The Practice of Divine Love V

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Ṭhakura

শ্রী গৌड़िয-কন্ঠহার

Gaudiya Kanṭhahāra:

13th Jewel

SĀDHANA-BHAKTI-TATTVA

The Practice of Divine Love

The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas

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

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)