Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.5.37, 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 1.5.37 contained in Chapter 5—Priya (the beloved devotees)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.5.37
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.5.37:
भगवान् अयम् अर्जुनश् च तत्-प्रिय-सख्येन गतः प्रसिद्धताम् ।
न पुराण-शतैः परैर् अहो महिमा स्तोतुम् अमुष्य शक्यते ॥ ३७ ॥bhagavān ayam arjunaś ca tat-priya-sakhyena gataḥ prasiddhatām |
na purāṇa-śataiḥ parair aho mahimā stotum amuṣya śakyate || 37 ||Arjuna, who is full of all kinds of opulences, has also gained fame as a beloved friend of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Aho, not even countless Purāṇas and great scriptures can describe his glories!
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Due to a magnificent reverence, the word bhagavān is addressed to Arjuna in the present verse, or rather in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (6.5.78):
उत्पत्तिं प्रलयं चैव भूतानाम् अगतिं गतिम्
वेत्ति विद्याम् अविद्यां स वाच्यो भगवान् इतिutpattiṃ pralayaṃ caiva bhūtānām agatiṃ gatim
vetti vidyām avidyāṃ sa vācyo bhagavān itiThe word bhagavān is used for a person who knows the truth about the creation, destruction, the karmic comings and goings and the enlightenment and illusion of all embodied creatures.
Arjuna has also become famous in the world for being similar to Bhagavān on the basis of these scriptural characteristics or for being the beloved friend of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Aho (in great wonder), so many Purāṇas and śāstras are incapable of describing his glories!