Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Ṭhakura |
শ্রী গৌड़िয-কন্ঠহার
Gaudiya Kanṭhahāra:
The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas
13th Jewel
The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas
13th Jewel
SĀDHANA-BHAKTI-TATTVA
The Practice of Divine Love
Being a compendium of quotations from revealed scriptures
concerning the truths about the cult of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu
Compiled under the authority and direction of
His Divine Grace
Bhaktisiddhānta Sāraswāti Goswāmī
Prabhupada
Translated and edited, with original Sanskrit and Bengali and Roman transliteration by
B. V. Mahāyogi, Michael Dolan
Being a compendium of quotations from revealed scriptures
concerning the truths about the cult of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu
Compiled under the authority and direction of
His Divine Grace
Bhaktisiddhānta Sāraswāti Goswāmī
Prabhupada
Translated and edited, with original Sanskrit and Bengali and Roman transliteration by
B. V. Mahāyogi, Michael Dolan
Jñāna-miśra-bhakti: Devotion Mixed with
Knowledge
१३.१
ब्रह्म-भूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षति
समः सर्बेषु भूतेषु मद्-भक्तिं लभते पराम्
13.l
brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
One who is situated in Brahman is joyful. He never laments nor hankers for
anything. He is equally disposed toward every living being. In that state he
attains pure devotional service unto Me. (Bhagavad-gītā 18.58)
Karma-miśra-bhakti Devotion Mixed with
Karma
१३.२
यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्
13.2
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam
O son of Kuntī, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give
away, as well as whatever austerities you perform should be done as an offering
unto Me.
(Bhagavad-gītā 9.27)
१३.३
वर्णाश्रमाचारवता पुरुषेण परः पुमान्
विष्णुर्-आराध्यते पन्था नान्यस् तत्-तोष-कारकः
13.3
varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān
viṣṇur-ārādhyate panthā nānyas tat-toṣa-kārakaḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇāśrama-dharma. There is no other way to satisfy Lord Viṣṇu. One must be situated in the one of the four varṇas and āśramas. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3.8.9)
१३.४
यज्ञार्थात् कर्मणो ऽन्यत्र लोको ऽयं कर्म- बन्धनः
तद्-अर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्त-सङ्गः समाचर
13.4
yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma- bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara
Work done as a sacnfice for Viṣṇu must be performed, otherwise work binds one to the material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.
(Bhagavad-gītā 3.9)
The Definition of Bhakti
१३.५
सा परानुभक्तिरीश्वरे
13.5
sā parānubhaktirīśvare
Transcendental attachment to the Supreme Lord is called bhakti.
(Śāṇḍilyabhakti-sūtra)
१३.६
अन्याभिलाषिता-शून्यं ज्ञान-कर्माद्य्-अनावृतम्
आनुकूल्येन कृष्णानु- शीलनं भक्तिर्-उत्तमा
13.6
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu- śīlanaṁ bhaktir-uttamā
Pure devotional service is free from all impurities, beginning with karma and
jñāna. In other words, it is devoid of all attempts to attain fulfillment through
power and knowledge. Śuddha-bhakti is the favorable cultivation of service to
Kṛṣṇa. In śuddha-bhakti a devotee constanly serves Kṛṣṇa's desires.
(Bhaktirasāmṛta- sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 1.11)
१३.७
सर्वोपाधि-विनिर्मुक्तं तत्-परत्वेन निर्मलम्
हृषीकेण हृषीकेश- सेवनं भक्तिरुच्यते
13.7
sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa- sevanaṁ bhaktirucyate
Devotional service means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord of
the senses. By this one is liberated from all material designations and one's
senses are purified.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 1.12)
The Śrutis Glorify Bhakti
१३.८
भक्तिर् एवैनं नयति भक्तिर् एवैनं दर्शयति
भक्ति-वशः पुरुषो भक्तिर् एव भूयसी
13.8
bhaktir evainaṁ nayati bhaktir evainaṁ darśayati
bhakti-vaśaḥ puruṣo bhaktir eva bhūyasī
Bhakti leads the jīva to the Lord, and enables the soul to see the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. The Lord is controlled by bhakti. Bhakti is best of all.
(Mādhvācārya's commentary on Vedānta-Sūtra 3.3.53)
१३.९
ओं अमृतरूपा च
13.9
oṁ amṛtarūpā ca
Bhakti is the very form of immortal nectar.
(Nārada-bhakti- sūtra 1.3)
१३.१०
ओं यल् लब्धा पुमान् सिद्धो भवत्यमृती- भवति तृप्तो भवति
13.10
oṁ yal labdhā pumān siddho bhavatyamṛtī- bhavati tṛpto bhavati
On attaining divine love man attains perfection and immortality. He becomes
thoroughly satisfied.
(Nārada-bhakti-sūtra 1.4)
१३.११
ओं यत् प्राप्य न किञ्चित् वाञ्छति
न शोचति न द्वेष्टि
न रमते नोत्साही भवति
13.11
oṁ yat prāpya na kiñcit vāñchati
na śocati na dveṣṭi
na ramate notsāhī bhavati
Upon attaining love of God one neither hankers nor laments. He is freed from
attachment and detachment, and takes no pleasure in material things.
(Nāradabhakti- sūtra 1.5)
There are Two Kinds of Bhakti: Vaidhī or regulated and Rāgānugā or spontaneous
१३.१२
शास्त्रोक्तया प्रबलया तत्-तन्-मर्यादयान्विता
वैधी भक्तिर् इयं कैश्चिन्- मर्यादामार्ग उच्यते
13.12
śāstroktayā prabalayā tat-tan-maryādayānvitā
vaidhī bhaktir iyaṁ kaiścin- maryādāmārga ucyate
Devotional service governed by the rules and regulations of the scriptures is also
called maryāda-mārga, or the reverential path of devotion, the path of serving
the Lord in opulence, by different scholars [such as Vallabhācārya].
(Bhaktirasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.269)
१३.१३
इष्टे स्वारसिकी रागः परमाविष्टता भवेत्
तन्-मयी या भवेद्-भक्तिः साऽत्र रागात्मिकोदिता
13.13
iṣṭe svārasikī rāgaḥ paramāviṣṭatā bhavet
tan-mayī yā bhaved-bhaktiḥ sā'tra rāgātmikoditā
Rāga-bhakti is complete absorbtion in the Deity of one's choice; that absorbing
devotion is here described as rāgātmikā-bhakti. In other words, spontaneous
attraction for Kṛṣṇa while being completely absorbed in thoughts of Him with
an intense desire of love.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta- sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.272)
Vaidhī-bhakti Or "regulative" bhakti.
१३.१४
सुरर्षे विहिता शास्त्रे हरिमुद्दिश्य या क्रिया
सैव भक्तिर् इति प्रोक्ता तया भक्तिः परा भवेद्
13.14
surarṣe vihitā śāstre harimuddiśya yā kriyā
saiva bhaktir iti proktā tayā bhaktiḥ parā bhaved
O sage amongst the demigods, Nārada, those activities prescribed in the revealed scriptures for satsifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, are called the regulative principles of bhakti, (sādhana-bhakti), by practicing which one may attain the highest bhakti (prema).
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrvavibhāga 2.13)
Rāga-bhakti
১৩.১৫
লোক-ধর্ম, বেদ-ধর্ম, দেহ-ধর্ম, কর্ম
লজ্জা, ধৈর্য়, দেহ-সুখ, আত্ম-সুখ-মর্ম
দুস্ৎয়জ আর্য়-পথ, নিন্জ পরিজন স্ব-জনে
করয়ে য়ত তাডন-ভর্ৎসন সর্ব-ৎয়াগ করিঽ করে
কৃষ্ণের ভজন কৃষ্ণ-সুখ-হেতু করে
প্রেম-সেবন ইহাকে কহিয়ে কৃষ্ণে দৃঢ অনুরাগ
স্বচ্ছ ধৌত-বস্ত্রে য়ৈছে নাহি কোন দাগ
অতএব কাম-প্রেমে বহুত অন্তর
কাম অন্ধ-তমঃ, প্রেম-নির্মল ভাস্কর
অতএব গোপী-গণের নাহি কাম-গন্ধ
কৃষ্ণ-সুখ লাগি মাত্র, কৃষ্ণ সে সম্বন্ধ
আত্ম-সুখ-দুঃখে গোপীর নাহিক বিচার
কৃষ্ণ-সুখ-হেতু চেষ্ট মনো-ব্য়বহার
কৃষ্ণ লগিঽ আর সব করে পরিৎয়াগ
কৃষ্ণ-সুখ-হেতু করে শুদ্ধ অনুরাগ
13.15
loka-dharma, veda-dharma, deha-dharma, karma
lajjā, dhairya, deha-sukha, ātma-sukha-marma
dustyaja ārya-patha, ninja parijana sva-jane
karaye yata tāḍana-bhartsana sarva-tyāga kari' kare
kṛṣṇera bhajana kṛṣṇa-sukha-hetu kare
prema-sevana ihāke kahiye kṛṣṇe dṛḍha anurāga
svaccha dhauta-vastre yaiche nāhi kona dāga
ataeva kāma-preme bahuta antara
kāma andha-tamaḥ, prema-nirmala bhāskara
ataeva gopī-gaṇera nāhi kāma-gandha
kṛṣṇa-sukha lāgi mātra, kṛṣṇa se sambandha
ātma-sukha-duḥkhe gopīra nāhika vicāra
kṛṣṇa-sukha-hetu ceṣṭa mano-vyavahāra
kṛṣṇa lagi' āra saba kare parityāga
kṛṣṇa-sukha-hetu kare śuddha anurāga
Social dharma, Vedic dharma, bodily dharma, and duty karma; The gopīs have given up everything for Kṛṣṇa.
They have no interest in chastity, patience, bodily pleasures, and even self-satisfaction: They have forsaken the Aryan path of varnāśramadharma, as well as the welfare of their own relatives and family. They have given up all these in spite of harsh words, punishment and scolding, for the sake of serving Lord Kṛṣṇa.
The gopis render loving service to Him for the sake of His enjoyment.
This kind of bhakti is called firm attachment (anurāga) to the Lord. It is spotlessly pure, like clean white cotton that has no stain.
Therefore lust and divine love are quite different. Lust is like dense darkness, but
prema love is like the bright sun.
Thus there is not the slightest taint of lust in the gopīs love. Their relationship with Kṛṣṇa is only for the sake of His enjoyment.
The gopīs do not care for their own pleasures or pains. All their physical and mental
activities are directed toward offering enjoyment to Kṛṣṇa. They have renounced everything for Kṛṣṇa. They have pure attachment (anurāga) to giving Kṛṣṇa pleasure.
(Cc. Ādi 4.167-172, 174-175)
The Nine Limbs of Bhakti
१३.१६
श्रबणं कीर्तनं बिष्णोः स्मरणं पाद- सेबनम्
अर्चनं बन्दनं दास्य़ं सख्य़म् आत्म- निबेदनम्
13.16
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda- sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma- nivedanam
Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities,
paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus
feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of
paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering
the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other
words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) these nine processes are
accepted as pure devotional service.
(Bhāg. 7.5.23)
१३.१७
इति पुंसार्पिता बिष्णौ भक्तिश् चेन् नब-लक्षणा
क्रिय़ेत भगबत्य़् अद्धा तन् मन्य़े ऽधीतम् उत्तमम्
13.17
iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś cen nava-lakṣaṇā
kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye 'dhītam uttamam
These nine are the processes of pure devotional service. One who has dedicated
his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be considered
most learned, for he has acquired full knowledge. (Bhāg. 7.5.24)
१३.१८
श्री बिष्णोः श्रबणे परीक्शिदभबद्-बैय़ासकिः कीर्तने
प्रह्लादः स्मरणे तद् अङ्घ्रिभजने लक्ष्मीः पृथुः पूजने
अक्रूरस्-त्बभिबन्दने कपि-पतिर्-दास्य़ेऽथ सर्ह्य़ेऽर्जुनः
सर्बस्बात्म-निबेदने बलिरभुत् कृष्णाप्तिरेषां परम्
13.18
śrī viṣṇoḥ śravaṇe parīkśidabhavad-vaiyāsakiḥ kīrtane
prahlādaḥ smaraṇe tad aṅghribhajane lakṣmīḥ pṛthuḥ pūjane
akrūras-tvabhivandane kapi-patir-dāsye'tha sarhye'rjunaḥ
sarvasvātma-nivedane balirabhut kṛṣṇāptireṣāṁ param
The following devotees attained Kṛṣṇa and thus realized the ultimate goal of life
by following one of the nine methods of devotional service: Mahārāja Parikṣita
realized Kṛṣṇa by hearing about His glories (śravanam),
Śukadeva Gosvāmī realized Kṛṣṇa by speaking the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
(kīrtanam).
Prahlāda realized Him by devotional remembrance
(smaraṇam).
Lakṣmīdevī attained His mercy by serving His lotus feet (pādasevanam).
Mahārāja Pṛthu attained Him by worship (arcanam).
Akrūra attained Him through prayer (vandanam).
Hanuman attained Him through personal service (dāsyam).
Arjuna attained Him through friendship (sakhyam).
Bali Maharaja attained Him through complete surrender of body, mind, and
words (ātmā-nivedanam).
(Padyāvali 53)
Śravaṇa and Smaraṇa are Best
१३.१९
तस्मात् सर्बात्मना राजन् हरिः सर्बत्र सर्बदा
श्रोतब्य़ः कीर्तितबय़श् च स्मर्तब्य़ो भगबान् नृणाम्
13.19
tasmāt sarvātmanā rājan hariḥ sarvatra sarvadā
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavayaś ca smartavyo bhagavān nṛṇām
O King, it is therefore essential that every human being hear about, glorify, and remember the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead always and everywhere.
(Bhāg. 2.2.36)
Śravaṇa
१३.२०
तब कथामृतं तप्त-जीबनं कबिभिर् ईडितं कल्मषापहम्
श्रबण-मङ्गलं श्रीमद् आततं भुबि गृणन्ति य़े भूरि-दा जनाः
13.20
tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanaṁ kavibhir īḍitaṁ kalmaṣāpaham
śravaṇa-maṅgalaṁ śrīmad ātataṁ bhuvi gṛṇanti ye bhūri-dā janāḥ
O Kṛṣṇa, just hearing the nectar of Your words and the narrations of Your
pastimes gives life to us, who are always suffering in the material world. This
nectar is broadcast all over the world by great souls. It removes all sinful
reactions. It is all-auspicious and filled with spiritual power. Those who spread
this message of Godhead are certainlv doing the greatest relief work for human
society; they are the most magnanimous welfare workers.
(Bhāg. 10.31.9)
१३.२१
निबृत्त-तर्षैर् उपगीय़मानाद् भबौषधाच् छ्रोत्र-मनो-ऽभिरामात्
क उत्तमश्लोक-गुणानुबादात् पुमान् बिरज्य़ेत बिना पशुघ्नात्
13.21
nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt
ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt pumān virajyeta vinā paśughnāt
Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the
parampāra system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple.
Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right
medicine for all the conditioned souls undergoing repeated birth and death.
Therefore, who will cease hearing glorification of the Lord except a butcher or
one who is killing his self?
