Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.2.185, 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 2.2.185 contained in Chapter 2—Jnana (knowledge)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.2.185:

अनादि-सिद्धया शक्त्या चिद्-विलास-स्वरूपया ।
महा-योगाख्यया तस्य सदा ते भेदितास् ततः ॥ १८५ ॥

anādi-siddhayā śaktyā cid-vilāsa-svarūpayā |
mahā-yogākhyayā tasya sadā te bheditās tataḥ || 185 ||

anādi–since time without beginning; siddhayā–due to being established; śaktyā–by the potency; cit-vilāsa–of spiritual pastimes; sva-rūpayā–by the original form; mahā-yoga-ākhyayā–named mahāyoga (great union); tasya–of Him; sadā–eternally; te–they (the jīvas); bheditāḥ–divided; tataḥ–for that reason.

From time without beginning, the jīva is always separate from Bhagavān. This is due to the arrangement of Mahā-yoga, Bhagavān’s eternal, spiritual pleasure potency, who can make even the impossible possible.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Śrī Gopa-kumāra might ask, “How is the eternal distinction between the jīva and the Lord possible if it is not brought about by the illusory energy (Māyā)?”

The bhakti-śāstras reply in this verse beginning with anādi. They say, “The personal form of the Supreme Brahman is Śrī Bhagavān, and the personal energy of Śrī Bhagavān is His svarūpa-śakti. By the potency of this personal energy, all living beings, who are the Lord’s parts and parcels, remain eternally separate from Him.”

“How can one prove the eternality of the individual self?”

“The eternality of the jīvas is established on the basis of their existing as parts and parcels (aṃśas) of Śrī Bhagavān from time immemorial (anādi).”

“What is the nature of these jīvas who are eternally existing parts of the Supreme Brahman?”

“Spiritual pleasure is the very nature of their existence. They are manifestations of the splendor and opulence of the Supreme living force (caitanya), and are therefore pure and free from illusion.”

“How are the jīvas eternally distinct from the Lord?”

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