Third Jewel conclusion

Qualities of the Great Devotees

[As yesterday was the celebration of the appearance day of 108 Jagat-Guru  Bhakti Sundar Govinda dev Goswami, we continue with the elaboration of the qualities of great Vaishnavas in the 3rd Jewel of the Gaudiya Kanthahara).

Third Jewel Continued: Qualities of the Vaishnavas (Vaishnava-tattva)

३. ५७

बिप्राद् द्बि-षड्-गुण-युताद् 

अरबिन्द- नाभपादारबिन्द-

बिमुखात् श्बपचं बरिष्ठम्

मन्ये तद्-अर्पित-मनो-बचनेहितार्थप्राणं 

पुनाति स कुलं न तु भूरिमानः

3. 57

viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda- nābhapādāravinda-

vimukhāt śvapacaṁ variṣṭham

manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārthaprāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūrimānaḥ

If a brāhmaṇa has all twelve brahminical qualifications, but is not a devotee and

is averse to the lotus feet of the Lord, he is certainly lower than a dog-eater who

is a devotee, but who has dedicated everything mind, words, activities, life, and

wealth to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. Such a devotee is superior to a brāhmaṇa

because a devotee can purify his entire family, whereas the brāhmaṇa who is not

a devotee is bound to be illusioned by the false prestige of his position and thus

cannot purify even himself. (Bhāg. 7.9.10)

३.५८

अहो बत श्ब-पचो ऽतो गरीयान्

यज्-जिह्बाग्रे बर्तते नाम तुभ्यम् तेपुस् तपस् ते जुहुबुः सस्नुर् 

आर्या ब्रह्मानूचुर् नाम गृणन्ति ये ते

3.58

aho bata śva-paco 'to garīyān

yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam tegus 

tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur  āryā 

brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te

O Lord, how glorious are they whose tongues always chant Your holy name!

Even if born in a family of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Those who

chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have performed all kinds of

austerities and sacrifices. They must have all the good qualities of the Āryans.

They must have bathed in all the holy places, studied the Vedas, and fulfilled

everything required of those who are qualified to chant the Vedas and perform

yajña. (Bhāg. 3.33.7)

३. ५९

न मे ऽभक्तश् चतुर्बेदी मद्-भक्तः श्बपचः प्रियः

तस्मै देयं ततो ग्राह्यं स च पूज्यो यथा ह्यहम्

3. 59

na me 'bhaktaś caturvedī mad-bhaktaḥ śvapacaḥ priyaḥ

tasmai deyaṁ tato grāhyaṁ sa ca pūjyo yathā hyaham

A brāhmaṇa who is expert in studying all four

Vedas is not dear to Me, but a devotee who comes from a family of outcastes

(caṇḍālas) is dear to Me. Whatever he touches becomes pure. That devotee, although born in a family of outcastes is as worshipable as I am. (Hari-bhakti- vilāsa 10.91)

৩.৬০

নীচ-জাতি নহে কৃষ্ণ-ভজনে অযোগ্য 

সত্-কুল-বিপ্র নহে ভজনের যোগ্য 

যেই ভজে সেই বড অভক্ত হীন

 ছার কৃষ্ণ-ভজনে নাহি জাতি-কুলাদি-বিচার

3.60

nīca-jāti nahe kṛṣṇa-bhajane ayogya sat-kula-vipra nahe bhajanera yogya yei bhaje sei baḍa abhakta hīna chāra kṛṣṇa-bhajane nāhi jāti-kulādi-vicāra

Birth in a low family is no disqualification for the execution of devotional

service. And birth in a family of brāhmaṇas is no qualification. Anyone who

takes to devotional service is exalted, whereas a non devotee is always

condemned and abominable. In the discharge of devotional service to the Lord,

there is no consideration of the status of one's family. (Cc. Antya 4.66,67)

A Devotee is Dearer Than one's own Family

३.६१

माता-पिता युबतयस् तनया बिभूतिः सर्बं यदेब नियमेन मदन्बयानाम् आद्यस्य नः कलुपतेर्-बकुलाभिरामं

श्रीमत्-तद्-अङ्घ्रि युगलं प्रणमामि मूर्ध्ना

3.61

mātā-pitā yuvatayas tanayā vibhūtiḥ sarvaṁ yadeva niyamena madanvayānām ādyasya naḥ kalupater-bakulābhirāmaṁ

śrīmat-tad-aṅghri yugalaṁ praṇamāmi mūrdhnā 

I reverently bow down to the blessed feet of the first ācārya of our devotional

family. His holy feet are bedecked with offering of bakula flowers. He is

eternally united to us and all members of our family with a bond of love dearer

than father, mother, sons, wealth, or anything else in life. (Stotra-Ratnam 7??)

The Twelve Mahājanas

३.६२

स्बयम्भूर् नारदः शम्भुः कुमारः कपिलो मनुः

प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो बलिर् बैयासकिर् बगम्

3.62

svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ

prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balir vaiyāsakir vagam 

Brahmā, Nārada, Śiva, the four Kumāras, Kapiladeva, Svayambhuva Mānu,

Prahlāda, Janaka Mahārāja, Grandfather Bhīṣma, Bali Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and I (Yamarāja) know the real transcendental principles of religion. (Bhāg. 6.3.20)

Important Devotees

मार्केण्डेयो ऽम्बरीषश् च 

बसुर् ब्यासो बिभीषणः 

पुण्डरीको बलिः शम्भुः 

प्रह्लादो बिदुरो ध्रुबः

दाल्भ्यः पराशरो भीष्मो 

नारदाद्याश् च बैष्णबैः

सेब्या हरिं निषेब्यामी

नो चेदागः परं बेहबे

3.63

mārkeṇḍeyo 'mbarīṣaś ca 

vasur vyāso vibhīṣaṇaḥ 

puṇḍarīko baliḥ śambhuḥ 

prahlādo viduro dhruvaḥ

dālbhyaḥ parāśaro bhīṣmo 

nāradādyāś ca vaiṣṇavaiḥ

sevyā hariṁ niṣevyāmī 

no cedāgaḥ paraṁ behave 

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣī, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, Vasudeva, Śrīla Vyāsadeva,

Vibhīṣaṇa, Puṇḍarīka, Bali Mahārāja, Śiva, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Vidura,

Dhruva Mahārāja, Dālbhya, Parāśara, Bhīṣma, Nārada, and the great sages

and devotees who follow in their footsteps are all great persons. One should

worship and serve them in addition to worshiping and serving Lord Hari. One

who neglects to worship the Lord's devotees commits a great offense. (Laghu Bhāgavatāmṛta, Uttara-khaṇḍa, 2) 

Prahlāda is the Best of the Devotees

३.६४

क्बाहं रजः-प्रभब ईश तमो ऽधिके ऽस्मिन् जातः सुरेतर-कुले क्ब तबानुकम्पा

न ब्रह्मणो न तु भबस्य न बै रमाया यन् मे ऽर्पितः शिरसि पद्म-करः प्रसादः

3.64

kvāhaṁ rajaḥ-prabhava īśa tamo 'dhike 'smin jātaḥ suretara-kule kva tavānukampā

na brahmaṇo na tu bhavasya na vai ramāyā yan me 'rpitaḥ śirasi padma-karaḥ prasādaḥ

O my Lord, because I was born in a family full of the hellish material qualities

of passion and ignorance, what is my position? And what is to be said of Your

causeless mercy, which You never offered even to

Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, of the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī? You never put our lotus hands upon their heads, but You have done on mine. (Bhāg.

7.9.26)

Better than Prahlāda are the Pāṇḍavas

३.६५

न तु प्रह्लादस्य गृहे परं ब्रह्म बसति, न च तद् दर्शनार्थं मुनयस् तद् गृहान् अभियन्ति,

न च तस्य ब्रह्म मातुलेयादि रूपेण बर्त्तते, न च स्बयम् एब प्रसन्नम्,

अतो युयम् एब ततो ऽप्यस्मत्तो ऽपि भूरि-भागा इति भाबः

3.65

na tu prahlādasya gṛhe paraṁ brahma 

vasati, na ca tad darśanārthaṁ munayas 

tad gṛhān abhiyanti, na ca tasya brahma 

mātuleyādi rūpeṇa varttate, 

na ca svayam eva prasannam,

ato yuyam eva tato 'pyasmatto 'pi 

bhūri-bhāgā iti bhāvaḥ

While the Supreme Personality of Godhead did not remain in Prahlāda's

home, He personally stayed in the home of the Pāṇḍavas. Great sages did not

travel to Prahlāda's home to see the Supreme Lord, but for this purpose they did

visit the home of the Pāṇḍavas. The Supreme Lord did not become the intimate

relative of Prahlāda Mahārāja, but He was the maternal cousin of the Pāṇḍavas. He

also did not personally express great pleasure at the daily activities of Prahlāda

as He did with the Pāṇḍavas.

 For all these reasons, Nārada Muni has said that

the Pāṇḍavas were more fortunate than either himself or Prahlāda. 

(Laghu-Bhāgavatāmṛta, Uttara-khaṇḍa 19)

The Yādavas are Superior to the Pāṇḍavas

३.६६

सदाति सन्-निकृष्टत्बात् ममताधिक्यतो हरेः पाण्डबेभ्यो ऽपि यादबः केचित् श्रेष्ठतमा मताः

3.66

sadāti san-nikṛṣṭatvāt mamatādhikyato hareḥ pāṇḍavebhyo 'pi yādavaḥ kecit śreṣṭhatamā matāḥ

Because of their constant intimate association with Lord Kṛṣṇa and close family

ties with Him, some members of the Yadu dynasty are more exalted than the

Pāṇḍavas. (Laghu-Bhāgavatāmṛta, Uttara- khaṇḍa 18)

Uddhava is Superior to the Yādavas

३.६७

न तथा मे प्रियतम आत्म-योनिर् न शङ्करः न च सङ्कर्षणो न श्रीर् नैबात्मा च यथा भबान्

3.67

na tathā me priyatama 

ātma-yonir na śaṅkaraḥ 

na ca saṅkarṣaṇo na śrīr

 naivātmā ca yathā bhavān

O Uddhava, Brahmā, Śiva, Saṅkarśaṇa, Lakṣmīdevī, and even My own self is

not as dear to Me as you are. (Bhāg. 11.14.15)

३.६८

नोद्धबो ऽण्ब् अपि मन्-न्यूनो यद् गुणैर् नार्दितः प्रभुः

अतो मद्-बयुनं लोकं ग्राहयन्न् इह तिष्ठतु

3.68

noddhavo 'ṇv api man-nyūno yad guṇair nārditaḥ prabhuḥ

ato mad-vayunaṁ lokaṁ grāhayann iha tiṣṭhatu 

Uddhava is not inferior to Me in any way. He is never affected by the modes of

material nature. As such he may remain in this world to disseminate specific

knowledge about the Personality of Godhead. (Bhāg. 3.4.31)

The Gopīs are Superior to Uddhava

३.६९
आसाम् अहो चरण-रेणु-जुषाम् अहं स्यां
बृन्दाबने किम् अपि गुल्म-लतौषधीनाम्

3.69

āsām aho caraṇa-reṇu-juṣām ahaṁ syāṁ

vṛndāvane kim api gulma-latauṣadhīnām

yā dustyajaṁ sva-janam ārya-pathaṁ 
ca hitvā bhejur mukunda-padavīṁ śrutibhir vimṛgyām