(Bhāg. l0.l.4)
The Gradation of What is Obtained by Śravaṇa
१३.२२
तच्-च नाम-रूप-गुण-लीलामय़-शब्दानां श्रोतस्पर्शः
प्रथमं नाम्नः श्रबणम्-अन्तः-करण- शुद्ध्य़र्थम्-पेक्षाम्
शुद्धे चान्तः-करणे रूप-श्रबबेन तद्-उदय़- य़ोग्य़ता भबति
सम्य़गुदिते च रूपे गुणानां स्फुरणं सम्पद्य़ेत, सम्पन्ने च गुणानां
स्फुरणे परिकर-बैशिष्थ्य़ेन तद्-बैशिष्थ्य़ं सम्पद्य़ते
ततस्-तेषु नाम-रूप-गुण- परिकरेषु सम्य़क् स्फुरितेषु
लीलानां स्फुरणं सुष्ठु भबति
तत्रापि श्रबणे श्री भागबत-श्रबणस्तु परम- श्रेष्ठम्
13.22
tac-ca nāma-rūpa-guṇa-līlāmaya-śabdānāṁ śrotasparśaḥ.
prathamaṁ nāmnaḥ śravaṇam-antaḥ-karaṇa- śuddhyartham-pekṣām.
śuddhe cāntaḥ-karaṇe rūpa-śravavena tad-udaya- yogyatā bhavati.
samyagudite ca rūpe guṇānāṁ sphuraṇaṁ sampadyeta, sampanne ca guṇānāṁ
sphuraṇe parikara-vaiśiṣthyena tad-vaiśiṣthyaṁ sampadyate
tatas-teṣu nāma-rūpa-guṇa- parikareṣu samyak sphuriteṣu
līlānāṁ sphuraṇaṁ suṣṭhu bhavati.
tatrāpi śravaṇe śrī bhāgavata-śravaṇastu parama- śreṣṭham.
Hearing of the name, form, qualities, and pastimes of the Lord and His devotees
is called śravaṇa. The practice of sādhana-bhakti depends on hearing the holy
name.
It begins with śravaṇa, which purifies the heart of the devotee. This
hearing process purifies the heart and gives liberation from the filthiness of
sense gratification.
In this way, by hearing transcendental sound about the form
of Kṛṣṇa, gradually the complete form of the Lord awakens within the heart.
Then gradually the qualities of the Lord arise within the heart.
As His qualities fully manifest themselves, the different specific aspects of His service and
pastimes gradually awaken. In this way, the holy name gradually reveals the
Lord's form, qualities, and pastimes in all their splendor and beauty and in all
their different branches.
Of all kinds of hearing, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the
best.
(Krama Sandarbha 7.5.18)
The Glories of Śravaṇa
१३.२३
पिबन्ति ये भागवत आत्मनः सतां कथामृतं श्रवण-पुटेषु सम्भृतम् पुनन्ति ये विषय-विदूषिताशयं व्रजन्ति तच्-चरण-सरोरुहान्तिकम्
१३.२३
पिबन्ति ये भागवत आत्मनः सतां कथामृतं श्रवण-पुटेषु सम्भृतम् पुनन्ति ये विषय-विदूषिताशयं व्रजन्ति तच्-चरण-सरोरुहान्तिकम्
13.23
pibanti ye bhāgavata ātmanaḥ satāṁ kathāmṛtaṁ śravaṇa-puṭeṣu sambhṛtam punanti ye viṣaya-vidūṣitāśayaṁ vrajanti tac-caraṇa-saroruhāntikam
Those who drink through their ears the nectarean topics of Kṛṣṇa who is dear
to His devotees cleanse themselves of filthy desires for material pleasures and
attain the shelter of the Lord's lotus feet.
(Bhāg. 2.2.37)
१३.२४
शृण्वतां स्व-कथाः कृष्णः पुण्य-श्रवण- कीर्तनः
हृद्य् अन्तः स्थो ह्य् अभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत् सताम्
13.24
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa- kīrtanaḥ
hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhṛt satām
Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as the Supersoul within everyone's heart and the friend of the
truthful, cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from the hearts of those who
have developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous
when properly heard and chanted.
(Bhāg. 1.2.17)
१३.२५
शृण्वतः श्रद्धया नित्यं गृणतश् च स्व- चेष्टितम्
कालेन नातिदीर्घेण भगवान् विशते हृदि
13.25
śṛṇvataḥ śraddhayā nityaṁ gṛṇataś ca sva- ceṣṭitam
kālena nātidīrgheṇa bhagavān viśate hṛdi
Those who always seriously listen to Śrīmad- Bhāgavatam and who apply its
teachings will soon realize the Supreme Lord within their heart of hearts.
(Bhāg. 2.8.4)
The Meaning of the Word Kīrtana
१३.२६
नाम-लीला-गुणादीनाम्-उच्चैर्-भाषा तु कीर्तनम्
13.26
nāma-līlā-guṇādīnām-uccair-bhāṣā tu kīrtanam
Kīrtanam is defined as loudly giving voice to the glories of the Lord, beginning
with the names, pastimes, and qualities of Kṛṣṇa.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.145)
The Material Senses Cannot Appreciate the Transcendental Nature of Hearing and Chanting About Kṛṣṇa
१३.२७
निजेन्द्रियमनः-काय चेष्टारूपां न विद्धि ताम्
नित्य-सत्य-घना-नन्द रूपा सा हि गुणातिगा
13.27
nijendriyamanaḥ-kāya ceṣṭārūpāṁ na viddhi tām
nitya-satya-ghanā-nanda rūpā sā hi guṇātigā
You should know that bhakti is not the activity of your senses, mind and body.
Bhakti is completely transcendental and full of bliss and certainly beyond the
modes of nature.
(Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta, Pūrva- vibhāga 2.3.133)
१३.२८
अतः श्री कृष्ण-नामादि न भवेद् ग्राह्यम्- इन्द्रियैः
सेवोन्मुखे हि जिह्वादौ स्वयम् एव स्फूरत्यदः
13.28
ataḥ śrī kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam- indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphūratyadaḥ
Therefore, [because the name of Kṛṣṇa is identical with Himself, and is beyond
the senses] the name; form, qualities, associates, and pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are
beyond the senses. When, however, a devotee engages the senses, beginning with
the tongue, in the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself to the purified
senses of that devotee.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.234)
Kīrtana
१३.२९
कृते यद् ध्यायतो विष्णुं त्रेतायां यजतो मखैः
द्वापरे परिचर्यायां कलौ तद् धरि-कीर्तनात्
13.29
kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ
dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt
What was attained by meditation in Satya-yuga, by sacrifice in Tretā-yuga, and by Deity worship in Dvāpara-yuga is attained in Kali-yuga by hari-kīrtana. (Bhāg. 12.3.52)
The Glories of Kṛṣṇa-kīrtana
१३.३०
सकृद् उच्चारितं येन हरिर्-इत्यक्षरद्वयम्
बद्धः परिकरस्तेन मोक्षाय गमनं प्रति
13.30
sakṛd uccāritaṁ yena harir-ityakṣaradvayam
baddhaḥ parikarastena mokṣāya gamanaṁ prati
One who vibrates the two syllables Ha-ri without offense attains liberation from
repeated birth and death. He never again has to walk the path of material
bondage.
(Padma-Purāṇa, Uttara-khaṇḍa 80.161)
१३.३१
ध्यायन् कृते यजन् यज्ञैस् त्रेतायां द्वापरेऽर्चयन्
यद्-आप्नोति तद्-आप्नोति कलौ सङ्कीर्त्य केशवम्
13.31
dhyāyan kṛte yajan yajñais tretāyāṁ dvāpare'rcayan
yad-āpnoti tad-āpnoti kalau saṅkīrtya keśavam
What was realized in Satya-yuga by meditation, in Tretā-yuga by sacrifice, and in Dvāpara-yuga by worship (arcana) , is realised in Kali-yuga by Kṛṣṇa-kīrtana.
(Padma-purāṇa, Uttara-khaṇḍa 42)
Kīrtana Describing the Lord's Qualities is the
Aim of All Knowledge
१३.३२
इदं हि पुंसस् तपसः श्रुतस्य वा स्विष्टस्य सूक्तस्य च बुद्धि-दत्तयोः
अविच्युतो ऽर्थः कविभिर् निरूपितो यद् उत्तमश्लोक-गुणानुवर्णनम्
13.32
idaṁ hi puṁsas tapasaḥ śrutasya vā sviṣṭasya sūktasya ca buddhi-dattayoḥ
avicyuto 'rthaḥ kavibhir nirūpito yad uttamaśloka-guṇānuvarṇanam
One's advancement of knowledge is furthered by austerities, study of the Vedas,
sacrifice, chanting of hymns, and charity. Those who are wise, however, have
concluded that knowledge finds its culmination in the transcendental
descriptions of the Lord, who is glorified with selected verses.
(Bhāg. 1.5.22)
१३.३३
श्रुतस्य पुंसां सुचिर-श्रमस्य नन्व् अञ्जसा सूरिभिर् ईडितो ऽर्थः
तत्-तद्-गुणानुश्रवणं मुकुन्दपादारविन्दं हृदयेषु येषाम्
13.33
śrutasya puṁsāṁ sucira-śramasya nanv añjasā sūribhir īḍito 'rthaḥ
tat-tad-guṇānuśravaṇaṁ mukundapādāravindaṁ hṛdayeṣu yeṣām
O sage! Persons who hear from a spiritual master with great labor and for a long time must hear from the mouths of pure devotees the glorification of the character and activities of pure devotees.
Pure devotees always think within their hearts of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, who awards liberation to His devotees.
(Bhāg. 3.13.4)
The Glories of the Qualities of the Supreme Lord
१३.३४
आत्मारामाश् च मुनयो निर्ग्रन्था अप्य् उरुक्रमे
कुर्वन्त्य् अहैतुकीं भक्तिम् इत्थम्-भूत-गुणो हरिः
13.34
ātmārāmāś ca munayo nirgranthā apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ
All varieties of ātmārāmās, especially those established on the path of self-realization,
though freed from all kinds of material bondage, desire to render unalloyed devotional service to the Personality of Godhead.
This means the Lord has transcendental qualities and therefore can attract everyone, including even liberated souls.
(Bhāg. 1.7.10)
Nāma-kīrtana is the Best
१३.३५
परं श्रीमत् पदाम्भोज- सदा-सङ्गत्य् अपेक्षया
नाम-सङ्कीर्तन-प्रायाम् विशुद्धां भक्तिमाचर
13.35
paraṁ śrīmat padāmbhoja- sadā-saṅgaty apekṣayā
nāma-saṅkīrtana-prāyām viśuddhāṁ bhaktimācara
O Gopa Kumāra! If you desire to have the eternal association of the lotus feet of
the Lord then you should perform pure devotional service which is prominent in
chanting of the holy name.
(Bṛhad- bhāgavatāmṛta 2.3.144)
Nāma-kīrtana is the Only Way in Kali-yuga
१३.३६
हरेर् नाम हरेर् नाम हरेर् नामैव केवलम्
कलौ नास्त्य् एव नास्त्य् एव नास्त्य् एव गतिर् अन्यथा
13.36
harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
The name of Hari, the name of Hari, the name of Hari is absolutely the only
way, the only way, the only way in this age of Kali. There is absolutely no other way.
(Cc. Ādi 17.21)
The Hari-nāma Verse Explained
১৩.৩৭
কলি-কালে নাম-রূপে কৃষ্ণ-অবতার নাম হৈতে হয় সর্ব-জগত্-নিস্তার
দার্ঢ্য় লাগি হরের্ নামঽ-উক্তি তিন-বার জড লোক বুঝাইতে পুনঃ ঽেবঽ-কার
ঽকেবলঽ-শব্দে পুনরপি নিশ্চয়-করণ জ্ঞান-য়োগ-তপ-কর্ম-আদি নিবারণ
অন্য়থা য়ে মানে, তার নাহিক নিস্তার নাহি, নাহি, নাহি-এ তিন এব-কার
13.37
kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra
dārḍhya lāgi' 'harer nāma'-ukti tina-vāra jaḍa loka bujhāite punaḥ 'eva'-kāra
'kevala'-śabde punarapi niścaya-karaṇa jñāna-yoga-tapa-karma-ādi nivāraṇa
anyathā ye māne, tāra nāhika nistāra nāhi, nāhi, nāhi-e tina 'eva'-kāra
In this age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the avatar of Kṛṣṇa.
Simply by chanting these names, one associates with the Lord directly.
Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.
This verse repeats the word eva (certainly) three times for emphasis. It also repeats three times the words harer nāma just to make common people understand.
The use of the word kevala (only) prohibits all other processes, such as cultivation of knowledge, practice of mystic yoga, and performance of austerities and fruitive activities.
(Cc. Ādi 17.22-25)
१३.३८
एतावान् साङ्ख्य-योगाभ्यां स्व-धर्म- परिनिष्ठया
जन्म-लाभः परः पुंसाम् अन्ते नारायण- स्मृतिः
13.38
etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ sva-dharma- pariniṣṭhayā
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām ante nārāyaṇa- smṛtiḥ
The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice or mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the time of death.
(Bhāg. 2.1.6)
The Results of Remembering Material Subjects vs. that of Remembering Kṛṣṇa
विषयान् ध्यायतश् चित्तं विषयेषु विषज्जते माम्
अनुस्मरतश् चित्तं मय्य् एव प्रविलीयते
13.39
viṣayān dhyāyataś cittaṁ viṣayeṣu viṣajjate mām
anusmarataś cittaṁ mayy eva pravilīyate
One who meditates on the objects of the senses becomes attached to those things. One who remembers Me, however, becomes absorbed in Me.
(Bhāg. 11.14.27)
The Results of Remembering Kṛṣṇa
१३.४०
अविस्मृतिः कृष्ण-पदारविन्दयोः क्षिणोत्य् अभद्राणि च शं तनोति
सत्त्वस्य शुद्धिं परमात्म-भक्तिं ज्ञानं च विज्ञान-विराग-युक्तम्
13.40
avismṛtiḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ kṣiṇoty abhadrāṇi ca śaṁ tanoti
sattvasya śuddhiṁ paramātma-bhaktiṁ jñānaṁ ca vijñāna-virāga-yuktam
For one who remembers the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, all inauspiciousness soon disappears, and one's good fortune expands. In other words, one becomes free from all material contamination, one attains liberation from repeated birth and death and one's real spiritual life begins. As one's heart becomes gradually purified, one's devotion for the Lord within the heart awakens, and one realises the Paramatma. Thus one gradually develops knowledge (jñāna), realisation (vijñāna), and renunciation (vairāgya).
(Bhāg. 12.12.55)
Kīrtana is Better than Śravaṇa and Smaraṇa
१३.४१
यद्यन्या भक्तिः कलौ कर्तव्या तदा कीर्तनाख्या भक्ति-संयोग-नैव
इत्युक्तम्. यज्ञैः सङ्कीर्तन-प्रायैर् यजन्ति हि सुमेधस इति. तत्र च
स्वतन्त्रम् एव नाम कीर्तनम्-अत्यन्त- प्रशस्तम्.
13.41
yadyanyā bhaktiḥ kalau kartavyā tadā kīrtanākhyā bhakti-saṁyoga-naiva
ityuktam. yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasa iti. tatra ca
svatantram eva nāma kīrtanam-atyanta- praśastam.
Even though in the age of Kali one may perform the above eight branches of
bhakti, nevertheless, one must perform kīrtana as the principle way of
advancing in sādhana-bhakti. The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam says, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtanaprāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ, "Those who are intelligent in this age of Kali
will worship the Lord through the performance of saṅkīrtana". On account of
this it is determined from an objective point of view, that of all processes of
devotional service, nāma-saṅkīrtana is the best.
(Krama-Sandarbha commentary to Bhāg. 7.5.23-24)
Pāda-sevana
१३.४२
यत्-पाद-सेवाभिरुचिस् तपस्विनाम् अशेष-जन्मोपचितं मलं धियः सद्यः क्षिणोत्य् अन्वहम् एधती सती यथा पदाङ्गुष्ठ-विनिःसृता सरित्
13.42
yat-pāda-sevābhirucis tapasvinām aśeṣa-janmopacitaṁ malaṁ dhiyaḥ sadyaḥ kṣiṇoty anvaham edhatī satī yathā padāṅguṣṭha-viniḥsṛtā sarit
By the inclination to serve the lotus feet of the Lord, suffering humanity can
immediately cleanse the dirt accumulated in their minds during innumerable
births. Like the Ganges, which emanates from the lotus feet of the Lord, such a
process immediately cleanses the mind, and thus Kṛṣṇa consciousness gradually increases. (Bhāg. 4.21.31)
१३.४३
धौतात्मा पुरुषः कृष्ण- पाद-मूलं न मुञ्चति
मुक्त-सर्व-परिक्लेशः पान्थः स्व-शरणं यथा
13.43
dhautātmā puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇa- pāda-mūlaṁ na muñcati
mukta-sarva-parikleśaḥ pānthaḥ sva-śaraṇaṁ yathā
A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of the Lord, for they fully
satisfy him, as a traveler is satisfied at home after a troubled journey.
(Bhāg. 2.8.6)
१३.४४
पादसेवायां पादशब्दो भक्यैव निर्दिष्ठः. ततः सेवायाः
सादरत्वं विधीयते. अस्य श्री मूर्ति-दर्शन-
स्पर्शन-परिक्रमानुव्रजनभगवन्-
मन्दिर-गङ्गा-पुरुषोत्तम-द्वारका-मथुरादि तदीय तीर्थस्थान-
गमना-दयोऽप्य् अन्तर्-भावयेद्
13.44
pādasevāyāṁ pādaśabdo bhakyaiva nirdiṣṭhaḥ. tataḥ sevāyāḥ
sādaratvaṁ vidhīyate. asya śrī mūrti-darśana-
sparśana-parikramānuvrajanabhagavan-
mandira-gaṅgā-puruṣottama-dvārakā-mathurādi tadīya tīrthasthāna-
gamanā-dayo'py antar-bhāvayed
In this verse, the words, pāda-sevanam indicates service through bhakti. On account of
this, there is the formal or proper fondness of service. Being intensely attached
to thinking of the Lord's lotus feet is called pāda- sevanam. When one is
particularly adherent to the process of pāda- sevanam, this gradually includes other processes, such as seeing the form of the Lord, touching the form of the
Lord, circumambulating the Deity or the temple of the Lord, visiting such holy
places as Jagannātha Purī, Dvārakā, and Mathurā to see the Lord's form, and bathing in the Ganges or Yamunā, and serving the devotees is also known as
tadīya-upāsanam, or worshiping those things in connection with Kṛṣṇa. This is
also considered to be a branch of pāda-sevanam.
(Krama-Sandarbha commentary on Bhāg. 7.5.23-24)
Result of Pāda-sevana
१३.४५
एतां स आस्थाय परात्म-निष्ठाम् अध्यासितां पूर्वतमैर् महर्षिभिः
अहं तरिष्यामि दुरन्त-पारं तमो मुकुन्दाङ्घ्रि-निषेवयैव
13.45
etāṁ sa āsthāya parātma-niṣṭhām adhyāsitāṁ pūrvatamair maharṣibhiḥ
ahaṁ tariṣyāmi duranta-pāraṁ tamo mukundāṅghri-niṣevayaiva
I shall cross over the ocean of material existence, which is extremely difficult to
cross by becoming fixed in serving the lotus feet of Mukunda and by taking complete shelter of Him.
This is approved by the previous great saints and sages who were fixed in devotion to the Supreme Lord. (Bhāg. 11.23.57)
Note: Śrī Viṣṇuswāmī considered
"accepting sannyāsa" as "parātma-niṣṭhām," being fixed in the service of Paramātmā.
১৩.৪৬
প্রভু কহে,-সাধু এই ভিক্ষুর বচন মুকুন্দ সেবন-ব্রত কৈল নির্ধারণ
পরাত্ম-নিষ্ঠা-মাত্র বেষ-ধারণ মুকুন্দ-সেবায় হয় সংসার-তারণ সেই বেষ কৈল, এবে বৃন্দাবন গিয়া কৃষ্ণ-নিষেবণ করি নিভৃতে বসিয়া
13.46
prabhu kahe,-sādhu ei bhikṣura vacana mukunda sevana-vrata kaila nirdhāraṇa
parātma-niṣṭhā-mātra veṣa-dhāraṇa mukunda-sevāya haya saṁsāra-tāraṇa sei veṣa kaila, ebe vṛndāvana giyā kṛṣṇa-niṣevaṇa kari nibhṛte vasiyā
Lord Caitanya approved the purport of the above verse on account of the
determination of the mendicant devotee to engage in the service of Lord
Mukunda. He gave His approval of this verse, indicating that it was very good.
The real purpose of sannyāsa is to dedicate oneself to the service of the lotus feet
of Mukunda. By serving Mukunda, one achieves divine love, a fate which eclipses liberation from the bondage of material existence.
(Cc. Madhya 3.7- 9)
Arcana
१३.४७
यथा तरोर् मूल-निषेचनेन तृप्यन्ति तत्-स्कन्ध-भुजोपशाखाः
प्राणोपहाराच् च यथेन्द्रियाणां तथैव सर्वार्हणम् अच्युतेज्या
13.47
yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā
As by pouring water on the root of a tree the leaves and branches are satisfied,
and as supplying food to the stomach the entire body is satisfied, simply by
worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all worship is automatically
performed and the entire universe is satisfied.
(Bhāg. 4.31.14)
१३.४८
विधिना देवदेवेशः शङ्ख चक्र धरो हरिः फलं ददाति सुलभं सलिलेनापि पूजितः
13.48
vidhinā devadeveśaḥ śaṅkha cakra dharo hariḥ phalaṁ dadāti sulabhaṁ salilenāpi pūjitaḥ
If Lord Hari, the Supreme master of all demigods, who holds a conch and disc is
worshiped properly even if by water, He grants the suitable result.
(Śrī Kṛṣṇāmṛta-mahārṇava Mādhvācarya)
१३.४९
ये तु सम्पत्तिमन्तो गृहस्थास्तेषां त्वर्चनमार्ग एव मुख्यः तदकृत्वा फि निष्क्रिञ्चनवत् केवलस्मरणादि-निष्ठत्त्वे वित्तशाठ्य-प्रतिपत्तिः स्यात्.
पाराद्वारा सप्मादनं व्यवहारनिष्ठत्वस्यालसत्वस्य वा
प्रतिपादकम्.
ततो श्रद्धामयत्वाद्धीनमेव तत्. तथा गार्हस्त्य-धर्मस्य
देवतायागरूपस्य शाखापल्लवादिसेकस्थानीयस्य मूलसेकरूपम् तदर्चनमित्यपि तदकरणे महान् दोषः. दीक्षितानां च सर्वेषां तदकरणे नरकपातः श्रूयते. ननु भगवन्नामात्मका
एव मन्त्राः, तत्र विशेषेण नमः शब्दाद्यलओकृताः, श्री
भगवता श्री महृषिभिश् चाहित-शक्ति-विशेषाः, श्री भगवता
संम्त्मसम्बन्धविशेष-प्रतिपादकाश्च, तत्र केवलानि ततो मन्त्रेषु
नामतो ऽधिकसामर्थ्ये लब्धे कथं दीक्षाद्यपेक्षा उच्यते, यद्यपि
स्वरूपतो नास्ति, तथापि प्रायः देहादि
ऽसम्बन्धेन कदर्य-शीलानां विक्षिप्तचित्तानां जनानां तत् सङ्कोची-करणाय महऋषि-प्रभृतिभिरत्रार्चनमार्गे
क्वचित् काचिन्-मार्यादा स्थापितास्ति.
13.49
ye tu sampattimanto gṛhasthāsteṣāṁ tvarcanamārga eva mukhyaḥ tadakṛtvā phi niṣkriñcanavat kevalasmaraṇādi-niṣṭhattve vittaśāṭhya-pratipattiḥ syāt.
pārādvārā sapmādanaṁ vyavahāraniṣṭhatvasyālasatvasya vā
pratipādakam.
tato śraddhāmayatvāddhīnameva tat. tathā gārhastya-dharmasya
devatāyāgarūpasya śākhāpallavādisekasthānīyasya mūlasekarūpam tadarcanamityapi tadakaraṇe mahān doṣaḥ. dīkṣitānāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ tadakaraṇe narakapātaḥ śrūyate. nanu bhagavannāmātmakā
eva mantrāḥ, tatra viśeṣeṇa namaḥ śabdādyalaokṛtāḥ, śrī
bhagavatā śrī mahṛṣibhiś cāhita-śakti-viśeṣāḥ, śrī bhagavatā
saṁamtmasambandhaviśeṣa-pratipādakāśca, tatra kevalāni tato mantreṣu
nāmato 'dhikasāmarthye labdhe kathaṁ dīkṣādyapekṣā ucyate, yadyapi
svarūpato nāsti, tathāpi prāyaḥ dehādi
'sambandhena kadarya-śīlānāṁ vikṣiptacittānāṁ janānāṁ tat saṅkocī-karaṇāya mahaṛṣi-prabhṛtibhiratrārcanamārge
kvacit kācin-māryādā sthāpitāsti.
Śrīla Prabhupāda paraphrases this passage from Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī's Krama-
Sandarbha: "Especially for gṛhasthas who have money, the path of Deity
worship is strongly recommended. An opulent householder who does not engage
his hard-earned money in the service of the Lord is called a miser. One should
not engage paid brāhmaṇas to worship the Deity. If one does not personally
worship the Deity but engages paid servants to do so he is considered lazy. His
worship of the Deity is called artificial and devoid of faith. An opulent
householder can collect luxurious paraphenalia for Deity worship, and
consequently for householder devotees the worship of the Deity is compulsory.
[In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there are brahmacārīs, gṛhasthas,
vānaprasthas, and sannyāsīs, but the Deity worship in the temple should be
performed expecially by the householders. The brahmacārīs can go with the
sannyāsīs to preach, and the vānaprasthas should prepare themselves for the
next status of renounced life, sannyāsa] Gṛhastha dvotees, however, are
generally engaged in material activities, and therefore if they do not take to
Deity worship, their falling down is positively assured. Deity worship means
following the rules and regulations precisely. That will keep one steady in
devotional service. Gṛhasthas must adopt the arcana-viddhi, or Deity worship
according to the suitable arrangements and directions given by the spiritual
master. Deity worship should be continued along with hearing and chanting.
Therefore every mantra is preceded by the word namaḥ. In all the mantras there
are specific potencies, of which the gṛhastha must take advantage. There are
many mantras preceded by the word namaḥ, but if one chants the holy name of
the Lord, he receives the result of chanting namaḥ many times.
By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one can reach the platform of love of Godhead. One
might ask, then, what is the necessity of being initiated? The answer is that even
though the chanting of the holy name is sufficient to enable one to progres in
spiritual life to the standard of love of Godhead, one is nonetheless susceptible
to contamination because of having a material body, consequently special stress
is given to arcana-viddhi. One should therefore regularly take advantage of both
the bhāgavata process and the pāñcarātrikī process.
(Jīva Goswāmī Krama Sandarbha commentary Bhāg. 7.5.23)
१३.५०
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तद् अहं भक्त्य्-उपहृतम् अश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः
13.50
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a
flower, a fruit or some water, I will accept it with similar love and devotion.
(Bhagavad-gītā 9.26)
१३.५१
अयं स्वस्त्य्-अयनः पन्था द्वि-जातेर् गृह- मेधिनः
यच् छ्रद्धयाप्त-वित्तेन शुक्लेनेज्येत पूरुषः
13.51
ayaṁ svasty-ayanaḥ panthā dvi-jāter gṛha- medhinaḥ
yac chraddhayāpta-vittena śuklenejyeta pūruṣaḥ
The most auspicious course for householders of the twice-born caste is that they
devoutly worship the Deity form of the Supreme Person by sacrifices performed
with honestly earned wealth.
(Bhāg. 10.84.37)
Vandana
१३.५२
तत्-पाद-पद्म प्रवणैः काय-मानस- भाषितैः
प्रणामो वासुदेवस्य वन्दनं कथ्यते बुधैः
13.52
tat-pāda-padma pravaṇaiḥ kāya-mānasa- bhāṣitaiḥ
praṇāmo vāsudevasya vandanaṁ kathyate budhaiḥ
When those who are devoted to Lord Hari's lotus feet offer respects to Him with their body, mind, or words, this is called vandanam by learned devotees.
(Haribhakti- kalpa-latikā 9.1)
१३.५३
किं विद्यया परम-योग-पथैश् च किन्तैरभ्यासतोऽपि
शतशो जनिभिर्-दुरुहैः वन्दे मुकुन्दम् इह यन्-नतिमात्रकेण
कर्माण्यपोह्य परमं पदमेति लोकः
13.53
kiṁ vidyayā parama-yoga-pathaiś ca kintairabhyāsato'pi
śataśo janibhir-duruhaiḥ vande mukundam iha yan-natimātrakeṇa
karmāṇyapohya paramaṁ padameti lokaḥ
What need is there to perform the different yoga systems, which are difficult to
perfect even in a hundred births? What need is there to struggle to attain
transcendental knowledge? I shall offer my respectful obeisances to Lord
Kṛṣṇa, for simply by offering obeisances to Him, one may get free from the
bonds of karma, and attain the supreme spiritual world.
(Hari-bhakti-kalpalatikā 9.2)
The Glories of Vandana
१३.५४
तत् ते ऽनुकम्पां सु-समीक्षमाणो भुञ्जान एवात्म-कृतं विपाकम्
हृद्-वाग्-वपुर्भिर् विदधन् नमेस् ते जीवेत यो मुक्ति-पदे स दाय-भाक्
13.54
tat te 'nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan names te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk
O Lord, one who seeks Your mercy, while tolerating all kinds of adversities due
to past karma, who always serves You in devotion with his body, mind, and
words, and who goes on offering prayers and obeisances to You from within the
core of his heart despite all hardships, liberation is his rightful inheritance.
