Verse 2.2.31

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.31:

तेन विस्मृत्य तद्-दुःखं पूजयापूर्व-वृत्तया ।
प्रीणयन् स्नेह-भावात् तं लालयेयं कनिष्ठवत् ॥ ३१ ॥

tena vismṛtya tad-duḥkhaṃ pūjayāpūrva-vṛttayā |
prīṇayan sneha-bhāvāt taṃ lālayeyaṃ kaniṣṭhavat || 31 ||

tena–through this; vismṛtya–forgetting; tat–from that (separation); duḥkham–the distress; pūjayā–with worship; apūrvavṛttayā–unprecedented fashion; prīṇayan–giving pleasure; snehabhāvāt–with a mood of affection; tam–Him; lālayeyam–I caressed; kaniṣṭha-vat–like a younger brother.

Having obtained mercy in the form of the touch of His hand, I forgot all the distress of my separation from Vraja. I worshiped Him in an unprecedented way, caressing Him affectionately as my younger brother, and thus pleased Him.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Śrī Gopa-kumāra says, “Śrī Upendra’s touching me with His lotus hands, His speaking nectarean words full of love, His assuming the mood of being my younger brother–all this made me forget the torment of my separation from Vraja-bhūmi. I would satisfy Him with unique ways of worship, always discovering new items to offer, and I would affectionately stroke and embrace Him, treating Him like my younger brother.”

The brāhmaṇa might object, “Such behavior with the Supreme Lord is beyond propriety and does not look good.”

Gopa-kumāra replies, “This is not so. What is not auspicious when hearts are overwhelmed by great love and affection? In such a condition, awe and reverence automatically disappear. Because this mood of affection is natural, pampering and caressing Jagadīśvara was not inappropriate.”