O when will that day be mine, when I can take the dust of the lotus feet of those

great souls known as the gopīs on my head? When will the day come when I

shall take birth as a creeper in Vṛndāvana, so that

I can take the dust of the lotus feet of the gopīs on my head? Those great souls gave up society, friendship, love, their very relatives even the Vedic principles to surrender to

Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Mukunda. Such devotion as exhibited by these exalted

inhabitants of Vṛndāvana is only hinted at in the Vedas. (Bhāg. 10.47.61)

The Gopīs are Superior to the Lakṣmīs in
Vaikuṇṭha

३.७०
न तथा मे प्रियतमो ब्रह्मा रुद्रश् च पार्थिब
न च लक्ष्मीर् न चात्मा च यथा गोपीजनो मम

3.70

na tathā me priyatamo brahmā rudraś ca pārthiva

na ca lakṣmīr na cātmā ca yathā gopījano mama 

Not even Brahmā, Śiva, Lakṣmīdevī, or even My own self is as dear to Me as

are the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. (Adi-Purāṇa) Rādhārāṇi is the Best of all Devotees

३.७१
यथा राधा प्रिया बिष्णोस्- तस्याः कुण्डं प्रियं तथा
सर्ब गोपीषु सैबैका बिष्णोर्-अत्यन्त-बल्लभा

3.71

yathā rādhā priyā viṣṇos- tasyāḥ kuṇḍaṁ priyaṁ tathā

sarva gopīṣu saivaikā viṣṇor-atyanta-vallabhā 

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is dear to Kṛṣṇa, and her kuṇḍa, known as Rādhā-kuṇḍa is

similarly dear to Him. It is the favorite place of

Kṛṣṇa. Of all the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the most dear to Kṛṣṇa. (Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta, 45)

३.७२
कर्मिभ्यः परितो हरेः प्रियतया ब्यक्तिं ययुर् ज्ञानिनस्तेभ्यो
ज्ञान-बिमुक्त-भक्ति-परमाः प्रेमैक- निष्ठास्-ततः
तेभ्यस्-ताः पशु-पाल-पओकज-दृशस् ताभ्यापि सा राधिका
प्रेष्ठा तद्-बदियं तदीय-सरसी तां नाश्रयेत्
कः कृती

3.72

karmibhyaḥ parito hareḥ priyatayā 
vyaktiṁ yayur jñāninastebhyo

jñāna-vimukta-bhakti-paramāḥ 
premaika- niṣṭhās-tataḥ

tebhyas-tāḥ paśu-pāla-paokaja-dṛśas 
tābhyāpi sā rādhikā

preṣṭhā tad-vadiyaṁ 
tadīya-sarasī tāṁ nāśrayet kaḥ kṛtī

In the scriptures it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, one who is

advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme

Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge, jñānīs

may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who

has actually attained prema, pure love of Kṛṣṇa, is superior to him. The gopīs

are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are totally dependent

on Kṛṣṇa, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopīs, Śrīmatī

Rādhārāṇī is the most dear to Kṛṣṇa. Her kuṇḍa, or lake, is as profoundly dear

to Kṛṣṇa as is this most beloved of the gopīs. Who then, will not reside at Rādhākuṇḍa,

and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings,

(aprākṛta-bhāva) render loving service to the divine couple, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-

Govinda, who perform their aṣṭa-kāliya-līlā. Indeed, those who execute

devotional service on the banks of the Rādhā- kuṇḍa are the most fortunate souls

in the universe. 

