Brahma’s prayers to Sri Krishna (part 2) ”Bhakti Conquers God” by Swami Bhajanananda

Class by Rev Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 14 June 2025. 

Brahma said:

ज्ञाने प्रयासम् उदपास्य नमन्त एव 
जीवन्ति सन्मुखरितां भवदीयवार्ताम् |
स्थाने स्थिताह्̣ श्रुतिगतां तनुवाङ्मनोभिर्
ये प्रायशोऽजित जितोऽप्य् असि तैस् त्रिलोक्याम् || ३ ||
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jjīvanti sanmukharitāṃ bhavadīyavārtām |
sthāne sthitāḥ śrutigatāṃ tanuvāṅmanobhir
ye prāyaśo'jita jito'py asi tais trilokyām || 3 ||
3. "Those who give up the path of knowledge (jñāne prayāsam udapāsya) and simple bow to You (namantaḥ eva), spending their lives hearing about You from the lips of saints (jīvanti sat-mukharitām bhavadīya-vārtām), in whatever condition they are (sthāne sthitāḥ), meditate on what they heard with their body, speech, and mind (śruti-gatām tanu vāk manobhiḥ ye prāyaśaḥ)-- Oh Unconquerable One (ajita), You are conquered by them in the three worlds (jitaḥ api asi taiḥ  tri-lokyām).

श्रेयह्̣स्र्̣तिं भक्तिम् उदस्य ते विभो
क्लिश्यन्ति ये केवलबोधलब्धये |
तेस्̣आम् असौ क्लेशल एव शिस्̣यते
नान्यद् यथा स्थूलतुस्̣आवघातिनाम् || ४ ||
śreyaḥ-sṛtiṃ bhaktim udasya te vibho
kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye |
teṣām asau kleśala eva śiṣyate
nānyad yathā sthūla-tuṣāvaghātinām || 4 ||
4. "There are some who reject the auspicious path of bhakti (śreyaḥ sṛtim bhaktim udasya). They struggle to know You, Oh Lord, with their minds alone (te vibho kliśyanti ye kevala bodha). The only thing they achieve is that struggle (labdhaye teṣām asau kleśalaḥ eva) and nothing more (na anyat). It is just like beating empty husks (yathā sthūla-tuṣa avaghātinām)."

पुरेह भूमन् बहवोऽपि योगिनस्
त्वदर्पितेहा निजकर्मलब्धया |
विबुध्य भक्त्यैव कथोपनीतया
प्रपेदिरेऽञ्जोऽच्युत ते गतिम्́ पराम् || ५ ||
pureha bhūman bahavo'pi yoginas
tvad-arpitehā nija-karma-labdhayā |
vibudhya bhaktyaiva kathopanītayā
prapedire'ñjo'cyuta te gatiḿ parām || 5 ||
5. "In the past, O Infinite One (purā iha bhūman), many yogis (bahavaḥ api yoginaḥ) offered whatever they did to You (tvat arpita īhāḥ nija-karma), and through bhakti cultivated by hearing about You (labdhayā vibudhya bhaktyā eva kathā-upanītayā), easily surrendered to You, Oh Infalliable One (prapedire añjaḥ acyuta) and attained You, the supreme goal (te gatim parām)."