Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)

by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329

The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 2.4.181, 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 2.4.181 contained in Chapter 4—Vaikuntha (the spiritual world)—of Part two (prathama-khanda).

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.4.181:

अष्टमावरणास्याधिष्ठात्री मूर्तिमती हि या ।
कार्याकार-विकारस्याप्राप्त्या प्रकृतिर् उच्यते ॥ १८१ ॥

aṣṭamāvaraṇāsyādhiṣṭhātrī mūrtimatī hi yā |
kāryākāra-vikārasyāprāptyā prakṛtir ucyate || 181 ||

aṣṭama–eighth; āvaraṇasya–of the covering; adhiṣṭhātrī–presiding Deity; mūrti-matī–embodied form; hi–indeed; –who; kāryaākāra–of her occupations and form; vikārasya–transformation; aprāptyā–because of not undergoing; prakṛtiḥ–primordial nature; ucyate–she is called.

This Māyā takes a personal form and resides as the presiding Deity of the eighth covering of the universe. Because her nature is not affected by transformations of material creation, she is also known as prakṛti, or primordial nature.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

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

Śrī Nārada continues, “When she assumes a form, she becomes the presiding Deity of the eighth covering of the universe and is known as prakṛti. Why is she known as such? Because she never undergoes transformation, being untouched by the workings of material nature. As this prakṛti is the cause of transformation, or change (vikāra), she herself is the antipathy of change and never subject to transformation. This illusory potency, being part and parcel of cidvilāsa-rūpa-śakti (the spiritual potency that manifests Bhagavān’s transcendental pastimes), is nondifferent from the spiritual potency.”

Therefore, when Śrī Gopa-kumāra reaches Māyā’s abode in the eighth covering of the brahmāṇḍa, she tells him (Śrī Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛtam 2.3.28):

भक्तिम् इच्छसि वा विष्णोस् तथाप्य् एतस्य चेटिकाम्
भगिनीं शक्ति-रूपां मां कृपया भज भक्ति-दाम्

bhaktim icchasi vā viṣṇos tathāpy etasya ceṭikām
bhaginīṃ śakti-rūpāṃ māṃ kṛpayā bhaja bhakti-dām

If you desire loving devotion for Bhagavān Śrī Viṣṇu, then worship me, considering me to be His maidservant, sister, or śakti. Because I am His potency, I increase bhakti unto Śrī Viṣṇu. Because I am His sister, I satisfy the desires of His devotees by bestowing bhakti.

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