Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.5.54, 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 1.5.54 contained in Chapter 5—Priya (the beloved devotees)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.5.54
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.5.54:
स्व-जीवानाधिक-प्रार्थ्य-श्री-विष्णुजन-सङ्गतेः ।
विच्छेदेन क्षणं चात्र न सुखांशं लभामहे ॥ ५४ ॥sva-jīvānādhika-prārthya-śrī-viṣṇujana-saṅgateḥ |
vicchedena kṣaṇaṃ cātra na sukhāṃśaṃ labhāmahe || 54 ||In fact, the association of devotees of Bhagavān Śrī Viṣṇu is more revered than our own life. On the other hand, due to separation of those very devotees in this world, now we cannot get a moment of happiness.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Therefore, the association of great devotees (mahat bhaktas) is more desirable than our own lives. But, without the association of those selfsame śrī-viṣṇu-bhaktas through Him alone, we cannot get the slightest moment of happiness.