Chapter 22
The Process of Devotional Service
In this Twenty-second Chapter, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu describes the process of devotional service. In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness of mental speculation and mystic yoga. In all circumstances the living entity is recommended to accept the path of devotional service as personally explained by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The speculative method of the so-called j�ānīs is considered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kāṇḍa, j�āna-kāṇḍa and mystic yoga. One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one's life will be successful. If one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness fully, even though he may sometimes be agitated due to having previously practiced mental speculation and yogic mysticism, he will be saved by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the blessings of a pure devotee (sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ). A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one's dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate with pure devotees. If one has firm faith in the words of a great soul, pure devotional service will awaken.
In this chapter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has differentiated between a pure devotee and others. He also describes the characteristics of a pure devotee. A devotee's most formidable enemy is association with women in an enjoying spirit. Association with nondevotees is also condemned because it is also a formidable enemy on the path of devotional service. One has to fully surrender unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and give up attraction for women and nondevotees.
The six symptoms of fully surrendered souls are also described in this chapter. Devotional service has been divided into two categories-regulative devotional service and spontaneous love. There are sixty-four items listed in regulative devotional service, and out of these sixty-four the last five are considered very important. By practicing even one of the nine processes of devotional service, one can become successful. Speculative knowledge and mystic yoga can never help one in devotional service. Pious activity, nonviolence, sense control and regulation are not separate from devotional service in its pure form. If one engages in devotional service, all good qualities follow. One does not have to cultivate them separately. Spontaneous devotional service arises when one follows a pure devotee who is awakened to spontaneous love of God. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has described the symptoms of devotees who are already situated in spontaneous love of God. He has also described the devotees who are trying to follow in the footsteps of the pure devotees
TEXT 1
vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
devaṁ taṁ karuṇārṇavam
kalāv apy ati-gūḍheyaṁ
bhaktir yena prakāśitā
SYNONYMS
vande—I offer my respectful obeisances; śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devam—unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tam—unto Him; karuṇa-arṇavam—who is an ocean of mercy; kalau—in this Age of Kali; api—even; ati—very; gūḍhā—confidential; iyam—this; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; yena—by whom; prakāśitā—manifested.
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is an ocean of transcendental mercy, and although the subject matter of bhakti-yoga is very confidential, He has nonetheless manifested it so niceIy, even in this Age of Kali, the age of quarrel.
TEXT 2
jaya jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya—all glories; śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya nityānanda—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu; jaya—all glories; advaita-candra—to Advaita Prabhu; jaya—all glories; gaura-bhakta-vṛnda—to the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! All glories to all the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!
TEXT 3
eita kahiluṅ sambandha-tattvera vicāra
veda-śāstre upadeśe, kṛṣṇa--eka sāra
SYNONYMS
eita—thus; kahiluṅ—I have described; sambandha-tattvera vicāra—consideration of one's relationship with Kṛṣṇa; veda-śāstre—all Vedic literature; upadeśe—instructs; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; eka sāra—the only essential point.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I have described one's relation with Kṛṣṇa in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities.
TEXT 4
ebe kahi, śuna, abhidheya-lakṣaṇa
yāhā haite pāi--kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
ebe—now; kahi—I shall explain; śuna—please hear; abhidheya-lakṣaṇa—one's prime business (devotional service); yāhā haite—from which; pāi—one can get; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana—and the wealth of transcendental love for Him.
TRANSLATION
"Now I shall speak about the characteristics of devotional service, by which one can attain the shelter of Kṛṣṇa and His loving transcendental service.
TEXT 5
kṛṣṇa-bhakti--abhidheya, sarva-śāstre kaya
ataeva muni-gaṇa kariyāche niścaya
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhidheya—the real activity of life; sarva-śāstre—all Vedic literatures; kaya—say; ataeva—therefore; muni-gaṇa—all saintly persons; kariyāche—have made; niścaya—ascertainment.
TRANSLATION
"A human being's activities should be centered only about devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all Vedic literatures, and all saintly people have ascertained this.
TEXT 6
śrutir mātā pṛṣṭā diśati bhavad-ārādhana-vidhiṁ
yathā mātur vāṇī smṛtir api tathā vakti bhaginī
purāṇādyā ye vā sahaja-nivahās te tad-anugā
ataḥ satyaṁ j�ātaṁ murahara bhavān eva śaraṇam
SYNONYMS
śrutiḥ—Vedic knowledge; mātā—like a mother who is affectionate to her children; pṛṣṭā—when questioned; diśati—she directs; bhavat—of You; ārādhana—worship; vidhim—the process; yathā—just as; mātuḥ vāṇī—the instructions of the mother; smṛtiḥ—smṛti-śāstras, which explain the Vedic literatures; api—also; tathā—similarly; vakti—express; bhaginī—like a sister; purāṇa-ādyāḥ—headed by the Purāṇas; ye—which; vā—or; sahaja-nivahāḥ—like brothers; te—all of them; tat—of the mother; anugāḥ—followers; ataḥ—therefore; satyam—the truth; j�ātam—known; mura-hara—O killer of the demon Mura; bhavān—Your Lordship; eva—only; śaraṇam—the shelter.
TRANSLATION
" 'When the mother Vedas [śruti] is questioned as to whom to worship, she says that You are the only Lord and worshipable object. Similarly, the corollaries of the śruti-śāstras, the smṛti-śāstras, give the same instructions, just like sisters. The Purāṇas, which are like brothers, follow in the footsteps of their mother. O enemy of the demon Mura, the conclusion is that You are the only shelter. Now I have understood this in truth.'
PURPORT
This quotation from the Vedic literature was spoken by great sages.
TEXT 7
advaya-j�āna-tattva kṛṣṇa--svayaṁ bhagavān
'svarūpa-śakti' rūpe tāṅra haya avasthāna
SYNONYMS
advaya-j�āna—of nondual knowledge; tattva—the principle; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; svayam bhagavān—Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svarūpa—personal expansions; śakti—of potencies; rūpe—in the form; tāṅra—His; haya—there is; avasthāna—existence.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa is the nondual Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is one, He maintains different personal expansions and energies for His pastimes.
PURPORT
The Lord has many potencies, and He is nondifferent from all these potencies. Because the potencies and the potent cannot be separated, they are identical. Kṛṣṇa is described as the source of all potencies, and He is also identified with the external potency, the material energy. Kṛṣṇa also has internal potencies, or spiritual potencies, which are always engaged in His personal service. His internal potency is different from His external potency. Kṛṣṇa's internal potency and Kṛṣṇa Himself, who is the potent, are always identical.
TEXT 8
svāṁśa-vibhinnāṁśa-rūpe ha�ā vistāra
ananta vaikuṇṭha-brahmāṇḍe karena vihāra
SYNONYMS
sva-aṁśa—of personal expansions; vibhinna-aṁśa—of separated expansions; rūpe—in the forms; ha�ā—becoming; vistāra—expanded; ananta—unlimited; vaikuṇṭha—in the spiritual planets known as Vaikuṇṭhas; brahmāṇḍe—in the material universes; karena vihāra—performs His pastimes.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa expands Himself in many forms. Some of them are personal expansions, and some are separate expansions. Thus He performs pastimes in both the spiritual and material worlds. The spiritual worlds are the Vaikuṇṭha planets, and the material universes are brahmāṇḍas, gigantic globes governed by Lord Brahmā.
TEXT 9
svāṁśa-vistāra--catur-vyūha, avatāra-gaṇa
vibhinnāṁśa jīva--tāṅra śaktite gaṇana
SYNONYMS
sva-aṁśa-vistāra—the expansion of His personal forms; catuḥ-vyūha—His quadruple form; avatāra-gaṇa—the incarnations; vibhinna-aṁśa—His separated forms; jīva—the living entities; tāṅra—His; śaktite—in the category of potency; gaṇana—calculating.
TRANSLATION
"Expansions of His personal self-like the quadruple manifestations of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Vāsudeva-descend as incarnations from Vaikuṇṭha to this material world. The separated expansions are living entities. Although they are expansions of Kṛṣṇa, they are counted among His different potencies.
PURPORT
The personal expansions are known as viṣṇu-tattva, and the separated expansions are known as jīva-tattva. Although the jīvas (living entities) are part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are still counted among His multi-potencies. This is fully described in Bhagavad-gītā:
apareyam itas tv anyāṁ
prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām
jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho
yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
"Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which consists of all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe." (Bg. 7.5)
Although the living entities are Kṛṣṇa's parts and parcels, they are prakṛti, not puruṣa. Sometimes prakṛti (a living entity) attempts to imitate the activities of the puruṣa. Due to a poor fund of knowledge, living entities conditioned in this material world claim to be God. They are thus illusioned. A living entity cannot be on the level of a viṣṇu-tattva, or the Personality of Godhead, at any stage; therefore it is ludicrous for a living entity to claim to be God. Advanced spiritualists would never accept such a thing. Such claims are made to cheat ordinary, foolish people. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement declares war against such bogus incarnations. The bogus propaganda put out by people claiming to be God has killed God consciousness all over the world. Members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must be very alert to defy these rascals who are presently misleading the whole world. One such rascal, known as Pauṇḍraka, appeared before Lord Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord immediately killed him. Of course, those who are Kṛṣṇa's servants cannot kill such imitation gods, but they should try their best to defeat them through the evidence of śāstra, authentic knowledge received through the disciplic succession.
TEXT 10
sei vibhinnāṁśa jīva--dui ta' prakāra
eka--'nitya-mukta', eka--'nitya-saṁsāra'
SYNONYMS
sei vibhinna-aṁśa—that separated part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa; jīva—the living entity; dui ta' prakāra—two categories; eka—one; nitya-mukta—eternally liberated; eka—one; nitya-saṁsāra—perpetually conditioned.
TRANSLATION
"The living entities [jīvas] are divided into two categories. Some are eternally liberated, and others are eternally conditioned.
TEXT 11
'nitya-mukta'--nitya kṛṣṇa-caraṇe unmukha
'kṛṣṇa-pāriṣada' nāma, bhu�je sevā-sukha
SYNONYMS
nitya-mukta—eternally liberated; nitya—always; kṛṣṇa-caraṇe—the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; unmukha—turned toward; kṛṣṇa-pāriṣada—associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāma—known as; bhu�je—enjoy; sevā-sukha—the happiness of service.
TRANSLATION
"Those who are eternally liberated are always awake to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they render transcendental loving service at the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They are to be considered eternal associates of Kṛṣṇa, and they are eternally enjoying the transcendental bliss of serving Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 12
'nitya-bandha'--kṛṣṇa haite nitya-bahirmukha
'nitya-saṁsāra', bhu�je narakādi duḥkha
SYNONYMS
nitya-bandha—perpetually conditioned; kṛṣṇa haite—from Kṛṣṇa; nitya—eternally; bahiḥ-mukha—averse; nitya-saṁsāra—perpetually conditioned in the material world; bhu�je—enjoy; naraka-ādi duḥkha—the tribulations of hellish conditions of life.
TRANSLATION
"Apart from the ever-liberated devotees, there are the conditioned souls who always turn away from the service of the Lord. They are perpetually conditioned in this material world and are subjected to the material tribulations brought about by different bodily forms in hellish conditions.
TEXT 13
sei doṣe māyā-piśācī daṇḍa kare tāre
ādhyātmikādi tāpa-traya tāre jāri, māre
SYNONYMS
sei doṣe—because of this fault; māyā-piśācī—the witch known as the external energy; daṇḍa kare—gives punishment; tāre—unto him; ādhyātmika-ādi—beginning with those pertaining to the body and mind; tāpa-traya—the threefold miseries; tāre—him; jāri'-burning; māre—gives pain.
TRANSLATION
"Due to his being opposed to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the conditioned soul is punished by the witch of the external energy, māyā. He is thus ready to suffer the threefold miseries-miseries brought about by the body and mind, the inimical behavior of other living entities and natural disturbances caused by the demigods.
TEXTS 14-15
kāma-krodhera dāsa ha�ā tāra lāthi khāya
bhramite bhramite yadi sādhu-vaidya pāya
tāṅra upadeśa-mantre piśācī palāya
kṛṣṇa-bhakti pāya, tabe kṛṣṇa-nikaṭa yāya
SYNONYMS
kāma—of lusty desires; krodhera—and of anger; dāsa—the servant; ha�ā—becoming; tāra—by them; lāthi khāya—is kicked; bhramite bhramite—wandering and wandering; yadi—if; sādhu—a devotee; vaidya—physician; pāya—he gets; tāṅra—his; upadeśa-mantre—by instruction and hymns; piśācī—the witch (the external energy); palāya—flees; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; pāya—obtains; tabe—in this way; kṛṣṇa-nikaṭa yāya—he goes to Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"In this way the conditioned soul becomes the servant of lusty desires, and when these are not fulfilled, he becomes a servant of anger and continues to be kicked by the external energy, māyā. Wandering and wandering throughout the universe, he may by chance get the association of a devotee physician, whose instructions and hymns make the witch of external energy flee. The conditioned soul thus gets into touch with the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and in this way he can approach nearer and nearer to the Lord.
PURPORT
An explanation of verses 8 through 15 is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. The Lord is spread throughout the creation in His quadruple expansions and incarnations. Kṛṣṇa is fully represented with all potencies in each and every personal extension, but the living entities, although separated expansions, are also considered one of the Lord's energies. The living entities are divided into two categories-the eternally liberated and eternally conditioned. Those who are ever-liberated never come in contact with māyā, the external energy. The ever-conditioned are always under the clutches of the external energy. This is described in Bhagavad-gītā:
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome." (Bg. 7.14)
The nitya-baddhas are always conditioned by the external energy, and the nitya-muktas never come in contact with the external energy. Sometimes an ever-liberated personal associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into this universe just as the Lord descends. Although working for the liberation of conditioned souls, the messenger of the Supreme Lord remains untouched by the material energy. Generally ever-liberated personalities live in the spiritual world as associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and they are known as kṛṣṇa-pāriṣada, associates of the Lord. Their only business is enjoying Lord Kṛṣṇa's company, and even though such eternally liberated persons come within this material world to serve the Lord's purpose, they enjoy Lord Kṛṣṇa's company without stoppage. The ever-liberated person who works on Kṛṣṇa's behalf enjoys Lord Kṛṣṇa's company through his engagement. The ever-conditioned soul, provoked by lusty desires to enjoy the material world, is subjected to transmigrate from one body to another. Sometimes he is elevated to higher planetary systems, and sometimes he is degraded to hellish planets and subjected to the tribulations of the external energy.
Due to being conditioned by the external energy, the conditioned soul within this material world gets two kinds of bodies-a gross material body and a subtle body composed of mind, intelligence and ego. Due to the gross and subtle bodies, he is subjected to the threefold miseries (ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika and ādhidaivika), miseries arising from the body and mind, other living entities, and natural disturbances caused by demigods from higher planetary systems. The conditioned soul subjected to the threefold material miseries is ceaselessly kicked by māyā, and this is his disease. If by chance he meets a saintly person who works on Kṛṣṇa's behalf to deliver conditioned souls, and if he agrees to abide by his order, he can gradually approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 16
kāmādīnāṁ kati na katidhā pālitā durnideśās
teṣāṁ jātā mayi na karuṇā na trapā nopaśāntiḥ
utsṛjyaitān atha yadu-pate sāmprataṁ labdha-buddhis
tvām āyātaḥ śaraṇam abhayaṁ māṁ niyuṅkṣvātma-dāsye
SYNONYMS
kāma-ādīnām—of my masters such as lust, anger, greed, illusion and envy; kati—how many; na—not; katidhā—in how many ways; pālitāḥ—obeyed; durnideśāḥ—undesirable orders; teṣām—of them; jātā—generated; mayi—unto me; na—not; karuṇā—mercy; na—not; trapā—shame; na—not; upaśāntiḥ—desire to cease; utsṛjya—giving up; etān—all these; atha—herewith; yadu-pate—O best of the Yadu dynasty; sāmpratam—now; labdha-buddhiḥ—having awakened intelligence; tvām—You; āyātaḥ—approached; śaraṇam—who are the shelter; abhayam—fearless; mām—me; niyuṅkṣva—please engage; ātma-dāsye—in Your personal service.
TRANSLATION
" 'O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered them so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.'
PURPORT
This verse is also quoted in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (3.2.35). When we chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra we are saying, "Hare! O energy of the Lord! O my Lord Kṛṣṇa!" In this way we are simply addressing the Lord and His spiritual potency represented as Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, or Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. The devotee always prays to the Lord and His internal energy (consort) so that he may engage in Their transcendental loving service. When the conditioned soul attains his real spiritual energy and fully surrenders unto the Lord's lotus feet, he tries to engage in the Lord's service. This is the real constitutional position of the living entity.
TEXT 17
kṛṣṇa-bhakti haya abhidheya-pradhāna
bhakti-mukha-nirīkṣaka karma-yoga-j�āna
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; haya—is; abhidheya-pradhāna—the chief function of the living entity; bhakti-mukha—of the face of devotional service; nirīkṣaka—observers; karma-yoga-j�āna—fruitive activities, mystic yoga and speculative knowledge.
TRANSLATION
"Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul-karma, j�āna, yoga and bhakti-but all are dependent on bhakti.
TEXT 18
ei saba sādhanera ati tuccha bala
kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinā tāhā dite nāre phala
SYNONYMS
ei saba—all these; sādhanera—of methods of spiritual activities; ati—very; tuccha—insignificant; bala—strength; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; vinā—without; tāhā—all these; dite—to deliver; nāre—are not able; phala—the desired result.
TRANSLATION
"But for devotional service, all other methods for spiritual self-realization are weak and insignificant. Unless one comes to the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, j�āna and yoga cannot give the desired results.
PURPORT
In Vedic scriptures, stress is sometimes given to fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system. Although people are inclined to practice these processes, they cannot attain the desired results without being touched by kṛṣṇa-bhakti, devotional service. In other words, the real desired result is to invoke dormant love for Kṛṣṇa. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6) states:
sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati
Karma, j�āna and yoga cannot actually awaken love of Godhead. One has to take to the Lord's devotional service, and the more one is inclined to devotional service, the more he loses interest in other so-called achievements. Dhruva Mahārāja went to practice mystic yoga to see the Lord personally face to face, but when he developed an interest in devotional service, he saw that he was not being benefited by karma, j�āna and yoga.
TEXT 19
naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ
na śobhate j�ānam alaṁ nira�janam
kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare
na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam
SYNONYMS
naiṣkarmyam—which does not produce enjoyment of the resultant action; api—although; acyuta-bhāva—of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; varjitam—devoid; na—not; śobhate—looks beautiful; j�ānam—speculative knowledge; alam—exceedingly; nira�janam—which is without material contamination; kutaḥ—how much less; punaḥ—again; śaśvat—always (at the time of practicing and at the time of achieving the goal); abhadram—inauspicious; īśvare—to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; na—not; ca—also; arpitam—dedicated; karma—activities; yat—which; api—although; akāraṇam—causeless.
TRANSLATION
" 'When pure knowledge is beyond all material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme PersonaIity of Godhead [Kṛṣṇa], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities-which are naturally painful from the beginning and transient by nature-if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord? How can they be very attractive?'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.12). Even after writing many Vedic literatures, Vyāsadeva felt very morose. Therefore his spiritual master, Nāradadeva, told him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Up to that time, Śrīla Vyāsadeva had written the karma-kāṇḍa and j�āna-kāṇḍa sections of the Vedas, but he had not written about upāsanā-kāṇḍa, or bhakti. Thus his spiritual master, Nārada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Vyāsadeva began writing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
TEXT 20
tapasvino dāna-parā yaśasvino
manasvino mantra-vidaḥ sumaṅgalāḥ
kṣemaṁ na vindanti vinā yad-arpaṇaṁ
tasmai subhadra-śravase namo namaḥ
SYNONYMS
tapasvinaḥ—those engaged in severe austerities and penances; dāna-parāḥ—those engaged in giving his possessions as charity; yaśasvinaḥ—those famous in society; manasvinaḥ—experts in mental speculation or meditation; mantra-vidaḥ—experts in reciting the Vedic hymns; su-maṅgalāḥ—very auspicious; kṣemam—real, eternal auspiciousness; na—never; vindanti—obtain; vinā—without; yat-arpaṇam—dedicating unto whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); tasmai—unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead; su-bhadra śravase—whose glory is very auspicious; namaḥ namaḥ—I offer my repeated respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
" 'Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity, those who are engaged in meditation and mental speculation, and even those who are very expert in reciting the Vedic mantras, are not able to obtain any auspicious results, although they are engaged in auspicious activities, if they do not dedicate their activities to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I therefore repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose glories are always auspicious.'
PURPORT
This is also a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.17).
TEXT 21
kevala j�āna'mukti' dite nāre bhakti vine
kṛṣṇonmukhe sei mukti haya vinā j�āne
SYNONYMS
kevala—only; j�āna—speculative knowledge; mukti—liberation; dite—to deliver; nāre—is not able; bhakti vine—without devotional service; kṛṣṇa-unmukhe—if one is attached to the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sei mukti—that liberation; haya—appears; vinā—without; j�āne—knowledge.
TRANSLATION
"Speculative knowledge alone, without devotional service, is not able to give liberation. On the other hand, even without knowledge one can obtain liberation if one engages in the Lord's devotional service.
PURPORT
One cannot attain liberation simply by speculative knowledge. Even though one may be able to distinguish between Brahman and matter, one's liberation will be hampered if one is misled into thinking that the living entity is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, one falls down again onto the material platform because considering oneself the Supreme Person, the Supreme Absolute Truth, is offensive. When such a person comes in contact with a pure devotee, he can actually become liberated from material bondage and engage in the Lord's service. A prayer by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura is relevant here:
bhaktis tvayi sthiratarā bhagavan yadi syād
daivena naḥ phalati divya-kiśora-mūrtiḥ
muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitā�jali sevate 'smān
dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ
"O my Lord, if one engages in Your pure devotional service with determination, You become visible in Your original transcendental youthful form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As far as liberation is concerned, she stands before the devotee with folded hands waiting to render service. Religion, economic development and sense gratification are all automatically attained without separate endeavor."
