Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śī Śīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.3.21-23, 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 1.3.21-23 contained in Chapter 3—Prapancatita (beyond the Material Plane)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.3.21-23
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.3.21-23:
स्�-बाहु-बल-दृप्तस्य साधूपद्र�-कारिणः �
माया-बद्धानिरुद्धस्� युध्यमानस्� चक्रिण� � २१ �
हत-प्रायस्य बाणस्य नि�-भक्तस्� पुत्रवत् �
पालितस्य त्वय� प्रा�-रक्षार्थ� श्री-हरिः स्तुतः � २२ �
सद्य� हित्वा रुषं प्रीतो दत्त्व� नि�-स्वरूपताम् �
भवत्-पार्षदता� निन्ये तं दुरापा� सुरैर् अप� � २३ �sva--bala-dṛptasya sādhūpadrava-kāriṇa� |
māyā-baddhāniruddhasya yudhyamānasya cakriṇ� || 21 ||
hata-prāyasya bāṇasya nija-bhaktasya putravat |
pālitasya tvayā prāṇa-rakṣārtha� śrī-hari� stuta� || 22 ||
sadyo hitvā ruṣa� prīto dattvā nija-svarūpatām |
bhavat-ṣa岹tā� ninye ta� durāpā� surair api || 23 ||When ṇāsܰ, puffed up with pride by his many powerful arms, started troubling the ܲ and captured Śī Aniruddha in his illusory trap, then Śī ṛṣṇa fought with him and in that battle, ṇāsܰ nearly lost his life.
You had nurtured ṇāsܰ like a son, before he was your devotee. Therefore, at that time, you glorified Śī ṛṣṇa to protect his life. Pleased by your glorification, Śī ṛṣṇa abandoned His anger at once and granted that devotee ūⲹ, a similar liberated form, that is, He made him an eternal associate with a destination rare even for the demigods.
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
There are many examples that Śī ṛṣṇa does not accept any of your apparent offenses. This is explanatory in the three verses beginning with sva- (his arms). Only for the aim of rescuing ṇāsܰ’s life, you offered prayers to Śī Hari. Nonetheless, Śī Hari, being pleased with your prayers, offered that archenemy of the saints (-dzī), ṇāsܰ, a position as your eternal associate (ṣa岹). 䲹ṇ� means, “Ś� Hari who is eager to fight with the Sudarśana cakra in hand.�
In other words, ṇāsܰ would behave maliciously toward the ܲ, thus ensnaring and ending his own life in that war. Only to spare the life of ṇāsܰ, who was your devotee, nurtured like your own sibling, you praised Śī Hari. Pacified by your glorification, Śī Hari abandoned His anger and granted him ūⲹ, namely, a fourarmed form as your eternal associate.
For example, spoke to Śī Rudra in the Tenth Canto (Śīmad-岵ٲm or 岵ٲ ʳܰṇa 10.63.49):
चत्वारो’स्य भुजा� शिष्ता भविष्यत्य् अजरामर�
पार्षद-मुख्यो भवतो � कुतश्चिद�-भयो’सुर�catvāro’sya bhujā� śiṣtā bhaviṣyaty ajarāmara�
ṣa岹-mukhyo bhavato na kutaścid-bhayo’sura�“Only four of ṇāsܰ’s one thousand arms will remain. This demoniac person later will become one of My eternal, ageless associates and will thus fear no one.