Verse 2.1.164

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.164:

प्रफुल्ल-पुण्डरीकाक्षे तस्मिन् एवेक्षिते जनेः ।
फलं स्याद् एवम् आश्रौषम् आश्चर्यं पूर्वम् अश्रुतम् ॥ १६४ ॥

praphulla-puṇḍarīkākṣe tasmin evekṣite janeḥ |
phalaṃ syād evam āśrauṣam āścaryaṃ pūrvam aśrutam || 164 ||

praphulla-puṇḍarīka–(like) full-blown lotuses; akṣe–with eyes; tasmin–that (Lord); eva–indeed; īkṣite–upon seeing; janeḥ–of his human birth; phalam–the success; syāt–may be; evam–thus; aśrauṣam–I heard;
āścaryam–wonder; pūrvam–previously; aśrutam–unheard.

Here is another wonder that I had never heard before: “The lives of all people become crowned with success simply by seeing Śrī Jagannātha-deva, whose eyes resemble full-blown lotuses.”

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

The Mathurā brāhmaṇa might argue, “Is the Supreme Lord of the universe not directly present here as well?”

Śrī Gopa-kumāra addresses this doubt in this verse beginning with praphulla, saying, “When living beings merely see the Supreme Lord of the universe who is present in Puruṣottama-kṣetra and whose eyes resemble full-blown lotuses, they experience relief from their innumerable afflictions. Furthermore, it is known that His beauty and sweetness are so unsurpassed that simply by taking His darśana, one’s birth truly becomes successful.”

In Padma Purāṇa, Śrī Nārada instructs Śrī Prahlāda:

श्रवणाद्यैर् उपायैर् यः कथञ्चिद् दृश्यते महः नीलाद्रि-शिखरे भाति सर्व-चाक्षुष-गोचरः
तम् एव परमात्मानं ये प्रपश्यन्ति मानवाः ते यान्ति भवनं विष्णोः किं पुनर् ये भवादृशाः

śravaṇādyair upāyair yaḥ kathañcid dṛśyate mahaḥ nīlādri-śikhare bhāti sarva-cākṣuṣa-gocaraḥ
tam eva paramātmānaṃ ye prapaśyanti mānavāḥ te yānti bhavanaṃ viṣṇoḥ kiṃ punar ye bhavādṛśāḥ

Śrī Bhagavān resides on the peak of Nīlācala and is thus visible to everyone. If anyone just once sees that Supreme Lord, who is the Supersoul in all living entities–nay, even if he somehow hears the Lord’s name and somehow or other embraces Him in his heart–he shall certainly attain Vaikuṇṭha, the Lord’s eternal abode.

Śrī Gopa-kumāra says, “I was amazed to hear these glories.” The word āścarya, meaning ‘amazement,’ indicates the special ecstasy, or bhāva, that astonished Gopa-kumāra’s heart. “I was wonderstruck because I had never before heard such glories.” The purport is that, although the Deity of Śrī Viṣṇu and Śrī Jagannātha are both the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nevertheless, Śrī Jagannātha-deva is indeed the source of all incarnations. That is to say, darśana of the source of all incarnations (avatārī) and His holy abode are more glorious than the darśana of His incarnations (avatāras). Therefore, darśana of avatārī and His abode bestow greater benefit. “I considered, ‘Especially, if I had had such authority over that kingdom of Purī as I have here, then I would spend most of my time, day and night, hearing the Lord’s marvelous qualities, engaging in devotional service, and worshiping Him.’ By the power of Śrī Gurudeva’s benediction I had already understood this.” This topic will be elaborated upon further on.