Pankaja_Dasa Posted November 13, 2004 Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Chapter 1 Upakramamrtam - Prelude to Approaching Nectar 1.1 atha mangalacaranam -sri- guru-gaura-gandharva-, govindanghrin ganaih saha vande prasadato yesam, sarvarambhah subhankarah Auspicious invocation -I make my obeisance unto the lotus feet of my Divine Master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Sri Gandharva-Giridhari (Sri Sri Radha and Krsna), and Their associates. By Their grace, all endeavors are successful. 1.2 gaura-vag-vigraham vande, gaurangam gaura-vaibhavam gaura-sankirtanonmattam, gaura-karunya-sundaram I make my obeisance unto the Deity, Gaura-Saraswati - the personified message of the Golden Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu -whose bodily luster is of a beautiful golden hue, like that of the selfsame Lord Gaurasundara; who is the personal expansion of that Supreme Lord Gaurahari; who is always intoxicated by preaching the message of that Golden Lord; and whose divine beauty blooms in the revelation of Lord Gauranga's mercy potency. (This is the fundamental meaning of the verse. Within the scope of the Sanskrit.language, various expanded purports may be drawn from the original.) 1.3 guru-rupa-harim gauram, radha-ruci-rucavrtam nityam naumi navadvipe, nama-kirtana-nartanaih Perpetually do I sing the glories of Lord Gauranga, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Hari, embraced by the heart and halo of Sri Radhika, and who has descended as the Divine Master. In this holy abode of Sri Navadvipa Dhama, He is absorbed in the pastimes of profusely chanting the holy names, dancing in ecstasy. (As with verse two, expanded purports may be drawn from this verse.) 1.4 srimat-prabhu-padambhoja-, madhupebhyo namo namah trpyantu krpaya te 'tra, prapanna-jivanamrte Again and again I make my obeisance unto the eternal personal servitors of my Divine Master, who drink the nectar of his lotus feet. I pray they may be graciously pleased in tasting this Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls. 1.5 atma-vijnaptih -aty- arvacina-rupo 'pi, pracinanam susammatan slokan katipayan atra, caharami satam mude A humble petition - Despite my disqualifications, for the satisfaction of the pure devotees I have compiled in this book an anthology of stanzas that are well established by our predecessors. 1.6 tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api.namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah "Even if every stanza is imperfectly composed, that is, unlucidly expressed, the sins of the people are totally vanquished by those expressions or books in which the glorious holy names of the Infinite Supreme Lord are described - since the pure devotees hear those holy names (from a qualified preacher), they solitarily sing those holy names (even in the absence of others), and they chant the unending glories of those holy names (in the presence of a deserving listener)." 1.7 abhivyakta mattah prakrti-laghu-rupad api budha vidhatri siddharthan hari-gunamayi vah krtir iyam pulindenapy agnih kim u samidham unmathya janito hiranya-sreninam apaharati nantah kalusatam "O learned personalities, this treatise, composed of the divine qualities of Lord Hari, will fulfill your cherished wishes despite the fact that it is presented by me, a very insignificant person. Does not the fire ignited from pieces of wood rubbed together by a low-born barbarian dissipate the impurities in gold?" 1.8 yathokta rupa-padena, nicenotpadite 'nale hemnah suddhis tathaivatra, viraharti-hrtih satam As Srila Rupa Goswamipada has (in his humility) expressed that gold can be purified with fire lit by a barbarian, similarly, the pure devotees' grief born of their separation from the Lord may also be dispelled by this book (which will light the lamp of their divine love for the Lord). 1.9.antah kovi-yasas-kamam, sadhutavaranam bahih sudhyantu sadhavah sarve, duscikitsyam imam janam O saintly devotees, please purify this wrongdoer who on the pretext of saintliness desires in his heart the prestige of a poet, and who is thus afflicted with the practically incurable disease of insincerity. 1.10 krsna-gatha-priya bhakta, bhakta-gatha-priyo harih kathancid ubhayor atra, prasangas tat prasidatam Tidings of Lord Krsna are naturally very dear to the devotees, and tidings of the Lord's devotees are also dear to Him. Since narratives of both the Supreme Lord and His devotees can be found within this book, I have hope, O pure devotees, that you may be propitiated hereby. 1.11 svabhava-krpaya santo, mad uddesya-malinatam samsodhyangikurudhvam bho, hy ahaituka krpabdhayah O pure devotees, by your natural divine grace, kindly purify me of ill motives (offenses) and accept this treatise. Certainly you will do so, because you are the ocean of causeless mercy. 1.12-14 atha grantha-paricayah -granthe 'smin parame nama, prapanna-jivanamrte dasadhyaye prapannanam, jivana-prana-dayakam varddhakam posakam nityam, hrdindriya-rasayanam atimartya-rasollasa-, paraspara-sukhavaham viraha-milanarthaptam, krsna-karsna-kathamrtam prapatti-visayam vakyam, coddhrtam sastra-sammatam Introduction to the book -The substance expressed within the ten chapters of this holy book called Prapanna-jivanamrtam gives life to the surrendered souls, effecting their eternal growth and nourishment. It is the panacea of the heart and spiritual senses, bestowing those dedicated devotees' mutual happiness by the ever-increasingly newer and newer play of supramundane joy (aprakrta-rasa). Lord Krsna and His associates are portrayed in their natural pastimes of separation and union, and the line of unconditional surrender as established by Scriptures and saints has been elucidated. 1.15-22 atra cananya-cittanam, krsna-.-rajojusam krsna-.-prapannanam, krsnarthe 'khila-karmanam krsna-premaika-lubdhanam, krsnocchistaika jivinam krsna-sukhaika-vanchanam, krsna-kinkara-sevinam krsna-viccheda-dagdhanam, krsna-sangollasadd-hrdam krsna-svajana-bandhunam, krsnaika-dayitatmanam bhaktanam hrdayodghati-, marma-gathamrtena ca bhaktarti-hara-bhaktasa-, bhista-purtikaram tatha sarva-samsaya-cchedi-hrd-, granthi-bhij jnana-bhasitam apurva-rasa-sambhara-, camatkarita-cittakam viraha-vyadhi-santapta-, bhakta-citta-mahausadham yuktayuktam parityajya, bhaktarthakhila-cestitam atma-pradana-paryanta-, pratijnantah-pratisrutam bhakta-premaika-vasya-sva-, svarupollasa-ghositam purnasvasakaram saksat, govinda-vacanamrtam samahrtam pibantu bhoh, sadhavah suddha-darsanah Carefully compiled in this book is the nectar of the deep, heartrevealing transcendental messages of those devotees whose hearts are unalloyed; who are servitors of the dust of the lotus feet of Krsna; who perform their every act for Krsna; who are filled with insatiable desire exclusively in love of Krsna and sustain their lives on Krsna's remnants alone; who desire only Krsna's pleasure and.serve the servants of Krsna; whose hearts burn in separation of Krsna and overflow with ecstasy in the association of Krsna; whose relative and friend is Krsna; and whose one and only beloved is Krsna. Along with these expressions of the devotees are carefully collected the words of supreme nectar - springing directly from the lotus mouth of Lord Govinda - which vanquish the heartbreak of the devotees; which fulfill the devotee's hopes and earnest aspirations; which destroy all doubt and sever the knot of ignorance; which are dazzling with transcendental wisdom and astonish the heart by miraculous waves of divine rapture, which are the great panacea for the devotee's heart afflicted with the piercing pangs of separation; which are incited wholly for the devotee irrespective of his qualification or disqualification, so much so, that the Lord is bound by His pledge to give Himself to His devotee; and which openly proclaim with great ecstasy that His very nature is to be subjugated solely by the affection of His devotee, reassuring His devotees in all circumstances. O pure and spotless devotees, may you drink deeply the quintessence of these divine elixirs. 1.23 adhyaya-paricayah -atraiva prathamadhyaye, upakramamrtabhidhe mangalacaranan catma-, vijnaptir vastu-nirnayah grantha-paricayo 'dhyaya-, visayas ca nivesitah Chapter summary -An auspicious invocation, a humble petition, an introduction to the book and its chapters, and the theme of the philosophy of the book have, to the best of my ability, all been entered within this first chapter named Upakramamrtam or Prelude to Approaching Nectar. 1.24 dvitiyadhyayake nama, sri-sastra-vacanamrte.prapatti-visaya nana-, sastroktih sannivesita In the second chapter, entitled Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam, The Nectar of Scriptural Word, various scriptural quotations regarding surrender to the Supreme Lord have been compiled. 1.25 trtiyato 'stamam yavat, sri-bhakta-vacanamrte prapattih sad-vidha prokta, bhagavata-ganodita Chapters three to eight inclusive are entitled Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam, Words of Nectar from the Devotees. Beautifully expressed by the lotus lips of the pure devotees of the Lord, many stanzas describing the six limbs of exclusive surrender are quoted therein. 1.26-27 anakulyasya sankalpah, pratikulya-vivarjanam raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha atma-niksepa karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih evam paryayatas casminn, ekaikadhyaya-sangrahah These six chapters have been compiled, each consecutively dealing with the six limbs of surrender, which are as follows: 1. To accept everything favorable for devotion to Krsna 2. To reject everything unfavorable for devotion to Krsna 3. To be confident that Krsna will grant His protection 4. To embrace Krsna's guardianship 5. To offer oneself unto Him 6. To consider oneself lowly and bereft 1.28 adhyaye navame nama, bhagavad-vacanamrte slokamrtam samahrtam, saksad-bhagavatoditam In the ninth chapter entitled Sri Bhagavad-vacanamrtam, Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord, nectarean stanzas emanating directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Lord have been compiled. 1.29 dasame caramadhyaye, cavasesamrtabhidhe guru-krsna-smrtau grantha-, syopasamharanam krtam Absorbed in thought of the Divine Master and Lord Sri Krsna, the tenth and final chapter entitled Sri Avasesamrtam, The Divine Remnants of Nectar, was composed as the epilogue of the book. 1.30 uddhrta-sloka-purve tu, tad artha-suprakasakam vakyan ca yatnatas tatra, yatha-jnanam nivesitam Prior to each stanza quoted, an aphorism illuminating its inner purport has been carefully entered according to my best insight. 1.31 bhagavad-gauracandranam, vadanendu-sudhatmika bhaktoktair vesita sloka, bhakta-bhavodita yatah Being revealed by the Lord Himself adopting the heart of a devotee, the stanzas of pure nectar emanating from the moon of Sri Gauracandra have been entered along with the stanzas of the devotees. 1.32 prapattya saha cananya-, bhakter naikatya-hetutah ananya-bhakti-sambandham, bahu-vakyam ihoddhrtam Many expressions of exclusive devotion (ananya-bhakti) have been recorded herein, since exclusive devotion is most intimately.related to surrender. 1.33 bhagavad-bhakta-sastranam, sambandho 'sti parasparam tat tat pradhanyato namnam, prabbeda-karanam smrtam Actually, Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord, Words of Nectar from the Devotees, and The Nectar of Scriptural Word are all seen to be interrelated. Still, they have been portrayed separately due to their individual importance. 1.34 praty-adhyaya-visesas tu, tatra tatraiva vaksyate mahajana-vicarasya, kincid alocyate 'dhuna The unique characteristic of each chapter will be accordingly expressed therein. Now (in this respect), we may have some general deliberation, in the line of the great devotees of the Lord. 1.35 vastu-nirnayah -bhagavad- bhaktitah sarvam, ity utsrjya vidher api kainkaryam krsna-padaika-, srayatvam saranagatih Theme of the work -Being governed by the faith that all success is achieved by serving the Supreme Lord, to abandon servitude to even scriptural injunctions and take exclusive refuge in the lotus feet of Sri Krsna in every time, place, and circumstance, is known as saranagati -unconditional surrender. 1.36 sarvantaryamitam drstva, hareh sambandhato 'khile aprthag-bhava-tad-drstih, prapattir jnana-bhaktitah Some consider saranagati to be that God consciousness which is realization of the one non-differentiated nature in all beings and objects, by seeing the Supreme Lord as the indwelling Supersoul of everything. However, such a conception falls within the category of calculative devotion (jnana-bhakti). It is not in the line of unadulterated pure devotion (suddha-bhakti). 1.37 nityatvan caiva sastresu, prapatter jnayate budhaih aprapannasya nr-janma-, vaiphalyoktes tu nityata By scriptural reference, the learned know of the eternality of surrender to the Lord, since the futility of human life without that surrender is elucidated therein. In this way, the eternal constitution of surrender is established. 1.38 nanyad icchanti tat .-, rajah-prapanna-vaisnavah kincid apiti tat tasyah, sadhyatvam ucyate budhaih Because the devotees who have surrendered unto the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord never aspire for anything else whatsoever, the learned affirm that surrender is the attainable goal of all endeavors. 1.39 bhava-duhkha-vinasas ca, para-nistara-yogyata param padam prapattyaiva, krsna-sampraptir eva ca Only by surrender to the Lord can one gain freedom from the miseries of birth, death, disease, and infirmity; fitness to deliver others from those miseries; the holy abode of Lord Visnu; and the devotional service of Lord Krsna. 1.40 sravana-kirtanadinam, bhakty-anganam hi yajane.aksamasyapi sarvaptih, prapattyaiva harav iti Everything is accomplished by surrendering unto the lotus feet of Sri Hari, even for one who is unable to execute the integral practices of devotional service based on hearing and chanting. 1.41 sakhya-rasasrita-praya, seti kecit vadanti tu madhuryadau prapannanam, praveso nasti ceti na Some claim that surrender is generally in the relationship of friendship (sakhya-rasa). But it is complete fallacy to think that surrendered souls have no entrance into divine relationships headed by consorthood (madhura-rasa). 1.42 sakrt pravrtti-matrena, prapattih sidhyatiti yat lobhotpadana-hetos tad, alocana-prayojanam Since surrender is achieved by turning to the refuge of the Lord just once, we should earnestly discuss the subject to enable the longing for surrender to be born in us. 1.43 api tad anakulyadi-, sankalpady-anga-laksanat tad anusilaniyatvam, ucyate hi mahajanaih Furthermore, since the constituent parts of surrender - based on acceptance of the favorable and rejection of the unfavorable -have been referred to by authorities and cited in the Scriptures, the great devotees of the Lord teach us the necessity of studying and culturing the art of surrender. 1.44 bhavarti-pidyamano va, bhakti-matrabhilasy api.vaimukhya-badhyamano 'nya-, gatis tac charanam vrajet One who is severely afflicted by fear of living in the material world, or, one who, despite having an aspiration for the Lord's service is nonetheless bound with adversity - such persons, finding no alternative, surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 1.45 asrayantara-rahitye, vanyasraya-visarjane ananya-gati-bhedas tu, dvi-vidhah parikirtitah The state of finding no other alternative occurs in two ways: in the event of having no other shelter, or in the event of abandoning one's existing shelter. 1.46 mano-vak-kaya-bhedac ca, tri-vidha saranagatih tasam sarvanga-sampanna, sighram purna-phala-prada nyunadhikyena caitasam, taratamyam phale 'pi ca One surrenders by thought, word, and deed. Complete surrender in all these aspects promptly affords full success. Otherwise, the fruit attained will be proportionate to the degree of one's surrender. 1.47 apurva-phalatvam -vinasya sarva-duhkhani, nija-madhurya-varsanam karoti bhagavan bhakte, saranagata-palakah The unprecedented, gracious reward of surrender -Being most affectionate toward His surrendered souls, the Supreme Lord totally dispels their unhappiness, graciously filling their hearts with His sweet absolute presence. 1.48 apy asiddham tadiyatvam, vine ca saranagatim ity apurva-phalatvam hi, tasyah samsanti panditah Without unconditional surrender (saranagati), one cannot conceive of oneself as 'belonging to Him.' And this is why the learned sing (par excellence) the glories of surrender's ability to yield her unprecedented, gracious fruit. 1.49 athava bahubbir etair, uktibhih kim prayojanam sarva-siddhir bhaved eva, govinda-caranasrayat Otherwise, what would have been the need for so abundantly singing her praises? Only by unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of Govinda is all perfection attained - nothing remains to be attained. 1.50 sri-sanatana-jivadi-, mahajana-samahrtam. api cen nica-samsprstam, piyusam piyatam budhah Even though touched by one as lowly as me, please, O learned devotees, drink this nectar gathered by the great souls headed by Srila Sanatana and Sri Jiva. iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte upakramamrtam nama prathamo 'dhyayah thus ends the first chapter Prelude to Approaching Nectar in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality. Chapter 2 Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam The Nectar of Scriptural Word 2.1 sruti-smrty-adi-sastresu, prapattir yan nirupyate tad uktam dvitiyadhyaye, sri-sastra-vacanamrte This second chapter, Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam, The Nectar of Scriptural Word, describes surrender as corroborated in the Revealed Scriptures headed by the Vedas (Sruti) and the Religious Codes (Smrti). 2.2 prapattih srutau -yo brahmanam vidadhati-purvam yo brahma-vidyam tasmai gah palayati sma krsnah tam hi devam atma-vrtti-prakasam mumuksur vai saranam amum vrajet Tapanyam (Brahma-Samhita, tika) Surrender is firmly established by the Vedas -" In the beginning of creation, He who created the universal creator, Brahma, and then imparted to Brahma knowledge of Brahman, the Absolute - He is the selfsame Lord Krsna who tends the cows (or nourishes the Vedas [gah means both 'cows' and Vedas]). Those desirous of liberation should surrender unto that Lord, who reveals the innate function of the soul." 2.3-4.tadatmya-yatharthyam smrtau -ahankrtir ma-karah syan, na-karas tan nisedhakah tasmat tu namasa ksetri-, svatantryam pratisidhyate bhagavat-paratantro 'sau, tad ayattatma-jivanah tasmat sva-samarthya-vidhim, tyajet sarvam asesatah Padma-uttara-khanda The cause of the tangible reality of surrender is expounded in the Standard Codes of Religion (Smrti) -" The syllable ma means 'self-asserting ego' (the misconception of considering oneself to be a 'doer'), and the syllable na indicates its prevention. Thus, the act of offering obeisances (namah) nullifies the offerer's independence. The soul is naturally subordinate to the Almighty, his intrinsic nature and innate function being servitude to the Supreme Lord. Therefore, all actions performed thinking, 'I am the doer,' should be utterly abandoned." 2.5 ahankarad-aprapattih -ahankara- nivrttanam, kesavo nahi duragah ahankara-yutanam hi, madhye parvata-rasayah Brahma-vaivartta Purana The only obstacle to surrender is self-asserting ego -" The Supreme Lord Kesava remains in the company of persons who are free from a mundane conception of life; but there appears to be a great mountain range between the self-asserting egotists and the Lord." 2.6 advaya-jnanam anasritanam eva jagad-darsanam -yavat prthaktvam idam atmana indriyartha-maya- balam bhagavato jana isa pasyet tavan na samsrtir asau pratisankrameta vyarthapi duhkha-nivaham vahati kriyartha. Bhagavatam, 3.9.9 Persons who do not take shelter of the One without a second, the Supreme Lord, simply loiter in the world of birth and death -" O Lord, Soul of all souls, the conditioned soul sees this universe as separate from You, and thinks it is meant for his sense enjoyment. But this is only a creation of Your deluding potency (maya). As long as the living being clings to such an illusory separate interest, he does not give up the miserable world of action and reaction, birth and death, despite its utter meaninglessness." 