(Upadeśāmta 10, Rūpa Gosvāmī) 

The Glories of Gaurāṅga's Devotees

३.७३
आचर्य धर्मं परिचर्य बिष्णुं बिचर्य तीर्थानि बिचार्य बेदान्
बिना न गौर-प्रिय-पादसेबां बेदादि-दुष्प्राप्य-पदं बिदन्ति
3.73

ācarya dharmaṁ paricarya viṣṇuṁ vicarya tīrthāni vicārya vedān

vinā na gaura-priya-pādasevāṁ vedādi-duṣprāpya-padaṁ vidanti

Those who perform the duties of varṇāśrama- dharma, worship Lord Viṣṇu, and

visit many holy places, yet neglect the service of the lotus feet of the great

devotees, who are dear to Lord Caitanya, are never able to understand the

pastimes of Rādhā-Govinda in Their confidential abode of Vṛndāvana. (C.

Candrāmṛta 22)

३.७४
कैबलयं नरकायते त्रिदशपूर्-आकाश-
पुष्पायते दुर्दान्तेन्द्रिय-काल-सर्प-पटली प्रोत्खात- दंष्ट्रायते
बिश्बं पूर्ण-सुखायते बिधि महेन्द्रादिश् च कीटायते
यत्-कारुन्य-कटाक्ष-बैभबतां तं गौरम्- एब स्तमः

3.74

kaivalayaṁ narakāyate tridaśapūr-ākāśa-

puṣpāyate durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta- daṁṣṭrāyate

viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate vidhi mahendrādiś ca kīṭāyate

yat-kārunya-kaṭākṣa-vaibhavatāṁ taṁ gauram- eva stamaḥ

For devotees of Caitanya Mahāprabhu who have attained His glance of mercy,

impersonal liberation is hellish, the heavenly plan- ets are a phantasmagoria, the

poisonous fangs of the snake-like senses are broken and harmless, the universe

is filled with ecstasy, and Brahmā, Indra and all the gods seem like insignificant

insects. May that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu be glorified.
(C. Candrāmṛta 5)

३.७५
यथा यथा गौर-पदारबिन्दे बिन्देत भक्तिं कृत-पुण्य-राशिः
तथा तथोत्-सर्पति हृद्य-कस्माद् राधा- पदाम्भोज-सुधाम्बु-राशिः

3.75

yathā yathā gaura-padāravinde vindeta bhaktiṁ kṛta-puṇya-rāśiḥ

tathā tathot-sarpati hṛdya-kasmād rādhā- padāmbhoja-sudhāmbu-rāśiḥ

One who is extremely fortunate may get the mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As

much as one can devote his full attention to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, to

that extent he will be able to taste the nectarean service of the lotus feet of

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in Vṛndāvana. The more one engages in the service of Śrī

Caitanya, the more one finds oneself in Vṛndāvana, tasting the nectar of the service of Śrī Rādhā.

(C. Candrāmṛta 88)

৩.৭৬
গৌরাঙ্গের দুঽটি পদ, যর্ ধন সম্পদ, সে জানে ভকতি-রস-সার্
গৌরাঙ্গের মধুর-লীল, জর্ কর্নে প্রবেশিলা, হৃদয নির্মল ভেল তার্
জে গৌরাঙ্গের নাম লোয্, তার হোয্ প্রেমোদোয্, তারে মুঞি জাই বলিহারি
গৌরাঙ্গ-গুণেতে ঝুরে, নিত্য-লীলা তারে স্ফুরে, সে জন ভকতি-অধিকারী
গৌরাঙ্গ-সঙ্গি-গণে, নিত্য-সিদ্ধ কোরিঽ মানে, সে জায্ ব্রজেন্দ্র-সুত-পাশ্
শ্রি-গৌড-মণ্ডল-ভূমি, জেবা জানে চিন্তামণি
তার হোয্ ব্রজ-ভূমে বাস্
গৌর-প্রেম-রসার্ণবে, সে তরঙ্গে জেবা ডুবে, সে রাধা-মাধব-অন্তরঙ্গ
গৃহে বা বনেতে থাকে, ঽহা গৌরাঙ্গঽ বোঽলে ডাকে, নরোত্তম মাগে তার সঙ্গ