(Bhāg. 10.14.8)
१३.५५
नाहं वन्दे तव चरणयोर्-द्वन्द्वम्- अद्वन्द्व-हेतोः
कुम्भीपाकं गुरुमपि हरे नारकं नापनेतुम्
रम्या रामा-मृदुतनुलता-नन्दने नापि रन्तुं
भावे भावे हृदयभवने भावयेयं भवन्तम्
13.55
nāhaṁ vande tava caraṇayor-dvandvam- advandva-hetoḥ
kumbhīpākaṁ gurumapi hare nārakaṁ nāpanetum
ramyā rāmā-mṛdutanulatā-nandane nāpi rantuṁ
bhāve bhāve hṛdayabhavane bhāvayeyaṁ bhavantam
O my Lord Hari! I don't pray at Your lotus feet to be saved from the duality of
existence or to escape this grim hell of boiling tribulations. Nor do I pray to
enjoy the soft-skinned beautiful women who reside in the garden of heaven. I
pray to You only to develop love for You within my heart of hearts, birth after
birth.
(Mukunda-mālā-stotram 4)
Dāsyam
१३.५६
देहधीन्द्रयवाक् चेतो- धर्म-कामार्थ- कर्मणाम्
भगवत्य् अर्पणं प्रीत्या दास्यम्-इत्य्- अभिधीयते
13.56
dehadhīndrayavāk ceto- dharma-kāmārtha- karmaṇām
bhagavaty arpaṇaṁ prītyā dāsyam-ity- abhidhīyate
When the work performed by the body, intelligence, senses, voice, and mind, the
pious activities, enjoyment and wealth, are offered with love to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, that is called dāsyam, service.
(Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā 10.1)
१३.५७
दास्ये खलु निमज्जन्ति सर्वा एव हि भक्तयः वासुदेवे जगन्तीव नभसीव दिशो दश
13.57
dāsye khalu nimajjanti sarvā eva hi bhaktayaḥ vāsudeve jagantīva nabhasīva diśo daśa
Just as the universes enter the transcendental body of Lord Vāsudeva, and just
as the ten directions enter the sky, in the same way, all different forms of bhakti
enter into service.
(Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latika 10.2)
१३.५८
श्रवणं कीर्तनं ध्यान- पादसेवनमर्चनाम्
वन्दनं स्वार्पणं सख्यं सर्वं दास्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्
13.58
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ dhyāna- pādasevanamarcanām
vandanaṁ svārpaṇaṁ sakhyaṁ sarvaṁ dāsye pratiṣṭhitam
The devotional processes of hearing about the Lord, glorifying Him, remembering Him, serving His lotus feet, worshiping Him, offering obeisances to Him, surrendering everything to Him, and befriending Him, all rest on service to Him.
(Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latika 10.3)
The Different Branches of Dāsya
१३.५९
आदरः परिचर्यायां सर्वाङ्गैर् अभिवन्दनम्
मद्-भक्त-पूजाभ्यधिका सर्व-भूतेषु मन्- मतिः
13.59
ādaraḥ paricaryāyāṁ sarvāṅgair abhivandanam
mad-bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā sarva-bhūteṣu man- matiḥ
My devotees take great care and respect in rendering Me service, offering
obeisances with all their bodily limbs, and above all worshiping My devotees.
They see all living beings as related to Me.
(Bhāg. 11.19.21)
१३.६०
मद्-अर्थेष्व् अङ्ग-चेष्टा च वचसा मद्- गुणेरणम्
मय्य् अर्पणं च मनसः सर्व-काम- विवर्जनम्
13.60
mad-artheṣv aṅga-ceṣṭā ca vacasā mad- guṇeraṇam
mayy arpaṇaṁ ca manasaḥ sarva-kāma- vivarjanam
For Me they engage the entire energy of their bodies. They use their words to describe My qualities; they offer their minds to Me; and they reject all material
desires. Thus are My devotees characterised.
(Bhāg. 11.19.22)
The Prayer of the Servant of the Lord
१३.६१
कामादीनां कति न कतिधा पालिता दुर्निदेशास्
तेषां जाता मयि न करुणा न त्रपा नोपशान्तिः
उत्सृज्यैतान् अथ यदु-पते साम्प्रतं लब्ध- बुद्धिस्
त्वाम् आयातः शरणम् अभयं मां नियुओक्ष्वात्म-दास्ये
13.61
kāmādīnāṁ kati na katidhā pālitā durnideśās
teṣāṁ jātā mayi na karuṇā na trapā nopaśāntiḥ
utsṛjyaitān atha yadu-pate sāmprataṁ labdha- buddhis
tvām āyātaḥ śaraṇam abhayaṁ māṁ niyuokṣvātma-dāsye
O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I
have rendered them so much service, they have not shown any mercy upon me. I
have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up.
O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has
been awakened and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental
intelligence, I now refuse to follow the unwanted orders of these desires. Now I
come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in
Your personal service and save me.
(Cc. Madhya 22.16)
The Definition of Sakhya
१३.६२
अति-विश्वस्त चित्तस्य वासुदेवे सुखाम्बुधौ
सौहॠद्देन परा प्रीतिः सख्यम् इत्य्-अभिधीयते
13.62
ati-viśvasta cittasya vāsudeve sukhāmbudhau
sauhaṝddena parā prītiḥ sakhyam ity-abhidhīyate
A very faithful devotee's love for Lord Vāsudeva, who is an ocean of bliss, in the
mood of friendship is called sakhyam, friendship.
(Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā 11.1)
Two Divisions of Sakhya: Faith-based and Affection-based
१३.६३
विश्वासो मित्रवृत्तिश् च सख्यं द्विविधम्-ईरितिअम्
13.63
viśvāso mitravṛttiś ca sakhyaṁ dvividham-īritiam
The wise have determined that sakhya, friendship, has two divisions: sakhyam
that is a generic sense of friendship based on faith [that "God is my friend" in
sadhana-vaidhi-bhakti] and a highly refined and developed sakhyam based on
the temperament of friendly feelings [as in the case of the cowherd boys in
Vṛndāvana.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva- vibhāga 2.188)
Generic "faith-based" Sakhyam
१३.६४
एवं मनः कर्म-वशं प्रयुङ्क्ते अविद्ययात्मन्य्
उपधीयमाने प्रीतिर् न यावन् मयि वासुदेवे
न मुच्यते देह-योगेन तावत्
13.64
evaṁ manaḥ karma-vaśaṁ prayuṅkte avidyayātmany
upadhīyamāne prītir na yāvan mayi vāsudeve
na mucyate deha-yogena tāvat
When the living entity is covered by the mode of ignorance, he does not
understand the individual living being and the supreme living being. His mind is
immersed in fruitive activity. Until he is "friendly" towards God (Vāsudeva), he is certainly not delivered from having to accept a material body again and again.
(Bhāg. 5.5.6)
Sakhyam Based on Intimate Feelings of
Friendship
१३.६५
अहो भाग्यम् अहो भाग्यं नन्द-गोप- व्रजौकसाम्
यन्-मित्रं परमानन्दं पूर्णं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
13.65
aho bhāgyam aho bhāgyaṁ nanda-gopa- vrajaukasām
yan-mitraṁ paramānandaṁ pūrṇaṁ brahma sanātanam
What good fortune was Nanda Mahārāja's! What good fortune was bestowed
upon the gopas, and all the other residents of Vraja! Their good fortune is
beyond limits, because the eternally blissful Personality of Godhead is their
friend.
(Bhāg. 10.14.32)
The Definition of Atmā-nivedanam
१३.६६
कृष्णायार्पित-देहस्य निर्ममस्याप् अम्हओकृतेः मनसस्
तत् स्वरूपत्वं स्मृतम्-आत्म- निवेदनम्
13.66
kṛṣṇāyārpita-dehasya nirmamasyāp amhaokṛteḥ manasas
tat svarūpatvaṁ smṛtam-ātma- nivedanam
Free from false ego and a false sense of proprietorship, a pure devotee
surrenders his body to the Lord. The natural inclination of such a devotee's
mind is called ātmā-nivedanam surrendering everything.
(Hari-bhakti-kalpalatika 12.1)
१३.६७
वपुरादिषु योऽपि कोऽपि वा गुणतोऽमानि यथा- तथा-विधः
तदहं तव पाद-पद्मयो-रहमद्यैव मया समर्पितः
13.67
vapurādiṣu yo'pi ko'pi vā guṇato'māni yathā- tathā-vidhaḥ
tadahaṁ tava pāda-padmayo-rahamadyaiva mayā samarpitaḥ
Whatever might be my situation with regard to the body and worldly conditions;
whatever might be the type of character I am endowed with I dedicate here and
now my entire self to You.
(Stotra-ratnam 49)
Śaraṇāgati
१३.६८
देवर्षि-भूताप्त-नृणां पितॄणां न किङ्करो नायम् ऋणी च राजन्
सर्वात्मना यः शरणं शरण्यं गतो मुकुन्दं परिहृत्य कर्म
13.68
devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṝṇāṁ na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan
sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya karma
O King, one who has given up all material desires and has taken full shelter of
the lotus feet of Mukunda, who offers shelter to all, is not indebted to the
demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind, or
even one's forefathers who have passed away. Since all such classes of living
beings are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the
Lord's service has no need to serve such persons separately. (Bhāg. 11.5.41)
१३.६९
सर्व-धर्मान् परित्यज्य माम् एकं शरणं व्रज
अहं त्वां सर्व-पापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः
13.69
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
Abandon all varieties of religion and surrender unto Me. I shall protect you
from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. (Bhagavad- gītā 18.66)
Duties and Religious Principles (Dharma) Favorable to Bhakti
१३.७०
सर्वतो मनसो ऽसङ्गम् आदौ सङ्गं च साधुषु
दयां मैत्रीं प्रश्रयं च भूतेष्व् अद्धा यथोचितम्
13.70
sarvato manaso 'saṅgam ādau saṅgaṁ ca sādhuṣu
dayāṁ maitrīṁ praśrayaṁ ca bhūteṣv addhā yathocitam
A sincere disciple should shun all material conceptions and associate with
sādhus, by showing kindness to subordinates, friendship to peers, and reverence
to superior devotees.
(Bhāg. 11.3.23)
१३.७१
शौचं तपस् तितिक्षां च मौनं स्वाध्यायम् आर्जवम्
ब्रह्मचर्यम् अहिंसां च समत्वं द्वन्द्व- संज्ञयोः
13.71
śaucaṁ tapas titikṣāṁ ca maunaṁ svādhyāyam ārjavam
brahmacaryam ahiṁsāṁ ca samatvaṁ dvandva- saṁjñayoḥ
A sincere disciple should shun all material conceptions by remaining clean, austere, tolerant, quiet, studious, simple, celibate, non-violent, and unbewildered by duality.
(Bhāg. 11.3.24)
१३.७२
सर्वत्रात्मेश्वरान्वीक्षां कैवल्यम् अनिकेतताम्
विविक्त-चीर-वसनं सन्तोषं येअ केनचित्
13.72
sarvatrātmeśvarānvīkṣāṁ kaivalyam aniketatām
vivikta-cīra-vasanaṁ santoṣaṁ yea kenacit
One should realize that souls are all-pervading and that the Lord is the Supreme
controller of the universe. In this way, he should live in solitude, free from
attachment to wife, family, home, and society. He should wear ragged cloth or
tree bark and remain contented with whatever he gets without endeavour.
(Bhāg. 11.3.25)
१३.७३
श्रद्धां भागवते शास्त्रे ऽनिन्दाम् अन्यत्र चापि हि
मनो-वाक्-कर्म-दण्डं च सत्यं शम- दमाव् अपि
13.73
śraddhāṁ bhāgavate śāstre 'nindām anyatra cāpi hi
mano-vāk-karma-daṇḍaṁ ca satyaṁ śama- damāv api
He should have firm faith in scriptures that glorify the Lord, but should not
blaspheme other scriptures. He should control his mind, words, and deeds. He
should always remain truthful and keep his senses controlled.
(Bhāg. 11.3.26)
१३.७४
श्रवणं कीर्तनं ध्यानं हरेर् अद्भुत- कर्मणः
जन्म-कर्म-गुणानां च तद्-अर्थे ऽखिल- चेष्टितम्
13.74
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ dhyānaṁ harer adbhuta- karmaṇaḥ
janma-karma-guṇānāṁ ca tad-arthe 'khila- ceṣṭitam
One should listen to, glorify, and meditate upon the wonderful births, pastimes,
and qualities of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Śrī Hari. One should also
dedicate all his acts for the pleasure of the Lord.
(Bhāg. 11.3.27)
१३.७५
इष्टं दत्तं तपो जप्तं वृत्तं यच् चात्मनः प्रियम्
दारान् सुतान् गृहान् प्राणान् यत् परस्मै निवेदनम्
13.75
iṣṭaṁ dattaṁ tapo japtaṁ vṛttaṁ yac cātmanaḥ priyam
dārān sutān gṛhān prāṇān yat parasmai nivedanam
One should perform sacrifice, charity, and penance only for the pleasure of the
Lord. One should also chant mantras and hymns in praise of the Lord. All one's
religious duties should be done for Him. One also should offer to the Lord
whatever gives one pleasure.
(Bhāg. 11.3.28)
१३.७६
उत्साहान्-निश्चयाद् धैर्यात् तत्-तत्-कर्म- प्रवर्तनात्
सङ्ग-त्यागात् सतो वृत्तेः षड्भिर्-भक्तिः प्रसिध्यति
13.76
utsāhān-niścayād dhairyāt tat-tat-karma- pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ ṣaḍbhir-bhaktiḥ prasidhyati
Enthusiasm, determination, patience, acting according to the principles of
devotional service, giving up the association of non-devotees and following in
the footsteps of the previous ācāryas these six things are favorable to the
cultivation of devotional service.
(Upadeśāmṛta 3)
Detachment is Favorable for Bhakti
१३.७७
जात-श्रद्धो मत्-कथासु निर्विण्णः सर्व- कर्मसु
वेद दुःखात्मकान् कामान् परित्यागे ऽप्य् अनीश्वरः
13.77
jāta-śraddho mat-kathāsu nirviṇṇaḥ sarva- karmasu
veda duḥkhātmakān kāmān parityāge 'py anīśvaraḥ
Sometimes a devotee has awakened faith in hearing about Me, but even though
he is disgusted with karmic life and knows the miseries that sensual pleasures
bring, he is unable to give up his attachment to sense gratification.
(Bhāg. 11.20.27)
13.78
tato bhajeta māṁ prītaḥ śraddhālur dṛḍha- niścayaḥ
juṣamāṇaś ca tān kāmān duḥkhodarkāṁś ca garhayan
Such a devotee should worship Me with affection, faith, determination and conviction, even while engaging in sense gratification, knowing that such sense gratification leads to misery, and all the while hating his attachments to material pleasures. In this way, sincerely lamenting his attachments to material pleasures, he should go on worshiping Me with
affection and conviction. Gradually his material attachments will disappear.
(Bhāg. 11.20.28)
१३.७९
प्रोक्तेन भक्ति-योगेन भजतो मासकृन् मुनेः
कामा हृदय्या नश्यन्ति सर्वे मयि हृदि स्थिते
13.79
proktena bhakti-yogena bhajato māsakṛn muneḥ
kāmā hṛdayyā naśyanti sarve mayi hṛdi sthite
In this way, an intelligent person will constantly worship Me in bhakti-yoga and
will find that gradually all the material desires in his heart disappear, as I
become firmly situated in his heart.