2.7 tan nityatvam, tad abhave atmano vancitatvat -prapyapi durllabhataram,.manusyam vibudhepsitam yair asrito na govindas, tair atma vancitas ciram Brahma-vaivartta Purana The unsurrendered soul is perpetually deceived; thus, the state of surrender is eternal -" A birth in the human species is so valuable that it is aspired for by the demigods. Those who, despite having taken such a birth, do not take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda - they deceive themselves perpetually." 2.8-9 aprapannanam jivana-vaiphalyac ca -asitin caturas caiva, laksams tan jiva-jatisu bhramyadbhih purusaih prapya, manusyam janma-paryayat tad apy aphalatam yatam, tesam atmabhimaninam varakanam anasritya, govinda-carana-dvayam Brahma-vaivartta Purana The utter futility of life without surrender -" After wandering throughout 8,400,000 species, the soul eventually takes a human birth. But that human birth is rendered worthless by those miserable fellows who are so proud of their bodies that they refuse to take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Govinda." 2.10 sarvadhamesv api mukti-datrtvam -sarvacara- vivarjitah satha-dhiyo vratya jagad-vancaka dambhahankrti-pana-paisuna-parah papantyaja nisthurah ye canye dhana-dara-putra-niratah sarvadhamas te 'pi hi sri-govinda-padaravinda-sarana mukta bhavanti dvija Nrsimha Purana Even the lowest of men are liberated by surrender -" O twice-born, persons who are devoid of all virtuous practices, who are outcast, rogues, deceitful, audacious, egotistic, addicted to intoxicants, hotbeds of sin, malicious, cruel-natured, grossly infatuated with son, wife, wealth, etc. - even such extremely fallen persons are liberated by surrendering unto the lotus feet of Sri Govinda." 2.11 tan nisthasya nadho-gatih -paramartham asesasya, jagatam adi karanam saranyam saranam yato, govindam navasidati Brhan-Naradiya Purana A surrendered soul never falls down -" Sri Govinda is the origin of all the universes, the Supreme Truth, and the shelter of all. One who surrenders unto His lotus feet can never be cast asunder." 2.12-13 duhkha-haratvam mano-haratvan ca -sthitah priya-hite nityam, ya eva purusarsabhah.rajams tava yadu-srestho, vaikunthah purusottamah ya enam samsrayantiha, bhaktya narayanam harim te tarantiha durgani, na me 'trasti vicarana Mahabharata, Santi-parva Surrender unto the Supreme Lord Hari vanquishes misery and charms the heart with the Lord's divine sweetness -" O King, what more can I say? The foremost of the Yadu dynasty, the unassailable great personality who is full of goodwill for you and always your dear friend - He is none other than the Supreme Lord Narayana, Sri Hari. Those who devotedly take full refuge in Him cross over this insurmountable ocean of material existence." 2.14 abhayamrta-datrtvan ca -ye sankha-cakrabja-karam hi sarnginam khagendra-ketum varadam sriyah patim samasrayante bhava-bhiti-nasanam tesam bhayam nasti vimukti-bhajam Vamana Completely vanquishing all fear, surrender bestows the life of eternal nectar -" The Lord of the Goddess of Fortune bears a conchshell, disc, lotus flower, and bow; He is the Master of Garuda, He is the vanquisher of the fear of mundane existence, He is the bestower of all benedictions. No trace of apprehension remains for those who take refuge in Him, since they qualify for positive immortality." 2.15 sarvartha-sadhakatvam -samsare 'smin maha-ghore, moha-nidra-samakule ye harim saranam yanti, te krtartha na samsayah.Brhan-Naradiya Purana A surrendered soul is successful in all endeavors -" In the dense darkness of this material world which is engulfed in ignorance and sleep, those who surrender unto the holy lotus feet of Lord Hari are successful in all their endeavors. Of this there is no doubt." 2.16 ajitendriyanam api siva-datvam -kim durapadanam tesam, pumsam uddama-cetasam yair asritas tirtha-padas, carano vyasanatyayah Bhagavatam, 3.23.42 By surrender, even persons of uncontrolled senses attain all good fortune -" The lotus feet of Lord Hari vanquish material existence. By surrendering unto His lotus feet, nothing remains difficult to achieve, even for a person of agitated mind." 2.17 samsara-klesa-haritvam -sarira manasa divya, vaiyase ye ca manusah bhautikas ca katham klesa, badheran hari-samsrayam Bhagavatam, 3.22.37 All worldly suffering is vanquished for the surrendered soul -" O Vidura, how can a person who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Hari be stricken with bodily and mental tribulation arising from the elements, other persons, or unfavorable astrological circumstances?" 2.18 saranagatanam ayatna-siddham eva param padam -samasrita ye .-pallava-plavam.mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam padam padam yad vipadam na tesam Bhagavatam, 10.14.53 The Supreme Abode of Lord Visnu is effortlessly attainable for the surrendered souls -" This ocean of material existence is as insignificant as the water in a cow's hoofprint to those persons who have taken full refuge in the supreme shelter - the boat of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, whose glories are universally sung as purity's own self. Their destination is the Lord's supreme abode, never this mundane abode of calamities." 2.19 sarvatmasritanam vivarta nivrttih -yesam sa eva bhagavan dayayed anantah sarvatmanasrita-pado yadi nirvyalikam te dustaram atitaranti ca deva-mayam naisam mamaham iti dhih sva-srgala-bhaksye Bhagavatam, 2.7.42 The illusion of bodily identification and mundane possessiveness is dispelled for the souls surrendered to the Lord in all respects -" Due to their taking shelter of His lotus feet in all respects, those persons upon whom the Infinite Supreme Lord bestows His unreserved grace surpass the insurmountable illusory energy of the Lord. He does not favor those who ascribe the conceptions of 'I and mine' to this material body, which is food for jackals and hounds." 2.20 tad upeksitanam duhkha-pratikarah ksanika eva -balasya neha saranam pitarau nrsimha nartasya cagadam udanvati majjato nauh taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihanjasestas.tavad vibho tanu-bhrtam tvad-upeksitanam Bhagavatam, 7.9.19 For persons devoid of a relationship with the Supreme Lord Hari, prevention of suffering cannot but be transitory -" O Nrsimha, O Almighty Lord, precautions and remedies are only short-lived when attempted by the suffering embodied souls who are not favored by You. Parents are not the guardians of their child, medicine is not the cure for the diseased, and a boat is not the savior of a man drowning in the ocean." 2.21 anasritanam asad avagrahad eva vividharttih -tavad bhayam dravina-deha-suhrn-nimittam sokah sprha paribhavo vipulas ca lobhah tavan mamety asad-avagraha arti-mulam yavan na te 'nghrim abhayam pravrnita lokah Bhagavatam, 3.9.6 The various tribulations of the unsurrendered souls are simply due to their obsession with the unreal -" O Lord, as long as the people of the world do not take the safe and sound shelter of Your lotus feet, they remain full of anxiety about their wealth, their bodies, and their friends; overwhelmed with lamentation, hankering, obsession, and intense greed, they cannot obtain relief from the suffering which is deeply rooted in their imaginary conceptions of I and mine." 2.22 paripurna-kamo harir evasrayaniyo 'nyad-heyam -avismitam tam paripurna-kamam, svenaiva labhena samam prasantam vinopasarpaty aparam hi balisah, sva-langulenatititartti sindhum Bhagavatam, 6.9.22 One should take refuge in the fully self-satisfied Supreme Lord Hari; the shelter of 'other gods' yields a lamentably inferior result -" Lord Krsna is perfectly replete in everything desirable, fully self-sufficient, poised and tranquil. Nothing can be astonishing for Him. Only a fool disregards Him to take shelter in any demigod whose propitiation may be prescribed for the accomplishment of worldly benefits. Such a person may be compared to one who seizes a dog's tail in order to cross the ocean." 2.23 harer eva sarvoddharitvam -kirata- hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa yad-upasrayasrayah sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah Bhagavatam, 2.4.18 Only Sri Hari is capable of delivering the living being in all circumstances -" Persons such as those belonging to the races known as Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha (Kanka), Yavana, and Khasa - nay, persons of each and every sinful birth are perfectly purified without a doubt, by taking shelter of the devotees surrendered to Lord Visnu, the Almighty. I do offer my respectful obeisances unto Him." 2.24 hari-caranasrita eva sara-grahino 'nyatha karma-yogadibhir atma-ghatitvam -athata ananda-dugham padambujam hamsah srayerann aravinda-locana sukham nu visvesvara yoga-karmabhis tan mayayami vihata na maninah Bhagavatam, 11.29.3 Only surrendered souls can properly distinguish substance from form; those who disregard Lord Hari to seek happiness on the empirical paths based on yoga and karma are simply on a suicidal course -" O lotus-eyed one, the swans (topmost pure devotees, paramahamsas) take refuge in Your ecstasy-yielding lotus feet. O Universal Lord, those who do not accept the joy of the shelter of Your lotus feet and pursue the paths of abstract liberation and mundane acquisition - such persons are devastated by Your deluding potency." 2.25 krsna-carana-saranagateh parama-sadhyatvam -na naka-prstham na ca sarva-bhaumam na paramesthyam na rasadhipatyam na yoga-siddhir apunar-bhavam va vanchanti yat .-rajah prapannah Bhagavatam, 10.16.37 Full refuge in the lotus feet of Sri Krsna is the supreme objective -" Those souls who have taken refuge in the dust of Your lotus feet have no desire to attain heaven, universal dominion, the post of Lord Brahma, sovereignty over the earth, yogic perfections, or liberation." 2.26 hari-prapannanam anya-nistara-samarthyam-atmaramanam api hari-.- prapattis ca -yat .-samsrayah suta, munayah prasamayanah sadyah punanty upasprstah, svardhuny-apo 'nusevaya Bhagavatam, 1.1.15 Souls surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord Hari are competent to deliver others, and the fully self-satisfied souls also surrender to the Lord's lotus feet - "The slightest association with the supremely tranquil sages who have surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord purifies the people of the world; but the river Ganga purifies only those who bathe in it." 2.27 sri-krsnaika-sarana naiva vidhi-kinkarah -devarsi- bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya karttam Bhagavatam, 11.5.41 Those souls who have exclusively surrendered unto Krsna are not subservient to scriptural injunctions and prohibitions -" O King, one who abandons all worldly obligations and wholeheartedly surrenders unto Mukunda, the exclusive shelter of all beings in every respect - such a person is no longer indebted to the demigods, sages, other life-forms, friends and relatives, mankind, and ancestors." 2.28 tad anugrhita veda-dharmatita eva -yada yasyanugrhnati, bhagavan atma-bhavitah sa jahati matim loke, vede ca parinisthitam Bhagavatam, 4.29.45 The recipients of the Lord's mercy are transcendental to Vedic religiosity -" Because of the intense love of His surrendered soul, the Supreme Lord bestows His grace upon that devotee by ushering divine inspiration into his heart. Such a devotee then abandons the preoccupation with adhering to worldly obligations and Vedic religiosity." 2.29 sri-krsna-svarupam eva paramasraya-padam -dasame dasamam laksyam, asritasraya-vigraham sri-krsnakhyam param dhama, jagad-dhama namami tat Bhavartha-dipika, Bhagavatam, 10.1.1 As the epitome of divine ecstasy (rasa), the Supreme Lord's original form - Krsna - is the highest refuge -" In the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Krsna has been distinguished as the embodiment of shelter for the surrendered souls. I bow down unto that supreme refuge of the universe, who is known as ‚Krsna'." 2.30 sriman-mahaprabhoh padasraya-mahatmyam -dhyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhista-doham tirthaspadam siva-virinci-nutam saranyam bhrtyarti-ham pranata-pala-bhavabdhi-potam vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam Bhagavatam, 11.5.33 The matchless, unsurpassable gift of surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatara who enacts His pastimes as a great devotee -" O guardian of the surrendered, O great personality (the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, who enacts His divine pastimes as a pure devotee [maha-bhagavata]), You alone are the reality to be constantly meditated upon by the pure souls. You are the destroyer of the soul's illusion, You are the divine wish-fulfilling tree, the refuge of all devotees. Worshippable by Siva and Virinci (Sadasiva in the form of Sri Advaita Acarya, and Brahma in the form of Haridasa Thakura), You are the shelter of all and everything, and You are the dispeller of Your devotee's suffering which originates in offenses to the holy name (nama-aparadha). You are the only boat for crossing the ocean of this material world of suffering. I do worship Your holy lotus feet." 2.31 sri-caitanya-carana-sarane cid-eka-rasa-vilasa-labhah -samsara- sindhu-tarane hrdayam yadi syat sankirtanamrta-rase ramate manas cet premambudhau viharane yodi citta-vrttis caitanya-candra-carane saranam prayatu Caitanya-candramrta 8.93 The souls surrendered unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyadeva bathe in the ocean of divine love -" If you have a desire to cross the ocean of material existence, an aspiration to taste the ecstasy of the nectarean congregational chanting of the holy names (sankirtana), and a longing to sport in the ocean of divine love - then please surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyacandra." 2.32 sad-vidha-saranagatih -anukulyasya- sankalpah, pratikulya-vivarjjanam raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha atma-niksepa-karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih Vaisnava-tantra Six divisions of surrender -" Acceptance of the favorable, rejection of the unfavorable, the faith that 'He will surely protect me,' embracing the Lord's guardianship, complete dependence on Him, and the perception of one's utter helplessness without Him - these six are the essential limbs of exclusive surrender to the Lord (saranagati)." 2.33 sa ca kaya-mano-vakyaih sadhya -tavasmiti vadan vaca, tathaiva manasa vidan.tat sthanam asritas tanva, modate saranagatah Vaisnava-tantra Saranagati should be practiced in thought, word, and deed -" By his power of speech, the surrendered soul declares, 'I am Yours'; in his thoughts, he knows the same; and in person, he takes refuge in the Lord's holy abode. In this way the surrendered soul passes his life, his heart filled with joy." iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-sastra-vacanamrtam nama dvitiyo 'dhyayah thus ends the second chapter The Nectar of Scriptural Word in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Chapter 3 Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Devotees Anakulyasya Sankalpah - Acceptance of the Favorable 3.1 krsna-karsnaga-sad-bhakti-, prapannatvanukulake krtyatva-niscayas-canu-, kulya-sankalpa ucyate Everything should be done that encourages the service of Sri Krsna and His devotee, and whatever is conducive to the state of exclusive surrender must be executed: such a firm conviction is called anukulyasya-sankalpah - Acceptance of the Favorable. 3.2 sri-krsna-sankirtanam eva tat padasritanam paramanukulam - ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-mahadavagni-nirvapanam sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhujivanam anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya Of everything favorable, Hari-sankirtana performed by souls surrendered unto the lotus feet of Lord Hari is paramount -" May the Sri Krsna Sankirtana be all-victorious in its pristine glory! This congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord cleanses the looking-glass of consciousness, extinguishes the raging forest fire of material existence, and spreads the benediction moonrays that cause the lotus of the heart to bloom. This chanting is the life and soul of divine consorthood. Expanding the ocean of pure ecstasy, it is the flavor of full nectar at every moment, bathing and cooling the entire self." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 3.3 tatra sampatti-catustayam paramanukulam -trnad api sunicena, taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena, kirtaniyah sada harih Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya These four jewels are accepted as the greatest treasure favorable to the performance of Hari-kirtana -" One who knows himself more insignificant than a blade of grass, who is as forbearing as a tree, and who gives due honor to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to sing the glories of Lord Hari constantly." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 3.4 karsnanam adhikaranurupa sevaiva bhajananukula - krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta diksasti cet pranatibhis ca bhajantam isam susrusaya bhajana-vijnam ananyam anya nindadi-sunya-hrdam ipsita-sanga-labdhya Sri Rupapadanam - Sri Rupa Goswami To render service to the devotees according to their respective qualifications is conducive to pure devotion -krsna saha krsna-nama abhinna janiya, aprakrta eka-matra sadhana maniya yei nama laya, name diksita haiya, adara karibe mane sva-gosthi janiya namera bhajane yei krsna-seva kare, aprakrta vraje vasi' sarvada antare madhyama vaisnava jani' dhara tara paya, anugatya kara tara mane ara kaya namera bhajane yei svarupa labhiya, anya vastu nahi dekhe krsna teyagiya krsnetara sambandha na paiya jagate, sarva-jane sama-buddhi kare krsna-vrate tadrsa bhajana-vijne janiya abhista, kaya-mano-vakye seva' haiya nivista susrusa karibe tanre sarvato-bhavete, krsnera carana labha haya tanha haite (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "Knowing Krsna and His name to be identical truth, one embraces exclusively the holy name's path; and thus who is initiated into chanting the name properly should be mentally respected as a member of the family. And he who serves Krsna by constant worship of the name, within his heart e'er residing at Sri Vrndavana Dhama -know him an intermediate devotee, make obeisance at his feet and keep him as a faithful friend in your thought and deed. And who, by internal service to the name, knows his divine identity, sees Krsna, only Krsna in every form and entity; seeing nothing separate from Krsna in the entire creation, he sees all souls equally serving Krsna's predilection -know such a veteran votary most honored and most cherished, serve him in thought, word, and deed, with heart's fulfillment relished: with obeisance, inquiry, service, him in all respects entreat -by the grace of such a great soul we can reach Lord Krsna's feet." (Bengali verse translation of instructions to an intermediate devotee) 3.5 utsahadi-guna anakulatvad adaraniyah -utsahan niscayad dhairyat, tat tat karma-pravartanat sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh, sadbhir bhaktih prasiddhyati Sri Rupapadanam - Sri Rupa Goswami Because of their favorability, the six qualities beginning with enthusiasm should be honored -bhajane utsaha yara bhitare bahire, sudurllabha krsna-bhakti pabe dhire dhire krsna-bhakti prati yara visvasa niscaya, sraddhavan bhaktiman jana sei haya krsna-seva na paiya dhira-bhave yei, bhaktira sadhana kare bhaktiman sei yahate krsnera seva krsnera santosa, sei karme vrati sada na karaye rosa krsnera abhakta-jana-sanga parihari', bhaktiman bhakta-sange sada bhaje hari krsna-bhakta yaha kare tad anusarane, bhaktiman acaraya jivane marane ei chaya jana haya bhakti adhikari, visvera-mangala kare bhakti paracari (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "Within, without, he who serves with (1) enthusiasm will gradually attain to the rarest pure devotion. In devotion to Lord Krsna, one who has (2) firm faith is a person loyal and devoted on the path. And if Sri Krsna's service he fails to attain, yet practices with (3) patience - devout is such a man. (4) That which serves Lord Krsna, for only Krsna's pleasure, in such action, the devotee can never feel anger. (5) Abandoning the company of the non-devotee, ever with