अत आत्यन्तिकं क्षेमं पृच्छामो भवतोऽनघा: ।
संसारेऽस्मिन् क्षणार्धोऽपि सत्सङ्ग: शेवधिर्नृणाम् ॥
ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato’naghāḥ |
saṁsāre’smin kṣaṇārdho’pi sat-saṅgaḥ śevadhir nṛṇām ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.30; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 59; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.22.85)
“Therefore, O sinless ones, I ask you all about the highest good. For human beings here in saṁsāra, even half a moment of association with the sat is a treasury.”
Commentary
he anaghā niravadyaḥ, bhavato yuṣmān ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmaḥ, yataḥ kṣaṇārdha-kāla-bhavo’pi sat-saṅgaḥ śevadhir nidhiḥ | nidhi-lābhe yathānando bhavati tathātra paramānanda ity arthaḥ |
(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā)
“‘O sinless ones’ (anaghāḥ) means ‘O you all who are faultless.’ I ask ‘you all’ (bhavataḥ) about the highest good since association with the sat occurring even for [only] half a moment is a ‘treasury’ (śevadhiḥ), that is, a treasure. As delight occurs upon the attainment of a treasure, so supreme delight does here [i.e., upon attaining the association of the sat, such as you all]. This is the meaning.”
ātyantikaṁ kṣemam iti yasmin sati bhaya-mātraṁ na spṛśatīty arthaḥ | yataḥ saṁsāra iti; śevadhiḥ sarvābhīṣṭadaḥ |
(Krama-sandarbha-ṭīkā)
“[I ask you all about] ‘The highest good’ (ātyantikaṁ kṣemam) which when attained no fear whatsoever touches [i.e., troubles one in the least]. This is the meaning. [I ask you all] Since in saṁsāra … [even half a moment of association with the sat is a treasury]. ‘Treasury’ (śevadhiḥ) means a granter of all desired objects.”
ata ātyantikam ity ayaṁ bhāvaḥ—atithiṣv āyāteṣu kuśala-praśna āvaśyakaḥ | sa ca tāvat svātmārāmeṣu sākṣāt kuśala-svarūpeṣv anucitaḥ | svasyāpi vyavahārika-kuśala-praśno bhavatsu vyarthaḥ | ata ātyantikaṁ pāramārthikam eva | he anaghāḥ na vidyante aghāni, yata iti | darśana-dāna-mātreṇaiva mad-aghāni dūrī-kṛtāny eva, kintv abhīṣṭa-lābho’smad-apekṣito vartata ity ataḥ pṛcchāmaḥ | nanu vilambya pṛcchatāṁ, tatrātiśaighryaṁ kim-arthaṁ? ity ata āha—kṣaṇārdho’pi kṣaṇārdha-kāla-parimito’pi śevadhir nidhiḥ | ata ākasmikaṁ nidhiṁ prāpya svābhīpsita-prārthane kaḥ khalu sotkaṇṭhe vilamba iti bhāvaḥ | mama tu kutas tāvān bhāgya-viśeṣo yena bhavanto’tra ciraṁ sthāsyanti? iti bhāvaḥ |
(Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā)
“Regarding [the statement], ‘Therefore, I ask you all about the highest good’ (ata ātyantikam …), the purport is this: when guests arrive, inquiry regarding [their] well-being is necessary. [Yet] That specifically, furthermore, is improper with those [like you all] whose satisfaction is within their own selves (sva-ātmārāmas) and who are direct embodiments of well-being. Inquiry even about one’s own worldly (vyavahārika) well-being is unavailing in the midst of you all. Therefore, only the ‘highest’ (ātyantikaṁ), that is, the ultimate [alt., spiritual], good [is to be inquired about in the midst of you all]. ‘O sinless ones’ (anaghāḥ) means you all who [certainly] have no sins since [even] my sins are verily dispelled just by [your] granting [your] darśana [to me]. Attainment of the desired object sought by us [i.e., by I and those in my company], however, remains [i.e. we have not attained it yet]. Therefore, I ask [you all about the highest good].
“[An objection is raised:] ‘Well, you can ask [about that] after waiting [for some time]. What is the use of haste in this regard?’ Thus, he says, ‘Even half a moment’ (kṣaṇārdho’pi), that is, even a [period of] time measuring [only] half a moment, is a ‘treasury’ (śevadhiḥ), that is, a treasure. Thus, after suddenly attaining this treasure, who with such eagerness would wait to pray for one’s own desired object? This is the purport. But will I somehow have the particularly special fortune whereby you all will remain here for a long time? This is the purport.”