the words of Śrī Brahmā regarding the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu and the tale to verify the words of Sanaka and others are not mentioned. The reason is that in this connection the Seventh Canto (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhāgavata Purāṇa 7.8.17) explains: satyaṃ vidhātuṃ nija-bhṛtyabhāṣitam, “Afterwards Bhagavān, for the words of His own servant and to verify His existence to all entities, appeared in the pillar in the midst of the assembly in the astonishing form of Śrī Nṛsiṃha.” Śrīla Śrīdhara Swāmīpāda also explained this verse extensively; therefore, a detailed analysis is not presented. Nonetheless, this pastime of Bhagavān is surely not to show mercy on him.

By raising the point of showing honor before such personages as Śrī Brahmā, Śrī Rudra and others, that is not the sign of the mercy of Bhagavān either; on the contrary, it only demonstrates the greatness of bhagavat-bhakti. In other words, simply for enhancing the glories of His bhakti does Bhagavān give any credence to the neglect of His eternal pārsadas of Vaikuṇṭha such as Śrī Garuḍa and Mahālakṣmī. Otherwise, actual neglect is never possible towards them, because they are eternal associates of Bhagavān. This subject matter has been established before. In this way, the reply to the purport of this verse is also given that “by neglecting devotees such as Brahmā, Bhagavān has honored you.”

Other Vaishnavism Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Verse 1.4.24-25’. Further sources in the context of Vaishnavism might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Subject-matter, Divine Will, Wonderful form, Seventh Canto, Eternal associate, Glories of bhakti, Astonishing form, Protection of His devotee.

Other concepts within the broader category of Hinduism context and sources.

Bhagavata Purana, Killing of Hiranyakashipu, Detailed analysis.
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