Bhagavan Sri Krishna: the Akhila Rasamrita Murti

Sri Brihad Bhagavatamritam Part 2, Chapter 2, Verse 221

नित्यैश्वर्यो नित्यनानाविशेषो नित्यश्रीको नित्यभृत्यप्रसङ्गः ।

नित्योपास्तिर्नित्यलोकोऽवतु त्वां नित्याद्वैतब्रह्मरूपोऽपि कृष्णः ॥२२१॥

nityaishvaryo nitya-nana-vishesho

nitya-sriko nitya-bhritya-prasangah |

nityopastir nitya-loko ‘vatu tvam

nityAdwaita-brahma-rupo ‘pi krishnah ||221||

Srila Sanatan Goswami wrote:

“May Krishna protect you—He who, although being the eternal, nondual Brahman, also possesses limitless divine opulence, eternally manifests innumerable distinct features, eternally possesses Sri, always remains in the company of His servants, is eternally worshipped, and forever possesses His own divine realm.”

Dig-darshini, of Srila Sanatan Goswami

The greatness of bhakti to Sri Bhagavan has been proclaimed in response to Gopa-kumara’s inquiry, and now a blessing is offered in great joy.

Krishna is eternally the self-same form called Adwaita-brahman. Because Brahman itself is His form, His divine murti is thereby established as concentrated spiritual reality; in other words, His vigraha is composed of Para Brahman.

Although He is eternally of this nature, He eternally possesses aisvarya, for His sovereignty never diminishes. He eternally possesses innumerable specific features, manifest through His beauty, radiance, sweetness, qualities, lilas, and countless other distinctions, for His Bhagavatta never ceases. Thus the eternal nature of His qualities and lilas is also established.

He eternally possesses Sri, Maha-Lakshmi, as His divine consort, for His chest is eternally adorned by Lakshmi. He eternally enjoys intimate association with His servants, for His divine opulence is eternal. The same principle should be understood regarding what follows.

This also establishes the eternality of the associates of Sri Vaikuntha and of other devotees. By the authority of Bhagavan’s declaration, “O Kaunteya, declare boldly that My devotee never perishes” (Bhagavad Gita 9.31), and because His mercy eternally follows them, there is never any possibility of their destruction.

His upasana, His bhakti, is also eternal.

Since bhakti is eternally established in this way, it should not be understood merely as a temporary activity of material senses. Rather, hearing, chanting, and the other activities of bhakti manifest through the functions of the spiritual senses by Bhagavan’s grace. This will be explained more fully later.

His realm, Sri Vaikuntha, is also eternal.

May that Krishna protect you from all obstacles to bhakti, including the desire for moksha.

Sri Brihad Bhagavatamritam Part 2, Chapter 2, Verse 222

महौरसेऽस्मिन् न बुधैः प्रयुज्यते सुकोमले कर्कशतर्ककण्टकम् ।

तथापि निर्वाणरतप्रवृत्तये नवीनभक्तप्रमुदे प्रदर्शितम् ॥२२२॥

maha-rase ‘smin na budhaih prayujyate

sukomale karkasha-tarka-kantakam |

tathapi nirvana-rata-pravrittaye

navina-bhakta-pramude pradarshitam ||222||

“Those who truly have an understanding of this supremely delicate maha-rasa (this subtle topic known as ‘sweetness’) do not thrust into it the harsh thorn bush of dry reasoning. Nevertheless, reasoning itself has been shown here to turn those who are attached to nirvana toward rasa and to bring great joy to all the newer devotees.”