Verse 2.1.18

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.18:

पर्यवस्यति सारूप्य-सामीप्यादौ च तुल्यता ।
न श्रूयते परं प्राप्यं वैकुण्ठाद् अधिकं कियत् ॥ १८ ॥

paryavasyati sārūpya-sāmīpyādau ca tulyatā |
na śrūyate paraṃ prāpyaṃ vaikuṇṭhād adhikaṃ kiyat || 18 ||

paryavasyati–it is concluded; sārūpya–liberation, such as having the same form as the Lord; sāmīpya–liberation, such as living in the Lord’s proximity; ādau–and so on; ca–also; tulyatā–equality; na–not; śrūyate–is heard of; param–exalted; prāpyam–worthy of attainment; vaikuṇṭhāt–than Vaikuṇṭha; adhikam–more; kiyat–to such an extent.

The different types of liberation, such as having the same form as the Lord, or sārūpya, and living in the Lord’s proximity, or sāmīpya, are all on an equal platform. Moreover, it is unheard of that a destination more exalted than Vaikuṇṭha can be attained.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

One might raise an objection that in Śrī Vaikuṇṭha, although all devotees reap equal happiness from their worship of the Lord, there are distinctions, as some attain different types of liberations, such as sārūpya. Just as there are different divisions of yajñas, or sacrifices–such as the karma yajña or the brahma yajña (constant meditation on the Supreme)–similarly, in order to continuously manifest Śrī Bhagavān’s supremely grand pastimes, according to necessity, some servants serving as doorkeepers are situated at a distance from the Lord, while some remain in close proximity to render confidential services like massaging His lotus feet. Thus, gradations are found among the servitors, but in the transcendental sense, all of them are equally placed. To express this, Śrī Uttarā speaks this verse beginning with paryavasyati.

“Sārūpya means ‘to possess a form similar to Bhagavān’s four-armed form.’ Sāmīpya means ‘to remain close to the Lord as His eternal associate, or pārṣada.’” Here the word ādi indicates different services, such as commanding the army, massaging the Lord’s lotus feet, and dressing His hair. However, this list does not include sāyujya-mukti, the impersonal liberation of merging into the Lord’s effulgence. Bhagavān rewards demons who are inimical to Him with sāyujya-mukti because of their constant meditation on Him. Those who render even the smallest degree of service to the Lord consider merging into Him to be loathsome and despicable.

Now one might ask, “Do devotees obtain something extra, also, in accordance with their individual spiritual moods (bhāvas)?” In reply, Śrī Uttarā speaks the words beginning with na śrūyate. “Out of the uncountable destinations,” she says, “Śrī Vaikuṇṭha is the topmost.

Thus one does not hear of any higher abode that can be attained.”