Verse 2.1.17

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.17:

तारतम्यवताम् एषां फले साम्यं न युज्यते ।
तारतम्यं तु वैकुण्ठे कथञ्चिद् घटते न हि ॥ १७ ॥

tāratamyavatām eṣāṃ phale sāmyaṃ na yujyate |
tāratamyaṃ tu vaikuṇṭhe kathañcid ghaṭate na hi || 17 ||

tāratamya-vatām–having gradations; eṣām–of them; phale–in the result; sāmyam–equality; na–not; yujyate–appropriate; tāratamyam–gradation; tu–but; vaikuṇṭhe–in Vaikuṇṭha; kathañcit–in any way; ghaṭate–it is possible; na–not; hi–certainly.

In spite of all these devotees being equal in their pure loving devotion, gradation is seen in their spiritual sentiments. It would be inappropriate, therefore, if they were all to receive the same results; there must be gradation in the results they achieve. However, the abode of Vaikuṇṭha is the realm of equality, and so it is not possible that a hierarchy of results can exist there.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

One must accept that although all these devotees possess equal devotion, still, because of gradation in their devotional sentiments (bhāvas), there is gradation in the results they obtain. To explain this, Śrī Uttarā speaks this verse beginning with tāratamya. Here, tāratamya, meaning ‘proportionate gradation,’ should be understood to refer to varying degrees of love, from comparatively limited to abundant manifestations.

She says, “Since there are gradations in the devotional moods, or sentiments (bhāvas), of these five types of devotees, it is not appropriate that they all receive equal results. When jñāna-bhakti and śuddhabhakti are compared, śuddha-bhakti must certainly yield a greater result than jñāna-bhakti. Similarly, prema-bhakti must yield a greater result than śuddha-bhakti, prema-para-bhakti must yield a greater result than prema-bhakti, and premātura-bhakti must yield a greater result than prema-para-bhakti.

“If this were not so, the fault of an inadequate result would be applied to bhakti. It would be especially undesirable to accord the same result to all these exalted devotees, who possess different transcendental tastes (rūci) and who also do not desire the same result. Distribution of results in this manner does not befit the glories of the supremely merciful Bhagavān, who is affectionate to all devotees. Therefore it must be accepted that there is a gradation in the results.”

One might object, “If such gradation of reward were present in Vaikuṇṭha, would this not be a defect?”

In reply, Śrī Uttarā says, “Being the embodiment of knowledge, bliss, and eternity, Vaikuṇṭha is uniform in nature. Consequently, any kind of differentiation or inequality is not possible there.”

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Bhava, Bhagavat, Premabhakti, Shuddhabhakti, Abode of Vaikuntha, Devotional mood, Pure loving devotion, Vaikuntha abode, Exalted devotee, Embodiment of knowledge, Equal devotion, Spiritual sentiment.