Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

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

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.6.14, 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 1.6.14 contained in Chapter 6—Priyatama (the most beloved devotees)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.6.14:

पुरातनैर् आधुनिकैश् च सेवकैर् अलब्धम् आप्तोऽलम् अनुग्रहं प्रभोः ।
महत्तमो भागवतेषु यस् ततो महा-विभूतिः स्वयम् उच्यते च यः ॥ १४ ॥

purātanair ādhunikaiś ca sevakair alabdham āpto'lam anugrahaṃ prabhoḥ |
mahattamo bhāgavateṣu yas tato mahā-vibhūtiḥ svayam ucyate ca yaḥ || 14 ||

Śrī Uddhava had profusely obtained the mercy of Śrī Kṛṣṇa that early or present-day devotees had never before attained. Therefore, Śrī Bhagavān Himself addressed him as His majesty and the best of the devotees of Bhagavān.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Beginning with purātanaiḥ (devotees of yore or long ago), Śrī Nārada depicts the glories of Śrī Uddhava in these next six verses. Profusely receiving the mercy of Śrī Bhagavān, Śrī Uddhava is the best among bhāgavata devotees. Thus Bhagavān personally addressed him as mahā-vibhūti (possessor of magnificent opulence), and even though he is a devotee of Bhagavān, still due to being most exalted like Bhagavān, he is described as the possessor of the majesty of Bhagavān. In the Eleventh Canto in the Vibhūti-yoga chapter Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally says, tvaṃ tu bhāgavateṣv aham: “Among the bhāgavata devotees of Bhagavān, I am Śrī Uddhava.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhāgavata Purāṇa 11.16.29)

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