TEXT 22
śreyaḥ-sṛtiṁ bhaktim udasya te vibho
kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye
teṣām asau kleśala eva śiṣyate
nānyad yathā sthūla-tuṣāvaghātinām
SYNONYMS
śreyaḥ-sṛtim—the auspicious path of liberation; bhaktim—devotional service; udasya—giving up; te—of You; vibho—O my Lord; kliśyanti—accept increased difficulties; ye—all those persons who; kevala—only; bodha-labdhaye—for obtaining knowledge; teṣām—for them; asau—that; kleśalaḥ—trouble; eva—only; śiṣyate—remains; na—not; anyat—anything else; yathā—as much as; sthūla—bulky; tuṣa—husks of rice; avaghātinām—of those beating.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His endeavors are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. One's labor becomes fruitless.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.4).
TEXT 23
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etaṁ taranti te
SYNONYMS
daivī—belonging to the Supreme Lord; hi—certainly; eṣā—this; guṇa-mayī—made of the three modes; mama—My; māyā—external energy; duratyayā—very difficult to surpass; mām—unto Me; eva—certainly; ye—those who; prapadyante—surrender fully; māyām—illusory energy; etām—this; taranti—cross over; te—they.
TRANSLATION
" 'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gītā (7.14).
TEXT 24
'kṛṣṇa-nitya-dāsa'--jīva tāhā bhuli' gela
ei doṣe māyā tāra galāya bāndhila
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-nitya-dāsa—eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa; jīva—the living entity; tāhā—that; bhuli'-forgetting; gela—went; ei doṣe—for this fault; māyā—the material energy; tāra—his; galāya—on the neck; bāndhila—has bound.
TRANSLATION
"The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of māyā because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 25
tāte kṛṣṇa bhaje, kare gurura sevana
māyā-jāla chuṭe, pāya kṛṣṇera caraṇa
SYNONYMS
tāte—therefore; kṛṣṇa bhaje—if one worships Lord Kṛṣṇa; kare—performs; gurura sevana—service to his spiritual master; māyā-jāla chuṭe—gets free from the binding net of māyā; pāya—gets; kṛṣṇera caraṇa—shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of māyā and become eligible for shelter at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.
PURPORT
It is a fact that every living entity is eternally a servant of Kṛṣṇa. This is forgotten due to the influence of māyā, which induces one to believe in material happiness. Being illusioned by māyā, one thinks that material happiness is the only desirable object. This material consciousness is like a chain around the neck of the conditioned soul. As long as he is bound to that conception, he cannot get out of māyā's clutches. However, if by Kṛṣṇa's mercy he gets in touch with a bona fide spiritual master, abides by his order and serves him, engaging other conditioned souls in the Lord's service, he then attains liberation and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa's shelter.
TEXT 26
cāri varṇāśramī yadi kṛṣṇa nāhi bhaje
svakarma karite se raurave paḍi' maje
SYNONYMS
cāri varṇa-āśramī—followers of the four social and spiritual orders of life; yadi—if; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāhi—not; bhaje—serve; sva-karma karite—performing his duty in life; se—that person; raurave—in a hellish condition; paḍi'-falling down; maje—becomes immersed.
TRANSLATION
"The followers of the varṇāśrama institution accept the regulative principles of the four social orders [brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra] and four spiritual orders [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa]. However, if one carries out the regulative principles of these orders but does not render transcendental service to Kṛṣṇa, he falls into the hellish condition of material life.
PURPORT
One may be a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, or one may perfectly follow the spiritual principles of brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa, but ultimately one falls down into a hellish condition unless one becomes a devotee. Without developing one's dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one cannot be factually elevated. The regulative principles of varṇāśrama-dharma in themselves are insufficient for attainment of the highest perfection. That is confirmed in the following two quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).
TEXT 27
mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ
puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha
catvāro jaj�ire varṇā
guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak
SYNONYMS
mukha—the mouth; bāhu—the arms; ūru—the waist; pādebhyaḥ—from the legs; puruṣasya—of the Supreme Person; āśramaiḥ—the different spiritual orders; saha—with; catvāraḥ—the four; jaj�ire—appeared; varṇāḥ—social orders; guṇaiḥ—with particular qualifications; vipra-ādayaḥ—brāhmaṇas and so on; pṛthak—separately.
TRANSLATION
" 'From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.
TEXT 28
ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād-
ātma-prabhavam īśvaram
na bhajanty avajānanti
sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ
SYNONYMS
ye—anyone who; eṣām—of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; puruṣam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt—directly; ātma-prabhavam—the source of everyone; īśvaram—the supreme controller; na—not; bhajanti—worship; avajānanti—or who neglect; sthānāt—from their proper place; bhraṣṭāḥ—being fallen; patanti—fall; adhaḥ—downward into hellish conditions.
TRANSLATION
" 'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a heIlish condition.'
TEXT 29
j�ānī jīvan-mukta-daśā pāinu kari, māne
vastutaḥ buddhi 'śuddha' nahe kṛṣṇa-bhakti vine
SYNONYMS
j�ānī—the speculative philosophers; jīvan-mukta-daśā—the stage of liberation even while in this body; pāinu—I have gotten; kari'-taking; māne—considers; vastutaḥ—factually; buddhi—intelligence; śuddha—purified; nahe—not; kṛṣṇa-bhakti vine—without devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"There are many philosophical speculators [j�ānīs] belonging to the Māyāvāda school who consider themselves liberated and call themselves Nārāyaṇa. However, their intelligence is not purified unless they engage in Kṛṣṇa's devotional service.
TEXT 30
ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas
tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ
āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ
patanty adho 'nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ
SYNONYMS
ye—all those who; anye—others (nondevotees); aravinda-akṣa—O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-māninaḥ—who consider themselves liberated; tvayi—unto You; asta-bhāvāt—without devotion; aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ—whose intelligence is not purified; āruhya—having ascended; kṛcchreṇa—by severe austerities and penances; param padam—to the supreme position; tataḥ—from there; patanti—fall; adhaḥ—down; anādṛta—without respecting; yuṣmat—Your; aṅghrayaḥ—lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
" 'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'
PURPORT
This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32).
TEXT 31
kṛṣṇa--sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sūrya-sama—like the sun planet; māyā—the illusory energy; haya—is; andhakāra—darkness; yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa—wherever there is Kṛṣṇa; tāhāṅ—there; nāhi—not; māyāra—of māyā, or the darkness of illusion; adhikāra—the jurisdiction.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.
PURPORT
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.34) it is stated:
ṛte 'rthaṁ yat pratīyeta
na pratīyeta cātmani
tad vidyād ātmano māyāṁ
yathābhāso yathā tamaḥ
Wherever there is light, there cannot be darkness. When a living entity becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is immediately relieved of all material lusty desires. Lusty desires and greed are associated with rajas and tamas, darkness and passion. When one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, the modes of darkness and passion immediately vanish, and the remaining mode, sattva-guṇa (goodness), remains. When one is situated in the mode of goodness, he can make spiritual advancement and understand things clearly. This position is not possible for everyone. When a person is Kṛṣṇa conscious, he continuously hears about Kṛṣṇa, thinks about Him, worships Him and serves Him as a devotee. If he remains in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this way, the darkness of māyā certainly will not be able to touch him.