(Bhāg. 11.20.29)
१३.८०
अनासक्तस्य विषयान् यथार्हम्-उपयुञ्जतः
निर्बन्धः कृष्ण-सम्बन्धे युक्तं वैराग्यमुच्यते
13.80
anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham-upayuñjataḥ
nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyamucyate
That renunciation in which there is no attachment for the objects of the senses,
but in which everything is seen in relationship to Kṛṣṇa and all things are
engagcd in His service is called yukta-vairāgya, or practical renunciation.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.125)
१३.८१
विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः
रस-वर्जं रसो ऽप्य् अस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते
13.81
viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaṁ raso 'py asya paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate
The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for
sense objects remain, but ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher
taste, he is fixed in consciousness.
(Bhagavad-gītā 2.59)
Gṛhastha Conduct is Favorable for Bhakti
१३.८२
लौकिकी वैदिकी वापि याक्रिया क्रियते मुने
हरि-सेवानुकुलैव सा कार्या भक्तिम्-इच्छाता
13.82
laukikī vaidikī vāpi yākriyā kriyate mune
hari-sevānukulaiva sā kāryā bhaktim-icchātā
O sage, one who aspires for devotional service should perform all activities,
whether Vedic or mundane, in a way that is favorable for the service of Lord
Hari.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.200, from Nārada-Pañcarātra)
Fasting on Ekādaśī is Favorable for Bhakti
१३.८३
तुलस्य-श्वथधात्र्यादि-पूजनं धामनिष्ठता
अरुणोदय-विद्धस्तु संत्याज्यो हरिवासरः
जन्माष्टम्यादिकं सूर्योद-यविद्धं परित्यजेत्
13.83
tulasya-śvathadhātryādi-pūjanaṁ dhāmaniṣṭhatā
aruṇodaya-viddhastu saṁtyājyo harivāsaraḥ
janmāṣṭamyādikaṁ sūryoda-yaviddhaṁ parityajet
One should worship Tulasī, the banyan and amalā trees, and everything else that is in relation to the Lord. One should be faithful to the Lord's abode. One should fast on Ekādaśī and Janmāṣṭamī, but should avoid fasting on mixed Ekādaśī, such as when part of the Ekādaśī falls on the tenth day of the moon. One should also avoid practicing mixed
Janmāṣṭamī, such as when it partly falls on the seventh day of the moon.
(Prameya- ratnāvalī 8.9)
१३.८४
बहु-वाक्य-विरोधेन सन्देहो जायते यदा
उपोष्या द्वादशी तत्र त्रयोदश्यान्तु पारणम्
13.84
bahu-vākya-virodhena sandeho jāyate yadā
upoṣyā dvādaśī tatra trayodaśyāntu pāraṇam
When there is a doubt about the correct fasting day for Edādaśī or vrata due to
many opposing scriptural statements, one should fast on dvādaśī and break the
fast on trayodaśī.
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 12.279, from Nāradīya Purāṇa)
What Destroys Bhakti
१३.८५
अत्याहारः प्रयासश् च प्रजल्पो नियमाग्रहः
जन-सङ्गश् च लौल्यं च षड्भिर् भक्तिर् विनश्यति
13.85
atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ
jana-saṅgaś ca laulyaṁ ca ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati
Over-eating or over-collecting, over endeavoring for mundane things, useless idle talk, neglecting scriptural rules or only formally following them, mundane association, and greed these six things destroy devotion to Kṛṣṇa.
(Upadeśāmṛta 4)
The Dust and Water From a Devotee's Feet, and His Remnants all Have the Power to Bestow Prema
১৩.৮৬
কৃষ্ণের উচ্ছিষ্ট হয় ঽমহা-প্রসাদঽ নাম
ঽভক্ত-শেষঽ হৈলে ঽমহা-মহা-প্রসাদাখ্য়ানঽ
ভক্ত-পদ-ধূলি আর ভক্ত-পদ-জল
ভক্ত-ভুক্ত-অবশেষ, তিন মহা-বল এই তিন-সেবা হৈতে কৃষ্ণ-প্রেমা হয়
পুনঃ পুনঃ সর্ব-শাস্ত্রে ফুকারিয়া কয় তাতে বার বার অহি,
শুন ভক্ত-গণ বিশ্বাস করিয়া কর এ-তিন সেমন
13.86
kṛṣṇera ucchiṣṭa haya 'mahā-prasāda' nāma
'bhakta-śeṣa' haile 'mahā-mahā-prasādākhyāna'
bhakta-pada-dhūli āra bhakta-pada-jala
bhakta-bhukta-avaśeṣa, tina mahā-bala ei tina-sevā haite kṛṣṇa-premā haya
punaḥ punaḥ sarva-śāstre phukāriyā kaya tāte bāra bāra ahi,
śuna bhakta-gaṇa viśvāsa kariyā kara e-tina semana
The remnants of food offered to Kṛṣṇa is called mahā-prasāda. After this mahāprasāda
is taken by a devotee, the remnants are mahāmahā-prasāda. The dust of
the feet of a devotee, the water that has washed the feet of a devotee, and the
remnants of food left by a devotee are very powerful. By service to these three,
one attains the supreme goal of ecstatic love for
Kṛṣṇa. In all the revealed
scriptures this is declared again and again. Therefore, my dear devotees, please
hear from me, for I insist again and again; please keep faith in these three and
serve to them without hesitation.
(Cc. Antya 16.59-62)
The Glories of Mahā-prasāda
१३.८७
नैबेद्य़ं जगदीशस्य़ अन्नपानादिकञ् च य़त्
भक्ष्य़ाभक्ष-बिचारश् च नास्ति तद्-भक्षणे द्बिजाः
13.87
naivedyaṁ jagadīśasya annapānādikañ ca yat
bhakṣyābhakṣa-vicāraś ca nāsti tad-bhakṣaṇe dvijāḥ
O brāhmaṇas, those foodstuffs and beverages that are offered to Kṛṣṇa for His
pleasure are transcendental and one should never try to distinguish them as
eatables and non-eatables.
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 9.403)
१३.८८-८९
ब्रह्मबन्-निर्बिकारम् हि य़था बिष्णुस् तथैब तत्
बिकारं य़े प्रकुर्बन्ति भक्षणे तद् द्बिजातय़ः
कुष्ठ-ब्य़ाधि-समाय़ुक्ताः पुत्रदार-बिबर्जिताः
निरय़ं य़ान्ति ते बिप्रा य़स्मान्-नाबर्तते पुनः
13.88-89
brahmavan-nirvikāram hi yathā viṣṇus tathaiva tat
vikāraṁ ye prakurvanti bhakṣaṇe tad dvijātayaḥ
kuṣṭha-vyādhi-samāyuktāḥ putradāra-vivarjitāḥ
nirayaṁ yānti te viprā yasmān-nāvartate punaḥ
O brāhmaṇas, the offerings to Śrī Hari are transcendental, incorruptible, and
nondifferent from Viṣṇu. Those who have a perverted mentality, and who thinks
them to be material will develop leprosy, be devoid of children, wife, and family,
and go to the deepest darkest regions of hell from which he will never return.
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 9.404,405)
१३.९०
कुक्कुरस्य़ मुखाद् भ्रष्टं तद् अन्नं पतते य़दि
ब्राह्मणेना ऽपि भोक्तब्य़ं इतरेषाम् तु का कथा
13.90
kukkurasya mukhād bhraṣṭaṁ tad annaṁ patate yadi
brāhmaṇenā 'pi bhoktavyaṁ itareṣām tu kā kathā
Mahā-prasāda destroys all sins. Even if it has been touched by the lips of a dog
or has fallen on the ground, it will still be relished by brāhmaṇas. Then what to
speak if it is touched by others.
(Skanda Purāṇa, Puri Māhātmya 2.2.38.17)
१३.९१
अशुचिर्-बाप्य़नाचारो मनसा-पापम्-आचरन्
प्राप्ति मात्रेण भोक्तब्य़ं नात्र कार्य़ा बिचारणा
13.91
aśucir-vāpyanācāro manasā-pāpam-ācaran
prāpti mātreṇa bhoktavyaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā
Even if one is in unclean state of body or mind, engaged in irreligious acts, he
should eat mahā-prasāda whenever it is available to him. There is no need to
deliberate on this.
(Skanda Purāṇa, Puri Māhātmya 2.5.3.14)
Attachment to Wife and Home is Antagonistic to Developing Bhakti
१३.९२
मतिर् न कृष्णे परतः स्बतो बा मिथो ऽभिपद्य़ेत गृह-ब्रतानाम्
अदान्त-गोभिर् बिशतां तमिस्रं पुनः पुनश् चर्बित-चर्बणानाम्
13.92
matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā mitho 'bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām
adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām
Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons addicted to materialistic life
progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew the chewed. Their
inclinations toward Kṛṣṇa are never aroused, either by the instruction of others,
by their own efforts or by a combination of both.
(Bhāg 7.5.30)
१३.९३
न ते बिदुः स्बार्थ-गतिं हि बिष्णुं दुराशय़ा य़े बहिर्-अर्थ-मानिनः
अन्धा य़थान्धैर् उपनीय़मानास् ते ऽपीश-तन्त्र्य़ाम् उरु-दाम्नि बद्धाः
13.93
na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās te 'pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ
Persons entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have
therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to
external sense objects, cannot understand that the
goal of life is to return home,
back to Godhead and engage in the service of
Lord Viṣṇu. As blind men guided
by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially
attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of
fruitive labor, which are very strong. They continue again and again in
materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.
(Bhāg 7.5.31)
Things Unfavorable to Devotional Service
१३.९४
अर्च्य़े बिष्णौ शिलाधीर्-गुरुषु नरमतिर् बैष्णबे जाति-बुद्धिर्-
बिष्णोर्-बा बैष्णबानां कलिमल-मथने पाद- तीर्थेऽम्बु-बुद्धिः
श्री-बिष्णोर्-नाम्नि मन्त्रे सकल-कलुषहे शब्द- सामान्य़-बुद्धिर्बिष्णौ
सर्बेश्बरेशे तद्-इतर-समधीर्-य़स्य़ बा नारकी सः
13.94
arcye viṣṇau śilādhīr-guruṣu naramatir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhir-
viṣṇor-vā vaiṣṇavānāṁ kalimala-mathane pāda- tīrthe'mbu-buddhiḥ
śrī-viṣṇor-nāmni mantre sakala-kaluṣahe śabda- sāmānya-buddhirviṣṇau
sarveśvareśe tad-itara-samadhīr-yasya vā nārakī saḥ
Whoever considers the Deity of the Supreme Lord to be dead matter made out of
wood, stone or metal, or the spiritual master, who is an eternal associate of the
Supreme Lord, to be an ordinary man, who is prone to die, or the Vaiṣṇava to be
coming from some caste, or the water that washes the feet of the pure devotee or
the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be ordinary water, although such water
has the potency to destroy all the evils of the age of Kali, or considers the holy
name of the Supreme Lord or mantras dedicated to Him, which are able to
destroy all sin to be ordinary sounds , or thinks the Supreme Lord of all, Lord
Viṣṇu, to be on the same level as demigods, has a hellish mentality. Whoever
thinks in this way is certainly a resident of hell.
(Padma Purāṇa)
Bad Association Destroys Bhakti
१३.९५
ततो दुःसङ्गम् उत्सृज्य़ सत्सु सज्जेत बुद्धिमान् सन्त एबास्य़ छिन्दन्ति मनो-ब्य़ासङ्गम्
उक्तिभिः
13.95
tato duḥsaṅgam utsṛjya satsu sajjeta buddhimān santa evāsya chindanti mano-vyāsaṅgam
uktibhiḥ
Therefore an intelligent person should dissociate himself from evil company and
associate with saintly persons, for the wise and pious saints sever one's deep
attachment to material existence and one gets liberation by their teachings.
(Bhāg. 11.26.26)
১৩.৯৬
সাধু-সঙ্গ, কৃষ্ণ-কৃপা, ভক্তির স্বভাব এ তিনে সব ছাডায়, করে কৃষ্ণে ঽভাবঽ
13.96
sādhu-saṅga, kṛṣṇa-kṛpā, bhaktira svabhāva e tine saba chāḍāya, kare kṛṣṇe 'bhāva'
Association with a devotee, the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, and the nature of devotional service all help one to give up undesirable association and gradually attain elevation to the platform of love of Godhead.
(Cc. Madhya 24.104)
১৩.৯৭
ঽদুঃসঙ্গঽ কহিয়ে-ঽকৈতবঽ, ঽাত্ম-বঞ্চনাঽ কৃষ্ণ, কৃষ্ণ-ভক্তি বিনু অন্য় কামনা
13.97
'duḥsaṅga' kahiye-'kaitava', 'ātma-vañcanā' kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinu anya kāmanā
Cheating oneself and cheating others is called kaitava. The association of cheaters is called duḥsaṇga, bad association. Those who desire things other than Kṛṣṇa's service are also called duḥsaṇga, bad association.
(Cc. Madhya 24.99)
१३.९८
निष्किञ्चनस्य़ भगबद्-भजनोन्-मुखस्य़ पारं परं जिगमिषोर्-भब-सागरस्य़
सन्दर्शनं बिषय़िणाम्-अथ य़ोषितांश् च हा हन्त हन्त बिष्-भक्षणतो ऽप्य़् असाधु
13.98
niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanon-mukhasya pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor-bhava-sāgarasya
sandarśanaṁ viṣayiṇām-atha yoṣitāṁś ca hā hanta hanta viṣ-bhakṣaṇato 'py asādhu
For a person seriously desiring to cross the material ocean and engage in the
transcendental loving service of the Lord without material motives, seeing a
materialist engaged in sense gratification and seeing a woman who is similarly
interested in more abominable than drinking poison willingly.
(Caitanyacandrodaya- naṭaka 8.23)
১৩.৯৯
অসত্-সঙ্গ- ৎয়াগ,-এই বৈষ্ণব-আচার
স্ত্রী-সাঙ্গীঽ-এক অসাধু, ঽকৃষ্ণাভক্তঽ আর
13.99
asat-saṅga- tyāga,-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra
strī-sāṅgī'-eka asādhu, 'kṛṣṇābhakta' āra
The essential behavior of a Vaiṣṇava is that he gives up unholy association. In
other words, he avoids the company of non- devotees and men who are addicted to women and devotes himself to Kṛṣṇa.
