Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.3.157, 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 2.3.157 contained in Chapter 3—Bhajana (loving service)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.3.157
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.3.157:
एकाकीत्वेन तु ध्यानं विविक्ते खलु सिध्यति ।
सङ्कीर्तनं विविक्तेऽपि बहूनां सङ्गतोऽपि च ॥ १५७ ॥ekākītvena tu dhyānaṃ vivikte khalu sidhyati |
saṅkīrtanaṃ vivikte'pi bahūnāṃ saṅgato'pi ca || 157 ||ekākitvena–in solitude; tu–but; dhyānam–meditation; vivikte–in seclusion; khalu–indeed; sidhyati–it can be effected successfully; saṅkīrtanam–chanting; vivikte–in a secluded place; api–however; bahūnām–of many; saṅgataḥ–in association; api–even; ca–and.
Dhyāna can only be accomplished in seclusion, when one is alone. Saṅkīrtana, however, can be performed successfully whether alone or in an assembly.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
They say, “Meditation can only be done in solitude, while saṅkīrtana can be performed whether alone or with many others, and even in the midst of all types of distractions. Therefore, there are many obstacles in the perfection of dhyāna, but success in saṅkīrtana is easily attained.”