Verse 2.1.66

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.66:

सर्वान्तरात्मा जगद्-ईश्वरेश्वरो यः सच्-चिद्-आनन्द-घनो मनोरमः ।
वैकुण्ठ-लोके प्रकटः सदा वसेद् यः सेवकेभ्यः स्वम् अपि प्रयच्छति ॥ ६६ ॥

sarvāntarātmā jagad-īśvareśvaro yaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-ghano manoramaḥ |
vaikuṇṭha-loke prakaṭaḥ sadā vased yaḥ sevakebhyaḥ svam api prayacchati || 66 ||

sarva–of all beings; antaḥ-ātmā–indwelling Supersoul; jagat–of the universe; īśvara-īśvaraḥ–the Controller of all controllers; yaḥ–who; sat-cit-ānanda–of eternality, cognizance, and bliss; ghanaḥ–condensed form; manaḥ-ramaḥ–charming to the mind; vaikuṇṭhaloke–in Vaikuṇṭha; prakaṭaḥ–manifested; sadā–eternally; vaset–He may reside; yaḥ–Who; sevakebhyaḥ–to His servitors; svam–His very self; api–even; prayacchati–He awards.

He is the Supersoul within all living beings and is even the controller of Brahmā and the other controllers of the universe. By nature, He is the absolute embodiment of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. With His qualities, His beauty, and so on, He attracts everyone’s mind. He eternally resides in Vaikuṇṭha, the transcendental realm, and fully gives of Himself–even His own soul–to all His surrendered devotees.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

The brāhmaṇa might express a doubt, “Even if it is a fact that He is all-pervasive, if one does not have specific knowledge about Him, how can one possibly engage in devotional service to Him?”

Therefore, the Vaiṣṇavas speak this verse beginning with sarva antar-ātmā. They say, “He is the indwelling Supersoul of all living entities, residing in everyone’s heart.” In this manner, the Vaiṣṇavas tell of the Lord’s internal opulence. Now, they describe His awesome external opulence, saying, “He is the Supreme Controller, Jagad-īśvara, meaning He is the supreme master of even the universal controller Brahmā and others, and He thus enjoys opulence that is even greater than theirs.” The Vaiṣṇavas had previously explained [in verse 65] that the Lord’s svarūpa, His spiritual form or nature, is the concentrated embodiment of Parabrahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth. The word manorama, meaning ‘charming to the mind,’ indicates that He is also the abode of super-excellent qualities, loveliness, sweetness (mādhurya), and so on.

The brāhmana might ask, “How is it possible for the Supersoul, who is the most concealed personality, to so obviously possess opulence and so on? And where do devotees go to see Him?” In response, the Vaiṣṇavas speak the words beginning with vaikuṇṭha, describing the extraordinary characteristics of the Lord’s residence in Vaikuṇṭha.

To the question [from verse 64], “What wealth or benefit can He bestow upon devotees?” the Vaiṣṇavas reply with the line, “yaḥ sevakebhyaḥ svam api prayacchati–He even bestows His own self in charity to His devotees.” The significance of api, meaning ‘also’ or ‘even,’ in this statement is that, what to speak of catur-varga–the four goals of material life: religiosity, economic development, sense gratification, and liberation–the Lord bestows on His devotees devotion to Himself (bhakti), residence in the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha, and more. In the term prayacchati, meaning ‘bestows,’ the prefix pra indicates He even bestows His very self in charity to His servants. This reveals that the dealings between Him and His servants are devoid of shyness and formality; rather they are supremely blissful and continue completely without interruption.