devotees, the devout serve Sri Hari. (6) Following the pure devotees' direction on the path, the true devout practice, as a matter of life and death. Who follow these six qualities qualify for pure devotion -they purify the universe by their preaching mission." (Bengali verse translation) 3.6 yukta-vairagyam evanukulam -yavata syat sva-nirvahah, svikuryat tavad arthavit adhikye nyunatayan ca, cyavate paramarthatah Sri Vyasapadanam Only renunciation in devotion (yukta-vairagya) is favorable -" A person with genuine insight will accept only as much facility as needed to fulfill his personal necessity. Over or under acceptance of one's due measure may cause a fall from spiritual practices." - Sri Vyasadeva 3.7 tatra krsna-sambandhasyaiva pradhanyam -tvayopabhukta- srag-gandha-, vaso 'lankara-carccitah ucchista-bhojino dasas, tava mayam jayema hi Srimad Uddhavasya Within renunciation in devotion (yukta-vairagya), the foremost principle is to see everything in relationship to Lord Krsna (Krsna-sambandha- jnana) -" Adorned with the articles that have been offered to You, such as garlands, fragrant clothing, and ornaments, we, Your personal servitors who partake of Your holy remnants alone, will certainly be able to conquer Your illusory energy (maya)." Srimad Uddhava 3.8 sarvatha hari-smrti-raksanam eva tatparyam -alabdhe va vinaste va, bhaksyacchadana-sadhane aviklava-matir bhutva, harim eva dhiya smaret Sri Vyasapadanam The fundamental objective is to maintain constant remembrance of Sri Hari in every time, place and circumstance -" If persons engaged in the devotional service of Lord Hari are unable to obtain food and shelter despite their attempts, or if their acquisitions are lost or destroyed, they should, without anxiety, absorb their hearts deeply in the thought of Lord Hari." - Sri Vyasadeva 3.9 sarvatra tad anukampa darsanad eva tat-siddhih -tat te 'nukampam susamiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam hrd-vag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak.Sri Brahmanah This is accomplished only when one can see the grace of the Supreme Lord in every situation -" One who, in the hope of achieving Your grace, goes on enduring the inauspicious fruit of his own karma, and passes his days practicing devotion unto You in every thought, word, and deed - such a person is heir to the land of freedom: he attains to the plane of positive immortality." - Lord Brahma 3.10 sadhu-sangat sarvam eva sulabham -tulayama lavenapi, na svargam napunar-bhavam bhagavat-sangi-sangasya, martyanam kim utasisah Sri Saunakadinam Only by the association of pure devotees (sadhu-sanga) is everything happily achieved -" The attainment of heaven or liberation cannot even slightly compare with the immeasurable fortune gained by the association of an associate of the Supreme Lord. What, then, can be said of the petty dominion and assets of mortal men?" - the sages of Naimisaranya, headed by Saunaka Rsi 3.11 guru-padasraya eva mukhyah -tasmad gurum prapadyeta, jijnasuh sreyah uttamam sabde pare ca nisnatam, brahmany upasamasrayam Sri Prabuddhasya Of all sadhu-sanga, the foremost is the service of the lotus feet of the bona fide Spiritual Master or Sad-guru -" Thus, a person in search of the ultimate good should surrender to the Guru who knows well the Vedic scriptures (Sabda-brahman).and the Supreme Absolute Lord (Para-brahman), and for whom the mundane world holds no charm whatsoever." Sri Prabuddha 3.12 tatra siksa-seva-phalaptis ca -tatra bhagavatan dharman, siksed gurvatma-daivatah amayayanuvrttya yais-, tusyed atmatmado harih Sri Prabuddhasya At the lotus feet of that Sad-guru, divine relationship, practice, and objective (sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana) are all achieved -" Those divine practices of pure devotional service that please the Self-giving Sri Hari (who gives Himself to His devotees) will be learned by continuously serving such a Guru with full sincerity, knowing him to be one's dearmost well-wishing friend and the supremely worshipful embodiment of Sri Hari." Sri Prabuddha 3.13 tadiyaradhanam parama-phaladam -maj- janmanah phalam idam madhu-kaitabhare mat prarthaniya mad anugraha esa eva tvad bhrtya-bhrtya-paricaraka-bhrtya-bhrtya bhrtyasya bhrtyam iti mam smara lokanatha Sri Kulasekharasya Devotional service rendered to the devotee bestows the highest fruit -" O Supreme Lord of all beings, O slayer of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, this is the purpose of my life, this is my prayer, and this is Your grace - that You will remember me as Your servant, a servant of a servant of a Vaisnava, a servant of a servant of such a servant of a servant of a Vaisnava, and a servant of a servant of the servant of a servant of a Vaisnava's servant's servant." - Sri Kulasekhara.3.14 tadiya-sevanam na hi tuccham -jnanavalambakah kecit, kecit karmavalambakah vayam tu hari-dasanam, padatranavalambakah Sri Desikacaryasya Service to the Lord's devotee is not a trifling matter -" Some people take shelter in the path of action (karma) while others take shelter in the path of knowledge (jnana). But as far as we are concerned, we have chosen the sandals of the servants of Lord Hari as the only refuge." - Sri Desikacarya 3.15 asmad ananya-nistha -tyajantu bandhavah sarve, nindantu guravo janah tathapi paramanando, govindo mama jivanam Sri Kulasekharasya Exclusive dedication is born from service to the devotees -" My friends may forsake me and my (traditional) teachers may denounce me, but the light of my life will always be Sri Govinda, the personification of divine ecstasy." - Sri Kulasekhara 3.16 aprakrta-raty-udayas ca -yat tad vadantu sastrani, yat tad vyakhyantu tarkikah jivanam mama caitanya-, padambhoja-sudhaiva tu Sri Prabodhanandapadanam Supramundane attachment also develops -" The Scriptures may say whatever they have to say (in their various areas of jurisdiction), and the expert logicians may interpret.them as they wish. But as far as I am concerned, the sweet nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyacandra is my life and soul." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 3.17 sadhya-seva-sankalpah -bhavantam evanucaran nirantarah prasanta-nihsesa-mano-rathantarah kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah praharsayisyami sanatha-jivitam Sri Yamunacaryasya An earnest aspiration to achieve perfection in devotional service -" When will I bloom in a life of servitude as Your eternal devotee, my heart pacified due to all other desires being consumed by engagement in Your uninterrupted service?" - Sri Yamunacarya 3.18 parikara-siddher-akanksa -sakrt tvad akara vilokanasaya trni-krtanuttama-bhukti-muktibhih mahatmabhir mam avalokyatam naya ksane 'pi te yad viraho 'ti duhsahah Sri Yamunacaryasya The aspiration to attain to the perfection of becoming an associate servitor of the Lord -" O my Lord, please lead me into the glance of those great devotees who, in their heart's aspiration to only once behold Your divine form, consider sense enjoyment and liberation to be like straw, and whose separation is unbearable for even You." - Sri Yamunacarya 3.19 nirupadhika-bhakti-svarupopalabdhih -bhaktis tvayi sthiratara bhagavan yadi syat daivena nah phalati divya-kisora-murtih muktih svayam mukulitanjali sevate 'sman dharmartha-kama-gatayah samaya-pratiksah Sri Bilvamangalasya The realization of the nature of unconditional devotion -" O Supreme Lord, if our devotion for You were more steadfast, Your adolescent form would naturally arise (appear) within our hearts. Then (there would not be the slightest necessity to pray for the triple pursuits of religiosity, gain, and sensual desire [dharma, artha, kama], and their negation in the form of liberation [mukti], because) mukti will personally attend us (as a concomitant subsidiary fruit of devotion, in the form of deliverance from ignorance), her hands cupped in prayer (like a preordained maidservant); and the fruits of bhukti (transitory pleasure culminating in attainment of heaven) will eagerly await their orders (from us, should any necessity arise for them in the service of Your lotus feet)." - Sri Bilvamangala Thakura 3.20 vraja-rasa-sresthatvam -srutim apare smrtim itare bharatam anye bhajantu bhava-bhitah aham iha nandam vande yasyalinde param brahma Sri Raghupati Upadhyayasya The superexcellence of devotion in the mood of Vrndavana -" Of persons afraid of material existence, some worship the Sruti Scriptures (Vedas), some worship the Smrti Scriptures (supplementary Religious Codes), and others worship the Mahabharata. But as far as I am concerned, I worship Sri Nanda Maharaja, in whose courtyard the Supreme Absolute Truth is playing.".- Sri Raghupati Upadhyaya 3.21 tatra bhajana-paddhatih -tan- nama-rupa-caritadi-sukirtananu smrtyoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya tisthan vraje tad anuragi-jananugami kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-sarah Sri-Rupapadanam - Sri Rupa Goswami The path to devotion in the Vrndavana conception -krsna nama-rupa-guna-lila catustaya, guru-mukhe sunilei kirtana udaya kirtita haile krame smarananga paya, kirtana smarana-kale krama-pathe dhaya jata-ruci-jana jihva mana milaiya, krsna-anuraga vraja-jananusmariya nirantara vraja-vasa manasa bhajana, ei upadesa-sara karaha grahana (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "When Krsna's name, form, nature, and pastimes divine, are heard from Sri Gurudeva, one's heart awakes in song. As pure chanting ensues, remembrance is attained; thus chanting and remembering, step-by-step ascent is gained. Those engaging tongue and mind, who begin to relish nectar: adore Sri Krsna, following the residents of Vraja. Reside always in Vraja, within the heart's devotion . . . surely, you must accept this nectar of instruction." (Bengali verse translation) 3.22 vraja-bhajana-taratamyanubhutih - vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad-vrndaranyam udara-pani-ramanat tatrapi govardhanah radha-kundam ihapi gokula-pateh premamrtaplavanat kuryyad asya virajato giri-tate sevam viveki na kah Sri Rupapadanam - Sri Rupa Goswami The comparative ontological conception of devotion in Vrndavana -vaikuntha haite srestha mathura nagari, janama labhila yatha krsnacandra hari mathura haite srestha vrndavana dhama, yatha sadhiyache hari rasotasava-kama vrndavana haite srestha govardhana-saila giridhari-gandharvika yatha krida kaila govardhana haite srestha radha-kunda-tata premamrte bhasaila gokula lampata govardhana giri-tata radha-kunda chadi' anyatra ye kare nija kunja puspa-badi nirbbodha tahara sama keha nahi ara kunda-tira sarvottama sthana - premadhara (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "Higher than Vaikuntha is Mathura city, since there occurred the Advent of Sri Krsnacandra Hari. Better than Mathura is Vrndavana, the holy place where Lord Hari enjoyed the joyous dance of amorous grace. Above Vrndavana Dhama is Govardhana Hill, the lifter of the Hill, and His Consort, there did intimately revel. Even higher than Govardhana Hill is the banks of Radha-kunda that the Sweetheart of Gokula overfloods sweet love abound. Who would select for his worship, any other place, disregarding this sacred pond at Govardhana's base? Such a foolish fellow surely can't be found! The highest abode of love divine is the banks of Radha-kunda." (Bengali verse translation) 3.23 vraja-rasa-svarupa-siddhau sambandha-jnanodaya-prakarah -gurau gosthe gosthalayisu sujane bhu-suragane sva-mantre sri-namni vraja-nava-yuva-dvandva-sarane sada dambham hitva kuru ratim apurvam atitaram aye svantar bhratas catubhir abhiyace dhrta-padah Sri-Raghunathapadanam - Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami The proper approach to realize one's eternally perfect divine identity in the Vrndavana mellow of devotion -gurudeve, vraja-vane, vraja-bhumi-vasi jane, suddha-bhakte, ara vipra-gane ista-mantre, hari-name, yugala bhajana kame, kara rati apurva yatane dhari mana carane tomara -janiyachi ebe sara, krsna-bhakti vina ara, nahi ghuce jivera samsara karma, jnana, tapah, yoga, sakalai ta karma-bhoga, karma chadaite keha nare sakala chadiya bhai, sraddha-devira guna gai, yanra krpa bhakti dite pare chadi' dambha anuksana, smara asta-tattva mana, kara tahe niskapata rati sei rati prarthanaya, sri-dasa-gosvami paya, e bhakativinoda kare nati (Bengali verse by Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura) (1) The Divine Master (2) Sri Vrndavana (3) The residents of Sri Vrndavana (4) The pure Vaisnavas (5) The brahmana section (6) The worshipful mantra (7) The holy name (8) A yearning to serve the Couple Divine: adore these eight with utmost dedication. O dear mind, I implore thee at thy feet - Already we have learned the essence: nothing but Lord Krsna's service dispels the soul's illusory experience. Duty, knowledge, penance, meditation - all are really exploitation: none can free us from action and reaction; Cast them all aside, O my brother, sing the glory of good faith, our mother whose grace alone bestows pure devotion. Banish your pride forever, O my mind, your eight goals remember: adore them with a heart that is sincere. Aspiring for that devoted heart, at Sri Dasa Goswami's feet this Bhaktivinoda makes his prayer." (Bengali verse translation) 3.24 namabhinna-vraja-bhajana-prarthana -aghadamana- yasodanandanau nanda-suno kamalanayana-gopicandra -vrndavanendrah pranatakaruna-krsnav ity aneka-svarupe tvayi mama ratir uccair varddhatam nama-dheya Sri Rupapadanam A prayer to taste the nectar of devotion in Vrndavana (Vraja-rasa), nondifferent from serving the holy name in pure devotion (nama bhajana) -" O Aghadamana, O Yasodanandana, O Nandasuno, O Kamala-nayana, O Gopicandra, O Vrndavanendra, O Pranatakaruna, O Krsna - You have appeared in many divine forms, such as these. Therefore, O Lord, who are known by these holy names, kindly let.my fondness for You flourish." - Sri Rupa Goswami 3.25 parama-siddhi-sankalpah -kadaham yamuna-tire, namani tava kirtayan udbaspah pundarikaksa, racayisyami tandavam kasyacit Divine aspiration in separation is favorable to perfection -" O lotus-eyed Lord, when will I dance on the banks of the Yamuna, chanting Your holy name with tears in my eyes?" votary 3.26 vipralambhe milana-siddhau nama-bhajananukulyam -nayanam galad-asru-dharaya, vadanam gad-gada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada, tava nama-grahane bhavisyati Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya Serving the holy name in pure devotion (nama-bhajana) in the pain of separation is favorable to achieve union with the Lord -" O Lord, when will my eyes be adorned with tears of love, flowing like waves? When will my words choke with ecstasy, and when will the hairs of my body stand erect while chanting Your holy name?" - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-bhakta-vacanamrtantargata-anukulyasya- sankalpo nama trtiyo 'dhyayah thus ends the third chapter Acceptance of the Favorable - Words of Nectar from the Devotees.in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pankaja_Dasa Posted November 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Chapter 4 Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Devotees Pratikulya-vivarjjanam - Rejection of the Unfavorable 4.1 bhagavad-bhaktayor bhakteh, prapatteh pratikulake varjjyatve niscayah prati-, kulya-varjjanam ucyate The principle to reject everything opposed to the service of the Lord and His devotee, and to similarly abstain from everything opposed to an attitude of surrender, is known as pratikulya -vivarjjanam - Rejection of the Unfavorable. 4.2 pratikulya-varjjana-sankalpadarsah -na dhanam na janam na sundarim, kavitam va jagadisa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare, bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya The ideal in the resolve to reject the unfavorable -" O Lord of the universe, I have no desire for wealth or worldly promotion, nor do I desire wife, family, and society, nor do I aspire for Vedic religiosity or mundane scholarship. The only aspiration in my heart is that in my every birth I may have unmotivated devotion for You." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 4.3 atrapi tathaiva -.nastha dharme na vasu-nicaye naiva kamopabhoge yad yad bhavyam bhavatu bhagavan purva-karmanurupam etat prarthyam mama bahu-matam janma-janmantare 'pi tvat padambhoruha-yuga-gata niscala bhaktir astu Sri Kulasekharasya A similar expression of the same ideal -" O Lord, I have no faith in religiosity, economic development, or sense enjoyment. May all these things come to pass as they are ordained, according to my previous karma. But my earnest prayer is that birth after birth I may have unflinching devotion for Your lotus feet." Sri Kulasekhara 4.4 hari-sambandha-hinam sarvam eva varjjaniyam -na yatra vaikuntha-katha sudhapaga na sadhavo bhagavatas tad asrayah na yatra yajnesa-makha mahotsavah suresa-loko 'pi na vai sa sevyatam Deva-stutau Everything devoid of a relationship with Lord Hari should be rejected -" One should not reside wherever the river of nectarean tidings of Krsna does not flow, wherever Krsna's surrendered devotees cannot be found, and wherever the grand festival of chanting Krsna's holy name is not conducted - even if it is heaven." - prayers by the demigods 4.5 vyavaharika-gurvadayo 'pi pratikulam ced varjjaniya eva -gurur na sa syat svajano na sa syat pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat.daivam na tat syan na patis ca sa syan na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyam - Sri Rsabhasya When the traditional guru and guardians are found to be unfavorable, they too must surely be abandoned -" One who cannot save other souls from the world of impending death - that is, one who cannot teach the path of devotion - he cannot be a teacher, although he may be called 'guru'; he cannot be a relative - he is not worthy of the designation; he cannot be a father -he is not qualified to beget a son; she cannot be a mother - she should not bear a child; he cannot be a god - the demigods who cannot deliver others from material bondage are not entitled to accept worship from human society; and he cannot be a husband -his hand is not fit to accept in marriage." - Sri Rsabhadeva 4.6 sarvendriyair eva pratikula-varjjane sankalpah -ma draksam ksina-punyan ksanam api bhavato bhakti-hinan padabje ma srausam sravya-bandham tava caritam-apasyanyad-akhyana-jatam ma spraksam madhava! tvam api bhuvana-pate! cetasapahnavanan ma bhuvam tvat saparya-parikara-rahito janma-janmantare 'pi - Sri Kulasekharasya The resolve to reject everything unfavorable, by means of all the senses -" O Madhava, let me not see the unvirtuous persons who are devoid of devotion for Your lotus feet, and let me not hear the narratives which do not describe Your divine personality. O Lord of the universe, may I never have any contact with those bereft of faith in You, and moreover, lifetime after lifetime, may I never be without.the company of Your associates who are devoted to Your loving service." - Sri Kulasekhara 4.7 vyavaharikadaraniyany api tucchavat tyajyani -tvad- bhaktah saritam patim culukavat khadyotavad bhaskaram merum pasyati lostravat kim aparam bhumeh patim bhrtyavat cinta-ratnacayam silasakalavat kalpadrumam kasthavat samsaram trna-rasivat kim-aparam deham nijam bharavat Sarvajnasya One should also be indifferent towards commonly respected objects -" O Lord, Your devotee sees the ocean to be as insignificant as a palmful of water, the sun as a glow-worm, Mount Sumeru as a pebble, a king as a servant, wish-fulfilling gems as rocks, a desire-yielding tree as wood, worldly aspirations as straw, and he even sees his own body as a trifling weight to carry: he knows all objects unfavorable to devotion as trivia." - Sarvajna 4.8 hari-vimukha-sanga-phalasya anubhuti-svarupam -varam hutavaha-jvala-, panjarantar-vyavasthitih na sauri-cinta-vimukha-, jana-samvasa-vaisasam Katyayanasya A realization of the result of associating with those who are averse to the Supreme Lord Hari -" One should endure the pain of being locked in a cage surrounded by blazing fire, rather than keep the distressing association of persons averse to Krsna consciousness." - Katyayana 4.9 anya-devopasakanam svarupa-paricayah -alinganam varam manye, vyala~vyaghra-jalaukasam na sangah salya-yuktanam, nana-devaika-sevinam - kesancit The actual position of the worshippers of 'other gods' -" Better to be embraced by a snake, a tiger, or a crocodile, than to suffer the agony of associating with persons who worship the various demigods." - revered votary 4.10 bhakti-badhaka dosas tyajyah -aty- aharah prayasas ca, prajalpo niyamagrahah jana-sangas ca laulyan ca, sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati Sri-Rupapadanam - Sri Rupa Goswami Personal defects that obstruct devotion must be forsaken -atyanta sangrahe yara sada citta dhaya, atyahari bhakti-hina sei samjna paya prakrta vastura ase bhoge yara mana, prayasi tahara nama bhakti-hina jana krsna-katha chadi' jihva ana katha kahe, prajalpi tahara nama vrtha vakya kahe bhajanete udasina karmete pravina, bahv-arambhi se niyamagrahi ati dina krsna-bhakta-sanga vine anya-sange rata, jana-sangi ku-visaya-vilase vivrata nana-sthane bhrame yei nija svartha-tare, laulya-para bhakti-hina samjna deya nare ei chaya nahe kabhu bhakti adhikari, bhakti-hina laksya-bhrasta visayi samsari (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) (1) For over-acquisition, one whose mind does always run: avaricious non-devotee - he should thus be known (2) One who hankers to exploit some object mundane: non-devotee, overendeavorer - as such he is known. (3) One whose tongue speaks all but holy talks of Krsna: he is just a gossiper of insignificant banter. (4) Apathetic to devotion, skilled in exploitation: so wretched - proud usurper of the higher devotee's position. (5) Associates with all except Lord Krsna's pure devotees: a mundane socializer in the mud of fleeting fancies. (6) Who wanders hither and thither for his own selfish plan: fickle-minded non-devotee - is known such a man. In these six ways, never fit to render pure devotion: bereft of love divine - fallen, materialistic person." (Bengali verse translation) 4.11 yosit-sangasya pratikulyam -niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya sandarsanam visayinam atha yositan ca ha hanta hanta visa-bhaksanato 'py asadhu Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya The severe adversity of female companionship -" Alas, for a renunciate who desires to completely cross over the ocean of mundanity and engage in the divine loving service of the Supreme Lord, to ogle a materialist and a woman is more wicked than drinking poison." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 4.12 hari-vimukhasya vamsadisv adaro bhakti-pratikulah -dhig janma nas tri-vrd yat tad, dhig vratam dhig bahu jnatam dhik kulam dhik kriya-daksyam, vimukha ye tv adhoksaje yajnika-vipranam Esteem for elevated birth and culture of a person averse to Lord Hari is unfavorable for devotion -" Our three births (seminal, investiture with the sacred thread,.and sacrificial [saukra, savitrya, and daiksya]) are condemned, our vow of chastity is condemned, our profuse knowledge of the Scriptures is condemned, our lineage is condemned, and our proficiency in prescribed religious rites is condemned - all is lost, because we have become averse to the transcendental Supreme Lord." - sacrificial brahmanas 4.13 jade cid-buddhir varjjaniya -yasyatma- buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijyadhih yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij janesv abhijnesu sa eva gokharah Sri Sri Bhagavatah The mentality of considering mundane objects to be conscious elements is unfavorable -" One who considers his gross body to be himself, but does not identify himself with a devotee of the Lord; who considers wife, family, and associated paraphernalia to be his possessions, yet does not feel affection or attachment for a devotee of the Lord; who considers a graven image of earth or other substance to be God, yet does not conceive of the worshippable position of a devotee of the Lord; who considers some river or lake to be a holy place of pilgrimage, yet does not perceive a devotee of the Lord to be the abode of divinity incarnate - such a person is an ass among cows: a colossal fool." - the Supreme Personality of Godhead 4.14 cit-tattve jada-buddhir jadadhina-buddhir va aparadhatvena parivarjjaniya -arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane .-tirthe 'mbu-.buddhih sri-visnor-namni-mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah Sri Vyasapadanam The offensive mentality of considering worshippable, conscious divine forms to be mundane or subordinate to mundanity must be totally abandoned -" Anyone who considers the worshippable Deity to be stone; who considers the Vaisnava Guru to be a mortal man; who considers a Vaisnava to be limited by the confines of caste, lineage, or creed; who considers the holy foot-wash of Lord Visnu or a Vaisnava to be ordinary water; who considers the holy name and mantra of Lord Visnu, which vanquish all sins, to be common sound vibration; and who considers the God of gods, Lord Visnu, to be merely on the level of the demigods - such a person is a diabolical devil." - Sri Vyasadeva 4.15 tapah prabhrtinam pratikulyam -rahuganaitat tapasa na yati na cejyaya nirvapanad grhad va na cchandasa naiva jalagni-suryair vine mahat-.-rajo 'bhisekam Sri Jadabharatasya The adversity of all attempts based on austerity, etc. -" O Rahugana, without one's head being adorned with the dust of the holy feet of a pure devotee, one can never attain devotion for the Supreme Lord by austerity, by Vedic worship and religiosity, by following the vow of monkhood, by following the religious duties of married life, by study and recitation of the Vedas, or by worshipping water, fire, or sun." - Sri Jadabharata.4.16 acyuta-sambandha-hina-jnana-karmader api pratikulyam -naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjjitam na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam Sri Naradasya The adversity of pursuits based on knowledge (jnana) and action (karma) devoid of any relationship with the Supreme Lord Hari -" When unadulterated knowledge that is devoid of action and its reactions is never becoming without a devotional relationship with the Infallible Lord, how then will action, which is ill-fated by nature, ever be exhalted without being offered to the Almighty, even if it is utterly selfless?" - Sri Narada 4.17 yamadi-yoga-sadhanasya varjjaniyata -yamadibhir yoga-pathaih, kama-lobha-hato muhuh mukunda-sevaya yadvat, tathaddhatma na samyati - Sri Naradasya The futility of sense control by yogic practice -" The agitated mind, repeatedly taken captive by its enemy in the form of depravity rooted in lust and greed, is directly mastered by serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda. It can never be likewise checked or pacified by practicing the eightfold yogic discipline, which is generally based on sensual and mental repression [yama, niyama, etc.]." - Sri Narada 4.18 brahma-sukhagrah pratikula eva -tvat- saksat karanahlada-, visuddhabdhi-sthitasya me.sukhani gospadayante, brahmany api jagad-guro Sri Prahladasya Eagerness to attain to the bliss of Brahman must be known as unfavorable to devotion -" O Guru of the universe, now that I can directly behold Your divine form, I reside within the ocean of pure ecstasy. And all other pleasures, including the bliss of merging with Brahman, appear as insignificant as the water in a cow's hoofprint." - Sri Prahlada 4.19 mukti-sprhayah pratikulyam -bhava- bandha-cchide tasmai, sprhayami na muktaye bhavan prabhur aham dasa, iti yatra vilupyate - Sri Sri Hanumatah The aspiration for liberation is particularly unfavorable -" I have no aspiration for that liberation which is meant to sever material bondage, and in which the relationship, 'You are master, and I, servant,' is completely lost." - Sri Sri Hanuman 4.20 sayujya-mukti-sprha auddhatyam eva -bhaktih seva bhagavato, muktis tat .-langhanam ko mudho dasatam prapya, prabhavam padam icchati - Siramaulinam The aspiration to become one with the Absolute is nothing more than arrogance -" Bhakti is the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and mukti is the overstepping of that service. Who is the fool that hankers for liberation's throne, rejecting the servitorship of the Lord?" .- Siramauli 4.21 atyantika-laya-sprha viveka-hinataiva -hanta citriyate mitra, smrtva tan mama manasam vivekino 'pi ye kuryus, trsnam atyantike laye - kesancit The astonishing indiscrimination in the aspiration for ultimate dissolution -" Alas, my friend, my heart is simply astonished when I think of all those discriminating persons who aspire for self-extinction in perpetual, indiscriminate absolution." - revered votary 4.22 mukter-bhakti-dasya-vancha bhaktes ca tat-sangan-malinyasanka -ka tvam muktir upagatasmi bhavati kasmad akasmad iha sri-krsna-smaranena deva bhavato dasi-padam prapita dure tistha manag anagasi katham kuryad anaryam mayi tvan-namna nija-nama-candana-rasalepasya lopo bhavet kayacit Liberation prays to become devotion's maidservant, and devotion apprehends the impurity of liberation's association -'Who are you'? 'It is I, liberation (mukti).' 'Why have you suddenly come here?' 'O lord, because you are always absorbed in thought of Sri Krsna, I have been promoted to the position of your maidservant.' 'Just keep a little distance from me.' 'Oh! Why are you so harsh upon an innocent person like me?' 'By the mere mention of your name, the sandalwood paste or Gopi-candana tilaka that adorns my body, and which represents my reputation as a devotee of the Lord, will vanish altogether.' .- votary 4.23 bahirmmukha-brahma-janmano 'pi pratikulata -tava dasya-sukhaika-sanginam, bhavanesv astv-api kita-janma me itarav asathesu ma sma bhud, api janma caturmukhatmana Sri Yamunacaryasya The adversity of being born as even Lord Brahma, but without Krsna consciousness -veda- vidhi anusare, karma kari' e samsare, jiva punah punah janma paya purva-krta karma-phale, tomara va iccha-bale, janma yadi labhi punaraya tabe eka katha mama, suna he purusottama, tava dasa-sangi-jana ghare kita-janma yadi haya, tahate o dayamaya, rahibo he santusta antare tava dasa-sanga-hina, ye grhastha arvacina, tara grhe caturmukha-bhuti na cai kakhana hari, kara-dvaya joda kari' kare tava kinkara minati (Bengali verse by Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura) "According to Vedic injunction, who acts out his worldly function, that soul takes birth again and again; according to my previous action, or Your divine predilection, if another birth for me does remain: then just one thing I have to say, O hear me Lord, if You may: if within the home of your devotee I may be born in an insect body, that cannot but be Your mercy, in my heart I'll be ever happy. Devoid of Your devotee's company, in an ignorant non-devotee's family, to be born as even Brahma, the creator:.for that, O Lord, I'll never ask You - with folded hands now before You, this is the earnest prayer of Your servitor." (Bengali verse translation) 4.24 gaura-bhakti-rasajnasya anyatra cid-rase 'pi pratikulyanubhutih -vaso me varam astu ghora-dahana-jvalavali-panjare sri-caitanya-padaravinda-vimukhair ma kutracit sangamah vaikunthadi-padam svayan ca militam no me mano lipsate padambhoja-rajas chata yadi manag gaurasya no rasyate Sri Prabodhanandapadanam The pure devotee who knows the paramount, immaculate nectar of devotion for Sri Caitanyadeva distrusts all else, even to the point of considering the culture of other spiritual relationships to be opposition -" Let me remain within a cage of blazing fire, but never in the association of persons averse to the holy lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If I never get even the slightest taste of the nectar of a tiny particle of the pollen of the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga, my heart has no aspiration for a position in the great spiritual planets headed by Vaikuntha - even if it is mine for the taking." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 4.25 aikantika-bhaktasya ksayavasista-dosa-darsanagraho varjjaniyah -drstaih svabhava-janitair vapusas ca dosair na prakrtatvam iha bhakta-janasya pasyet gangambhasam na khalu bud-buda-phena-pankair brahma-dravatvam apagacchah nira-dharmaih Sri Rupapadanam - Sri Rupa Goswami The tendency to find the dying remnants of personal defects in an exclusive devotee must be abandoned - svabhava janita ara vapu-dose ksane, anadara nahi kara suddha bhakta-jane pankadi jaliya dose kabhu ganga-jale, cinmayatva lopa nahe sarva-sastre bale aprakrta bhakta-jana papa nahi kare, avasista papa yaya kichu-dina pare (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "For defects in his nature, or defects in his body, one should never disrespect Lord Krsna's pure devotee. If mud, foam, and bubbles appear in Ganges water, it never loses divinity - so says the Scripture. The devotee of divinity - he does never sin, and if a remnant does remain, soon that too is gone." (Bengali verse translation) 4.26 para-dosanusilanam varjjaniyam -para- svabhava-karmani, yah prasamsati nindati sa asu bhrasyate svarthad, asatyabhinivesatah Sri Sri Bhagavatah The practice of finding faults in others must be abandoned -" To pointlessly judge others is a defect, and therefore such a practice must be abandoned. O Uddhava, you should neither praise nor abuse the nature and actions of others, because you will become preoccupied with falsehood and your best self-interest will be lost." - the Supreme Personality of Godhead 4.27 vraja-rasasritanam bhukti-mukti-sprha tatha aisvarya-misra vaikuntha-pati-sevapi tyajyatvena ganyah -asad- varta-vesya visrja mati-sarva-svaharanih katha mukti-vyaghrya na srnu kila sarvatma-gilanih api tyaktva laksmi-pati-ratim ito vyoma-nayanim vraje radha-krsnau sva-rati-manidau tvam bhaja manah Sri Raghunathapadanam - Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami For the pure devotees who have taken refuge in the mellow of pure devotion in Vrndavana, even the reverential service of Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha is considered to be as adverse as the aspiration for worldly pleasure or liberation -krsna- varta vina ana, 'asad-varta' bali' jana, sei vesya ati bhayankari sri-krsna-visaya mati, jivera durllabha ati, sei vesya mati laya hari suna mana, bali he tomaya mukti-name sarddulini, tara katha yadi suni, sarvatma-sampatti gili' khaya tad ubhaya tyaga kara, mukti-katha parihara, laksmi-pati-rati rakha dure se rati prabala ha'le, paravyome deya phele, nahi deya vasa vraja-pure vraje radha-krsna-rati, amulya dhanada ati, tai tumi bhaja cira-dina rupa-raghunatha-paya, sei rati prarthanaya, e bhaktivinoda dina-hina (Bengali poem by Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura) "Anything but Krsna's message, know as falsehood such a passage, such a harlot is so very dangerous: devotion to the Lord Sri Krsna, rarely gotten by the jiva -that harlot steals away this consciousness. O dear mind, please hear my prayer: And if you hear the presentation of the tigress liberation, all the soul's good prospect she'll devour. Both temptations please abandon, and not to speak of liberation, curb attraction for the Lord Narayana; by attraction to that plane, to Vaikuntha you'll be hurled down -denied the chance to live in Sri Vrndavana. Love for Radha-Krsna in Vraja, bestows the most precious treasure; adore Them in your heart eternally; Rupa-Raghunatha's feet, for such devotion, does entreat this Bhaktivinoda, bereft, in all humility." (Bengali verse translation) iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-bhakta-vacanamrtantargatah pratikulya-vivarjjanam nama caturtho 'dhyayah thus ends the fourth chapter Rejection of the Unfavorable - Words of Nectar from the Devotees in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Chapter 5 Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Devotees Raksisyatiti Visvasah - Confidence in the Lord's Protection 5.1 raksisyati hi mam krsno, bhaktanam bandhavas ca sah ksemam vidhasyatiti yad, visvaso 'traiva grhyate 'Certainly Lord Krsna will protect me, because He is the friend of the devotees. He will definitely bless us with all auspiciousness and success.' Within this chapter, such faith is sustained. 5.2. sarva-lokesu sri-krsna-padabjaika-raksakatvam -martyo mrtyu-vyala-bhitah palayan lokan sarvan nirbhayam nadhyagacchat tvat-padabjam prapya yadrcchayadya susthah sete mrtyur asmad apaiti Sri Devakyah The lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna: the only protection for all planes of life -" O Supreme Lord, despite fleeing throughout every planet of the universe out of fear of the black snake of death, the mortal being cannot find a place devoid of fear. But when he is blessed with the fortune of coming to the shelter of Your lotus feet, he becomes reposed with a peaceful heart, and death itself flees from his company." - Srimati Devaki 5.3 mayadhisasyaiva bhagavatah ksema-vidhatrtvam -visvasya yah sthiti-layodbhava-hetur adyo yogesvarair api duratyaya-yoga-mayah ksemam vidhasyati sa no bhagavams tryadhisas tatrasmadiya-vimrsena kiyan iharthah Sri Brahmanah Only the absolute magician, the Supreme Lord, is capable of bestowing all good fortune -" The Supreme Lord of the three worlds, who is the cause of the universal creation, sustenance, and annihilation, and whose magical potency is insurmountable for even the greatest yogis, will surely bless us with all good fortune. Could we ever doubt this?" - Lord Brahma 5.4 apady api sri-krsna-kathaika-raksana-visvasah - tam mopayatam pratiyantu vipra ganga ca devi dhrta-cittam ise dvijopasrstah kuhakas taksako va dasatv alam gayata visnu-gathah Sri Visnuratasya Faith, even in the face of impending doom, that tidings of Lord Krsna (Sri Hari-katha) is the only protection -" O pure brahmanas, may you kindly know me as a surrendered soul, and let Mother Ganges accept me as one whose heart is offered to Lord Krsna. Let the winged serpent Taksaka or whatever magical creation has been incited by the son of the brahmana bite me immediately if it so desires; may you all simply go on singing the glories of the Lord." - Maharaja Pariksit 5.5 hari-dasa harina raksita eva -ma bhair mandamano vicintya bahudha yamis ciram yatana naivami prabhavanti papa-ripavah svami nanu sridharah alasyam vyapaniya bhakti-sulabham dhyayasva narayanam lokasya vyasanapanodanakaro dasasya kim na ksamah Sri Kulasekharasya The servants of Lord Hari are always protected by Lord Hari -" O wicked mind, fear not the thought of the multifarious, perpetual tortures that are your due. Your enemies - your sins, have no claim over you because the only actual lord and master is the Supreme Lord, Sridhara. Give up your apathy, and absorb your thoughts in Lord Narayana, who is happily attainable by devotion. Is not He who destroys the calamities of all planets capable of annihilating the defects of His personal servitors?" - Sri Kulasekhara 5.6.samsara-duhkha-klistanam sri-visnoh paramam padam evaikasrayah -bhava- jaladhi-gatanam dvandva-vatahatanam suta-duhitr-kalatra-trana-bharardditanam visama-visaya-toye majjatam aplavanam bhavati saranam eko visnu-poto naranam Sri Kulasekharasya The holy feet of Lord Visnu are the only shelter for persons tormented by the miseries of material existence -" For those persons who, bereft of a vessel, have fallen into the ocean of mundane existence; who are being lashed by the hurricane of duality based on mundane attraction and aversion; who are crushed by the burden of protecting wife and family, etc.; who are drowning in the ghastly whirlpool of sensual pleasures - the only shelter is the lifeboat of the holy lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, Visnu." - Sri Kulasekhara 5.7 sri-krsna-bhajanam eva martyanam amrta-pradam -idam sariram sata-sandhi-jarjaram pataty avasyam parinama-pesalam kim ausadham prcchasi mudha durmate niramayam krsna-rasayanam piba Sri Kulasekharasya Only pure devotion for Lord Krsna awards immortality to the mortal -sata sandhi jara jara, tava ei kalevara, patana haibe eka-dina bhasma krmi vistha habe, sakalera ghrnya tabe, ihate mamata arvacina ore mana suna mora e satya vacana e rogera mahausadhi, krsna-nama niravadhi, niramaya krsna rasayana (Bengali verse by Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura) "A dancing puppet of a hundred joints, your mortal coil in its last moments: this physical form is doomed to destruction. Ashes to ashes, worm and dung, what was beautiful once is a horrible thing; to adore it is the gravest misconception. My dear mind, hear the truth attentively: the panacea for this malady - chant Krsna's name constantly; Krsna is the life of immortality." 