Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

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

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.7.135, 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 1.7.135 contained in Chapter 7—Purna (pinnacle of excellent devotees)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.7.135:

श्री-कृष्ण-चन्द्र कस्यापि तृप्तिर् अस्तु कदापि न ।
भवतोऽनुग्रहे भक्तौ प्रेम्णि चानन्द-भाजने ॥ १३५ ॥

śrī-kṛṣṇa-candra kasyāpi tṛptir astu kadāpi na |
bhavato'nugrahe bhaktau premṇi cānanda-bhājane || 135 ||

O Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, embodiment of bliss, I am asking this boon from You that no one may ever be satisfied by Your divine mercy, bhakti and prema.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

I pray for the benediction that no one should ever be satisfied by Your divine mercy (anugraha), Your bhakti or by prema unto You. In other words, although Your boons may reach their ultimate limit, no one should think that "I have obtained complete mercy and devotion of Bhagavān despite obtaining that ultimate mercy."

Although bhakti arises by the mercy of Bhagavān and prema arises from bhakti alone, this is a sequential gradation. These three do not arise at the same time;nevertheless, some mercy is visible in some devotee, and at times some development of bhakti in some devotee is recognizable. Mercy (anugraha), bhakti and prema are termed as separate with this very intention. If the question is what is the basis or nature of these three? In reply, he says, all three, mercy, bhakti and prema are attributes of Śrī Bhagavān, who is the embodiment of bliss, because they are the basis of bliss. Therefore, although self-satisfied persons attached to impersonal knowledge may be content by their petty happiness of self-realization (svarūpānubhutī), nevertheless devotees who have attained the mercy of Śrī Bhagavān can never be satisfied even to a small degree by that mercy. Rather, the speciality of that experience of Bhagavān’s divine mercy, bhakti and bliss of prema is not established.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: