Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.3.142, 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 2.3.142 contained in Chapter 3—Bhajana (loving service)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.3.142
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.3.142:
महद्भिर् भक्ति-निष्ठैश् च न स्वाधीनेति मन्यते ।
महा-प्रसाद-रूपेयं प्रभोर् इत्य् अनुभूयते ॥ १४२ ॥mahadbhir bhakti-niṣṭhaiś ca na svādhīneti manyate |
mahā-prasāda-rūpeyaṃ prabhor ity anubhūyate || 142 ||mahadbhiḥ–by the great souls; bhakti-niṣṭhaiḥ–who are fixed in devotional service; ca–also; na–not; sva-adhīnaḥ–dependent on themselves; iti–thus; manyate–considered; mahā–great; prasāda–mercy; rūpā–form; iyam–this; prabhoḥ–of the Lord; iti–thus; anubhūyate–is experienced.
However, great devotees who are fixed in bhakti do not consider devotional service to be subservient to their own power. Rather, they experience it as the supreme mercy of the Lord.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
The experience of great personalities fully proves this point. Therefore, this verse beginning with mahadbhiḥ is spoken. The Vaikuṇṭha pārṣadas say, “The great personalities fixed in devotional service do not regard bhakti to be under the control of their senses. Rather, they consider it to be the great mercy of Bhagavān; they do not think it achievable by their own power.”