5.8 aty-adhamesv api bhagavan-namno 'bhista-datrtvam -satyam bravimi manujah svayam urddhva-bahur yo yo mukunda narasimha janardaneti jivo japaty anudinam marane rane va pasana-kastha-sadrsaya dadaty abhistam Sri Kulasekharasya The holy name of the Lord bestows the most cherished objective upon even the most fallen -" O human civilization, with arms upraised I proclaim this truth! The holy name awards all desired success upon even stone or wooden-hearted persons who, in the struggle for existence, constantly chant the Lord's names such as Mukunda, Narasimha, and Janardana." - Sri Kulasekhara 5.9 sva-satrave 'pi sad-gati-dayako harih -aho baki yam stana-kala-kutam jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam tato 'nyam kam va dayalum saranam vrajema Srimad Uddhavasya Sri Hari awards a divine destination to even His enemy -" How astonishing! When Putana, the wicked sister of Bakasura, tried to kill child Krsna by offering Him deadly poison on her breast, she reached a position befitting the Lord's nursemaid. Could I ever have as merciful a shelter as that Lord Krsna?" - Srimad Uddhava 5.10 ayogyanam apy asa-sthalam -durantasyanader apariharaniyasya mahato vihinacaro 'ham nr-pasur asubhasyaspadam api daya-sindho bandho niravadhika-vatsalya-jaladhes tava smaram smaram guna-ganam iticchami gatabhih Sri Yamunacaryasya The reservoir of hope for even the unqualified -" O sea of compassion, I am no better than a wicked animal on two feet, the most incorrigible parasite - a beginningless and endless reservoir of the greatest inauspiciousness. Nonetheless, I abide in fearlessness, repeatedly remembering the divine qualities of You -the endless ocean of affection and the supreme friend." - Sri Yamunacarya 5.11 asakrd-aparadhinam api mocakah -raghuvara yad abhus tvam tadrso vayasasya pranata iti dayalur yasya caidyasya krsna pratibhavam aparaddhur mugdha sayujyado 'bhur vada kim apadam agas tasya te 'sti ksamayah Sri Yamunacaryasya The deliverer of even repeated offenders - "O Lord of the Raghu dynasty, just for bowing his head to You, You were merciful upon that crow (who was so offensive that he clawed at the breast of Sita-devi). O charming Krsna, You awarded the salvation of merging into Your effulgence (sayujya-mukti) to Sisupala, who was an offender birth after birth. Now please tell me, is there any offense that cannot be pardoned by You?" - Sri Yamunacarya 5.12 saranagata-helanam tasminn asambhavam -abhuta- purvam mama bhavi kimva sarvam sahe me sahajam hi duhkham kintu tvad agre saranagatanam parabhavo natha na te 'nurupah Sri Yamunacaryasya It is impossible for Him to neglect His surrendered devotee -" O Lord, after all, what unprecedented trials may befall me now? I can tolerate anything and everything; no doubt, unhappiness is my natural companion. Nonetheless, it will not become You to allow the neglect of Your surrendered soul who now stands before You." Sri Yamunacarya 5.13 bahir anyatha pradarsayato 'pi svarupatah palakatvam -nirasakasyapi na tavad utsahe mahesa hatum tava .-pankajam rusa nirasto 'pi sisuh stanandhayo na jatu matus caranau jihasati Sri Yamunacaryasya He is our natural guardian, even if externally He shows otherwise -."O Almighty Lord, even if You make me hopeless, I can never leave Your lotus feet in any condition. If the mother becomes angry and separates her child from her breast, does the child thereby leave the feet (shelter) of his mother?" Sri Yamunacarya 5.14 tad itarasrayabhavat tasyaivaika-raksakatvam -bhumau skhalita-padanam, bhumir evavalambanam tvayi jataparadhanam, tvam eva saranam prabho Skande He is proven to be the only shelter since there is actually no shelter but Him -" For those who have stumbled and fallen upon the ground, that very ground is the only support by which they can arise once again. Likewise, for those who have offended You, O Lord, You alone are their only refuge." Skanda Purana 5.15 nirasrayanam evaikasrayah -vivrta- vividha-badhe bhranti vegad agadhe balavati bhavapure majjato me vidure asarana-gana-bandho ha krpa-kaumudindo sakrd-akrtavilambam dehi hastavalambam Sri Rupapadanam The only shelter for the shelterless -" I am drowning in some remote region of a fathomless, treacherous ocean - the vast see of frustration, swept by the tide of hallucination. O friend of the shelterless, O benediction moon, please just once now lend me Your helping hand." - Sri Rupa Goswami.5.16 vilambasahanasya bhaktasya tad raksana-visrabdhatvam -ya draupadi paritrane, ya gajendrasya moksane mayy arte karuna-murte, sa tvara kva gate hare Jagannathasya The devotee who needs immediate protection has full faith that the Lord will come to his aid -" O compassion incarnate, now I am in danger. O Lord Hari, where is that urgency You showed in delivering Draupadi and liberating Gajendra?" Jagannatha 5.17 raksisyatiti-visvasasya prakasa-madhuryam -tamasi ravir ivodyan majjatam aplavanam plava iva trsitanam svadu-varsiva meghah nidhir iva nidhananam tivra-duhkhamayanam bhisag iva kusalam no datum ayati saurih Sri Draupadyah The revealed sweetness of confidence in the Lord's protection -" Like the sun ascending through the darkness, like a boat for the helplessly drowning, like a raincloud of sweet waters for the parched; like a treasure for the impoverished, like a physician for the deadly afflicted -the Lord Sri Krsna is now coming to bless us with all good fortune." - Srimati Draupadi 5.18 tad raksakatve tat karunyam eva karanam -pracinanam bhajanam atulam duskaram srnvato me nairasyena jvalati hrdayam bhakh lesalasasya.visva-dricim aghahara tavakarnya karunya vicim asa-binduksitam idam upaity antare hanta saityam Sri Rupapadanam The cause of the Lord's protectiveness is His mercy alone -" O destroyer of sin, my heart is averse to a trace of devotion, and it burns in the fire of hopelessness when I hear about the incomparable, formidable devotional services rendered by the great predecessor devotees. But now that I have heard about the wave of Your mercy which floods the universe, the core of my heart, sprinkled by a drop of hope, is soothed with cooling relief once again." - Sri Rupa Goswami 5.19 bhagavatah sri-caitanya-rupasya param audaryam -ha hanta citta-bhuvi me paramosarayam sad-bhakti-kalpa-latikankurita katham syat hrdy ekam eva paramasvasaniyam asti caitanya-nama kalayan na kadapi socyah Sri Prabodhanandapadanam The supreme magnanimity of the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyadeva -" Alas, alas! How will the charming wish-fulfilling creeper of pure devotion ever sprout from the desperately barren planes of my consciousness? Despite my predicament, just one great hope awakens in my heart: by chanting the name of Sri Caitanyadeva, nothing can remain to be lamented for by anyone at any time." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 5.20 sri-gaurahareh sarvopaya-vihinesv api raksakatvam -jnanadi- vartma-virucim vraja-natha-bhakti-ritim na vedmi na ca sad-guravo milanti.ha hanta hanta mama kah saranam vimudha gauro-haris tava na karna-patham gato 'sti Sri Prabodhanandapadanam Sri Gaurahari is the savior of even those bereft of any method of approach -" I know not the way of love in Sri Vrndavana, which breeds disloyalty to wisdom and the world; nor do I come to meet with saintly teachers -to whom shall I surrender, where shall I go? O foolish fellow! You cannot have heard about the Golden Lord, Sri Gaura Mahaprabhu." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-bhakta-vacanamrtantargato raksisyatiti visvaso nama pancamo 'dhyayah thus ends the fifth chapter Confidence in the Lord's Protection - Words of Nectar from the Devotees in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Chapter 6 Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Devotees Goptrtve-varanam - Embracing the Lord's Guardianship 6.1-2 he krsna! pahi mam natha, krpayatmagatam kuru ity evam prarthanam krsnam, praptum svami-svarupatah goptrtve varanam jneyam, bhaktair hrdyataram param.prapatty ekarthakatvena, tad angitvena tat smrtam "O Krsna, please protect me! My dear Lord, kindly accept me as Your own." Such a prayer, as well as the prayer to obtain Sri Krsna as one's lord and master, is the supreme solace to the hearts of the pure devotees, and is known by them as goptrtve-varanam - Embracing the Lord's Guardianship. Because it expresses one and the same ideal as unconditional surrender, goptrtve-varanam is accepted as the chief of the six limbs of surrender. 6.3 sri-bhagavato bhakta-bhavenasraya-prarthanam -ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram patitam mam visame bhavambudhau krpaya tava .-pankaja-sthita-dhuli-sadrsam vicintaya Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya Appearing as His own devotee, the Supreme Lord Himself prays for refuge -" O Nandanandana, son of King Nanda, although I am Your eternal servitor, I have fallen into the terrible ocean of material existence due to the fructification of my own deeds (karma). Please graciously consider me to be a particle of dust at Your lotus feet." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 6.4 sarva-sad-guna-vigraha atma-prado harir eva goptrtvena varaniyah -kah panditas tvad-aparam saranam samiyad bhakta-priyad rta-girah suhrdah krtajnat sarvan dadati suhrdo bhajato 'bhikaman atmanam apy upacayapacayau na yasya Srimad Akrurasya Only the Self-giving Lord Sri Hari, the Supreme Good, should be petitioned for guardianship -."You give Your affection to Your devotees, Your word is truth, You are the ever-grateful friend. Can any intelligent person thus take refuge in anyone but You? You fulfill all the desires of the sincere souls that serve You, giving Your very Self to them; and yet, You are neither augmented nor diminished thereby." - Srimad Akrura 6.5 sri-krsna-caranam eva prapannanam santapa-hari-sudha-varsi apapatram -tapa- trayenabhihatasya ghore santapyamanasya bhavadhvan isa pasyami nanyac charanam tavanghri dvandvatapatrad amrtabhivarsat Srimad Uddhavasya The lotus feet of Lord Krsna are the umbrella to vanquish the suffering of His surrendered souls, and shower nectar upon them -" O Master, for persons afflicted by the triple miseries in this ghastly course of material existence, I see no other shelter but the umbrella of Your holy lotus feet, from which the rain of eternal nectar showers down." - Srimad Uddhava 6.6 sad-ripu-taditasya santi-hinasya sva-natha-caranasrayam eva abhayasokamrta-pradam - ciram iha vrjinartas tapyamano 'nutapair avitrsa-sad-amitro 'labdha-santih kathancit saranada samupetas tvat padabjam paratmann abhayam rtam asokam pahi mapannam isa Sri Mucukundasya For the disturbed soul who is flogged by his six enemies, only the shelter of the lotus feet of his natural Master awards him.immortality in fearlessness and sorrowlessness- "O Supreme Soul, for time immemorial in this material world I have been tormented with sin, stung with remorse, and constantly harassed by my six insatiable enemies (the five senses and the mind). O gracious awarder of shelter, somehow I have come before Your holy lotus feet, which are the embodiment of fearlessness, sorrowlessness, and positive immortality. My Master, please protect this one distressed." - Sri Mucukunda 6.7 labdha-svarupa-sandhanasya kamadi-sanga-janya-nija-vairupye dhikkara-yuktasya saranagatasya sri-hari-dasyam eva asac-cestadito niskrti karakatvena anubhutam -kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas tesam jata mayi na karuna na trapa nopasantih utsrjyaitan atha yadu-pate sampratam labdha-buddhis tvam ayatah saranam abhayam mam niyunksv atma-dasye kesancit A realization of the fact that the surrendered soul who discovers his eternal identity and denounces his perversity caused by the association of lust, anger, greed, madness, delusion, and hatred, is rescued forever from all evil pursuits by the devotional service of Lord Krsna -" O Lord, for so long have I obeyed the unending, wicked dictates of lust, anger, greed, madness, delusion, and hatred, but they never took pity upon me, and I have felt neither shame nor the desire to abandon them. O Lord of the Yadus, after all this, I am leaving them behind. At last I have found my genuine sanity: I am surrendered wholly unto Your lotus feet, which are the abode of fearlessness. Please now engage me as Your personal servitor." - revered votary 6.8 upalabdha-krsnasrayaika-mangalasya casraya-prapti-vilambane tad aprapti-sambhavanayam udvega-prakasah -krsna! tvadiya .-pankaja-panjarantam adyaiva me visatu manasa-raja-hamsah prana-prayana-samaye kapha-vata-pittaih kanthavarodhana-vidhau smaranam kutas te Sri Kulaseharasya The expression of anguish in the suspense of delay in achieving the shelter of Lord Krsna, by one who realizes such shelter to be the only good fortune -" O Krsna! Please allow my mind to immediately yield to Your lotus flowerlike feet, just as the flamingo enters into the labyrinth of the lotus flowers' stems. When at the moment of my last breath my throat becomes constricted by the action of the bodily humours air, bile, and phlegm, how will I be able to remember You?" - Sri Kulasekhara 6.9 svarupata eva sri-krsnasyabhibhavakatva-palakatva-darsanena tadasraya-prarthana -krsno raksatu no jagat-traya-guruh krsnam namadhvam sada krsnenakhila-satravo vinihatah krsnaya tasmai namah krsnad eva samutthitam jagad idam krsnasya daso 'smy aham krsne tisthati visvam etad akhilam he krsna raksasva mam - Sri Kulasekharasya A prayer for the shelter of Lord Sri Krsna, with the vision that He alone is the natural guardian and sustainer of the living being -" May Lord Krsna, the Guru of the three worlds, protect us; our obeisance unto Lord Krsna at all times. Krsna is the vanquisher of all enemies -I offer my obeisance unto that Krsna. This world emanates from Krsna; I am the servant of only Krsna..This whole universe is situated within Krsna alone -O Krsna! please protect me." Sri Kulasekhara 6.10 gopijana-vallabha eva parama-palakah -he gopalaka he krpa jalanidhe he sindhu-kanya-pate he kamsantaka he gajendra-karunaparina he madhava he ramanuja he jagat-traya-guro he pundarikaksa mam he gopijana-natha palaya param janami na tvam vina Sri Kulasekharasya The only guardian is Krsna, the beloved Lord of the Gopis -" O tender of the cows, ocean of mercy, O Lord of the Goddess of Fortune; O slayer of Kamsa, merciful deliverer of Gajendra, O sweet, artful Krsna; O young brother of Balarama, Guru of the three worlds, O lotus-eyed Lord; O dear Lord of the Gopis, please protect me in every way -I know no one but You." - Sri Kulasekhara 6.11 nitya-parsada api sarvatmana sri-krsnasrayam prarthayante -manaso vrttayo nah syuh, krsna-padambujasrayah vaco 'bhidhayinir namnam, kayas tat-prahvanadisu Sri-Nandasya Even the eternal associates of the Lord pray whole-heartedly for His shelter -" O Uddhava, may our thoughts take refuge in the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, may our words be the chanting of His holy names, and may our bodies be engaged in making obeisance unto Him." - Sri Nanda.6.12 vraja-lilasya sri-krsnasya palakatvam prabhavamayam - dadhi-mathana-ninadais-tyakta-nidrah prabhate nibhrta-padam agaram ballavinam pravistah mukha-kamala-samirair asu nirvapya dipan kavalita-navanitah patu mam bala-krsnah Sri Sri Bhagavata Caitanyacandrasya The most powerful protection is afforded by Sri Krsna, the Lord of divine pastimes in Vrndavana -" That child Krsna, who, awakening by the sound of butter-churning, stealthily enters the homes of the cowherd ladies, swiftly blows out the lamps with the breeze of His lotus mouth and devours the fresh butter - may He kindly protect me." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 6.13 sarvatha yogyata-hinasyapi prapattav anadhikaro na -na dharma-nistho 'smi na catma-vedi na bhaktimams tvac caranaravinde akincano 'nanya-gatih saranya tvat .-mulam saranam prapadye Sri Yamunacaryasya Even a totally unqualified person is not unfit to surrender -" O supreme refuge, I am not religious, I do not know the nature of the soul, nor have I any devotion for Your holy lotus feet; therefore, I am bereft - I am bereft of all good, and I am bereft of any other shelter. Such as I am, I surrender unto the dust of Your lotus feet." - Sri Yamunacarya 6.14 sri-bhagavatah krpavalokanam evasraya-datrtvam -.aviveka-ghanandha-dinmukhe, bahudha santata-duhkha-varsini bhagavan bhava-durdine patha-, skhalitam mam avalokayacyuta Sri Yamunacaryasya The shelter of the Supreme Lord is awarded by His merciful glance -" O Lord, spreading darkness in all directions, the clouds of ignorance are constantly raining multifarious calamities. I have lost my way in this storm of material suffering. O Infallible Lord, kindly cast Your glance upon me." - Sri Yamunacarya 6.15 jivasya bhagavat-palyatvam svarupata eva siddham -tad aham tvad rte na nathavan, mad rte tvam dayaniyavan na ca vidhi-nirmitam etad anvayam, bhagavan palaya ma sma jihaya Sri Yamunacaryasya It is proven to be perfectly natural for the soul to be sustained by the Lord -" O Lord, without You, I cannot have a guardian, and without me, You cannot have a fit recipient for Your mercy. This is our relationship as the creator and the created Therefore, please take my charge, O my Master, and never leave me." - Sri Yamunacarya 6.16 prapannasya vividha-seva-sambandhah -pita tvam mata tvam dayita-tanayas tvam priya-suhrt tvam eva tvam mitram gurur api gatis casi jagatam tvadiyas tvad bhrtyas tava parijanas tad gatir aham prapannas caivam sa tv aham api tavaivasmi hi bharah Sri Yamunacaryasya A surrendered soul's various serving relationships with the Lord -" For the entire creation You are father, mother, beloved son,.dear well-wisher and friend. You are the Universal Guru, the ultimate refuge. And I also am Yours, sustained by You, a member of Your family. You alone are my shelter, I am Your surrendered soul, and such as I am, Your dependent." - Sri Yamunacarya 6.17 bhagava tas-caitanyacandrasya patita-palakatvam -samsara- duhkha-jaladhau patitasya kama-krodhadi- nakra-makaraih kavali-krtasya durvasana-nigaditasya nirasrayasya caitanyacandra mama dehi padavalambam Sri Prabodhanandapadanam Sri Caitanyacandra's guardianship for the fallen -" O Caitanyacandra, I, afallen into the miserable ocean of material existence, am being devoured by the sharks and alligators of lust, anger, greed, madness, delusion, and hatred; chained by wicked desires, I am bereft of any shelter. Please graciously grant me the refuge of Your holy lotus feet." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 6.18 nirasasyapi asa-pradam gaura-saranam -ha hanta hanta paramosara-citta-bhumau vyarthi bhavanti mama sadhana-kotayo 'pi sarvatmana tad aham adbhuta-bhakti-bijam sri-gauracandra-caranam saranam karomi Sri Prabodhanandapadanam The shelter of Sri Gauracandra gives hope to the hopeless -" Alas, to cultivate the barren and rocky desertland of my heart, tens of millions of assiduous attempts have proven to be simply futile. Therefore, with all the will at my command, I embrace the shelter of Sri Gauracandra's lotus feet, the source of the miraculous seed of pure devotion." Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 6.19 sri-krsna-caitanya-prapannasya vairagyadi-bhakti-parikara-siddhih -vairagya- vidya-nija-bhakti-yoga-siksartham ekah purusah puranah sri-krsna-caitanya-sarira-dhari krpambudhir yas tam aham prapadye Sri Sarvabhaumapadanam For the soul surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyadeva, the attainment of detachment, knowledge, etc., are proven to be concomitant ornaments of devotion -" The endless ocean of mercy, the eternal Supreme Person, one without a second, has appeared as Sri Krsna Caitanya to teach detachment, divine knowledge, and His personal relationship in devotion. I do surrender unto Him." - Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya 6.20 sri-krsna-caitanya-prapattir eva yuga-dharmah -antah krsnam bahir gauram, darsitadgadi-vaibhavam kalau sankirtanadyaih sma, krsna-caitanyam asritah Sri Jivapadanam The only pure religion of the age: surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu -" Accompanied by His divine entourage, the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya has appeared in all His pristine glory. In this age of Kali, we now take shelter in Him by means of the characteristic method of devotional service based on sankirtana, congregational chanting of the holy names. Within, He is none other than Krsna Himself and without, He is the Golden Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya." - Sri Jiva Goswami.6.21 sri-caitanyasritasya parama-pumartha-praptih -yo ‚jnana-mattam bhuvanam dayalur ullaghayann apy akarot pramattam sva-prema-sampat-sudhayadbhute 'ham sri-krsna-caitanyam amum prapadye Sri Krsnadasapadanam The soul surrendered to Sri Caitanyadeva attains the supreme perfection of human life -" I surrender unto that performer of miraculous deeds, Sri Krsna Caitanya, the merciful Supreme Personality who delivered the insane universe from the disease of ignorance, and then drove the world stark mad with the nectarean treasure of His sweet love divine." - Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami 6.22 sruti-vimrgya sri-hari-nama-samsrayanam eva parama-muktanam bhajanam - nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala dyuti-nirajita-.-pankajanta ayi mukta-kulair upasyamana! paritas tvam hari-nama samsrayami Sri Rupapadanam The pure devotional service rendered by the great liberated souls: complete refuge in the holy name of the Lord, as sought after by all the Vedas -" The acme of all the Vedas, the Upanisads, are like a string of transcendental jewels. The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet, O Holy Name, are eternally worshiped by the radiance emanating from those jewels. You are constantly worshiped by the great liberated souls (headed by Narada and Suka, whose hearts are reposed in.complete absence of worldly aspirations). Therefore, O Name Divine, I surrender unto You in every time, place, and circumstance." - Sri Rupa Goswami iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-bhakta-vacanamrtantargatam goptrtve-varanam nama sasto 'dhyayah thus ends the sixth chapter Embracing the Lord's Guardianship - Words of Nectar from the Devotees in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pankaja_Dasa Posted November 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Chapter 7 Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Devotees Atma-niksepah - Full Self-surrender 7.1-3 harau dehadi-suddhatma-, paryantasya samarpanam eva nihsesa-rupena, hy atma-niksepa ucyate atmartha-cesta-sunyatvam, krsnarthaika-prayasakam api tan nyasta-sadhyatva-, sadhanatvan ca tat phalam evam niksipya catmanam, svanatha-caranambujat nakarstum sakunyac capi, sada tanmayatam bhajet To summarily offer everything - from body and its paraphernalia up to pure soul - unto the lotus feet of Sri Hari, is known as atma-niksepah, or Full Self-surrender. All selfish pursuits are abandoned and every endeavor is for Krsna alone, and that too, up to the point of completely depending on Krsna for one's personal means and ends. Having thus cast oneself unto the holy lotus feet of one's Lord, one can never be swayed from that position, and he engages in pure devotional service with all his heart forever. 7.4 atma-niksepas-catma-nivedana-rupam -krsnayarpita- dehasya, nirmamasyanahankrteh manasas tat svarupatvam, smrtam atma:nivedanam kesancit Self-dedication as self-sacrifice -" Of one who, out of love for Krsna, has 'died to live' exclusively for the Lord's service, who is devoid of attachment for any other objective, and who is free from egotism - his Godly mentality (or absence of pursuit for personal pleasure, in quest of the Lord's pleasure) is known as atma-nivedana, full self-sacrifice." - revered votary 7.5 tatra cesvarati-samarthya-visvasatvam -isvarasya tu samarthyan, nalabhyam tasya vidyate tasmin nyasta-bharah sete, tat karmaiva samacaret Sri Vyasapadanam Faith in the infinite capacity of the Lord is to be found within such dedication -" Due to His unlimited capacity, nothing whatsoever is unattainable for the Supreme Lord. Thus, to be devoid of self-endeavor, by completely depending upon Him, is to factually execute the purpose of the Lord." - Sri Vyasadeva 7.6 tad yantram evatmanam anubhavati -yat krtam yat karisyami, tat sarvam na maya krtam tvaya krtam tu phala-bhuk, tvam eva madhusudana Sri Kulasekharasya The dedicated soul perceives that he is merely an instrument in the hands of the Supreme Lord -" O Madhusudana, whatever I have done and whatever I will do, nothing is my endeavor. It is all done by You, and You alone are the enjoyer of the fruit." - Sri Kulasekhara 7.7 hrdi tan niyuktatvanubhavan na mithyacarah -kenapi devena hrdi sthitena yatha niyukto 'smi tatha karomi Gautamiya tantre Hypocrisy cannot show its face in the light of such a heart's revelation -" As I am engaged by a Deity within my heart, so do I act." - Gautamiya Tantra 7.8 govindam vine tatra sarvatmana nanya-bhavah -govindam paramanandam, mukundam madhusudanam tyaktvanyam vai na janami, na bhajami smarami na Sri Vyasapadanam Within such surrender there is no other conception but Govinda in every thought, word, and deed -" I know, worship, and remember no one but the Lord Paramananda, Mukunda, Madhusudana, Govinda." - Sri Vyasadeva 7.9 sarvatraivabhista-deva-darsanam -ito nrsimah parato nrsimho.yato yato yami tato nrsimhah bahir nrsimho hrdaye nrsimho nrsimham adim saranam prapadye kesancit Indeed, one's worshipful Deity is seen everywhere -" Nrsimha is here, Nrsimha is there - Nrsimha is wherever I go. Nrsimha is outside, Nrsimha is within my heart. I am surrendered unto that primeval Lord Nrsimha." - revered votary - 7.10 anyabhisandhi-varjjita sthayi-ratir eva syat -nathe dhatari bhogi-bhoga-sayane narayane madhave deve devakinandane suravare cakrayudhe sarngini lilasesa-jagat-prapanca-jathare visvesvare sridhare govinde kuru citta-vrttim acalam anyais tu kim vartanaih Sri Kulasekharasya Rejection of all spurious motives facilitates continuous attachment for the Lord -" He is your Lord, known by His various pastimes as Vidhata, Anantasayana, Narayana, Madhava, Devata, Devakinandana, Surasrestha, Cakrapani, Sarngi, Visvodara, Visvesvara, Sri Krsna, and Govinda. What more could be desired than to offer your unswerving thoughts unto Him?" - Sri Kulasekhara 7.11 paramatmani svatmarpanam eva sarvatha veda-tatparyam -dharmartha- kama iti yo 'bhihitas tri-varga iksa trayi naya-damau vividha ca varta manye tad etad akhilam nigamasya satyam svatmarpanam sva-suhrdah paramasya pumsah.Sri Prahladasya Full self-surrender is the whole purport of the Vedas -" The pursuits of religiosity, prosperity, and sensual enjoyment have been delineated as the three ends of human existence. They include the sciences of self-knowledge, elevation, and logic, the principles of government, and various methods of livelihood such as farming, etc. All these pursuits are advocated by those sections of the Vedas dealing with trimodal matters, and therefore I consider them to be transient. On the other hand, I know self-dedication unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the dear well-wisher of the soul, to be the only factual reality propounded by the Vedas." Sri Prahlada 7.12 atma-niksepa-paddhatih -aparadha- sahasra-bhajanam, patitam bhima-bhavarnavodare agatim saranagatam hare, krpaya kevalam atmasat kuru Sri Yamunacaryasya The pathway to self-dedication -" The perpetrator of thousands of offenses, fallen into the terrible ocean of material existence, I have no shelter but You. O Lord Hari, please graciously accept this surrendered soul as one of Your own." - Sri Yamunacarya 7.13 atra kecid deharpanam evatmarpanam iti manyante -cintam kuryan na raksayai, vikritasya yatha pasoh tatharpayan harau deham, viramed asya raksanat kesancit Some consider bodily dedication to be self-dedication -" As one is indifferent to the upkeep of a sold animal, there will similarly be no cause to be concerned for the upkeep of one's body when it has been offered unto the lotus feet of Sri Hari." - revered votary 7.14 gunatita suddha-ketrajnasyaiva samarpitatvopalabdhih -vapuradisu yo 'pi ko 'pi va gunato 'sani yatha-tatha-vidhah tad aham tava .-padmayor aham adyaiva maya samarpitah Sri Yamunacaryasya The transcendental, pure soul's realization of his capacity to offer himself unto the Lord -" However I may be materially designated, however my character may be known - now, O Lord, this whole sense of ego is offered by me unto Your holy lotus feet." -Sri Yamunacarya 7.15 atmarpanasya drstantah -tan me bhavan khalu vrtah patir anga jayam atmarpitas ca bhavato 'tra vibho vidhehi ma virabhagam abhimarsatu caidya arad gomayuvan-mrga-pater balim ambujaksa Sri Rukminidevyah An example of offering oneself -" O lotus-eyed Lord, I have selected You as my husband, and I offer myself unto You. Therefore, please come and take me as Your wife, before Sisupala, like the jackal plundering the lion's prey, suddenly touches me, who am to be enjoyed by You alone." Srimati Rukminidevi 7.16 tatra suddhahankarasya paricaya-samrddher-abhivyaktih -naham vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro naham varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher gopi-bhartuh .-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya The vivid revelation of the treasure within the identity of pure ego in self-dedication -" I am not a priest, a king, a merchant, or a laborer (brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra); nor am I a student, a householder, a retired householder, or a mendicant (brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasi). I identify myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the Lord of the Gopis, who is the personification of the fully expanded (eternally self-revealing) nectarean ocean that brims with the totality of divine ecstasy." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 7.17 aupadhika-dharma-sambandha-cchedas ca -sandhya- vandana bhadram astu bhavato bho snana tubhyam namo bho devah pitaras ca tarpana-vidhau naham ksamah ksamyatam yatra kvapi nisadya yadava-kulottamsasya kamsa-dvisah smaram smaram agham harami tad alam manye kim anyena me Sri Madhavendra Puripadanam All connection with formal religion is severed -" O morning, noon, and evening prayers, may all good be unto you; O daily ablutions, my respects unto you; O demigods, O forefathers, may you forgive me - I cannot follow the injunctions to offer you libations. Wherever I may be, I shall eradicate my sins, constantly contemplating that jewel of the Yadu dynasty, the slayer of Kamsa, and I think this is sufficient for me. What more could I ever want than this?" Sri Madhavendra Puri 7.18 alaukika-bhavodaye laukika-vicara-tucchatvam -mugdham mam nigadantu niti-nipuna bhrantam muhur vaidika mandam bandhava-sancaya jada-dhiyam muktadarah sodarah unmattam dhanino viveka-caturah kamam maha-dambhikam moktum na ksamate manag api mano govinda-.-sprham Madhavasya Awakening of divine affection for Krsna proves worldly opinion mere trivia -" The expert moralists may say that I am deluded, the Vedic religionists may insist that I am misled, and my associates may condemn me as uncultured. My own brothers may disrespect me and call me an idiot, the wealthy may say I am mad, and the sharp-witted philosophers may severely criticize me as being a great egotist. Nevertheless, my heart cannot budge in the slightest degree from its aspiration to serve the lotus feet of Sri Govinda." Madhava 7.19 hari-rasa-pana-mattanam jana-mata-vicare navakasah -parivadatu jano yatha tathayam nanu mukharo na vayam vicarayamah hari-rasa-madira-mad-atimatta bhuvi viluthama natama nirvisamah Sri Sarvabhaumapadanam The people's opinion is of no consequence to the devotees absorbed in the ecstasy of service to Lord Hari -" The gossipers may slander us, but we shall not heed them. Completely intoxicated by drinking the wine of the ecstasy of Sri Hari's service, we shall dance, roll on the ground, and faint." - Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.7.20 bahu-manitadvaitananda-simhasanat vraja-rasa-ghana-murttes- carane lunthana-rupam-atma-niksepanam -advaita- vithi-pathikair upasyah svananda-simhasana-labdha-diksah hathena kenapi vayam sathena dasi-krta gopa-vadhu-vitena Sri Bilvamangalasya Abdicating the much-vaunted throne of monistic bliss, to cast oneself unto the service of Sri Krsna, the embodiment of the divine ecstasy of Vrndavana, by rolling in the dust of His lotus feet -" Although I am worshippable by the wanderers on the path of monism, and although I have received initiation into ascending the great throne of self-satisfaction, I have been forcibly converted into a maidservant by some deceitful paramour of the Gopis." Sri Bilvamangala Thakura 7.21 anugraha-nigrahabhedena sevyanuraga eva atma-niksepah -viracaya mayi dandam dinabandho dayam va gatir iha na bhavatah kacid anya mamasti nipatatu sata-kotir nirbharam va navambhas tad api kila payodah stuyate catakena Sri Rupapadanam Genuine self-dedication is deep attachment for one's Master, considering reward and punishment equally -" O friend of the needy, whether You chastise me or reward me, in the whole wide world I have no other shelter but You. Whether the thunderbolt strikes or torrents of fresh waters shower down, the Cataka bird (who drinks only the falling rainwater) perpetually goes on singing the glories of the raincloud." - Sri Rupa Goswami.7.22 vraja-rasa-lampatasya svairacaresv atma-niksepasyaiva paramotkarsah -aslisya va .-ratam pinastu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya The acme of self-dedication is surrender to the whim of Sri Krsna, the paramour of Vrndavana -" Krsna may warmly embrace this maidservant of His lotus feet, claiming me as His own, or He may break my heart by not appearing before me. He is wayward, and He may exploit me as He wishes, but He will always be the only Lord of my life." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 7.23 mahaudarya-lilamaya sri-caitanya-caranatma-niksepasya paramatvam -patrapatra- vicaranam na kurute na svam param viksate deyadeya-vimarsako na hi na va kala-pratiksah prabhuh sadyo yah sravaneksana-pranamana-dhyanadina durllabham datte bhakti-rasam sa eva bhagavan gaurah param me gatih Sri Prabodhanandapadanam The dignity of casting oneself unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Hero in the divine pastimes of supreme magnanimity -" He makes no distinction between the worthy and the unworthy, and He does not differentiate between Himself and others; He does not consider who should be given to and who should not, and He makes no preparation for an auspicious or inauspicious moment; and He swiftly awards the rarest nectar of pure devotion beginning with hearing about the Lord, beholding Him, making.obeisance unto Him, and absorbing one's thoughts in Him - that Supreme Lord Gaurahari is my one and only shelter." Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-bhakta-vacanamrtantargata atma-niksepo nama saptamo 'dhyayah thus ends the seventh chapter Full Self-surrender - Words of Nectar from the Devotees in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Chapter 8 Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Devotees Karpanyam - Surrender in Humility 8.1-2 bhagavan raksa raksaivam, arta-bhavena sarvatah asamorddhva-daya-sindhor, hareh karunya-vaibhavam smaratams ca visesena, nijati-socya-nicatam bhaktanam arti-bhavas tu, karpanyam kathyate budhaih 'O Lord, please protect me, protect me . . .' Such an internal sense of heartbreak in the devotees, which causes their remembrance in love, in all circumstances, of the extension of grace from the unequaled and unexcelled ocean of compassion, Sri Hari, and which characteristically causes them to ever remember their feeling of most lamentable destitution, is known by the learned as karpanyam -Surrender in Humility. 8.3 sri-krsna-nama-svarupasya parama-pavanatvam, jivasya durdaivan ca -namnam- akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya The holy name of the Lord is the supreme purifier, yet the soul's misfortune is to deny it -" O Lord, Your holy name alone bestows all the good fortune of the soul, and this is why You have revealed Your many different names such as 'Krsna' and 'Govinda.' You have offered all Your transcendental potency in your holy name, without initiating any (scriptural or philosophical) hard and fast rules and regulations, concerning time, place, or circumstance, to be observed in chanting it. Dear Lord, in this way You have given Your mercy to the living entity by making Your name so easily available, and yet, my misfortune in the form of offense (nama-aparadha) does not allow love for that merciful name to be born within my heart." -the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 8.4 udbuddha-svarupe svabhava-karpanyam -parama- karuniko na bhavat-parah parama-socyatamo na ca mat-parah iti vicintya hare mayi pamare yad ucitam yadunatha tadacara kasyacit Humility is the natural symptom of the soul in his awakened state -" O Lord Hari, You are the supreme merciful, second to none, and my condition of life is the most lamentable, second to none. O Lord of the Yadu dynasty, considering this, dispense whatever You deem fit for this sinful wretch." - votary. 8.5 maya-vasa-jivasya mayadhisa-krpaika-gatitvam -naitan manas tava kathasu vikuntha-natha sampriyate durita-dustam asadhu tivram kamaturam harsa-soka-bhayaisanartam tasmin katham tava gatim vimrsami dinah Sri Prahladasya The only hope for the soul enslaved by maya is the mercy of the Master of maya -durita- dusita-mana asadhu manasa, kama-harsa-soka-bhaya-esanara vasa tava katha-rati kise haibe amara, kise krsna tava lila kanbo vicara (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "Sinful, wicked mind - full of evil thought: lusting, laughing, crying, fearing - in worldly search is caught. O Krsna, how will I develop attachment to talks of You? how will I e'er comprehend Your pastimes ever-new?" (Bengali verse translation) 8.6 krsnonmukha-citte baddha-bhavasya durvilasa-paricayah -jihvaikato 'cyuta vikarsati mavitrpta sisno 'nyatas tvag-udaram sravanam kutascit ghrano 'nyatas capala-drk kva ca karma-saktir bahvyah sapatnya iva geha-patim lunanti Sri Prahladasya A game of misfortune: an adverse mentality in the heart aspiring to serve Krsna -jihva tane rasa prati upastha kadarthe, udara bhojane tane visama.anarthe carmma tane sayadite, sravana kathaya, ghrana tane surabhite, caksu drsye yaya karmendriya karme sane, bahu-patni yatha, grha-pati akarsaya mora mana tatha e mata avastha mora sri-nandanandana, ki rupe tomara lila kariba smarana (Bengali poem by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura) "Dragged by tongue towards a taste, by genital to perversion; needlessly the belly craves lavish food consumption. The skin demands luxurious comforts, the ear demands sweet talks; the nose demands sweet fragrance, as the eye for scenery looks. Like a man with many wives, splayed by their demands -thus the mind is dragged by the senses' commands. O dear son of Nanda, this is my situation; how will Your sweet pastimes be my heart's contemplation?" (Bengali verse translation) 8.7 purusottama-seva-prarthino bhaktasya nija-lajjakarayogyata-nivedanam -mat- tulyo nasti papatma, naparadhi ca kascana parihare 'pi lajja me, kim bruve purusottama kasyacit The regretful submission of incompetence by the devotee who aspires for the service of the Supreme Person -" There is no parallel to my sinful, criminal life. Everything that can be conceived of as bad is found in me. O Supreme Lord, I am even ashamed to come before You to petition, 'please forgive my offenses.' What more can I say than this?" - votary 8.8 mangalamaya-bhagavan-namabhase papinam atma-dhikkarah -kva caham kitavah papo, brahma-ghno nirapatrapah kva ca narayanety etad, bhagavan-nama mangalam Ajamilasya The sinful revile themselves when they are exposed to a mere facsimile of the all-auspicious holy name of the Lord (namabhasa) -" Who am I? A cheater, a sinner, a defiler of my brahminical status, a shameless wretch. What is my position in comparison to this holy name of the Lord, 'Narayana,' the embodiment of all auspiciousness?" - Ajamila 8.9 sri-bhagavat-krpodaye brahma-bandhunam daridryam api na badhakam -kvaham daridrah papiyan, kva krsnah sri-niketanah brahma-bandhur iti smaham, bahubhyam parirambhitah Sri Sudamnah The Lord's mercy does not consider the disqualification of even a fallen brahmana -" I am the most sinful and destitute, so who am I compared to Krsna, the shelter of the Goddess of Fortune? He knew I was the unqualified son of a brahmana, but nonetheless He embraced me. Indeed, this is most astonishing." Sri Sudama 8.10 vidhatur api hari-sambandhi-pasvadi-janma-prarthana -tad astu me natha sa bhuri-bhago bhave 'tra vanyatra tu va tirascam yenaham eko 'pi bhavaj-jananam bhutva niseve tava .