Shrimad Bhagavad-gita

by Narayana Gosvami | 2013 | 327,105 words

The Bhagavad-gita Verse 10.1, English translation, including the Vaishnava commentaries Sarartha-varsini-tika, Prakashika-vritti and Rasika-ranjana (excerpts). This is verse Verse 10.1 from the chapter 10 called “Vibhuti-yoga (appreciating the opulences of the Supreme Lord)”

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 10.1:

भूय एव महा-बाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः ।
यत् तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हित-काम्यया ॥ १ ॥

bhūya eva mahā-bāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ |
yat te'haṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā
|| 1 ||

śrī bhagavān uvāca–the all-opulent Lord said; bhūyaḥ–again; eva–even; mahā-bāho–O mighty-armed warrior; śṛṇu–hear; me–My; paramam–higher; vacaḥ–instruction; yat–by which; te–to you; aham–I; prīyamāṇāya–who have love (for Me); vakṣyāmi–shall speak; hita-kāmyayā–because I desire your welfare.

Śrī Bhagavān said: O mighty-armed one, again hear My instructions that are superior to what I have spoken previously. Desiring your ultimate welfare, I shall reveal this knowledge to you because of your love for Me.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

In the Seventh and previous chapters the bhakti-tattva that was spoken of was full of knowledge of Bhagavān’s feature of opulence (aiśvarya). That same bhakti-tattva, also known as bhagavad-vibhūti, is being described in this Tenth Chapter along with its confidential meaning.

From Chapter Seven onwards, the opulence of the object of worship–Śrī Bhagavān–is being described. Knowledge of this same aiśvarya is now being given in detail for the pleasure of persons blessed with devotion to Him. Kṛṣṇa says in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.21.35), “parokṣa-vādā ṛṣayaḥ parokṣaṃ ca mama priyam–the statements of the ṛṣis are indirect (parokṣa) and I also enjoy speaking in this way.” According to this statement, Kṛṣṇa’s indirect manner of speaking may make these topics a little difficult to understand. For this reason, He is speaking this verse beginning with bhūya (again), which means that He is repeating the most confidential knowledge, rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṃ idam, for Arjuna’s better understanding. “O mighty-armed one, just as you have manifested the superior strength of your arms, you are also able to express the superior power of your intelligence. For you who are prepared to listen, the word śṛṇu (hear) is used to ensure that you fully retain what is being said to you.” The word paramam means that this knowledge is even superior to what was spoken previously.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

In the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Chapters, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains the opulence, or aiśvarya, of the highest worshipable Reality. In this Tenth Chapter, He describes His majestic opulences (vibhūtis). According to the Sandarbhas by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, parokṣavāda means ‘to keep hidden that thing which is most exalted and rare and which is not to be given to all, and then to explain it in an indirect way’. Parokṣavāda is the nature of the Vedas. It is also Śrī Bhagavān’s nature [to keep Himself hidden].

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi-līlā 3.88) states:

āpanā lukāite kṛṣṇa nana yatna kare
tathāpi tāṅhāra bhakta jānaye tāṅhāre

An ordinary person finds anything described in parokṣavāda difficult to comprehend. Kṛṣṇa tries to hide Himself in various ways, but He reveals Himself to His devotees.

It is therefore necessary to carefully deliberate upon vibhūti-yoga as described in this chapter by taking shelter of bhakti.

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