TEXT 32
vilajjamānayā yasya
sthātum īkṣā-pathe 'muyā
vimohitā vikatthante
mamāham iti durdhiyaḥ
SYNONYMS
vilajjamānaya—being ashamed; yasya—of whom; sthātum—to remain; īkṣā-pathe—in the line of sight; amuyā—by that (māyā); vimohitāḥ—bewildered; vikatthante—boast; mama—my; aham—I; iti—thus; durdhiyaḥ—having poor intelligence.
TRANSLATION
" 'The external illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa, known as māyā, is always ashamed to stand in front of Kṛṣṇa, just as darkness is ashamed to remain before the sunshine. However, that māyā bewilders unfortunate people who have no intelligence. Thus they simply boast that this material world is theirs and that they are its enjoyers.'
PURPORT
The entire world is bewildered because people are thinking, "This is my land," "America is mine," "India is mine." Not knowing the real value of life, people think that the material body and the land where it is produced are all in all. This is the basic principle behind nationalism, socialism and communism. Such thinking, which simply bewilders the living being, is nothing but rascalism. It is due to the darkness of māyā, but as soon as one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is immediately relieved from such misconceptions. This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.5.13). There is also another appropriate verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.47):
śaśvat praśāntam abhayaṁ pratibodha-mātraṁ
śuddhaṁ samaṁ sad-asataḥ paramātma-tattvam
śabdo na yatra puru-kārakavān kriyārtho
māyā paraity abhimukhe ca vilajjamānā
tad vai padaṁ bhagavataḥ paramasya puṁso
brahmeti yad vidur ajasra-sukhaṁ viśokam
"What is realized as the Absolute Brahman is full of unlimited bliss without grief. That is certainly the ultimate phase of the supreme enjoyer, the Personality of Godhead. He is eternally void of all disturbances, fearless, completely conscious as opposed to matter, uncontaminated and without distinctions. He is the principal, primeval cause of all causes and effects, in whom there is no sacrifice for fruitive activities and in whom the illusory energy does not stand."
This verse was spoken by Lord Brahmā when he was questioned by the great sage Nārada. Nārada was surprised to see the creator of the universe meditating, for he was doubting whether there was someone greater than Lord Brahmā. While answering the great sage Nārada, Lord Brahmā described the position of māyā and the bewildered living entities. This verse was spoken in that connection.
TEXT 33
'kṛṣṇa, tomāra haṅa' yadi bale eka-bāra
māyā-bandha haite kṛṣṇa tāre kare pāra
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa—O my Lord Kṛṣṇa; tomāra haṅa—I am Yours; yadi—if; bale—someone says; eka-bāra—once; māyā-bandha haite—from the bondage of conditional life; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāre—him; kare pāra—releases.
TRANSLATION
"One is immediateIy freed from the clutches of māyā if he seriously and sincerely says, 'My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.'
TEXT 34
sakṛd eva prapanno yas
tavāsmīti ca yācate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai
dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama
SYNONYMS
sakṛt—once only; eva—certainly; prapannaḥ—surrendered; yaḥ—anyone who; tava—Yours; asmi—I am; iti—thus; ca—also; yācate—prays; abhayam—fearlessness; sarvadā—always; tasmai—unto him; dadāmi—I give; etat—this; vratam—vow; mama—My.
TRANSLATION
" 'It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying, "My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours," and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Rāmāyaṇa.
TEXT 35
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī 'subuddhi' yadi haya
gāḍha-bhakti-yoge tabe kṛṣṇere bhajaya
SYNONYMS
bhukti—of material enjoyment; mukti—of impersonal liberation; siddhi—of achieving mystic power; kāmī—desirous; su-buddhi—actually intelligent; yadi—if; haya—he is; gāḍha—deep; bhakti-yoge—by devotional service; tabe—then; kṛṣṇere bhajaya—worships Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 36
akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param
SYNONYMS
akāmaḥ—a pure devotee with no desire for material enjoyment; sarva-kāmaḥ—one who has no end to his desires for material enjoyment; vā—or; mokṣa-kāmaḥ—one who desires to merge into the existence of Brahman; udāra-dhīḥ—being very intelligent; tīvreṇa—firm; bhakti-yogena—by devotional service; yajeta—should worship; puruṣam—the person; param—supreme.
TRANSLATION
" 'Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental Ioving service.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.10).
TEXT 37
anya-kāmī yadi kare kṛṣṇera bhajana
nā māgiteha kṛṣṇa tāre dena sva-caraṇa
SYNONYMS
anya-kāmī—one who desires many other things; yadi—if; kare—he performs; kṛṣṇera bhajana—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; nā māgiteha—although not asking; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāre—to him; dena—gives; sva-caraṇa—the shelter of His lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
"If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service, they will immediately attain shelter at Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Kṛṣṇa is therefore very merciful.
TEXT 38
kṛṣṇa kahe,--'āmā bhaje, māge viṣaya-sukha
amṛta chāḍi' viṣa māge,--ei baḍa mūrkha
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa kahe—Kṛṣṇa says; āmā bhaje—he worships Me; māge—but requests; viṣaya-sukha—material happiness; amṛta chāḍi'-giving up the nectar; viṣa māge—he begs for poison; ei baḍa mūrkha—he is a great fool.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa says, 'If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very foolish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.
TEXT 39
āmi--vij�a, ei mūrkhe 'viṣaya' kene diba?
sva-caraṇāmṛta diyā 'viṣaya' bhulāiba
SYNONYMS
āmi—I; vij�a—all-intelligent; ei mūrkhe—unto this foolish person; viṣaya—material enjoyment; kene diba—why should I give; sva-caraṇa-amṛta—the nectar of shelter at My lotus feet; diyā—giving; viṣaya—the idea of material enjoyment; bhulāiba—I shall make him forget.
TRANSLATION
" 'Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.'
PURPORT
Those who are interested in material enjoyment are known as bhukti. One who is interested in merging into the effulgence of Brahman or perfecting the mystic yoga system is not a devotee at all. Devotees do not have such desires. However, if a karmī, j�ānī or yogī somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Kṛṣṇa immediately awards him love of God and gives him shelter at His lotus feet, although he may have no idea how to develop love of Kṛṣṇa. If a person wants material profit from devotional service, Kṛṣṇa condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Kṛṣṇa, being all-intelligent, engages him in His devotional service in such a way that he gradually forgets material opulence. The point is that we should not try to exchange loving service for material prosperity. If we are actually surrendered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, our only desire should be to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Surrender does not mean that we demand something from the Lord but that we completely depend on His mercy.
TEXT 40
satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ
naivārthado yat punar arthitā yataḥ
svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām
icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam
SYNONYMS
satyam—it is true; diśati—He awards; arthitam—that which is desired; arthitaḥ—being requested; nṛṇām—by human beings; na—not; eva—certainly; artha-daḥ—giving desired things; yat—which; punaḥ—again; arthitā—request; yataḥ—from which; svayam—Himself; vidhatte—He gives; bhajatām—of those engaged in devotional service; anicchatām—even though not desiring; icchā-pidhānam—covering all other desires; nija-pāda-pallavam—the shelter of His own lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
" 'Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one's desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause someone to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord's service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.19.27).
