Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja | 2005 | 440,179 words | ISBN-13: 9781935428329
The Brihad-bhagavatamrita Verse 1.7.23, 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 1.7.23 contained in Chapter 7—Purna (pinnacle of excellent devotees)—of Part one (prathama-khanda).
Verse 1.7.23
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 1.7.23:
श्रीदामाद्या वयस्याश् च स्थिता भवद्-अपेक्षया ।
स्नेहेन पितरौ किञ्चिन् न शक्तौ भाषितुं त्वयि ॥ २३ ॥śrīdāmādyā vayasyāś ca sthitā bhavad-apekṣayā |
snehena pitarau kiñcin na śaktau bhāṣituṃ tvayi || 23 ||“All the sakhās led by Śrīdāma are waiting for You. Out of affection, even Your mother and father are unable to say anything to You.”
Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda
(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)
“No cowherd friend such as Śrīdāma or any other sakhā went into the forest with the cows, because Śrīdāma and all the sakhās, overwhelmed by Your love, were waiting for You here. If rightly understood, nonetheless, then why did Your parents not wake You and engage You in chores?”
Therefore, Śrī Balarāma is saying that Nanda bābā and Yaśodā mātā, out of parental affection, are unable to rouse Him from His sleeping condition to say anything about going to the forest for protecting the cows.