(Cc. Madhya 22.87)
Prohibitions and Strictures Regarding Behavior that Destroys Bhakti
(2) Avoiding Attachment to Accepting
(3) Remaining Undisturbed by Material
(6) One Should Avoid Giving Pain to Other
A Renunciant Should Completely Give Up all Association
The Senses are Like Wives, and the Tongue is the
Materialistic Persons and their Reading of
Fake, Show-bottle, and Professional Bhāgavatam
Attempts at Liberation Beginning With Vows of
Without Śaraṇāgati There Can be no
A Devotee Has all Good Qualities; a Non-devotee
From Sādhu-saṇga Comes Faith, Devotional
Thus ends the Thirteenth Jewel of the Gauḍīya
१३.१००
वरं हुतवहजाला- पञ्जरान्तर्-व्यवस्थितिः
न शौरि-चिन्ता-विमुख- जन-संवास-वैशसम्
Prohibitions and Strictures Regarding Behavior that Destroys Bhakti
(1) Renouncing Bad Association
13.100
varaṁ hutavahajālā- pañjarāntar-vyavasthitiḥ
na śauri-cintā-vimukha- jana-saṁvāsa-vaiśasam
It is better to live in a cage of fire than to invite ruin by living with those who are
averse to thinking about Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
(Kātyāyana Saṁhitā)
(2) Avoiding Attachment to Accepting
Too Many Disciples and Over Endeavoring
१३.१०१
न शिष्यान् अनुबध्नीत ग्रन्थान् नैवाभ्यसेद् बहून्
न व्याख्याम् उपयुञ्जीत नारम्भान् आरभेत् क्वचित्
13.101
na śiṣyān anubadhnīta granthān naivābhyased bahūn
na vyākhyām upayuñjīta nārambhān ārabhet kvacit
A sannyāsī must not present allurements of material benefit to attract many
disciples. He should not initiate unqualified disciples in order to expand the
number of his followers for prestige and material gain.
He should not unnecessarily read many books, nor should he lecture on scriptures such as the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as a way of making his livelihood.
He must not attempt to increase material opulence unnecessarily. He must renounce endeavours for things which are beyond his means and which cannot be attained even at the expense of great time and energy (Mahārambha).
(Bhāg. 7.13.8)
(3) Remaining Undisturbed by Material
Misfortunes
१३.१०२
अलभ्दे व विनषे वा भक्ष्याच्छादन-साधने
अविक्लव मतिर्-भूत्वा हरिम् एव धिया स्मरेत्
13.102
alabhde va vinaṣhe vā bhakṣyācchādana-sādhane
aviklava matir-bhūtvā harim eva dhiyā smaret
If one fails to get the necessities of life, or if one loses everything, one's recourse
is to always mediate within oneself upon the
Lord, with an undisturbed mind.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.114) (4)
Avoiding Lamentation
13.103
śokā-maryādibhir-bhāvair- ākrāntaṁ yasya mānasam
kathaṁ tatra mukundasya sphurti-sambhāvanā bhavet
How can Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appear in the heart of a person who is governed by
emotions like sorrow and anger?
(Bhakti- rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.115)
(5) Prohibitions on Worshiping Other Gods
१३.१०४
हरिर् एव सदाराध्यः सर्व-देवेश्वरेश्वरः
इतरे ब्रह्म-रुद्राद्या नावज्ञेयाः कदाचन
13.104
harir eva sadārādhyaḥ sarva-deveśvareśvaraḥ
itare brahma-rudrādyā nāvajñeyāḥ kadācana
One should always exclusively worship Lord Hari, who is the Supreme Controller of all gods, but one should not show contempt for the demigods like Brahmā, Rudra, and others.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva- vibhāga 2.116)
(6) One Should Avoid Giving Pain to Other
Living Beings
१३.१०५
पितेव पुत्रं करुणो नोद्वेजयति यो जनम् विशुद्धस्य हृषीकेशस्-
तूर्णं तस्य प्रसीदति
13.105
piteva putraṁ karuṇo nodvejayati yo j
anam viśuddhasya hṛṣīkeśas-
tūrṇaṁ tasya prasīdati
Just as an affectionate father never gives any cause for fear and pain in his
dealings with his children, so Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, is very quickly pleased with those
pure-minded souls who are compassionate to all creatures and who avoid being
a source of pain and harassment, fear and anxieties to them.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛtasindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.117)
Bhakti is Superior to False Renunciation
१३.१०६
प्रापञ्चिकतया बुद्ध्या हरि-सम्बन्धि- वस्तुनः
मुमुक्षभिः परित्यागो वैराग्यं फल्गु कथ्यते
13.106
prāpañcikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandhi- vastunaḥ
mumukṣabhiḥ parityāgo vairāgyaṁ phalgu kathyate
That renunciation which is practiced by those desirous of impersonal liberation
and which rejects things in connection with Lord
Hari, thinking them to be
material, is called phālgu-vairāgya, external or false renunciation.
(Bhaktirasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-vibhāga 2.126)
Things Opposed to Bhakti Reside in Five Places
१३.१०७
अभ्यर्थितस् तदा तस्मै स्थानानि कलये
ददौ द्यूतं पानं स्त्रियः
सूना यत्राधर्मश् चतुर्- विधः
१३.१०८
पुनश् च याचमानाय जात-रूपम् अदात् प्रभुः ततो ऽनृतं
मदं कामं रजो वैरं च पञ्चमम्
१३.१०९
अमूनि पञ्च स्थानानि ह्य् अधर्म-प्रभवः कलिः
औत्तरेयेण दत्तानि न्यवसत् तन्-निदेश-कृत्
१३.११०
अर्थैतानि न सेवेत बुभूषुः पुरुषः क्वचित्
विशेषतो धर्म-शीलो राजा लोक-पतिर् गुरुः
13.107
abhyarthitas tadā tasmai sthānāni kalaye
dadau dyūtaṁ pānaṁ striyaḥ
sūnā yatrādharmaś catur- vidhaḥ
Mahārāja Parīkṣita, having thus been petitioned by Kali, sin personified, gave
him permission to reside wherever gambling, drinking, prostitution, and animal
slaughter are performed.
(Bhāg. 1.17.38)
13.108
punaś ca yācamānāya jāta-rūpam adāt prabhuḥ tato 'nṛtaṁ
madaṁ kāmaṁ rajo vairaṁ ca pañcamam
The personality of Kali asked for something more, and because of his begging,
the King gave him permission to live where there is gold, because, wherever
there is gold there is also falsity, intoxication, lust, envy, and enmity.
(Bhāg. 1.17.39)
13.109
amūni pañca sthānāni hy adharma-prabhavaḥ kaliḥ
auttareyeṇa dattāni nyavasat tan-nideśa-kṛt
Thus the personality of Kali, by the directions of Mahārāja Parīkṣita, the son of Uttara, was allowed to live in those five places.
(Bhāg. 1.17.40)
13.110
arthaitāni na seveta bubhūṣuḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit
viśeṣato dharma-śīlo rājā loka-patir guruḥ
Therefore, whoever desires progressive well-being, especially kings, religionists,
public leaders, brāhmaṇas, and sannyāsīs, should never come in contact with
the four above-mentioned irreligious principles
(Bhāg. 1.17.41)
The Different Kinds of Bad Association that Destroys Bhakti
১৩.১১১
আউল, বাউল, কর্ত্তাভজা, নেডা, দরৱেশ,
সাঞি সহজিযা, সখীভেকী, স্মার্ত, জাত-গোসাঞি
অতিৱাদী, চূডাধারী, গৌরাঙ্গ-নাগরী
তোত কহে, এই তেরর সঙ্গ নাহি করি
13.111
āula, bāula, karttābhajā, neḍā, daraveśa,
sāñi sahajiyā, sakhībhekī, smārta, jāta-gosāñi
ativādī, cūḍādhārī, gaurāṅga-nāgarī
tota kahe, ei terara saṅga nāhi kari
The names of the different sahajiyā saṁpradāyas who are in opposition to Gauḍiya Vaiṣṇavism are as follows: 1. Āula, (a mendicant sect who follow a very easy course of worship), 2. Bāula (a sect of mendicants who wander about singing sweet melodies about the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa while engaging in abominable practices), 3. Karttābhajā (a sect of "followers" of Śrī Gaurāṇga in Bengal); 4. Neḍā (Literally: "shaven-headed." Used to sarcastically refer to devotees whose greatest religious principle is their shaven
heads. The word also means bald or barren and connotes someone who
represents himself as a devotee while his so-called religious life is barren of
genuine realisation.)
5. Daraveśa (A Muslim mendicant. This word has
also been used by Śrīla Prabhupada to mean "hippie."), 6. Sāñi (literally means "religious instructor"), 7. Sahajiyā (literally means "easy-ist." indicates one who takes the pastimes of
Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa cheaply.), 8. Sakhībhekī (One who imagines himself a gopī,
and adopts the dress of a woman), 9. Smārta, (formalistic and materialistic
brāhmaṇas), 10. Jāta-gosāṇi (caste gosvāmīs), Ativāḍī (proud devotees), Cūḍādhārī (Those whose only religious principle consists in shaving the head and maintaining a tuft of hair, marking themselves as Vaiṣṇavas), and Gaurāṇganāgarī (Those who consider that it is the position of Śrī Caitanya to be the enjoyer of women, when in fact as a sannyāsi in
His ācārya-līlā Śrī Chaitanya avoided all association with women). One should avoid associating with these different classes of imitation devotees.
[Editor's note: this quote is unattributed in the original. BVM]
Sexual Temptation Destroys Bhakti
१३.११२
मात्रा स्वस्रा दुहित्रा वा नाविविक्तासनो भवेत्
बलवान् इन्द्रिय-ग्रामो विद्वांसम् अपि कर्षति
13.112
mātrā svasrā duhitrā vā nāviviktāsano bhavet
balavān indriya-grāmo vidvāṁsam api karṣati
One should not sit on the same seat even with one's own mother, sister, or
daughter, for the senses are so strong that even though one is very advanced in
knowledge, he may be attracted by sex.
(Bhāg. 9.19.17)
Exploitative Sexual Pleasure Spurned
१३.११३
यदवधि मम चेतः कृष्ण-पादारविन्दे नव-नव-रस-धामनुद्यतं रन्तुम् आसीत् तदवधि बत नारी-सङ्गमे स्मर्यमाणे भवति मुख-विकारः सुष्ठु निष्ठिवनं च
13.113
yadavadhi mama cetaḥ kṛṣṇa-pādāravinde nava-nava-rasa-dhāmanudyataṁ rantum āsīt tadavadhi bata nārī-saṅgame smaryamāṇe bhavati mukha-vikāraḥ suṣṭhu niṣṭhivanaṁ ca
Since I have been engaged in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa,
realizing ever-new pleasure in Him, whenever I think of exploitative sexual pleasure, my lips
curl with distaste and I spit at the thought.
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Dakṣiṇavibhāga, 5.72 quoted from Yamunācārya)
The Power of a Woman to Attract the Mind
१३.११४
दुर्वार इन्द्रिय करे विषय-ग्रहण दारवी प्रकृति हरे मुनेरपि मन
13.114
durvāra indriya kare viṣaya-grahaṇa dāravī prakṛti hare munerapi mana
So strongly do the senses adhere to the objects of their enjoyment that indeed a
wooden statue of a woman (daru-prakṛti) attracts the mind of even a great
saintly person.
(Cc. Antya 2.118)
A Renunciant Should Completely Give Up all Association
With Women for Sexual Pleasure
१३.११५
सत्यं शौचं दया मौनं बुद्धिः श्रीर् ह्रीर् यशः क्षमा
शमो दमो भगश् चेति यत्-सङ्गाद् याति सङ्क्षयम्
13.115
satyaṁ śaucaṁ dayā maunaṁ buddhiḥ śrīr hrīr yaśaḥ kṣamā
śamo damo bhagaś ceti yat-saṅgād yāti saṅkṣayam
[One who takes the path of unrighteousness, gets corrupted by bad association
and becomes involved in the pursuit of sex and the pleasures of the tongue.] He
becomes devoid of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, spiritual
intelligence, shyness, austerity, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of
the senses, fortune and all such opportunities.
(Bhāg. 3.31.33)
तेष्व् अशान्तेषु मूढेषु खण्डितात्मस्व् असाधुषु
सङ्गं न कुर्याच् छोच्येषु योषित्-क्रीडा-मृगेषु च
13.116
teṣv aśānteṣu mūḍheṣu khaṇḍitātmasv asādhuṣu
saṅgaṁ na kuryāc chocyeṣu yoṣit-krīḍā-mṛgeṣu ca
One should not associate with a coarse fool who
is bereft of the knowledge of
self-realization and who is no more than a dancing dog in the hands of a
woman.
(Bhāg. 3.31.34)
Gṛhamedhi-dharma Condemned
१३.११७
यन् मैथुनादि-गृहमेधि-सुखं हि तुच्छं कण्डूयनेन करयोर् इव दुःख-दुःखम्
तृप्यन्ति नेह कृपणा बहु-दुःख-भाजः कण्डूतिवन् मनसिजं विषहेत धीरः
13.117
yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tucchaṁ kaṇḍūyanena karayor iva duḥkha-duḥkham tṛpyanti neha kṛpaṇā bahu-duḥkha-bhājaḥ kaṇḍūtivan manasijaṁ viṣaheta dhīraḥ
Sex is compared to the rubbing of two hands to relieve an itch. Gṛhamedhis, so-called gṛhasthas, who have no spiritual knowledge, think this itching is the greatest platform of happiness. Actually it is the source of distress. The kṛpaṇas, the fools who are just the opposite of brāhmaṇas, are not satisfied by repeated sense enjoyment. Those who are dhīra, however, who are sober and who tolerate this itching, are not subjected to the suffering of fools and rascals.
(Bhāg. 7.9.45)
Tamasic and Rajasic Foods are Antagonistic to Bhakti
१३.११८
कट्व्-अम्ल-लवणात्य्-उष्ण- तीक्ष्ण-रूक्ष- विदाहिनः
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःख-शोकामय-प्रदाः
13.118
kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣṇa- tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa- vidāhinaḥ
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ
Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery, and disease.
(Bhagavad-gītā 17.9)
१३.११९
यात-यामं गत-रसं पूति पर्युषितं च यक्
उच्छिष्टम् अपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामस-प्रियम्
13.119
yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yak
ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasa-priyam
Foods prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless,
decomposed, and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable
things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.
(Bhagavad-gītā 17.10)
Meat-eating Destroys Bhakti
१३.१२०
ये त्व् अनेवं-विदो ऽसन्तः स्तब्धाः सद्- अभिमानिनः
पशून् द्रुह्यन्ति विश्रब्धाः प्रेत्य खादन्ति ते च तान्
13.120
ye tv anevaṁ-vido 'santaḥ stabdhāḥ sad- abhimāninaḥ
paśūn druhyanti viśrabdhāḥ pretya khādanti te ca tān
Those wicked persons who do not know the real nature of dharma, who are
proud and stubborn, who consider themselves righteous and who mercilessly
slaughter animals will, in their next life, be eaten by the very beasts they kill.
(Bhāg. 11.5.14)
१३.१२१
यो यस्य मांसम्-अश्नाति स तन् मांसाद उच्यते
मत्स्यादः सर्व-मांसादस्- तस्मान्-मत्-स्यान् विवर्जयेत्
13.121
yo yasya māṁsam-aśnāti sa tan māṁsāda ucyate
matsyādaḥ sarva-māṁsādas- tasmān-mat-syān vivarjayet
Whoever eats the meat of someone, he is called the eater of the meat of that
entity. But a fish eater is considered as eater of all meats. Therefore one should
not eat fish.