TEXT 41
kāma lāgi' kṛṣṇe bhaje, pāya kṛṣṇa-rase
kāma chāḍi' 'dāsa' haite haya abhilāṣe
SYNONYMS
kāma lāgi'—for fulfillment of one's material desires; kṛṣṇe bhaje—one engages in the transcendental service of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pāya—he gets; kṛṣṇa-rase—a taste of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kāma chāḍi'-giving up all desires for material enjoyment; dāsa haite—to be an eternal servant of the Lord; haya—there is; abhilāṣe—aspiration.
TRANSLATION
"When someone engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa's devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste to serve Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 42
sthānābhilāṣī tapasi sthito 'haṁ
tvāṁ prāptavān deva-munīndra-guhyam
kācaṁ vicinvann api divya-ratnaṁ
svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce
SYNONYMS
sthāna-abhilāṣī—desiring a very high position in the material world; tapasi—in severe austerities and penances; sthitaḥ—situated; aham—I; tvām—You; prāptavān—have obtained; deva-muni-indra-guhyam—difficult to achieve even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings; kācam—a piece of glass; vicinvan—searching for; api—although; divya-ratnam—a transcendental gem; svāmin—O my Lord; kṛta-arthaḥ asmi—I am fully satisfied; varam—any benediction; na yāce—I do not ask.
TRANSLATION
[When he was being benedicted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said] " 'O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.'
PURPORT
This verse is from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (7.28).
TEXT 43
saṁsāra bhramite kona bhāgye keha tare
nadīra pravāhe yena kāṣṭha lāge tīre
SYNONYMS
saṁsāra bhramite—wandering throughout the universe; kona bhāgye—by some good fortune; keha tare—someone crosses the ocean of nescience; nadīra pravāhe—in the flow of the river; yena—just as; kāṣṭha—wood; lāge—sticks; tīre—on the bank.
TRANSLATION
"There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Kṛṣṇa's service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by waves, time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are deIivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log, floating down a river, accidentally washes upon the bank.
TEXT 44
maivaṁ mamādhamasyāpi
syād evācyuta-darśanam
hriyamāṇaḥ kāla-nadyā
kvacit tarati kaścana
SYNONYMS
mā—not; evam—thus; mama—of me; adhamasya—who is the most fallen; api—although; syāt—there may be; eva—certainly; acyuta-darśanam—seeing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hriyamāṇaḥ—being carried; kāla-nadyā—by the stream of time; kvacit—sometimes; tarati—crosses over; kaścana—someone.
TRANSLATION
"Because I am so fallen, I shall never get a chance to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead." This was my false apprehension. Rather, by chance a person as fallen as I am may get to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although one is being carried away by the waves of the river of time, one may eventually reach the shore.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.38.5).
TEXT 45
kona bhāgye kāro saṁsāra kṣayonmukha haya
sādhu-saṅge tabe kṛṣṇe rati upajaya
SYNONYMS
kona bhāgye—by fortune; kāro—of someone; saṁsāra—conditioned life; kṣaya-unmukha—on the point of destruction; haya—is; sādhu-saṅge—by association with devotees; tabe—then; kṛṣṇe—to Lord Kṛṣṇa; rati—attraction; upa-jaya—awakens.
TRANSLATION
"By good fortune, one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one's term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one's attraction to Kṛṣṇa is awakened.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains this point. Is this bhāgya (fortune) the result of an accident or something else? In the scriptures, devotional service and pious activity are considered fortunate. Pious activities can be divided into three categories-pious activities that awaken one's dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhī sukṛti. Pious activities that bestow material opulence are called bhogonmukhī, and pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme are called mokṣonmukhī. These last two awards of pious activity are not actually fortunate. Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Kṛṣṇa conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-unmukhī is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one's dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness is awakened.
TEXT 46
bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ
sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
parāvareśe tvayi jāyate ratiḥ
SYNONYMS
bhava-apavargaḥ—liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramataḥ—wandering; yadā—when; bhavet—should be; janasya—of a person; tarhi—at that time; acyuta—O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samāgamaḥ—association with devotees; sat-saṅgamaḥ—association with devotees; yarhi—when; tadā—at that time; eva—only; sat-gatau—the highest goal of life; parāvareśe—the Lord of the universe; tvayi—to You; jāyate—appears; ratiḥ—attraction.
TRANSLATION
" 'O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the supreme devotees and the Lord of the universe.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).
TEXT 47
kṛṣṇa yadi kṛpā kare kona bhāgyavāne
guru-antaryāmi-rūpe śikhāya āpane
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; yadi—if; kṛpā kare—shows His mercy; kona bhāgyavāne—to some fortunate person; guru—of the spiritual master; antaryāmi—of the Supersoul; rūpe—in the form; śikhāya—teaches; āpane—personally.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone's heart as caitya-guru, the spiritual master within. When He is kind to some fortunate conditioned soul, He personally gives one lessons to progress in devotional service, instructing the person as the Supersoul within and the spiritual master without.
TEXT 48
naivopayanty apacitiṁ kavayas taveśa
brahmāyuṣāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ
yo 'ntar bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvann
ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti
SYNONYMS
na eva—not at all; upayanti—are able to express; apacitim—their gratitude; kavayaḥ—learned devotees; tava—Your; īśa—O Lord; brahma-āyuṣā—with a lifetime equal to Lord Brahmā's; api—in spite of; kṛtam—magnanimous work; ṛddha—increased; mudaḥ—joy; smarantaḥ—remembering; yaḥ—who; antaḥ—within; bahiḥ—outside; tanu-bhṛtām—of those who are embodied; aśubham—misfortune; vidhunvan—dissipating; ācārya—of the spiritual master; caittya—of the Supersoul; vapuṣā—by the forms; sva—own; gatim—path; vyanakti—shows.
TRANSLATION
" 'O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features-externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul-to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.6). It was spoken by Uddhava after he had been instructed in yoga by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 49
sādhu-saṅge kṛṣṇa-bhaktye śraddhā yadi haya
bhakti-phala 'prema' haya, saṁsāra yāya kṣaya
SYNONYMS
sādhu-saṅge—by the association of devotees; kṛṣṇa-bhaktye—in discharging devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; śraddhā—faith; yadi—if; haya—there is; bhakti-phala—the result of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; prema—love of Godhead; haya—awakens; saṁsāra—the conditioned life in material existence; yāya kṣaya—becomes vanquished.
TRANSLATION
"By associating with a devotee, one awakens his faith in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Because of devotional service, one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, and thus one's material, conditional existence comes to an end.
TEXT 50
yadṛcchayā mat-kathādau
jāta-śraddhas tu yaḥ pumān
na nirviṇṇo nātisakto
bhakti-yogo 'sya siddhidaḥ
SYNONYMS
yadṛcchayā—by some good fortune; mat-kathā-ādau—in talk about Me; jāta-śraddhaḥ—has awakened his attraction; tu—but; yaḥ pumān—a person who; na nirviṇṇaḥ—not falsely detached; na atisaktaḥ—not attached to material existence; bhakti-yogaḥ—the process of devotional service; asya—for such a person; siddhi-daḥ—bestowing perfection.
TRANSLATION
" 'Somehow or other, if one is attracted to talks about Me and has faith in the instructions I have set forth in Bhagavad-gītā, and if one is actually detached from material things and material existence, his dormant love for Me will be awakened by devotional service.'
PURPORT
This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.8) was spoken by Kṛṣṇa at the time of His departure from this material world. It was spoken to Uddhava.
