Verse 2.4.223

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.4.223:

ते हि भक्तेः फलं मूलं भगवच्-चरणाब्जयोः ।
सदा सन्दर्शन-क्रीडा-नन्द-लाभादि मन्वते ॥ २२३ ॥

te hi bhakteḥ phalaṃ mūlaṃ bhagavac-caraṇābjayoḥ |
sadā sandarśana-krīḍā-nanda-lābhādi manvate || 223 ||

te–they; hi–certainly; bhakteḥ–of devotional service; phalam–result; mūlam–the primary; bhagavat–of the Lord; caraṇaabjayoḥ–of the lotus feet; sadā–always; sandarśana–of beholding; krīḍā–pastimes; ānanda–bliss; lābha–attainment; ādi–and so forth; manvate–consider.

Pure devotees consider having constant darśana of Bhagavān’s lotus feet and attaining the happiness of engaging in pastimes with Him to be the primary result of devotional service.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Śrī Gopa-kumāra might ask, “What is the actual fruit of bhakti, which is praised so much by the pure devotees?” In answer, Śrī Nārada speaks this verse beginning with te hi. He says, “Pure devotees always want to see the lotus feet of Bhagavān directly. They want the happiness of serving Him (seva-ānanda) by sporting together and by performing other pastimes with Him. They consider these to indeed be the real fruits of bhakti, because prema-bhakti alone is dear to Bhagavān.” The word ādi indicates the pure devotees’ desire to obtain the Lord’s special mercy and taste the bliss of direct service.