Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.2.72, 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 2.2.72 contained in Chapter 2—Jnana (knowledge)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.2.72
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.72:
बृहद्-व्रतैक-लभ्यो यः क्षेमं यस्मिन् सदा सुखम् ।
प्राजापत्यात् सुखात् कोटि-गुणितं चोर्ध्व-रेतसाम् ॥ ७२ ॥bṛhad-vrataika-labhyo yaḥ kṣemaṃ yasmin sadā sukham |
prājāpatyāt sukhāt koṭi-guṇitaṃ cordhva-retasām || 72 ||bṛhad-vrata–by one who takes a great vow (celibacy); eka–only; labhyaḥ–attained; yaḥ–which; kṣemam–prosperity; yasmin–wherein; sadā–always; sukham–happiness; prājā-patyāt–of the forefathers; sukhāt–than the happiness; koṭi–ten millions of times; guṇitam–multiplied; ca–and; ūrdhva–upwards flowing; retasam–semen.
“Tapoloka is attained only by observing a vow of lifelong celibacy, and it is a realm that is always full of auspiciousness, tranquility, and bliss. The happiness that the lifelong celibate residents enjoy in Tapoloka is billions of times superior to the happiness of the prajāpatis.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
The glorification of Śrī Sanat-kumāra indicates the glories of all the residents of Tapoloka. The maharṣis say, “That realm is attained only by following bṛhad-vrata, the ‘formidable vow’ of the path of naiṣṭhika-brahmacarya, in which one promises to adhere to sexual abstinence for life.” This reveals that Tapoloka is superior to Maharloka and Janaloka.
“Auspicious tranquility always prevails in Tapoloka. Maharloka is marred by some inauspiciousness because its residents have to flee out of fear of the heat of the searing flames of the cosmic devastation.
Although the heat does not reach Janaloka, its residents nevertheless suffer mentally when the three worlds below Maharloka inauspiciously go up in flames. All such miseries are absent in Tapoloka, which is always radiant with good fortune. Only the best of yogīs who are lifelong celibates are fit to go there, where one experiences a happiness that is billions of times greater than the happiness enjoyed by the prajāpatis of Maharloka.”