TEXT 51
mahat-kṛpā vinā kona karme 'bhakti' naya
kṛṣṇa-bhakti dūre rahu, saṁsāra nahe kṣaya
SYNONYMS
mahat-kṛpā—the mercy of great devotees; vinā—without; kona karme—by some other activity; bhakti naya—there is not devotional service; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—love of Kṛṣṇa or devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; dūre rahu—leaving aside; saṁsāra—the bondage of material existence; nahe—there is not; kṣaya—destruction.
TRANSLATION
"Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.
PURPORT
Pious activities bring about material opulence, but one cannot acquire devotional service by any amount of material pious activity, not by giving charity, opening big hospitals and schools or working philanthropically. Devotional service can be attained only by the mercy of a pure devotee. Without a pure devotee's mercy, one cannot even escape the bondage of material existence. The word mahat in this verse means "a pure devotee." As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā:
mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
j�ātvā bhūtādim avyayam
"O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible." (Bg. 9.13)
One also has to associate with such a mahātmā who has accepted Kṛṣṇa as the supreme source of the entire creation. Without being a mahātmā, one cannot understand Kṛṣṇa's absolute position. A mahātmā is rare and transcendental, and he is a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Foolish people consider Kṛṣṇa a human being, and they consider Lord Kṛṣṇa's pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, one must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahātmā and treat him as the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of such a mahātmā and ask for his causeless mercy. Only by his benediction can one be relieved from attachment to a materialistic way of life. When one is thus relieved, he can engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service through the mercy of the mahātmā.
TEXT 52
rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti
na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā
na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair
vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-'bhiṣekam
SYNONYMS
rahūgaṇa—O King Rahūgaṇa; etat—this; tapasā—by severe austerities and penances; na yāti—one does not obtain; na—neither; ca—also; ijyayā—by gorgeous worship; nirvapaṇāt—by renounced order of life; gṛhāt—by sacrifices while living in the home; vā—or; na chandasā—nor by scholarly study of the Vedas; na—nor; eva—certainly; jala-agni-sūryaiḥ—by those who worship water, fire or scorching sunshine; vinā—without; mahat-pāda-rajaḥ—of the dust of the lotus feet of a mahātmā; abhiṣekam—the sprinkling.
TRANSLATION
" 'O King Rahūgaṇa, without taking upon one's head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a mahājana or mahātmā], one cannot attain devotional service. Devotional service is not possible to attain simply by undergoing severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the rules and regulations of the sannyāsa or gṛhastha order, nor by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.12.12). Jaḍa Bharata herein tells King Rahūgaṇa how he attained the paramahaṁsa stage. Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa, the King of Sindhu-sauvīra, had asked Jaḍa Bharata how he had attained the paramahaṁsa stage. The King had called him to carry his palanquin, but when the King heard from paramahaṁsa Jaḍa Bharata about the supreme philosophy, he expressed surprise and asked Jaḍa Bharata how he had attained such great liberation. At that time Jaḍa Bharata informed the King how to become detached from material attraction.
TEXT 53
naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-'bhiṣekaṁ
niṣki�canānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat
SYNONYMS
na—not; eṣām—of those who are attached to household life; matiḥ—the interest; tāvat—that long; urukrama-aṅghrim—the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is credited with uncommon activities; spṛśati—touches; anartha—of unwanted things; apagamaḥ—vanquishing; yat—of which; arthaḥ—result; mahīyasām—of the great personalities, devotees; pāda-rajaḥ—of the dust of the lotus feet; abhiṣekam—sprinkling on the head; niṣki�canānām—who are completely detached from material possessions; na vṛṇīta—does not do; yāvat—as long as.
TRANSLATION
" 'Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās-devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions-mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted miserable conditions of material life.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32). When the great sage Nārada was giving instructions to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, he narrated the activities of Prahlāda Mahārāja. This verse was spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja to his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, the king of demons. Prahlāda Mahārāja informed his father of the nine basic processes of bhakti-yoga. Whoever takes to these processes is to be considered a highly learned scholar. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, did not like his son to talk about devotional service; therefore he immediately called his teacher, Ṣaṇḍāmarka. The teacher explained that he did not teach devotional service to Prahlāda but that the boy was naturally inclined that way. At that time Hiraṇyakaśipu became very angry and asked Prahlāda why he had become a Vaiṣṇava. In answer to this question, Prahlāda Mahārāja recited this verse to the effect that one cannot become the Lord's devotee without receiving the mercy and blessings of another devotee.
TEXT 54
'sādhu-saṅga', 'sādhu-saṅga'--sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
SYNONYMS
sādhu-saṅga sādhu-saṅga—association with pure devotees; sarva-śāstre—all the revealed scriptures; kaya—say; lava-mātra—even for a moment; sādhu-saṅge—by association with a devotee; sarva-siddhi—all success; haya—there is.
TRANSLATION
"The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment's association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.
PURPORT
According to astronomical calculations, lava is one eleventh of one second.
TEXT 55
tulayāma lavenāpi
na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya
martyānāṁ kimutāśiṣaḥ
SYNONYMS
tulayāma—we make equal; lavena—with one instant; api—even; na—not; svargam—heavenly planets; na—nor; apunaḥ-bhavam—merging into the existence of the Supreme; bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya—of the association of devotees who are always associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; martyānām—of persons destined to die; kim uta—what; āśiṣaḥ—the blessings.
TRANSLATION
" 'The value of a moment's association with a devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, headed by Śaunaka Ṛṣi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.
TEXT 56
kṛṣṇa kṛpālu arjunere lakṣya kariyā
jagatere rākhiyāchena upadeśa diyā
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛpālu—merciful; arjunere—Arjuna; lakṣya kariyā—aiming at; jagatere—the whole world; rākhiyāchena—has protected; upadeśa diyā—giving instructions.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that simply by aiming His instructions at Arjuna, He has given protection to the whole world.
TEXTS 57-58
sarva-guhyatamaṁ bhūyaḥ
śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ
iṣṭo 'si me dṛḍham iti
tato vakṣyāmi te hitam
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
SYNONYMS
sarva-guhya-tamam—most confidential of all; bhūyaḥ—again; śṛṇu—hear; me—My; paramam vacaḥ—supreme instruction; iṣṭaḥ—beloved; asi—you are; me—My; dṛḍham iti—very firmly; tataḥ—therefore; vakṣyāmi—I shall speak; te—to you; hitam—words of benediction; mat-manāḥ—whose mind is always on Me; bhava—become; mat-bhaktaḥ—My devotee; mat-yājī—My worshiper; mām—unto Me; namaskuru—offer obeisances; mām eva—to Me only; eṣyasi—you will come; satyam—truly; te—to you; pratijāne—I promise; priyaḥ asi—you are dear; me—My.
TRANSLATION
" 'Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit. Always think of Me and become My devotee, worship Me and offer obeisances unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gītā (18.64-65).
TEXT 59
pūrva āj�ā,--veda-dharma, karma, yoga, j�āna
saba sādhi' śeṣe ei āj�ā--balavān
SYNONYMS
pūrva āj�ā—previous orders; veda-dharma—performance of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; karma—fruitive activities; yoga—mystic yoga practice; j�āna—speculative knowledge; saba sādhi'-executing all these processes; śeṣe—at the end; ei āj�ā—this order; balavān—powerful.