(Manu-saṁhitā 5.15)
The Senses are Like Wives, and the Tongue is the
Most Powerful of all the Senses
१३.१२२
जिह्वैकतो ऽच्युत विकर्षति मावितृप्ता
शिश्नो ऽन्यतस् त्वग्-उदरं श्रवणं
कुतश्चित् घ्राणो ऽन्यतश् चपल-दृक् क्व च
कर्म-शक्तिर् बह्व्यः सपत्न्य इव गेह-पतिं लुनन्ति
13.122
jihvaikato 'cyuta vikarṣati māvitṛptā
śiśno 'nyatas tvag-udaraṁ śravaṇaṁ
kutaścit ghrāṇo 'nyataś capala-dṛk kva ca
karma-śaktir bahvyaḥ sapatnya iva geha-patiṁ lunanti
My dear Lord, O infallible one, my position is like that of a person who has
many wives, all trying to attract him in their own way. For example, the tongue
is attracted to palatable dishes, the genitals to sex with an attractive woman, and
the sense of touch to contract with soft things.
The belly, although full, still wants to eat more, and the ear, not attempting to
hear about God, is generally attracted to mundane songs and music. The sense of smell is attracted by sweet fragrances, the eyes are attracted by beautiful forms, and the active senses are attracted elsewhere. In this way, I am certainly embarrassed.
(Bhāg. 7.9.40)
१३.१२३
तावज् जितेन्द्रियो न स्याद् विजितान्येन्द्रियः पुमान्
न जयेद् रसनं यावज् जितं सर्वं जिते रसे
13.123
tāvaj jitendriyo na syād vijitānyendriyaḥ pumān
na jayed rasanaṁ yāvaj jitaṁ sarvaṁ jite rase
Even if a person has conquered every sense other than the tongue, he cannot be
said to have subjugated his senses until he has conquered the tongue and the
sense of taste. The sense of taste is the strongest sense; it is the most difficult to
control, especially when it becomes more acute as a result of hunger.
(Bhāg.11.8.21)
১৩.১২৪
জিহ্ৱার লালসে যেই ইতি-উতি ধায শিশ্নোদর-পরাযণ কৃষ্ণ নাহি পায
13.124
jihvāra lālase yei iti-uti dhāya śiśnodara-parāyaṇa kṛṣṇa nāhi pāya
One who is subservient to the demands of the tongue and who thus runs here and there devoted to the genitals and the belly, cannot attain Kṛṣṇa.
(Cc. Antya 6.227)
Misconceptions to be Avoided in Sādhanā-bhakti
১৩.১২৫
য়দি বৈষ্ণব-অপরাধ উঠে হাতি মাতা উপাডে বা ছিণ্ডে,
তার শুখিঽ য়ায় পাতা তাতে মালি য়ত্ন করিঽ করে
আবরণ অপরাধ-হস্তীর য়ৈছে না হয়
উদ্গম কিন্তু য়দি লতার সঙ্গে উঠে ঽুপশাখাঽ
ভুক্তি-মুক্তি-বাঞ্ছা, য়ত অসঙ্খ্য় তার লেখা
ঽনিষিদ্ধাচারঽ, ঽকুটীনতীঽ, ঽজীব-হিংসনঽ
ঽলাভঽ, ঽপূজাঽ, ঽপ্রতিষ্ঠাদিঽ য়ত উপশাখা-গণ
সেক-জল পাঞা উপশাখা বাডিঽ য়ায়
স্তব্ধ হঞা মূল-শাখা বাডিতে না পায়
13.125
yadi vaiṣṇava-aparādha uṭhe hāti mātā upāḍe vā chiṇḍe,
tāra śukhi' yāya pātā tāte māli yatna kari' kare
āvaraṇa aparādha-hastīra yaiche nā haya
udgama kintu yadi latāra saṅge uṭhe 'upaśākhā'
bhukti-mukti-vāñchā, yata asaṅkhya tāra lekhā
'niṣiddhācāra', 'kuṭīnatī', 'jīva-hiṁsana'
'lābha', 'pūjā', 'pratiṣṭhādi' yata upaśākhā-gaṇa
seka-jala pāñā upaśākhā bāḍi' yāya
stabdha hañā mūla-śākhā bāḍite nā pāya
If a devotee commits an offense at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava while cultivating the creeper of devotional service, his offense is compared to a mad elephant that uproots the creeper and breaks it. In this way the leaves of the creeper dry up.
The gardener must defend the creeper by fencing it all around so that the
powerful elephant of offenses may not enter. Sometimes unwanted creepers,
such as the creepers of desires for material enjoyment and liberation from the
material world, grow along with the creeper of devotional service. The varieties
of such unwanted creepers are unlimited. Some unnecessary creepers growing
with the bhakti creeper are the creepers of behavior unacceptable for those
trying to attain devotional perfection, diplomatic behavior, animal killing,
mundane profiteering, mundane adoration, and mundane importance. All these
are unwanted creepers. If one does not distinguish between the bhakti-latā
creeper and the other creepers, the sprinkling of water is misused, because the
other creepers are ourished while the bhakti-latā creeper is curtailed.
(Cc. Madhya 19.156-160)
To View Devotees Externally is Antagonistic to Bhakti
১৩.১২৬
য়ে তে কুলে বৈষ্ণবের জন্ম কেনে নয়
তথাপি ও সর্বোত্তম সর্ব-শাস্ত্রে কয়
য়ে পাপিষ্থ বৈষ্ণবের জাতি-বুদ্ধি করে
জন্ম জন্ম অধম-য়োনিতে দুবিঽ মরে
13.126
ye te kule vaiṣṇavera janma kene naya
tathāpi o sarvottama sarva-śāstre kaya
ye pāpiṣtha vaiṣṇavera jāti-buddhi kare
janma janma adhama-yonite dubi' mare
All the scriptures agree that a devotee should never be seen in terms of his birth.
Birth does not a Vaiṣṇava make. Those sinners who see a devotee in terms of his
birth will themselves be born in the wombs of inferior species life after life.
(Cb. Madhya 10.100,102)
Conceptions of Good and Bad are Antagonistic to Bhakti
১৩.১২৭
ঽদ্বৈতেঽ ভদ্রাভদ্র-জ্ঞান, সব-
ঽমনোধর্মঽ
ঽই ভাল, এই মন্দঽ,-এই সব ঽভ্রম
13.127
'dvaite' bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba-
'manodharma'
'ei bhāla, ei manda',-ei saba 'bhrama'
In the material world, conceptions of good and bad are all mental concoctions.
Therefore, saying, "This is good" and "This is bad" is all a mistake.
(Cc. Antya 4.176)
Materialistic Persons and their Reading of
Bhāgavatam are Condemned
১৩.১২৮
য়েবা ভট্টাচার্য়, চক্রবর্তী, মিশ্র সব তাহার
ও না জানয়ে গ্রন্থ-অনুভব শাস্ত্র পডাইয়া সবে এই কর্ম করে
শ্রোতার সহিত য়ম-পাশে দুবিঽ মরে গীতা-ভাগবত য়ে য়ে জনে বা পডায় ভক্তির ব্য়াখ্য়ান নাহি তাহার জিহ্বায় এই মত বিষ্ণু-মায়া-মোহিত সংসার
দেখিঽ ভক্ত সব দুঃখ ভবেন অপার কেমতে এ সব জীব পাইবে উদ্ধার
বিষয়-সুখেতে সব মাজিল সংসার বলিলে ও কেহ নাহি লয় "কৃষ্ণ-নাম" নিরবধি বিদ্য়া-কুল করেন ব্য়াখ্য়ান
13.128
yebā bhaṭṭācārya, cakravartī, miśra saba tāhāra
o nā jānaye grantha-anubhava śāstra paḍāiyā sabe ei karma kare
śrotāra sahita yama-pāśe dubi' mare gītā-bhāgavata ye ye jane vā paḍāya bhaktira vyākhyāna nāhi tāhāra jihvāya ei mata viṣṇu-māyā-mohita saṁsāra
dekhi' bhakta saba duḥkha bhavena apāra kemate e saba jīva pāibe uddhāra
viṣaya-sukhete saba mājila saṁsāra balile o keha nāhi laya "kṛṣṇa-nāma" niravadhi vidyā-kula karena vyākhyāna
The so-called Bhaṭṭācāryas, Cakravartīs, Miśras, and others who make a
business out of the scriptures have no realization of the scriptures at all. All
their study of scripture is simply fruitive activity.
Whoever hears from them will be bound by the ropes of Yamarāja and dragged down to hell at the time of death.
Although they study the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, no
explanations of bhakti ever issue forth from their lips. Vaiṣṇavas can see no
worse misery than the sufferings of these wretched souls who are bewildered by
the illusions of māyā and who wander within the worlds of repeated birth and
death. The Vaiṣṇavas think of how all souls can be delivered from drowning in
the ocean of material existence. The devotees tell everyone to chant, but some
people simply cannot take the holy name, especially the so-called learned
professors, who, being proud of their academic education endlessly boast of
their knowledge [but who cannot be saved].
(Cb. Ādi 1.39)
Fake, Show-bottle, and Professional Bhāgavatam
Reciters
१३.१२९
वेदैर्-विहीनाश् च पठन्ति शास्त्रं शास्त्रेण हीनाश् च
पुराण-पाठाः पुराण-हीनाः कृषिणो भवन्ति भ्रष्टास्ते भागवता भवन्ति
13.129
vedair-vihīnāś ca paṭhanti śāstraṁ śāstreṇa hīnāś ca
purāṇa-pāṭhāḥ purāṇa-hīnāḥ kṛṣiṇo bhavanti bhraṣṭāste bhāgavatā bhavanti
Those who are unable to understand the Vedas go on to study the dharmaśāstras.
Failing to understand the dharma-śāstras, they turn to the Purāṇas.
Unable to grasp the real purport of the Purāṇas, they become farmers. Those
who can not do anything else become professional Bhāgavatam reciters,
although they have no real understanding of the Bhāgavatam .
(Atri Saṁhitā 375)
Attempts at Liberation Beginning With Vows of
Silence Austerity, Śāstric Study, and so on, Will Not Lead to Bhakti
१३.१३०
मौन-व्रत-श्रुत-तपो-ऽध्ययन-स्व- धर्मव्याख्या-
रहो-जप-समाधय आपवर्ग्याः
प्रायः परं पुरुष ते त्व् अजितेन्द्रियाणां
वार्ता भवन्त्य् उत न वात्र तु दाम्भिकानाम्
13.130
mauna-vrata-śruta-tapo-'dhyayana-sva- dharmavyākhyā-
raho-japa-samādhaya āpavargyāḥ
prāyaḥ paraṁ puruṣa te tv ajitendriyāṇāṁ
vārtā bhavanty uta na vātra tu dāmbhikānām
O Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are ten prescribed methods on the
path of liberation to remain silent, not to speak to anyone, to observe vows, to
amass all kinds of Vedic knowledge, to undergo austerities, to study the Vedas
and other Vedic literature, to execute the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma, to
explain the śāstras, to stay in a solitary place, to chant mantras silently, and to
be absorbed in trance.
These different methods of liberation are generally only a professional practice
and means of livelihood for those who have not conquered the senses. Because
such persons are falsely proud, these procedures may not be successful.
(Bhāg. 7.9.46)
Desires of Enjoyment and Liberation Destroy Bhakti
১৩.১৩১
অজ্ঞান-তমের নাম কহিযে ঽকৈতৱঽ ধর্ম-অর্থ-কাম-মোক্ষ-ৱাঞ্ছা আদি সব তার মধ্যে মোক্ষ-ৱাঞ্ছা কৈতৱ-প্রধান যাহা হৈতে কৃষ্ণ-ভক্তি হয অন্তর্ধান
কৃষ্ণ-ভক্তির বাধক-যত শুভাশুভ কর্ম সেহ এক জীৱের অজ্ঞান-তমো-ধর্ম
13.131
ajñāna-tamera nāma kahiye 'kaitava' dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa-vāñchā ādi saba tāra madhye mokṣa-vāñchā kaitava-pradhāna yāhā haite kṛṣṇa-bhakti haya antardhāna
kṛṣṇa-bhaktira bādhaka-yata śubhāśubha karma seha eka jīvera ajñāna-tamo-dharma
The darkness of ignorance is called kaitava, the way of cheating, which begins
with religiosity, economic development, sense gratification, and liberation. The
foremost process of cheating is to desire liberation by merging into the Supreme,
for this causes the permanent disappearance of loving service to Kṛṣṇa. All
kinds of activities, both auspicious and inauspicious, that are detrimental to the
discharge of transcendental loving service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are actions of the
darkness of ignorance.
(Cc. Ādi 1.90,92,94)
The Senses are Useless if Not Used in Kṛṣṇa's Service
१३.१३२
तरवः किं न जीवन्ति भस्त्राः किं न श्वसन्त्य् उत
न खादन्ति न मेहन्ति किं ग्रामे पशवो ऽपरे
13.132
taravaḥ kiṁ na jīvanti bhastrāḥ kiṁ na śvasanty uta
na khādanti na mehanti kiṁ grāme paśavo 'pare
Do the trees not live? Do the bellows of the blacksmith not breathe? All around
us, do the beasts not eat and discharge semen?
(Bhāg. 2.3.18)
१३.१३३
श्व-विड्-वराहोष्ट्र-खरैः संस्तुतः पुरुषः पशुः
न यत्-कर्ण-पथोपेतो जातु नाम गदाग्रजः
13.133
śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ
na yat-karṇa-pathopeto jātu nāma gadāgrajaḥ
Men who live like dogs, hogs, camels, and asses praise those men who never
listen to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the deliverer from all evils.
(Bhāg. 2.3.19)
१३.१३४
बिले बतोरुक्रम-विक्रमान् ये न शृण्वतः
कर्ण-पुटे नरस्य जिह्वासती दार्दुरिकेव सूत
न चोपगायत्य् उरुगाय-गाथाः
13.134
bile batorukrama-vikramān ye na śṛṇvataḥ
karṇa-puṭe narasya jihvāsatī dārdurikeva sūta
na copagāyaty urugāya-gāthāḥ
One who has not listened to the messages about the prowess and marvelous acts
of the Supreme Person and has not sung or chanted loudly the worthy songs
about Him is considered to possess earholes like the holes of snakes and a
tongue like the tongue of a frog.
(Bhāg. 2.3.20)
१३.१३५
भारः परं पट्ट-किरीट-जुष्टम्
अप्य् उत्तमाङ्गं न नमेन् मुकुन्दम्
शावौ करौ नो कुरुते सपर्यां
हरेर् लसत्-काञ्चन-कओकणौ वा
13.135
bhāraḥ paraṁ paṭṭa-kirīṭa-juṣṭam
apy uttamāṅgaṁ na namen mukundam
śāvau karau no kurute saparyāṁ
harer lasat-kāñcana-kaokaṇau vā
The upper portion of the body, though crowned with a silk turban, is only a
heavy burden if not bowed down before the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
who can award liberation. And the hands, although decorated with glittering
bangles, are like those of a dead man if not engaged in the service of Śrī Hari.
(Bhāg. 2.3.21)
१३.१३६
बर्हायिते ते नयने नराणां
लिङ्गानि विष्णोर् न निरीक्षतो ये
पादौ नृणां तौ द्रुम-जन्म-भाजौ
क्षेत्राणि नानुव्रजतो हरेर् तौ
13.136
barhāyite te nayane narāṇāṁ
liṅgāni viṣṇor na nirīkṣato ye
pādau nṛṇāṁ tau druma-janma-bhājau
kṣetrāṇi nānuvrajato harer tau
Those eyes that do not look at the form of the Supreme Lord are like those
printed on the plumes of a peacock, and the legs which do not move to the holy
places are like tree trunks.