-pallavam.Sri Brahmanah - Lord Brahma Even the universal creator, Brahma, prays to be born as an animal or a bird, if that is conducive to the service of Lord Hari -ei brahma janmei va anya kona bhave, pasu-paksi haye janmi tomara vibhave ei matra asa tava bhakta-gana-sange, thaki tava .-seva hari nana range (Bengah verse by Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura) "In this life as Lord Brahma, or in any other place, if I'm born as beast or bird, that will be Your grace: my only aspiration is to be with Your servants, and in Your pastimes serve Your feet, as one of Your attendants." (Bengali verse translation) 8.11 ananya-saranesu mrgesv api bhagavat-krpa -kim citram acyuta tavaitad asesa-bandho dasesv ananya-saranesu yad atma-sattvam yo 'rocayat saha mrgaih svayam isvaranam srimat-kirita-tata-pidita-.-pithah Srimad Uddhavasya The Lord is merciful upon even the animals who have exclusively surrendered unto Him -" O Lord Krsna, friend of all, in Your form of Lord Rama, even when the tips of the magnificent crowns of the great gods headed by Lord Brahma were subjugated before Your lotus feet, You simply showed Your affection for the monkeys. Thus it is no wonder that You are seen to be subordinate to Your exclusive servitors such as Nanda Maharaja, the Gopis, Bali, and others." - Sri Uddhava.8.12 bhagavat-krpopalabdha-mahatmyasya tat kainkarya-prarthanapi auddhatyavad eva pratiyate -dhig asucim avinitam nirdayam mam alajjam parama-purusa yo 'ham yogi-varyagraganyaih vidhi-siva-sanakadyair dhyatum atyanta-duram tava parijana-bhavam kamaye kama-vrttah Sri Yamunacaryasya Even to pray for the Lord's servitorship is felt as an impertinence, when the glory of the Lord is realized by His mercy -" Fie on me - an impure, impertinent, hard-hearted, and shameless fellow. O Supreme Personality, simply governed by my whims do I dare to aspire for Your servitorship, a position practically inconceivable to great, powerful personalities like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, and the four Kumaras." - Sri Yamunacarya 8.13 upalabdha-sva-dosa-sahasrasyapi tac carana-paricarya-lobho 'py avaryamanah - amaryadah ksudras calamatir asaya-prasavabhuh krtaghno durmani smara-paravaso vancana-parah nrsamsah papisthah katham aham ito duhkha-jaladher aparad uttirnas tava paricareyam caranayoh Sri Yamumcaryasya Despite thousands of personal defects, a devotee can never check his desire for the Lord's service -" Uncultured, mean, fickle-minded, envious, ungrateful, proud, subservient to lust, deceitful, hard-hearted, and sinful am I. O Lord, how will I ever be able to cross this insurmountable ocean of misery and attain to the service of Your lotus feet?" - Sri Yamunacarya.8.14 prapannasya prapatti-samanya-krpayam api nijayogyata-pratitih -nanu prayatnah sakrd eva natha tavaham asmiti ca yacamanah tavanukampyah smaratah pratijnam mad eka varjjam kim idam vratante Sri Yamunacaryasya Although the Lord is naturally gracious upon the surrendered soul, the surrendered soul considers himself unfit to receive that grace -" O Lord, one who keeps Your pledge in mind and wholly surrenders unto You, declaring, 'I am Yours alone,' is a fit recipient for Your grace. Is it only I who am not included in Your promise?" Sri Yamunacarya 8.15 suspasta-dainyenatma-vijnaptih -na ninditam karma tad asti loke sahasraso yan na maya vyadhayi so 'ham vipakavasare mukunda krandami sampraty agatis tavagre Sri Yamunacaryasya Heartfelt petition in stark humility -" O Mukunda, there is no offensive activity in this world that I have not performed thousands of times. Now, finally, I have no alternative but to simply weep before You." - Sri Yamunacarya 8.16 asima-krpasya krpayah sesa-simantargatam atmanam anubhavati -nimajjato 'nanta bhavarnavantas ciraya me kulam ivasi labdhah tvayapi labdham bhagavann idanim anuttamam patram idam dayayah.Sri Yamunacaryasya The realization of feeling oneself to be situated on the outer limit of the unlimitedly merciful Lord's mercy -" O Lord, I was drowning in the fathomless, endless ocean of material existence, and now, after immeasurable time, I have reached the shore - Your Divine Self. And You also have finally obtained the most fit recipient for Your mercy." - Sri Yamunacarya - 8.17 bhagavad-bhaktasya svasmin dinatva-buddhir eva svabhaviki, na tu bhaktatva-buddhih -dinabandhur iti nama te smaran, yadavendra patito 'ham utsahe bhakta-vatsalataya tvayi srute, mamakam hrdayam asu kampate Jagannathasya A devotee of the Lord naturally considers himself to be lowly, and never does he consider himself a devotee -" O Yadavendra, when I think of Your name, Dinabandhu -friend of the fallen, I, who am afallen, feel encouraged. But hearing that You are Bhaktavatsala - affectionate to the devotees, my heart suddenly trembles." Jagannatha 8.18 siva-virincy-adi-deva-sevya svasambandha-lesasambhavanaya nairasyam -stavakas tava caturmukhadayo, bhavaka hi bhagavan bhavadayah sevakah sata-makhadayah sura, vasudeva yadi ke tada vayam Dhananjayasya A devotee feels disappointed in the improbability of his ever having a slight relationship with the Supreme Lord who is worshippable by the great gods headed by Lord Siva and Lord Brahma -."O Lord, the demigods headed by four-headed Lord Brahma are engaged in offering their worshipful prayers unto You; the demigods headed by five-headed Lord Siva are absorbed in meditation upon You; and the demigods headed by Lord Indra, the performer of a hundred sacrifices, are Your order carriers. O Lord Vasudeva, who then, are we to You?" - Dhananjaya 8.19 gauravatarasyaty-utkrsta-phala-datvam-aty-audaryatvan ca vilokya tatrati-lobhatvad-atmany-ati-vancitatva-bodhah -vancito 'smi vancito 'smi, vancito 'smi na samsayah visvam gaura-rase magnam, sparso 'pi mama nabhavat Sri Prabodhanandapadanam Seeing the Lord's most munificent descent as Sri Gauranga who is the bestower of the paramount gift of love divine, the devotee, feeling insatiable desire for the mercy of this Lord, considers himself to be drastically deceived -" Deceived, deceived, no doubt, deceived am I! The whole universe became flooded with the love of Sri Gauranga, but alas, my fate was not to get even the slightest touch of it." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 8.20 sri-gaura-seva-rasa-grdhnu-janasya tad aprapty asankaya khedoktih -adarsaniyan api nica-jatin samviksate hanta tathapi no mam mad-eka-varjjam krpayisyatiti nirniya kim so 'vatatara devah Sri Prataparudrasya The lament of one deeply aspiring for the service of Sri Gaurahari, in the apprehension of not attaining that service -" He casts His merciful glance upon even low-born persons who.are unfit to be seen; yet He will not grant me His audience. Has the Lord (Sri Caitanyadeva) made His advent deciding that He will give His grace to all but me?" - Sri Pratapa Rudra 8.21 premamaya-svanathati-vadanyatopalabdhes tan nitya-parsadasya dainyoktih -bhavabdhim dustaram yasya, dayaya sukham uttaret bharakrantah kharo 'py esa, tam sri-caitanyam asraye Sri Sanatanapadanam Realizing his loving Lord's extreme magnanimity, deep humility is expressed by the intimate servitor of the Lord -" Even this overburdened ass takes shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by whose grace the formidable ocean of material existence can be crossed very easily." - Sri Sanatana Goswami 8.22 maha-prema-piyusa-bindu-prarthinah svadainyanubhutih -prasarita- mahaprema-, piyusa-rasa-sagare caitanya-candre prakate, yo dino dina eva sah Sri Prabodhanandapadanam One who begs for a drop of the nectar of divine love supreme perceives his own destitution -" Now that Sri Caitanyacandra - the unlimitedly expansive ocean of the joy of divine love supreme - has made His gracious advent, anyone who remains destitute is surely a genuine pauper." - Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati 8.23 vipralambha-rasasritasya parama-siddhasyapi viraha-duhkhe hrdayodghatanam -.ayi dina-dayardra-natha he, mathura-natha kadavalokyase hrdayam tvad-aloka-kataram dayita bhramyati kim karomy aham Sri Madhavendra Puripadanam The heart's eruption in the sorrow of separation, even for one who has achieved the ultimate perfection of love in separation -" O gentle-hearted Lord, ever-gracious upon the destitute, O Lord of Mathura, when shall I see You again? In Your absence my broken heart trembles. Beloved! what shall I do now?" - Sri Madhavendra Puri 8.24 sri-krsna-virahe asahayavat svanatha-karunakarsanam -amuny adhanyani dinantarani hare tvad alokanam antarena anatha-bandho karunaika-sindho ha hanta ha hanta katham nayami Sri Bilvamangalasya A devotee in separation of Krsna helplessly draws the grace of the Lord of his life -" O Hari, O guardian of the shelterless, O one and only ocean of mercy, how will I pass my unblest days and nights without a glimpse of You?" - Sri Bilvamangala Thakura 8.25 vrajendranandana-virahe taj-jivitesvaryah svayam-rupaya api dasivat karpanyam -ha natha ramana prestha, kvasi kvasi maha-bhuja dasyas te krpanaya me, sakhe darsaya sannidhim Sri Radhikayah Like a maidservant, even Sri Radhika, the heroine of the son of King Nanda, humbly petitions the Lord in His separation -."O Lord, my loving consort and dearmost hero, where are You? I am Your poor maidservant, please come to Me." - Srimati Radharani 8.26 vipralambhe sri-krsna-vallabhanam api grhasaktavad dainyoktih -ahus ca te nalina-nabha padaravindam yogesvarair hrdi vicintyam agadha-bodhaih samsara-kupa-patitottaranavalambam geham jusam api manasy udiyat sada nah - Sri Gopikanam Like persons attached to hearth and home, even the Gopis, the damsels beloved of Lord Sri Krsna, humbly petition the Lord in His separation -" O lotus-navelled one, Your lotus feet, eternally held as the object of meditation within the hearts of the greatest yogis of profound intellect, are the only resort for delivering those souls fallen into the well of material life. May those holy lotus feet graciously appear within the hearts of we ordinary household ladies." - the Gopis - 8.27 viraha-kataro bhakta atmanam aty-asahayam manyate -gato yamo gatau yamau, gata yama gatam dinam ha hanta kim karisyami, na pasyami harer mukham Sankarasya A devotee afflicted in separation feels himself to be drastically helpless -" Three hours have passed, six hours have passed, nine hours have passed, a whole day has passed . . . alas, alas, what shall I do? I could not catch a glimpse of the lotus face of Sri Hari!".Sankara 8.28 govinda-virahe sarva-sunyataya aty-anathavad-dirgha-duhkha-bodha-rupa- prema-cesta -yugayitam nimesena, caksusa pravrsayitam sunyayitam jagat sarvam, govinda-virahena me Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya Because everything appears vacant in the separation of Sri Krsna, divine love's attempt becomes prolonged sorrow in desperate shelterlessness -" O Govinda, my every moment seems to be a great millennium. Tears flow from my eyes like torrents of rain, and the whole world seems empty in the absence of You." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra 8.29 sri-krsnaika-vallabhayas tad virahe anubhutakhila-prana-cesta-vyarthataya deha-yatra-nirvahasyapi lajjakara-socya-vyavaharavat pratitih -sri- krsna-rupadi-nisevanam vina vyarthani me 'hany akhilendriyany alam pasana-suskendhana bharakany aho vibharmi va tani katham hata-trapah kesancit When, in His separation, Krsna's faithful sweetheart realizes Her whole urge for living has been thwarted, even to maintain her body is felt to be a shamefully lamentable task -" My dear companion, without the service of Sri Krsna's divine form, nature, and pastimes, all my senses have become senseless. Now, how will I be able to shamelessly bear the burden of these wood-like, stone-like senses?" - revered votary. 8.30 ati-vipralambhe jivita-pranayinya rodanam api nija-dambha-matratvena pratiyate - yasyamiti samudyatasya vacanam visrabdham akarnitam gacchan duram upeksito muhur asau vyavrtya pasyann api tac chunye punar agatasmi bhavane pranas ta eva sthitah sakhyah pasyata jivita-pranayini dambhad aham rodimi Rudrasya His sweetheart who lives despite intensely feeling His separation thinks that even Her tears are only due to Her pride -" When He was about to leave, He said, 'I am going.' I heard His words without a care. As He left, from afar He glanced back again and again, but I paid no attention. Now, upon returning to my house which is bereft of Krsna, I am still living - O my friends! see how I cry out of the pride of being the love of His life . . ." - Rudra 8.31 labdha-sri-krsna-prema-parakasthasya pratiksana-vardhamana-tad-asvadana- lolupataya tad-apraptivat pratitih tatra sri-krsna-premnastu sarvocca-saubhagyakara-parama- sudurllabha-pumarthatvan ca sucitam -na prema-gandho 'sti darapi me harau krandami saubhagya-bharam prakasitum vamsi-vilasy-anana-lokanam vina vibharmi yat prana-patangakan vrtha Sri Sri Bhagavatas Caitanyacandrasya A person who has attained to the acme of love for Krsna appears as one bereft of that love, due to the moment by moment growing insatiable desire to taste it; this indicates love for Krsna to be the bestower of the supreme fortune, and the most rarely attained goal of life -."O My companion, I do not have the slightest scent of love for Krsna - and yet, I cry. This is only for the purpose of exhibiting my great fortune. Without seeing the lovely face of Krsna playing His flute, I worthlessly pass My days, like an insignificant insect." - the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanyacandra iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte sri-bhakta-vacanamrtantargatam karpanyam nama astamo 'dhyayah thus ends the eighth chapter Surrender in Humility - Words of Nectar from the Devotees in Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls Positive and Progressive Immortality Chapter 9 Sri Sri Bhagavad-vacanamrtam - Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord 9.1-2 sri-krsnanghri-prapannanam, krsna-premaika-kanksinam sarvartty-ajnana-hrt sarva-, bhista-seva-sukha-pradam prana-sanjivanam saksad-, bhagavad-vacanamrtam sri-bhagavata-gitadi-, sastrac changrhyate 'tra hi Herein, collected from the Holy Scriptures headed by Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, are words of nectar directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the nectar to vanquish all sorrow and darkness for the souls surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, and also for those aspiring for exclusive love for Krsna. It nourishes the lives of the devotees,.pleasing their hearts by fulfilling all their cherished desires for devotional service. 9.3 sri-bhagavatah prapanna-klesa-haritvam -tvam prapanno 'smi saranam, deva-devam janardanam iti yah saranam praptas, tam klesad uddharamy aham Sri Narasimhe The Supreme Lord dispels the suffering of His surrendered soul -" I deliver from all suffering one who accepts My shelter, saying, 'O God of gods, O supreme refuge, I am surrendered unto You'." Sri Nrsimha Purana 9.4 tasya sakrd eva prapannaya sadabhaya-datrtvam -sakrd eva prapanno yas, tavasmiti ca yacate abhayam sarvada tasmai, dadamy etad vratam mama Sri Ramayane If one seeks refuge in Him just once, He awards fearlessness to that person forever -" It is My pledge that if anyone just once sincerely petitions Me for shelter, saying 'I am Yours,' then I grant him courage for all time to come." Sri Ramayana 9.5 sa ca sadhunam paritrana-kartta -paritranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duskrtam dharma-samsthapanarthaya, sambhavami yuge yuge Sri Gitayam 4.8 He is the savior of the saints -" I appear in every age to deliver the saintly devotees, to.vanquish the sinful miscreants, and to firmly establish true religion." Srimad Bhagavad-gita (verses 5-31) 9.6 tasya prarthanurupa-phala-datrtvam -ye yatha mam prapadyante, tams tathaiva bhajamy aham mama vartmanuvartante, manusyah partha sarvasah tatraiva 4.11 He bestows whatever fruit He is petitioned for -" O Partha, however a person worships Me, I am correspondingly attainable by him. Certainly all men follow My path: they follow that path which is revealed by Me." 9.7 bahu-deva-yajinam sri-krsnetara-devata-prapattir-bhogabhisandhi-mulaiva -kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah, prapadyante 'nya-devatah tam tam niyamam asthaya, prakrtya niyatah svaya tatraiva 7.20 Motivation for sense gratification is the only reason that the worshippers of the many demigods surrender to those gods instead of to Lord Krsna -" Persons whose good sense is perverted by some material desire become preoccupied with that desire, and thus they adopt the appropriate rules and regulations to worship 'other gods'." 9.8 tat sarvesaresvaratvajnanam eva karminam bahu-deva-yajane karanam -aham hi sarva-yajnanam, bhokta ca prabhur eva ca na tu mam abhijananti, tattvenatas cyavanti te tatraiva 9.24 The elevationists worship 'many gods' due to their ignorance of Sri Krsna's position as the Supreme God of all gods -" I alone am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices. Those who worship the demigods, considering them to be independent of Me, are known as superficial worshippers (pratikopasaka). They do not understand My factual position, and thus due to their fallacious worship they deviate from the truth. When they worship as My expansions the demigods headed by the Sungod, they may ultimately gain an auspicious result." 9.9 tatra durmati-duskrti-mudhata-rupo maya-prabhava eva karanam -na mam duskrtino mudhah, prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrtajnana, asuram bhavam asritah tatraiva 7.15 The cause of such stunted intelligence, evil propensities, and foolishness: the power of illusion (maya) -" Being merged in maya, foolish and fallen men dedicated to evil deeds resort to the demoniac mentality and do not surrender to Me." 9.10 dvandvatitah sukrtiman eva sri-krsna-bhajanadhikari -yesam tv anta-gatam papam, jananam punya-karmanam te dvandva-moha-nirmukta, bhajante mam drdha-vratah tatraiva 7.28 Only the virtuous soul who rejects both mundane happiness and unhappiness is qualified to worship Lord Krsna -" Those virtuous persons whose sins have been destroyed are liberated from illusory happiness and unhappiness, and they worship Me with firm resolve." 9.11 sri-krsna-prapattir eva maya-taranopayo nanyah -daivi hy esa gunamayi, mama maya duratyaya mam eva ye prapadyante, mayam etam taranti te tatraiva 7.14 Surrender to Sri Krsna is the only method of overcoming maya -" This trimodal deluding energy (maya) of Mine is practically insurmountable. Only those who surrender unto Me can overcome it." 9.12 sri-krsna-prapattir eva suddha-jnana-phalam ity anubhavitur mahatmanah sudurllabhatvam -bahunam janmanam ante, jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti, sa mahatma sudurllabhah tatraiva 7.19 Absolute surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Krsna is the purpose of knowledge (jnana) the great soul who realizes this truth is exceedingly rare -" Having passed through many lifetimes of assiduous spiritual practices, by the influence of sadhu-sanga, the association of saints, one attains to knowledge of My identity, and thus surrenders utterly unto Me. Thereafter, he reaches Me, and realizes that everything without exception is related to Vasudeva, and thus everything that be is of the nature of Vasudeva. Such a great soul is exceedingly rare." 9.13 labdha-cit-svarupasyaiva sri-krsne pare bhaktih, atah sa nirguna eva -brahma- bhutah prasannatma, na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu, mad-bhaktim labhate param tatraiva 18.54.A person who has realized his constitutional spiritual nature engages in transcendental devotional service unto the lotus feet of Sri Krsna; therefore, such devotion is transcendental to the three modes of material nature -" By knowledge of the non-differentiated Absolute Truth, one can achieve self-satisfaction, freedom from lamentation and hankering, and perceive the equality in all beings. And above this, he engages in transcendental devotional service unto Me." 9.14 akhila-rasamrta-murtih sri-krsna eva jnani-gana-mrgya-turiya brahmano mulasrayah -brahmano hi pratisthaham, amrtasyavyayasya ca sasvatasya ca dharmasya, sukhasyaikantikasya ca tatraiva 14.27 Sri Krsna, the embodiment of the entire compass of divine mellows, is the absolute source of the undifferentiated Brahman that the liberationists desire to merge into as the fourth state of the soul -" Transcendental to the modes of nature as the Axiomatic Truth replete with the divine variegatedness of holy name, form, nature, associates, and pastimes, I alone am the mainstay and fountainhead of Brahman - the ultimate destination of the liberationists (jnanis). Immortality, immutability, eternality, the eternal sustenance of divine love, and the ultimate ecstasy of the divine mellows of Vrndavana (Vraja-rasa) - all these are supported by Me: the Transcendental, Variegated, Axiomatic Reality - Krsna." 