Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.4.116, 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 2.4.116 contained in Chapter 4—Vaikuntha (the spiritual world)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).
Verse 2.4.116
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.4.116:
मया सम्पृच्छमानं तद्-वृत्तं वर-रहस्यवत् ।
सङ्गोपयन् न कश्चिन् मे समुद्घाटयति स्फुटम् ॥ ११६ ॥mayā sampṛcchamānaṃ tad-vṛttaṃ vara-rahasyavat |
saṅgopayan na kaścin me samudghāṭayati sphuṭam || 116 ||mayā–by me; sampṛcchamānam–asked; tat–that; vṛttam–subject matter; vara-rahasya-vat–like a great secret; saṅgopayan–concealing; na kaścit–no one; me–to me; samudghāṭayati–would reveal; sphuṭam–openly.
I would ask the residents of Vaikuṇṭha, “Where did the Lord go? Why did He leave?” But they would guard the truth like a great secret and would not speak openly.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
Śrī Gopa-kumāra says, “At that time, unable to get any information about Śrī Vaikuṇṭha-nātha, I would ask, ‘Where did the Lord go? Why did He go privately? Why can’t I see Him now?’ Although I would ask such questions in a courteous manner, no one could give me a clear answer.” The verse can also be understood to say, “Considering me an outsider, they would not totally reveal such confidential matters to me.”
Why not? The Lord’s most confidential pastimes are secret–the topmost of mysteries–and not fit to be revealed. Revealing such mysteries could disrupt the mood of reverence in Vaikuṇṭha.