Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

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

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.6.16-18, 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 1.6.16-18 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 1.6.16-18:

भगवद्-वचनान्य् एव प्रथितानि पुराणतः ।
तस्य सौभाग्य-सन्दोह-महिम्नां व्यञ्जकान्य् अलम् ॥ १६ ॥
तस्मिन् प्रसाद-जातानि श्री-कृष्णस्याद्भुतान्य् अपि ।
जगद्-विलक्षनान्य् अद्य गीतानि यदु-पुङ्गवैः ॥ १७ ॥
प्रविश्य कर्ण-द्वारेण ममाक्रम्य हृद्-आलयम् ।
मदीयं सकलं धैर्य-धनं लुण्ठन्ति हा हठात् ॥ १८ ॥

bhagavad-vacanāny eva prathitāni purāṇataḥ |
tasya saubhāgya-sandoha-mahimnāṃ vyañjakāny alam || 16 ||
tasmin prasāda-jātāni śrī-kṛṣṇasyādbhutāny api |
jagad-vilakṣanāny adya gītāni yadu-puṅgavaiḥ || 17 ||
praviśya karṇa-dvāreṇa mamākramya hṛd-ālayam |
madīyaṃ sakalaṃ dhairya-dhanaṃ luṇṭhanti hā haṭhāt || 18 ||

The words emanating from the mouth of Śrī Bhagavān that reveal the outstanding merits of Śrī Uddhava are scattered throughout the Purāṇas. These words elucidate the wonderful mercy of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa upon Śrī Uddhava.

Today, the best of the Yādavas related to me this wonderful mercy. Alas, his merciful talks have penetrated my ears, have taken sanctuary in my heart and all of a sudden have forcibly stolen away the wealth of my patience.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Accordingly, Śrī Nārada says that the words and befitting results of Bhagavān are proof of the mercy towards Śrī Uddhava. On the pretext of manifesting the glories of Śrī Uddhava, he replies to the question of what wonderful behavior we are seeing today. His reply, posed by the Yādavas, establishes the glories of Śrī Uddhava through these three verses beginning with bhagavad. Bhagavān’s words towards Śrī Uddhava are famous, tvaṃ me bhṛtyaḥ suhṛt sakhā: “You are My servant, well-wisher and friend,” and noddhavo’ṇv api man-nyūno, “Uddhava, you are no less than Me.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhāgavata Purāṇa 11.11.49 and 3.4.31)

Today members of the royal assembly, the best among the Yadus such as Śrī Ugrasena, happily narrated the glories of Śrī Uddhava’s good fortune through Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Those glories have entered the sanctuary of the heart through the earholes and have suddenly stolen away our treasured willpower. What is the nature of those words? Throughout the Purāṇas such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, as well as others, those words are celebrated. In other words, the good fortune of Śrī Uddhava and the phrases that establish his glories and describe his superior fortune are legendary. If you say, “What is the nature of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mercy towards Śrī Uddhava?” In reply Śrī Nārada says that mercy is astonishing, amazing to the heart and famous throughout the entire world.

The illustration given here is that just as a cunning thief stupefies someone then steals away all his wealth, similarly the glories of that mercy confound me also and have stolen away my willpower.

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