FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.9.21

वरं वरय भद्रं ते वरेशं माभिवाञ्छितम् । ब्रह्मञ्छ्रेय:परिश्राम: पुंसां मद्दर्शनावधि: ॥ २१ ॥
varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te
[varam varaya bhadram te]
vareśaṁ mābhivāñchitam
[varesham maabhivaanchitam]
brahmaṣ chreyaḥ-pariśrāmaḥ
[brahmash chreyah-parishraamah]
puṁsāṁ mad-darśanāvadhiḥ
[pumsaam mad-darshanaavadhih]
Word-for-word
varam — benediction varaya — just ask from bhadram — auspicious te — unto you vara-īśam — the giver of all benediction mā (mām) — from Me abhivāñchitam — wishing brahman — O Brahmā śreyaḥ — the ultimate success pariśrāmaḥ — for all penances puṁsām — for everyone mat — My darśana — realization avadhiḥ — up to the limit of.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te
varam
benediction
varaya
just ask from
bhadram
auspicious
te
unto you
vareśaṁ mābhivāñchitam
vara-īśam
the giver of all benediction
mā (mām)
from Me
abhivāñchitam
wishing
brahmaṣ chreyaḥ-pariśrāmaḥ
brahman
O Brahmā
śreyaḥ
the ultimate success
pariśrāmaḥ
for all penances
puṁsāṁ mad-darśanāvadhiḥ
puṁsām
for everyone
mat
My
darśana
realization
avadhiḥ
up to the limit of.
I wish you good luck. O Brahmā, you may ask from Me, the giver of all benediction, all that you may desire. You may know that the ultimate benediction, as the result of all penances, is to see Me by realization.
Purport

The ultimate realization of the Supreme Truth is knowing and seeing face to face the Personality of Godhead. Realization of the impersonal Brahman and localized Paramātmā features of the Personality of Godhead is not ultimate realization. When one realizes the Supreme Lord, one does not struggle hard to perform such penances. The next stage of life is to discharge devotional service to the Lord just to satisfy Him. In other words, one who has realized and seen the Supreme Lord has attained all perfection because everything is included in that highest perfectional stage. The impersonalists and the pseudo mystics, however, cannot reach this state.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Brahmā! All auspiciousness to you! Please ask your desired benediction from me, who can award all benedictions. Endeavors in the process of bhakti end in seeing me.
Commentary

Mā means mām. Ask for your desired object. Endeavors for gaining results from the best processes such as hearing and chanting culminate in seeing me. This is because my devotees do not accept any result other than seeing me.

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Brahmā may ask for any benediction, but the Lord names the true benediction: to see Him by realization. Once you have actually seen Him, you don't need to ask for anything else. Everything is included.
Reflection Questions
  • What lesser benedictions am I asking for that I'd give up if I had His sight?
  • Am I willing to stop asking and start practicing to actually see?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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