Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.1.117, 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 2.1.117 contained in Chapter 1—Vairagya (renunciation)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.1.117
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.117:
कौतुकेन वयं बाला यामोऽमुं वीक्षितुं सदा ।
स तु गोप-कुमारान् नो लब्ध्वा नमति भक्तितः ॥ ११७ ॥kautukena vayaṃ bālā yāmo'muṃ vīkṣituṃ sadā |
sa tu gopa-kumārān no labdhvā namati bhaktitaḥ || 117 ||kautukena–with curiousity; vayam–we; bālāḥ–children; yāmaḥ–would go; amum–to him; vīkṣitum–to watch; sadā–always; saḥ–he; tu–indeed; gopa-kumārān–cowherd boys; naḥ–of us; labdhvā–knowing; namati–would offer obeisance; bhaktitaḥ–with devotion.
Being children, we were naturally curious and would always go to watch him. However, knowing we were cowherd boys, he would bow down to us with great devotion.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Śrī Gopa-kumāra says, “We children, out of curiosity, would always go to see him. Although we did not approach him out of devotion or with any faith, still, knowing we were cowherd boys, he offered obeisance to us with devotion. The brāhmaṇa’s sublime compassion is shown in this incident and will be detailed later.”