Verse 2.2.92

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.92:

कदाचिद् भक्त-वात्सल्याद् याति चेद् दृश्यतां दृशोः ।
ज्ञान-दृष्ट्यैव तज्-जातम् अभिमानः परं दृशोः ॥ ९२ ॥

kadācid bhakta-vātsalyād yāti ced dṛśyatāṃ dṛśoḥ |
jñāna-dṛṣṭyaiva taj-jātam abhimānaḥ paraṃ dṛśoḥ || 92 ||

kadācit–sometimes; bhakta–for His devotees; vātsalyāt–out of affection; yāti–he becomes; cet–if; dṛśyatām–visible; dṛśoḥ–through the eyes; jñāna–of knowledge; dṛṣṭyā–by the sight; eva–indeed; tat–that; jātam–takes place; abhimānaḥ–a conception; param–afterwards; dṛśoḥ–through the eyes.

It is true that sometimes the Lord, out by special affection for His devotees, appears to their external eyes. However, He is really made visible by the eyes of knowledge. Only by the compassion of Śrī Bhagavān does the living being feel that he has received darśana with his eyes.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Śrī Gopa-kumāra might say, “Although the function of the mind is superior, it is a well known fact that devotees of the Lord such as Śrī Dhruva and Prahlāda directly saw Bhagavān with their eyes. Why are these incidents celebrated?”

To resolve this doubt, Pippalāyana says, “It is true that because of bhakta-vātsalya, or the Lord’s love and affection for those devoted to Him, He directly reveals Himself to the eyes of some fortunate devotees such as Śrī Dhruva and Prahlāda, in order to make their vision successful. However, that darśana occurs through the vision of knowledge, not with the eyes. It is impossible for the senses, which are limited by their very nature (dharma), to ever grasp the unlimited Truth.”

The doubt might be pressed, “Then why are devotees like Dhruva and Prahlāda famous for directly seeing the Lord with their eyes? Why are there such narrations about the affectionate relationship (bhaktavātsalya) of Śrī Bhagavān and His devotees?”

Pippalāyana replies, “The statement, ‘I had direct darśana of Śrī Bhagavān with my eyes,’ reveals the living being’s false self-conception (abhimāna) in regard to his eyes. However, this misconception arises due to the Lord’s love for His devotees. On the strength of the affection of the Lord, a devotee entertains the idea that, ‘With these very eyes, I saw Śrī Bhagavān.’ Thus, although the eyes cannot perceive an object that is beyond their functional range, it is improper to think that the eyes are incapable of receiving darśana of Bhagavān.”