(Bhāg. 2.3.22)
१३.१३७
जीवञ् छवो भागवताङ्घ्रि-रेणुं
न जातु मर्त्यो ऽभिलभेत यस् तु
श्री-विष्णु-पद्या मनुजस् तुलस्याः
श्वसञ् छवो यस् तु न वेद गन्धम्
13.137
jīvañ chavo bhāgavatāṅghri-reṇuṁ
na jātu martyo 'bhilabheta yas tu
śrī-viṣṇu-padyā manujas tulasyāḥ
śvasañ chavo yas tu na veda gandham
The person who has not received the dust of the feet of the Lord's pure devotee
upon his head is certainly a dead body. And, although breathing, the person who has never experienced the aroma of the Tulasī leaves from the lotus feet of
the Lord is also a dead body.
(Bhāg. 2.3.23)
Without the Mercy of Śrī Gaurāṅga it is Impossible to Control the Senses or Practice Bhakti
कालः कलिर् बलिन इन्द्रिय-वैरिवर्गाः
श्री भक्ति-मार्ग इह कङ्टक-कोटि-रुद्धः हा
हा क्व यामि विकलः किम् अहं करोमि
चैतन्यचन्द्र यदि नाद्य कृपां करोषि
kālaḥ kalir balina indriya-vairivargāḥ
śrī bhakti-mārga iha kaṅṭaka-koṭi-ruddhaḥ hā
hā kva yāmi vikalaḥ kim ahaṁ karomi
caitanyacandra yadi nādya kṛpāṁ karoṣi
Now it is the age of Kali. My enemies, the senses, are very strong. The beautiful
path of bhakti is spiked with countless thorns. My spirit is weak. My senses are
powerful and agitated. O what shall I do? Where shall I go? O Lord Caitanyacandra,
if you do not grant me Your mercy, what shall I
do to save myself?
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta 125)
The Six Kinds of Śaraṇāgati
१३.१३९
आनुकूल्यस्य सङ्कल्पः
प्रातिकूल्यस्य वर्जनम्
रक्षिष्यतीति विश्वासो
गोप्तृत्वे वरणं तथा
आत्म-निक्षेप-कार्पण्ये
षड्-विधा शरणागतिः
13.139
ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasya varjanam
rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso
goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā
ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye
ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ
The six divisions of surrender are 1. to accept those things favorable for devotional
service, 2. to reject unfavorable things, 3. the conviction that Kṛṣṇa will give all
protection, 4. to accept the Lord as one's guardian or master, 5. full self-surrender,
and 6. humility.
(Cc. Madhya 22.100, from Vaiṣṇava Tantra)
Without Śaraṇāgati There Can be no
Auspiciousness
१३.१४०
तावद् भयं द्रविण-देह-सुहृन्-निमित्तं
शोकः स्पृहा परिभवो विपुलश् च लोभः तावन्
ममेत्य् असद्-अवग्रह आर्ति-मूलं यावन्
न ते ऽङ्घ्रिम् अभयं प्रवृणीत लोकः
13.140
tāvad bhayaṁ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaṁ
śokaḥ spṛhā paribhavo vipulaś ca lobhaḥ tāvan
mamety asad-avagraha ārti-mūlaṁ yāvan
na te 'ṅghrim abhayaṁ pravṛṇīta lokaḥ
O my Lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by material anxieties they
are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body, and friends. They are
filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and paraphernalia; and they
avariciously base their undertakings on the perishable conceptions of "my" and
"mine". As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.
(Bhāg. 3.9.6)
Without Śaraṇāgati There Can be no
Auspiciousness
१३.१४०
तावद् भयं द्रविण-देह-सुहृन्-निमित्तं
शोकः स्पृहा परिभवो विपुलश् च लोभः
तावन् ममेत्य् असद्-अवग्रह आर्ति-मूलं
यावन् न ते \ऽङ्घ्रिम् अभयं प्रवृणीत लोकः
13.140
tāvad bhayaṁ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaṁ
śokaḥ spṛhā paribhavo vipulaś ca lobhaḥ
tāvan mamety asad-avagraha ārti-mūlaṁ
yāvan na te 'ṅghrim abhayaṁ pravṛṇīta lokaḥ
O my Lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by material anxieties they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body, and friends. They are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and paraphernalia; and they
avariciously base their undertakings on the perishable conceptions of "my" and "mine". As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.
(Bhāg. 3.9.6)
कार्पण्य-दोषोपहत-स्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्म-सम्मूढ-चेताः
यच् छ्रेयः स्यान् निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन् मे शिष्यस् ते ऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्
kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam
Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure due to weakness. In that condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple and soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.
(Bhagavadgītā 2.7)
१३.१४२
दैवी ह्य् एषा गुण-मयी मम माया दुरत्यया
माम् एव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायाम् एतां तरन्ति ते
13.142
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of nature, is difficult to overcome, but those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.
(Bhagavad-gītā 7.14)
१३.१४३
येषां स एष भगवान् दययेद् अनन्तः
सर्वात्मनाश्रित-पदो यदि निर्व्यलीकम्
ते दुस्तरां अतितरन्ति च देव-मायां
नैषां ममाहम् इति धीः श्व-शृगाल-भक्ष्ये
13.143
yeṣāṁ sa eṣa bhagavān dayayed anantaḥ
sarvātmanāśrita-pado yadi nirvyalīkam
te dustarāṁ atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
naiṣāṁ mamāham iti dhīḥ śva-śṛgāla-bhakṣye
Anyone who is specifically favored by the Supreme Lord, due to unalloyed surrender to the service of the Lord, can overcome the insurmountable ocean of illusion and can understand the Lord. But those who are attached to the body,
which is meant to be eaten by dogs and jackals cannot do so.
(Bhāg. 2.7.42)
१३.१४४
अनन्याश् चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योग-क्षेमं वहाम्य् अहम्
13.144
ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham
But those who are always attached to Me, who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form to them I
carry what they have and preserve what they lack.
(Bhagavad-gītā 9.22)
१३.१४५
कृष्ण-भक्ति-सुधापानाद् देह-दैहिक-विस्मृतेः
तेशां भौतिक-देहेऽपि सच्-चिद्-आनन्द-रूपता
13.145
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-sudhāpānād deha-daihika-vismṛteḥ
teśāṁ bhautika-dehe'pi sac-cid-ānanda-rūpatā
Drinking the nectar of Kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa, the living being forgets the gross and subtle material bodies and becomes absorbed in transcendence. The body of such a devotee, although material, attains the qualities sat, cit, and ānanda, or eternity, knowledge, and bliss.
(Bṛhad- bhāgavatāmṛta 2.3.45)
১৩.১৪৬
শরণ লঞা করে কৃষ্ণে আত্ম-সমর্পণ
কৃষ্ণ তারে করে তত্-কালে আত্ম-সম
13.146
śaraṇa lañā kare kṛṣṇe ātma-samarpaṇa
kṛṣṇa tāre kare tat-kāle ātma-sama
When a devotee fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, offering his very self, at that time Kṛṣṇa accepts the devotee to be as good as His very self. (That is, the Lord accepts Him as one of his own personal associates.)
(Cc. Madhya 22.102)
১৩.১৪৭
প্রভু কহে,--"বৈষ্ণব-দেহ ঽপ্রাকৃতঽ কভু নয়
ঽপ্রাকৃতঽ দেহ ভক্তের ঽচিদ্-আনন্দ-ময়ঽ দীক্ষা-কালে ভক্ত করে আত্ম-সমর্পণ
সেই-কালে কৃষ্ণ তারে করে আত্ম-সম
সেই দেহ করে তার চিদ্-আনন্দ-ময় অপ্রাকৃত-দেহে তাঙ্র চরণ ভজয়
13.147
prabhu kahe,--"vaiṣṇava-deha 'prākṛta' kabhu naya
'aprākṛta' deha bhaktera 'cid-ānanda-maya' dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa
sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama
sei deha kare tāra cid-ānanda-maya aprākṛta-dehe tāṅra caraṇa bhajaya
Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "The body of a devotee is never material. It is considered transcendental, full of spiritual bliss. At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as Himself. When the devotee's body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders service to the lotus feet of the Lord.
(Cc. Antya 4.191-193)
१३.१४८
दन्ते निधाय़ तृणकं पदय़ोर्-निपत्य़ कृत्बा च काकुशतम् एतद् अहं ब्रबीमि
हे साधबः सकलम् एब बिहाय़ दूराद्गौरङ्ग- चन्द्र-चरणे कुरुतानुरागम्
13.148
dante nidhāya tṛṇakaṁ padayor-nipatya kṛtvā ca kākuśatam etad ahaṁ bravīmi
he sādhavaḥ sakalam eva vihāya dūrādgauraṅga- candra-caraṇe kurutānurāgam
Taking a straw in my teeth I fall at your feet hundreds of times and implore you with sweet words, saying, "O noble soul! Please throw out everything you have learned and cultivate attachment to the lotus feet of the moonlike Śrī Gaurāṅga.
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta 120)
Humility
१३.१४९
न प्रेम-गन्धो ऽस्ति दरापि मे हरे
क्रन्दामि सौभाग्य़-भरं प्रकाषितुम्
बंशी-बिलास्य़्-आनन-लोकनं बिना
बिभर्मि य़त् प्राण-पतङ्गकान् बृथा
13.149
na prema-gandho 'sti darāpi me hare
krandāmi saubhāgya-bharaṁ prakāṣitum
vaṁśī-vilāsy-ānana-lokanaṁ vinā
vibharmi yat prāṇa-pataṅgakān vṛthā
My dear friends, I have not the slightest tinge of love of Godhead within my heart. When you see me crying in separation, I am only making a false show of devotion. The proof that I have no love for Kṛṣṇa is the fact that while not seeing His beautiful face as He plays His flute I continue to maintain My fly like existence.
(Cc. Madhya 2.45)
The Value of Association With a Pure Devotee
१३.१५०
अत आत्यन्तिकं क्षेमं पृच्छामो भवतो ऽनघाः
संसारे ऽस्मिन् क्षणार्धो ऽपि सत्-सङ्गः शेवधिर् नृणाम्
13.150
ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato 'naghāḥ
saṁsāre 'smin kṣaṇārdho 'pi sat-saṅgaḥ śevadhir nṛṇām
O sinless ones! We therefore inquire from you about that which is supremely
auspicious for all living beings, for in this world association with saints even for
a half a moment is the most valuable treasure in human society. (Bhāg. 11.2.30)
१३.१५१
तुलयाम लवेनापि न स्वर्गं नापुनर्-भवम्
भगवत्-सङ्गि-सङ्गस्य मर्त्यानां किम् उताशिषः
13.151
tulayāma lavenāpi na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ
Elevation to the heavenly planets and liberation from material existence cannot be compared to even a moment's association with a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. What then can be said of material benedictions, which are for those who are destined to die?
(Bhāg. 1.18.13)
१३.१५२
भयं द्वितीयाभिनिवेशतः स्याद् ईशाद् अपेतस्य
विपर्ययो ऽस्मृतिः तन्-माययातो बुध आभजेत् तं
भक्त्यैकयेशं गुरु-देवतात्मा
13.152
bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād īśād apetasya
viparyayo 'smṛtiḥ tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ
bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā
Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional
service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he
should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.
(Bhāg. 11.2.37)
The Śrutis Identify the Worship of Devotees and Association with Saints as the Only Thing Worth Doing
१३.१५३
तस्माद्-आत्मज्ञं ह्य् अर्चयेद्-भूति-कामः
13.153
tasmād-ātmajñaṁ hy arcayed-bhūti-kāmaḥ
A person wishing to attain divine opulence should worship one who is ātmajña, self-realized. That is, he should worship a devotee of Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.10)
Sādhu-saṇga is the Only Way-
१३.१५४
रहूगणैतत् तपसा न याति
न चेज्यया निर्वपणाद् गृहाद् वा
न च्छन्दसा नैव जलाग्नि-सूर्यैर्
विना महत्-पाद-रजो-ऽभिषेकम्
13.154
rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti
na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā
na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair
vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-'bhiṣekam
My dear King Rahūgaṇa, unless one has the opportunity to smear his body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth.
One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy, by worshiping the Deity, by taking sannyāsa, by perfectly following the rules of the gṛhastha āśrama, nor can one attain the truth by accepting severe penances and austerities, by studying the Vedas, nor by worshiping the gods of water and sun. Only by bathing in the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee is the Absolute Truth revealed.
(Bhāg. 5.12.12)
Those Who Have Few Pious Credits Cannot Get the Association of Great Souls
१३.१५५
दुरापा ह्य् अल्प-तपसः सेवा वैकुण्ठ-वर्त्मसु
यत्रोपगीयते नित्यं देव-देवो जनार्दनः
13.155
durāpā hy alpa-tapasaḥ sevā vaikuṇṭha-vartmasu
yatropagīyate nityaṁ deva-devo janārdanaḥ
Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the pure devotees, who are progressing on the path back to the kingdom of God, Vaikuṇṭha. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.
(Bhāg. 3.7.20)
१३.१५६
नैषां मतिस् तावद् उरुक्रमाङ्घ्रिं
स्पृशत्य् अनर्थापगमो यद्-अर्थः
महीयसां पाद-रजो-ऽभिषेकं
निष्किञ्चनानां न वृणीत यावत्
13.156
naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-'bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat
Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava completely free from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord. Only in this way can one be free from material contamination.
(Bhāg. 7.5.32)
A Devotee Has all Good Qualities; a Non-devotee
Has None
१३.१५७
यस्यास्ति भक्तिर् भगवत्य् अकिञ्चना
सर्वैर् गुणैस् तत्र समासते सुराः
हराव् अभक्तस्य कुतो महद्-गुणा
मनोरथेनासति धावतो बहिः
13.157
yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā
sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ
harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā
manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ
All demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religious knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.
On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities
has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga, or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in serving the Lord's external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a person?
(Bhāg. 5.18.12)
From Sādhu-saṇga Comes Faith, Devotional
Attachment, and then Premabhakti
१३.१५८
सतां प्रसङ्गान् मम वीर्य-संविदो
भवन्ति हृत्-कर्ण-रसायनाः कथाः
तज्-जोषणाद् आश्व् अपवर्ग-वर्त्मनि
श्रद्धा रतिर् भक्तिर् अनुक्रमिष्यति
13.158
satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido
bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani
śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati
In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation. Thereafter he is freed, and his attraction is fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.
(Bhāg. 3.25.25)
With Humility and Hankering for Kṛṣṇa, a Devotee Prays as Follows
१३.१५९
न धनं न जनं न सुन्दरीं कवितां वा जगदीश कामये
मम जन्मनि जन्मनीश्वरे भवतद्-भक्तिर्-अहैतुकी त्वयि
13.159
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagadīśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatad-bhaktir-ahaitukī tvayi
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers, nor do I care for the fame of a poet, or the poetically glorified position of impersonal liberation I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth.
(Śikṣāṣṭakam 4)
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