Jagat

This section was posted in part some time ago. Bhakti Sandarbha 202: The two devotional proclivities and taking a Guru The anuccheda has five sections, four of which are in the previously published article. This is the remaining section, which summarizes the previous definitions of a devotee. Anuccheda 202 The Necessity of Guru : Different Types of Sadhus Give Different Types of Bhakti 202.1 The Broader Definitions of a Vaiṣṇava त एते हि वैष्णवाः सन्तो महत्त्वेन सन्मात्रत्वेन च विभिद्य निर्दिष्टाः। सन्मात्रभेदतारतम्यं चात्र यदविविक्तं तद्भक्तिभेदनिरूपणे पुरतो विवेचनीयम्। अन्ये तु स्वगोष्ठ्यपेक्षया वैष्णवाः। Up to this point, we have shown the various subdivisions of Vaiṣṇava saints within the broader classifications of mahat , those situated in various degrees of perfection, and those who are simply  sat , exhibiting saintly character. The different levels of saints that have not been elaborated here will be discussed later while enumerating the various class...

This is a long a fairly complex but interesting  anuccheda . It concludes the analysis of the five verse section in BhP 11.11.29-33 which began with Anuccheda 199.  Sri Jiva continues to analyze the devotee who are glorified in the Bhagavatam as relatively superior to others. This is done not to create a sense of superiority in those who accept his doctrine, but to establish the nature and goal of pure, unmixed devotion. Today's verse uses the superlative form of devotee, bhaktatama , whereas the previous verses used sattama . This discussion thus leads up to 202 which is about taking a guru, which is the logical end of establishing what kind of devotee is qualified to be a guru. It goes without saying that everyone is to be encouraged to follow their path with detachment as the Gita says. But when a s ā dhaka arrives at the cusp of two levels, he will be afflicted by doubt and unresolved questions. At that time, the guru should give guidance according to the teachi...

"The word “also” ( ca ) in the phrase "He is also the best of the saintly"   indicates that though the person described in the previous group of verses is the best of the saintly, nevertheless, the individual referred to in this verse -- even lacking the virtues described in them -- is equal to him. Consequently, one who acquires all those virtues but still gives up prescribed duties and radical non-dualistic knowledge in order to simply worship Bhagavān, is  alone supreme among the best of the saintly. By the understanding imparted in this verse, the pure devotee’s superiority over one endowed with all the qualities mentioned in the previous verses [yet still engaged in prescribed duties] has been shown." Anuccheda 200 The Intermediate Devotee Renounces Karma मध्यममिश्रसाक्षाद्भक्तिसाधकमाह (भा. ११.११.३२)— आज्ञायैवं गुणान् दोषान् मयादिष्टान् अपि स्वकान्। धर्मान् सन्त्यज्य यः सर्वान् मां भजेत् स च सत्तमः॥ Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa then describes an inter...

Up until now the definition and division of devotees was done on the basis of their attainment of love. Incidentally, in the previous anuccheda a description was also given on the basis of worship of the deity form of Bhagavān. Now Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī begins a new analysis of devotees on the basis of their spiritual practice. Anuccheda 199 Divisions of Devotees on the Basis of Spiritual Practice तदेवमुपदिष्टा भागवतसत्सु मूर्च्छितकषायादयो महद्भेदाः। भागवतसन्मात्रभेदाश्च तत्सन्मात्रभेदेषु, अर्चायामेव हरये (भा. ११.२.४५) इत्यादिना तत्तद्गुणाविर्भावतारतम्याल् लब्धतारतम्याः कतिचिद्दर्शिताः। Among the various types of devotee saints, we have thus explained the three divisions of great devotees, namely those who have attained eternal forms as associates of Bhagavān, those who are cleansed of all material desire, and those who still have a trace of desire that is no longer active [these were first referred to at the beginning of Anuccheda 187]. And within the general divisions of ...

This verse is the conclusion of the series on the  Uttama Bhāgavata, which covered BhP 11.2.48-55. It includes a further analysis of the characteristics delineated in this section. This verse " conveys the essence of all the definitions of a superlative devotee given previously" (Shridhar Swami).  There is a second part to this lengthy anuccheda that specifically addresses a different set of characteristics taken from  the Pa ñcarātra literature. These are more in keeping with the spirit of vaidhi bhakti and not as important as those given in the Bhagavatam. Anuccheda 198 Bhagavān is Bound to the Heart of an Uttama Bhāgavata तथा (भा. ११.२.५५)— विसृजति हृदयं न यस्य साक्षाद् धरिरवशाभिहितोऽप्यघौघनाशः। प्रणयरशनया धृताङ्घ्रिपद्मः स भवति भागवतप्रधान उक्तः॥ And here is the concluding verse in this series describing the superlative devotee: If Bhagavān Hari is addressed even unintentionally, He destroys all sins. One in whose heart such a Bhagavān...