9.15 aupanisat-purusasya sri-krsnasyaiva yogi-jana-mrgyam nikhila-cid-acin- niyantrtvam - sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto mattah smrtir jnanam apohanan ca vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham.tatraiva 15.15 Encompassing the aggregate individuality and collectivity, the Absolute Autocracy over both the material and the spiritual planes is held by Sri Krsna alone, the Supreme Male Dominating Principle as corroborated in the Upanisads; and He is the objective sought after by the yogis -" I am situated as the Supreme Lord within the hearts of all souls. As a result of a soul's worldly deeds, his remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness arise from Me alone. Thus, I am not only Brahman, the Absolute Spirit that pervades the universe, but above that, I am the Supersoul present in the hearts of the living beings, who dispenses the results of their attempts. And even above My worshippable aspects of Brahman and Paramatma, I am the Guru of all souls, the eternal dispenser of their good fortune - I am Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be known by all the Vedas; I am the creator and perfect knower of all the axiomatic conclusions of the Vedas (Vedanta)." 9.16 tad-visnoh paramam padam eva gantavyam, tac ca jnaninam anavrtti-karakam yoginam adi-caitanya-svarupam karminan ca karma-phala-vidhayakam -tatah padam tat parimargitavyam, yasmin gata na nivartanti bhuyah tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye, yatah pravrttih prasrta purani tatraiva 15.4 The desired goal is the supreme, divine lotus feet of Lord Visnu, who is the ordainer of ultimate emancipation for the liberationists (jnanis), the Supreme Lord of the meditationists (yogis), and the rewarder of the elevationists (karmis) -" Thus one should search out that supreme goal of no return -the lotus feet of Lord Visnu: 'I surrender unto Him, the Original.Person from whom the perpetual material world has extended'." 9.17 avidya-nirmuktah sampurna-jna eva lila-purusottamam sri-krsnam eva-nikhila-bhavair-bhajante -yo mam evam asammudho, janati purusottamam sa sarva-vid bhajati mam, sarva-bhavena bharata tatraiva 15.19 Those liberated from ignorance and endowed with full-fledged knowledge render service in all devotional mellows headed by consorthood (madhura-rasa), unto Sri Krsna, the Supreme Hero of divine pastimes (Lila-purusottama) -" O Bharata, one who is liberated from illusion, and thus knows Me alone as the Supreme Personality - such a full-fledged savant serves me in all respects (mellows)." 9.18 karma-jnana-dhyana-yoginam api (tat tad bhavam tyaktva) ye maccit-sakti- gata-sraddham-asritya bhajante ta eva sarva-sresthah -yoginam api sarvesam, mad-gatenantaratmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam, sa me yuktatamo matah tatraiva 6.47 Of all yogis who follow the paths based on action, knowledge, and meditation (karma, jnana, dhyana), the topmost are those who (abandon their respective attitudes in order to) take refuge in their heart's faith in My personal potency (svarupa-sakti), and thus engage in my pure devotional service -" In My opinion, of all types of yogis, the most elevated of all is he who surrenders his heart to Me and serves Me in devotion with sincere, internal faith." 9.19 niravacchinna-prema-bhakti-yajino mat-parsada eva parama-sresthah - mayy-avesya mano ye mam, nitya-yukta upasate sraddhaya parayopetas, te me yuktatama matah tatraiva 12.2 My associates who serve Me in uninterrupted loving devotion are the most superior -" Dedicating his whole life to devotional service with unalloyed faith, one who absorbs his heart in Me is definitely the highest of all devotees." 9.20 sri-krsne svayam-rupatvam sarvamsitvam sarvasrayatvam cid-vilasamayatvan ca -mattah parataram nanyat, kincid asti dhananjaya mayi sarvam idam protam, sutre mani-gana iva tatraiva 7.7 The original form of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is the origin of all incarnations, the ultimate refuge, and the enjoyer of dynamic divinity-" O Dhananjaya, there is none superior to Me. Everything that be is linked with Me in My Visnu form, like gems strung on a thread." 9.21 svayam-rupasya svarupa-sakti-pravarttanam asritya raga-bhajanam eva parama-pandityam -aham sarvasya prabhavo, mattah sarvam pravarttate iti matva bhajante mam, budha bhava-samanvitah tatraiva 10.8 The ultimate sagacity is in Raga-bhajana, spontaneous devotion (headed by servitude unto Sri Radhika), under the impetus of the personal potency of the Original Lord who is beauty's own self -."Know Me as the source of everything that be, spiritual or material. Understanding this, the truly intelligent souls give their hearts to Me: they engage in My pure devotional service." (As soon as persons with the propensity for service in love [bhava-bhajan ] realize the original form of Godhead [svayam-rupa] to be the fountainhead of all currents of worship and devotion, then, in the mellow of divine consorthood [madhura-rasa ], they will necessarily feel deep loyalty to intimately follow the impetus of full-blown service, this impetus being the Lord's personal potency [svarupa-sakti] or the Female Embodiment of the acme in devotion [ mahabhava-svarupa . In this way, they attain to the servitude of Srimati Radharani [sri Radha-dasya]. The purport is that the potency of Sri Krsna is also the Inauguratress of worship and devotion unto Him, and to engage in pure devotional service always in the shelter of such a conception in pure heart's devotion constitutes servitude to the Guru for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, or Sri Radha-dasya in madhura-rasa.) 9.22 mad-arpita-prana mad-asritah parasparam sahayyena mad-alapanaprasada- ramanadi-sukham nityam eva labhante -mac- citta mad-gata-prana, bodhayantah parasparam kathayantas ca mam nityam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca tatraiva 10.9 My male or female servitors, who have dedicated their entire lives to Me and taken full shelter in Me, mutually assist one another in a manner befitting their respective internal devotional aptitudes. They eternally relish conversing about Me, the satisfaction of serving Me, and the nectar of devotion culminating in My divine consorthood -These are the symptoms of these exclusive devotees: "With heart and soul dedicated unto Me, they constantly exchange their devotional ecstasies while conversing about Me. By such hearing and chanting, in the stage of practice (sadhana) they enjoy the happiness of devotion; and in the stage of perfection.(sadhya), that is, in the achievement of divine love (prema), they relish up to the mellow of My intimate relationship in divine consorthood, in the free spontaneity of Vraja." 9.23 bhava-sevaiva bhagavad-vasikarane samartha -patram puspam phalam toyam, yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam, asnami prayatatmanah tatraiva 9.26 Only loving service (bhava-seva) can subjugate the Supreme Lord -" Whatever the pure-hearted devotees lovingly offer unto Me, such as Tulasi leaf, flower, fruit, and water, I accept with heartfelt affection." 9.24 krsnaika-bhajana-silasya tat prabhavena vidhuyamanany abhadrani duracaravad drstany api durabhisandhi-mulakavan na garhaniyany api ca svarupatas tad eka bhajanasya paramadbhuta-mahatmyat sah sadhur eva -api cet suduracaro, bhajate mam ananya-bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah, samyag vyavasito hi sah tatraiva 9.30 By the potency of the purging effect of devotion for Krsna, glaring inauspicious traits may arise in the character of a person who is exclusively devoted to the service of the Lord. Although such faults may seem to be abominable, they are not condemnable as born of evil motivations (as in a non-devotee). On the contrary, due to the natural, marvelous pristine glory of his exclusive devotion (ananya-bhajana), that devotee is to be known as a true saint -" If a person serves Me with heart exclusively devoted, even if his practices are abominable he is to be revered as a true saint (sadhu) because his life's resolve is perfect in all respects." 9.25 sodhana-prakriya-jata-mala-nihsaranasya, malina-vastunah svabhavika-mala-vicchuranena saha na kadapy ekatvam. tadrg bhaktah ksipram sudhyati, na kadapi nasyatiti paramasvasa-pradatvam -ksipram bhavati dharmatma, sasvac-chantim nigacchati kaunteya pratijanihi, na me bhaktah pranasyati tatraiva 9.31 The supreme assurance: the purging of dirt by a process of purification and the natural emanation of dirt from a contaminated thing can never be one. Such a devotee is swiftly purified - he is never lost -" O son of Kunti, it is My promise that a soul who adopts exclusive devotion unto Me will definitely never fail. Despite the initial purging and sudden appearance of his defects, such anomalies are rapidly dispelled by his continuous remembrance of Me in repentance for the impediments to his service. He becomes impeccably devout in the soul's natural constitutional behavior, and as a result of his devotion he attains supreme relief from the bondage of both sinfulness and piety." 9.26 gham-bhuta-visuddha-sattva-murtim asritya tamasa-prakrtayo 'pi paramam gatim labhante -mam hi partha vyapasritya, ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah striyo vaisyas tatha sudras, te 'pi yanti param gatim tatraiva 9.32 By taking shelter of Sri Krsna, the embodiment of unadulterated, concentrated pure goodness, even the most depraved reach the supreme destination -" O Partha, by expressly taking refuge in exclusive devotion for Me, even low-born barbarous peoples that subsist on cow's flesh,.corrupt women such as prostitutes, and humans of lower order such as merchants and laborers - they all swiftly reach the supreme destination. Nothing can impede those who take shelter in devotion unto Me." 9.27 baddha-jivanam prakrti-yantritatvam isvarasyobhaya-niyamakatvan ca -isvarah sarva-bhutanam, hrd-dese arjuna tisthati bhramayan sarva-bhutani, yantrarudhani mayaya tatraiva 18.61 The conditioned souls are enslaved by material nature, but the Lord is the controller of both nature and the living beings -" O Arjuna, I am situated in the hearts of all souls as the Supersoul, the Lord and Master of all souls. For every endeavor of the living beings in this world, the Lord (My plenary expansion, the Supersoul) awards an appropriate result. As an object mounted on a wheel is caused to revolve, the living beings are caused to revolve in the universe by the almighty power of the Lord. Incited by Him, your destiny will naturally be effected according to your endeavors." 9.28 suddha-jivanam-anucaitanya-svarupatvat sa-sima-svatantratayah sad-vyavaharena paresasraye para-santih -tam eva saranam gaccha, sarva-bhavena bharata tat prasadat param santim, sthanam prapsyasi sasvatam tatraiva 18.62 The pure spirit souls have finite independence due to their constitutional nature as atomic conscious entities; by proper utilization of that independence, they take shelter of the Supreme Lord and thus attain to the supreme peace -" O Bharata, surrender unto that Lord in all respects. By His grace you will attain to supreme peace and the eternal abode." 9.29 bhakta-bandhavasya bhagavatah parama-marmopadesah -sarva- guhyatamam bhuyah, srnu me paramam vacah isto 'si me drdham iti, tato vaksyami te hitam tatraiva 18.64 The most hidden of all hidden treasures of the Lord: the most affectionate advice of the devotee's dear friend -" I have revealed to you My hidden teaching of the non-differentiated Absolute, and My more hidden teaching of the Almighty Dominion. Now hear the most hidden of all hidden treasures concerning Me, the Sweet Absolute. Of all the teachings I have imparted within this Gita-sastra, this is topmost. You are most dear to Me, and thus I am explaining this for your best benefit." 9.30 parama-madhurya-murtteh kama-devasya kama-sevanusilanam eva niscitam sarvottama-phala-praptih -man mana bhava mad-bhakto, mad-yaji mam namaskuru mam evaisyasi satyam te, pratijane priyo 'si me tatraiva 18.65 Beyond all doubt, the highest attainment is to serve the (supramundane [aprakrta]) desires of the Sweet Absolute Cupid -" Be My devotee, give Me your heart. Do not think of Me as the karma-yogis, jnana-yogis, and dhyana-yogis do. Sacrifice your every endeavor for Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is my vow that without a doubt You will then achieve the servitude of My own Self, which is the embodiment of truth, sentience, and beauty. Because you are most dear to Me do I reveal this transcendental devotion to you." 9.31 nikhila-dharmadharma-vicara-parityagenadvaya jnana-svarupasya sri-vrajendranandanaika- vigrahasya .-padma-.saranad eva sarvapac-chanti-purvaka sarva-sampat-praptih -sarva- dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo, moksayisyami ma sucah tatraiva 18.66 The only way to gain relief from all adversities, the only way to find the hidden treasure, is to abandon all consideration of religiosity or irreligiosity and surrender unto the lotus feet of the Absolute Reality the Beautiful Sri Krsnacandra, the divine son of King Nanda -" To impart knowledge of My all-comprehensive aspect, Brahman, as well as knowledge of My all-permeating aspect, Paramatma, whatever teachings I have given, based in general on: the duties of the socio-religious ranks of life, the duty of the mendicant, selflessness, internal and external sense-control, meditation, subservience to the dominion of the Almighty - now I ask you to summarily dismiss every one of those religiosities and surrender unto Me, the Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. Then I shall deliver You from all sin of this worldly sojourn, as well as any sin incurred by giving up the aforementioned duties or religiosities. There will be no cause for you to lament that your life's mission is unfulfilled." 9.32 sri-harer eva sarva-sad-asaj-jagat-karanatvam -aham evasam evagre, nanyad yat sad-asat-param pascad aham yad etac ca, yo 'visisyeta so 'smy aham Srimad-Bhagavate 2.9.32 Sri Hari is the cause of all worlds, gross and subtle -" Prior to the creation of this universe, only I existed. The gross, the subtle, and even the indefinable non-differentiated Absolute, Brahman - nothing whatsoever existed separately from Me. After the creation, I exist as the aggregate entity; and after the cataclysm, only I shall remain." Srimad-Bhagavatam (verses 32-57) 9.33 nikhila-sambandhabhidheya-prayojanatmaka-veda-jnanam tasmad eva -jnanam me paramam-guhyam, yad-vijnana-samanvitam sa-rahasyam tad-angan ca, grhana gaditam maya tatraiva 2.9.30 The aggregate of knowledge propounded by the Vedas - relation, means, and end (sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana) - arises from Him alone -" To be merciful upon you do I teach you the most esoteric knowledge of Me, including - the realization of My nature and entourage (sambandha-tattva), the inconceivable mystery of loving devotion or prema-bhakti (prayojana-tattva), and its constituent part in the form of devotional practice or sadhana-bhakti (abhidheya-tattva). Now hear My message attentively, and accept what I impart to you." 9.34 sri-krsnatmaka-dharmamayam eva veda-jnanam tasmad brahmanadhigatam -kalena nasta pralaye, vaniyam veda-samjnita mayadau brahmane prokta, dharmo yasyam mad atmakah tatraiva 11.14.3 The teaching of eternal religion, nondifferent from Sri Krsna, is received from Sri Krsna by Lord Brahma -" The message of the Vedas is eternal religion, nondifferent from Me. When in the course of time those eternal teachings disappeared from view with the universal cataclysm, I imparted them to Lord Brahma at the dawning of a new creation." 9.35 paramananda-svarupa-sri-krsnaptir eva sarva-srestha-sukha-praptih -mayy arpitatmanah sabhya, nirapeksasya sarvatah.mayatmana sukham yat tat, kutah syad visayatmanam tatraiva 11.14.12 The ultimate happiness is the attainment of the service of Sri Krsna, who is divine ecstasy personified -" My dear saints, where can the materialists find the happiness that I, the embodiment of divine ecstasy, bestow within the hearts of those who offer life and soul unto Me, and who have thus become indifferent to all else?" 9.36-37 karma-yogadi-labhyam phalam vanchati cet prapnoty eva krsna-bhaktah -yat karmabhir yat tapasa, jnana-vairagyatas ca yat yogena dana-dharmena, sreyobhir itarair api sarvam mad-bhakti-yogena, mad-bhakto labhate 'njasa svargapavargam mad-dhama, kathancid yadi vanchati tatraiva 11.20.32-33 When a devotee desires any object which is attainable by the practitioners of religiosity based on karma, jnana, and yoga, all his requirements are summarily achieved -" By engaging in devotional service, my devotee effortlessly attains anything and everything attainable in this world by virtuous practices such as duty, austerity, learning, detachment, meditation, charity, or religiosity. Even residence in Vaikunthaloka is his for the asking, to say nothing of the attainment of heaven or liberation." 9.38 aikantika diyamanam api kaivalyadikam na vanchanti -na kincit sadhavo dhira, bhakta hy ekantino mama vanchanty api maya dattam, kaivalyam apunar bhavam tatraiva 11.20.34 The exclusive devotees never aspire for liberation headed by.emancipation in the Absolute, even if it is offered to them -" Even if I desire to award it to them, my sagacious, saintly, exclusive devotees will never accept the ultimate emancipation of oneness in Brahman." 9.39 kaivalyac-chreyah salokyadikam api necchanti -mat- sevaya pratitam te, salokyadi-catustayam necchanti sevaya purnah, kuto 'nyat kala-viplutam tatraiva 9.4.67 Nor do they aspire for even positive liberation, beginning with residence in the Lord's abode, which is infinitely superior to ultimate emancipation of oneness in Brahman -" When My dedicated pure devotee never accepts any of the four kinds of positive liberation (salokya, etc.) even if they avail themselves to him by dint of his service unto Me, then why will he ever wish for materialistic enjoyment and ultimate emancipation in Brahman (sayujya-mukti), which are very swiftly vanquished by the march of time? By sayujya-mukti, the soul's eternal status falls into the jaws of death. Thus, sense enjoyment and monistic liberation hold no permanence." 9.40 prabala bhaktir eva bhagavad-vasikarana-samartha, na hi yoga-jnanadayah -na sadhayati mam yogo, na sankhyam dharma uddhava na svadhyayas tapas tyago, yatha bhaktir mamorjita tatraiva 11.14.20 Only intense devotion can subjugate the Supreme Lord; meditation, knowledge, etc., cannot -" O Uddhava, pursuits such as eight-step yoga, knowledge of oneself as one with Brahman, brahminical religiosity and Vedic study, all kinds of austerity, selflessness in asceticism - none of these.can bind Me as intense devotion does." 9.41 krsna-bhaktih svapakan api janma-dosat punati -bhaktyaham ekaya grahyah, sraddhayatma priyah satam bhaktih punati man-nistha, svapakan api sambhavat tatraiva 11.14.21 Krsna-bhakti delivers even barbarous outcasts from the contamination of their low birth -" I, who am dear to the sadhus, can be reached only by devotion born of unalloyed faith. Even a dog-flesh-eating outcast who dedicates himself to exclusive devotion for Me is delivered from the influence of the wretched circums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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