Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.3.137, 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 2.3.137 contained in Chapter 3—Bhajana (loving service)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.3.137
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.3.137:
अन्येभ्य इव कर्मभ्यो भगवद्-भक्ति-कर्मतः ।
विविक्तः सन् कथं यातु वैकुण्ठं मुक्तिम् अर्हति ॥ १३७ ॥anyebhya iva karmabhyo bhagavad-bhakti-karmataḥ |
viviktaḥ san kathaṃ yātu vaikuṇṭhaṃ muktim arhati || 137 ||anyebhyaḥ–from others; iva–like; karmabhyaḥ–actions; bhagavadbhakti-karmataḥ–from the actions of devotional service to the Lord; viviktaḥ–distinguished; san–being; katham–how?; yātu–can he go?; vaikuṇṭham–to Vaikuṇṭha; muktim–of liberation; arhati–he is worthy.
Devotional service to Bhagavān is not an activity of the body and senses, as are other activities. How can a soul go to Vaikuṇṭha if he is bereft of any activity of devotion to the Lord? Without bhakti, such a person is fit only for liberation.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Śrī Gopa-kumāra might question, “Is there any fault to bhakti not being the function of the soul, or ātma, but rather an activity of the material senses like other duties?”
The Vaikuṇṭha pārṣadas reply in this verse beginning with anyebhya. They say, “If the soul were to become cleansed of bhakti, activities of devotion, in the same way that it becomes cleansed of karma, fruitive activities performed with the body and senses, how could the soul be completely purified (visuddha)? And without becoming thoroughly purified, how could the soul enter Vaikuṇṭha? Bereft of devotion, the soul would be unfit to enter that realm. It is possible, however, that the soul who becomes cleansed of karma–that is, who has achieved freedom from desire for the results of action–may be fit for liberation. Therefore, it is to be understood that bhakti is essential for attaining the spiritual realm of Vaikuṇṭha. As evidenced by this reasoning, this transcendental abode cannot be attained through any mundane means. It follows that bhakti, being the process to attain that transcendental realm, must also be transcendental.”