FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.14.48

स वै महाभागवतो महात्मा महानुभावो महतां महिष्ठ: । प्रवृद्धभक्त्या ह्यनुभाविताशये निवेश्य वैकुण्ठमिमं विहास्यति ॥ ४८ ॥
sa vai mahā-bhāgavato mahātmā
[sa vai mahaa-bhaagavato mahaatmaa]
mahānubhāvo mahatāṁ mahiṣṭhaḥ
[mahaanubhaavo mahataam mahishthah]
pravṛddha-bhaktyā hy anubhāvitāśaye
[pravriddha-bhaktyaa hy anubhaavitaashaye]
niveśya vaikuṇṭham imaṁ vihāsyati
[niveshya vaikuntham imam vihaasyati]
Word-for-word
saḥ — he vai — certainly mahā-bhāgavataḥ — the topmost devotee mahā-ātmā — expanded intelligence mahā-anubhāvaḥ — expanded influence mahatām — of the great souls mahiṣṭhaḥ — the greatest pravṛddha — well matured bhaktyā — by devotional service hi — certainly anubhāvita — being situated in the anubhāva stage of ecstasy āśaye — in the mind niveśya — entering vaikuṇṭham — in the spiritual sky imam — this (material world) vihāsyati — will quit.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa vai mahā-bhāgavato mahātmā
saḥ
he
vai
certainly
mahā-bhāgavataḥ
the topmost devotee
mahā-ātmā
expanded intelligence
mahā-anubhāvaḥ
expanded influence
mahānubhāvo mahatāṁ mahiṣṭhaḥ
mahatām
of the great souls
mahiṣṭhaḥ
the greatest
pravṛddha-bhaktyā hy anubhāvitāśaye
pravṛddha
well matured
bhaktyā
by devotional service
hi
certainly
anubhāvita
being situated in the anubhāva stage of ecstasy
āśaye
in the mind
niveśya vaikuṇṭham imaṁ vihāsyati
niveśya
entering
vaikuṇṭham
in the spiritual sky
imam
this (material world)
vihāsyati
will quit.
That topmost devotee of the Lord will have expanded intelligence and expanded influence and will be the greatest of the great souls. Due to matured devotional service, he will certainly be situated in transcendental ecstasy and will enter the spiritual sky after quitting this material world.
Purport

There are three stages of transcendental development in devotional service, which are technically called sthāyi-bhāva, anubhāva and mahābhāva. Continual perfect love of Godhead is called sthāyi-bhāva, and when it is performed in a particular type of transcendental relationship it is called anubhāva. But the stage of mahābhāva is visible amongst the personal pleasure potencies of the Lord. It is understood that the grandson of Diti, namely Prahlāda Mahārāja, would constantly meditate on the Lord and reiterate His activities. Because he would constantly remain in meditation, he would easily transfer himself to the spiritual world after quitting his material body. Such meditation is still more conveniently performed by chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord. This is especially recommended in this Age of Kali.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Being a great devotee, with great determination, the best among those on the level of prema, he will enter Vaikuṇṭha with a mind full of realization by intense bhakti, and give up this material world. He will be a great devotee, with great determination or intelligence (mahātmā), great among those with symptoms of prema (mahatām). The cause of his being considered great is given. Entering into a condition of the spiritual world, or actually entering Vaikuṇṭha, with a mind which has achieved realization through intense bhakti (mahānubhāvaḥ), he will give up this material world.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Talks about the Lord, repeated with attention, are described here as transformative in their own right. The verse implies that what we listen to all day is quietly shaping who we become.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is your ear most often during the day, and what is that input doing to your taste?
  • What would change if you treated 30 minutes of kṛṣṇa-kathā as non-negotiable as a meal?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 14