Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.2.67, 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 2.2.67 contained in Chapter 2—Jnana (knowledge)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.2.67
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.67:
तत्रैकदा महा-तेजः-पुञ्ज-रूपो दिग्-अम्बरः ।
पाञ्च-षाब्दिक-बालाभः कोऽप्य् अगाद् ऊर्ध्व-लोकतः ॥ ६७ ॥tatraikadā mahā-tejaḥ-puñja-rūpo dig-ambaraḥ |
pāñca-ṣābdika-bālābhaḥ ko'py agād ūrdhva-lokataḥ || 67 ||tatra–there; ekadā–once; mahā-tejaḥ–of splendor; puñja-rūpaḥ–in the form of a mass; dik-ambaraḥ–dressed by the directions (naked); pāñcaśa–five; ābdika–years; bāla–of a boy; ābhaḥ–having the appearance; kaḥ api–someone; āgāt–came; ūrdhva-lokataḥ–from the higher planets.
Once, a dazzlingly effulgent person arrived there from a higher planet. He appeared like a completely naked five-year-old boy.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Śrī Gopa-kumāra says, “Maharloka and Janaloka are practically the same, but because the residents of Maharloka go to Janaloka during the annihilation, it can be concluded that Janaloka has some distinction. At the time of the cosmic annihilation, the maharṣis of Maharloka, gripped by the fear of being burned, strive to go elsewhere. The residents of Janaloka, on the other hand, are not forced to seek refuge elsewhere. I experienced this after going there.”
Next, Gopa-kumāra explains why he went to Tapoloka, the planet above Janaloka, and what the glories of that realm are. He says, “Once, a great personality arrived in Maharloka from a higher abode. He looked like a naked, five-year-old boy, but his body was an aggregate of brilliance.” Not knowing anything about Tapoloka at that time, Gopa-kumāra simply calls it a ‘higher abode.’ The arrival of this great personality hints at the reason for Śrī Gopa-kumāra’s imminent departure to Tapoloka.