3.76

gaurāṅgera du'ṭi pada, yar dhana sampada, se jāne bhakati-rasa-sār

gaurāṅgera madhura-līla, jar karne praveśilā, hṛdaya nirmala bhela tār

je gaurāṅgera nāma loy, tāra hoy premodoy, tāre muñi jāi balihāri

gaurāṅga-guṇete jhure, nitya-līlā tāre sphure, se jana bhakati-adhikārī

gaurāṅga-saṅgi-gaṇe, nitya-siddha kori' māne, se jāy brajendra-suta-pāś

śri-gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi, jebā jāne cintāmaṇi tāra hoy braja-bhūme bās

gaura-prema-rasārṇave, se taraṅge jebā ḍube, se rādhā-mādhava-antaraṅga

gṛhe vā vanete thāke, 'hā gaurāṅga' bo'le ḍāke, narottama māge tāra saṅga

Only one who has accepted the lotus feet of Śrī Gaurāṅga can understand the true essence of devotional service. If one wants to take part in the mādhurya-līlā

of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as it was distributed by Śrī Gaurāṅga, he must first cleanse his

heart by hearing about the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

If one takes the name of Gaurāṅga, prema will arise within his heart. At that time he will say jai! Hari bol! "This is superexcellent!" If one appreciates the merciful pastimes of

Śrī Gaurāṅga and feels ecstasy and sometimes cries, this process will soon help

him to understand the nitya-līlā of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. 

By realizing the qualities of Lord Gaurāṅga, one will be allowed entrance

into the nitya-līlā.

One should understand that the eternal associates of Lord Gaurāṅga are all

eternally perfect souls. Simply by accepting this, one can immediately be

promoted to the transcendental abode of Kṛṣṇa. Living in Vṛndāvana and living

in Navadvīpa are the same. And one who understands that the land of

Navadvīpa is nondiffer-ent from Vṛndāvana actually lives in Kṛṣṇa's abode of Vṛndāvana.

Gaura-prema, transcendental love of Lord Gaurāṅga is an ocean of nectarean

rasa. As the ocean is always dancing with waves, the ocean of transcendental

love of Kṛṣṇa as introduced by Lord Caitanya has constant waves. One has to

dive deep into that ocean.

 If one says, "Let me dive deep into that nectarean

ocean", he soon becomes a confidential devotee of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, "I pray for the

association of whoever calls out the name of Śrī Gaurāṅga, whether he is living in the forest as a member of the renounced order of life, or whether he is a family man.

(Prārthanā Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura)

The Unfortunate Position of Nondevotees

३.७७
भगबद्-भक्ति-हीनस्य जातिह् शास्त्रं जपस्- तपः
अप्राणस्यैब देहस्य म मण्डनं लोक- रञ्जनम्
शुचिः सद्-भक्ति-दीप्ताग्निदग्ध- दुर्जाति-कल्मषः
श्बपाकोऽपि बुधैः श्लाघ्यो न बेद-ज्ञोऽपि नास्तिकः

3.77

bhagavad-bhakti-hīnasya jātih śāstraṁ japas- tapaḥ

aprāṇasyaiva dehasya ma maṇḍanaṁ loka- rañjanam

śuciḥ sad-bhakti-dīptāgnidagdha- durjāti-kalmaṣaḥ

śvapāko'pi budhaiḥ ślāghyo na veda-jño'pi nāstikaḥ

For one who is devoid of transcendental devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, his knowledge

of scripture, his japa and chanting of mantras, as well as all his austerities are

simply decorations on a dead body. For one who takes to pure devotional

service, all the reactions of his past sinful life are burned to ashes. In this

regard, the outcaste is equal to the highly learned, who also takes to this path;

but those who refuse to surrender, the atheists and agnostics, will remain

ignorant of the real conclusions of the Vedas, and get no credit for all their

study. 

(Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 3.11.12) 

Pure Devotion to Gaurāṅga is Best of all

३.७८

क्रियासक्तान् दिग् दिग् बिकटतपसो धिक् च यामेना धिगस्तु ब्रह्माहं बदन-परिफुल्लान् जडमतीन्
किमेतान् शोचामो बिषय-रस-मत्तान्-नरपशून् न केषाञ्चिल्-लेशोऽप्य् अहह मिलितो गौर- मधुनः
3.78

kriyāsaktān dig dig vikaṭatapaso dhik ca yāmenā 
dhigastu brahmāhaṁ vadana-pariphullān jaḍamatīn

kimetān śocāmo viṣaya-rasa-mattān-narapaśūn 
na keṣāñcil-leśo'py ahaha milito gaura- madhunaḥ

Woe to the smārta brāhmaṇas, who blindly follow the Vedic rituals! To hell with

those who unnecessarily practice harsh penance's. Woe to those who try to

control the mind and senses by following the eightfold yoga system. Woe to

those who artificially practice brahmacaryi and imagine that they have become

liberated simply by saying ahaṁ bramāsmi, "I am God".

Woe to those whose voices are filled with the flowery words of dry speculation. They are intoxicated by the taste of mundane pleasure.

Why should we lament for these animals in the guise of men? We lament

because, alas they have not tasted even a tiny drop of the nectar from the lotus

feet of Lord Gaurāṅga. 

(C. Candrāmṛta 32) 

Without Devotion to Gaurāṅga,One's Knowledge of Scripture is Foolish Nonsense

३.७९
अचैतन्यम्-इदं बिश्बं यदि चैतन्यम्- ईश्बरम्
न बिदुः सर्ब-शास्त्र-ज्ञा ह्य् अपि भ्राम्यन्ति ते जनाः

3.79

acaitanyam-idaṁ viśvaṁ yadi caitanyam- īśvaram

na viduḥ sarva-śāstra-jñā hy api bhrāmyanti te janāḥ

Great scholars of the scriptures who do not accept

Lord Gaurāṅga, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are forced to

wander aimlessly throughout this universe of dead matter. Their so-called knowledge of the scriptures will be useless to them. Birth after birth, they will wander from one planet to the next propelled by their pious and impious acts. (C. Candrāmṛta 37)

Without the Mercy of Gaurāṅga's Devotee
Everything is Impossible

३.८०
आबद्-ब्रह्म-कथा बिमुक्ति-पदबी ताबन् न तिक्ती-भबेत्
ताबच्-चापि बिशृओखलत्बमयते नो लोक-बेद- स्थितिः
ताबच्-छास्त्र-बिदां मिथः कलकलो नाना-बहिर्- बर्त्मस्तु
श्री-चैतन्य-पदाम्बुज-प्रियजनो याबन् न दृग् गोचरः

3.80

āvad-brahma-kathā vimukti-padavī tāvan na tiktī-bhavet

tāvac-cāpi viśṛokhalatvamayate no loka-veda- sthitiḥ

tāvac-chāstra-vidāṁ mithaḥ kalakalo nānā-bahir- vartmastu

śrī-caitanya-padāmbuja-priyajano yāvan na dṛg gocaraḥ

As long as one has not seen a pure devotee of Śrī, Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, he

will be engaged in tasting bitter talks about the impersonal path of liberation.

As long as one has not seen a devotee of Lord Gaurāṅga, he will be bound by social and Vedic convention, blindly following formalities and traditions without understanding their purpose.

As long as one never sees one of the beelike devotees addicted to drinking the

nectar from the lotus feet of Śrī Gaurāṅga, he will be forced to walk in endless

circles on the labyrinthine paths of dry Vedic scholarship, wasting valuable time

in useless discussions on futile religious practices. (C. Candrāmṛta 19)

Thus ends the Third Jewel of the Gauḍīya Kaṇṭhahāra entitled Vaiṣṇava-tattva.