TRANSLATION
"Although Kṛṣṇa has previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals, performing fruitive activity as enjoined in the Vedas, practicing yoga and cultivating j�āna, these last instructions are most powerful and stand above all the others.
TEXT 60
ei āj�ā-bale bhaktera 'śraddhā' yadi haya
sarva-karma tyāga kari' se kṛṣṇa bhajaya
SYNONYMS
ei āj�ā-bale—on the strength of this supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktera—of the devotees; śraddhā—faith; yadi—if; haya—there is; sarva-karma—all other activities, material and spiritual; tyāga kari'-leaving aside; se—he; kṛṣṇa bhajaya—serves Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"If the devotee has faith in the strength of this order, he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa and gives up all other activities.
TEXT 61
tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta
na nirvidyeta yāvatā
mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā
śraddhā yāvan na jāyate
SYNONYMS
tāvat—up to that time; karmāṇi—fruitive activities; kurvīta—one should execute; na nirvidyeta—is not satiated; yāvatā—as long as; mat-kathā—of discourses about Me; śravaṇa-ādau—in the matter of śravaṇam, kīrtanam, and so on; vā—or; śraddhā—faith; yāvat—as long as; na—not; jāyate—is awakened.
TRANSLATION
" 'As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoh, one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9).
TEXT 62
'śraddhā'-śabde--viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya
SYNONYMS
śraddhā-śabde—by the word śraddhā; viśvāsa—faith; kahe—is said; sudṛḍha—firm; niścaya—certain; kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhakti—devotional service; kaile—by executing; sarva-karma—all activities; kṛta—completed; haya—are.
TRANSLATION
"By rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called śraddhā.
PURPORT
Firm faith and confidence are called śraddhā. When one engages in the Lord's devotional service, he is to be understood to have performed all his responsibilities in the material world. He has satisfied his forefathers, ordinary living entities, and demigods and is free from all responsibility. Such a person does not need to meet his responsibilities separately. It is automatically done. Fruitive activity (karma) is meant to satisfy the senses of the conditioned soul. However, when one awakens to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not have to work separately for pious activity. The best achievement of all fruitive activity is detachment from material life, and this detachment is spontaneously enjoyed by the devotee firmly engaged in the Lord's service.
TEXT 63
yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena
tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ
tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā
SYNONYMS
yathā—as; taroḥ—of a tree; mūla—on the root; niṣecanena—by pouring water; tṛpyanti—are satisfied; tat—of the tree; skandha—trunk; bhuja—branches; upaśākhāḥ—sub-branches; prāṇa—to the living force; upahārāt—from offering food; ca—also; yathā—as; indriyāṇām—of all the senses; tathā—similarly; eva—indeed; sarva—of all; arhaṇam—worship; acyuta—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ijyā—worship.
TRANSLATION
" 'By pouring water on the root of a tree, one automatically satisfies the trunk, branches and twigs. Similarly, by supplying food to the stomach, where it nourishes the life air, one satisfies all the senses. In the same way, by worshiping Kṛṣṇa and rendering Him service, one automatically satisfies all the demigods.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.31.14).
TEXT 64
śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī
'uttama', 'madhyama', 'kaniṣṭha'--śraddhā-anusārī
SYNONYMS
śraddhāvān jana—a person with faith; haya—is; bhakti-adhikārī—eligible for discharging transcendental loving service to the Lord; uttama—first class; madhyama—intermediate; kaniṣṭha—the lowest class; śraddhā-anusārī—according to the proportion of faith.
TRANSLATION
"A faithful devotee is a truly eligible candidate for the loving service of the Lord. According to one's faith, one is classified as a topmost devotee, an intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee.
PURPORT
The word śraddhāvān (faithful) means understanding Kṛṣṇa to be the summum bonum, the eternal truth and absolute transcendence. If one has full faith in Kṛṣṇa and confidence in Him, one becomes eligible to discharge devotional service confidentially. According to one's faith, one is a topmost, intermediate or inferior devotee.
TEXT 65
śāstra-yuktye sunipuṇa, dṛḍha-śraddhā yāṅra
'uttama-adhikārī' sei tāraye saṁsāra
SYNONYMS
śāstra-yuktye—in argument and logic; su-nipuṇa—very expert; dṛḍha-śraddhā—firm faith and confidence in Kṛṣṇa; yāṅra—whose; uttama-adhikārī—the topmost devotee; sei—he; tāraye saṁsāra—can deliver the whole world.
TRANSLATION
"One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Kṛṣṇa is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world.
TEXT 66
śāstre yuktau ca nipuṇaḥ
sarvathā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
prauḍha-śraddho 'dhikārī yaḥ
sa bhaktāv uttamo mataḥ
SYNONYMS
śāstre—in the revealed scriptures; yuktau—in logic; ca—also; nipuṇaḥ—expert; sarvathā—in all respects; dṛḍha-niścayaḥ—who is firmly convinced; prauḍha—deep; śraddhaḥ—who has faith; adhikārī—eligible; yaḥ—who; saḥ—he; bhaktau—in devotional service; uttamaḥ—highest; mataḥ—is considered.
TRANSLATION
" 'One who is expert in logic and understanding of revealed scriptures, and who always has firm conviction and deep faith that is not blind, is to be considered a topmost devotee in devotional service.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.17) by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.
TEXT 67
śāstra-yukti nāhi jāne dṛḍha, śraddhāvān
'madhyama-adhikārī' sei mahā-bhāgyavān
SYNONYMS
śāstra-yukti—logical arguments on the basis of revealed scripture; nāhi—not; jāne—knows; dṛḍha—firmly; śraddhāvān—faithful; madhyama-adhikārī—second-class devotee; sei—he; mahā-bhāgyavān—very fortunate.
TRANSLATION
"One who is not very expert in argument and logic based on revealed scriptures but who has firm faith is considered a second-class devotee. He also must be considered most fortunate.
TEXT 68
yaḥ śāstrādiṣv anipuṇaḥ
śraddhāvān sa tu madhyamaḥ
SYNONYMS
yaḥ—anyone who; śāstra-ādiṣu—in the revealed scriptures; anipuṇaḥ—not very expert; śraddhāvān—full of faith; saḥ—he; tu—certainly; madhyamaḥ—second-class or middle-class devotee.
TRANSLATION
" 'He who does not know scriptural argument very well but who has firm faith is called an intermediate or second-class devotee.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.18).
TEXT 69
yāhāra komala śraddhā, se 'kaniṣṭha' jana
krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe 'uttama'
SYNONYMS
yāhāra—whose; komala śraddhā—soft faith; se—such a person; kaniṣṭha jana—a neophyte devotee; krame krame—by a gradual progression; teṅho—he; bhakta—devotee; ha-ibe—will become; uttama—first class.
TRANSLATION
"One whose faith is soft and pliable is called a neophyte, but by gradually following the process, he will rise to the platform of a first-class devotee.
TEXT 70
yo bhavet komala-śraddhaḥ
sa kaniṣṭho nigadyate
SYNONYMS
yaḥ—anyone who; bhavet—may be; komala—soft; śraddhaḥ—having faith; saḥ—such a person; kaniṣṭhaḥ—neophyte devotee; nigadyate—is said to be.
TRANSLATION
" 'One whose faith is not very strong, who is just beginning, should be considered a neophyte devotee.'
PURPORT
This verse also appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.19).
TEXT 71
rati-prema-tāratamye bhakta--tara-tama
ekādaśa skandhe tāra kariyāche lakṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
rati—of attachment; prema—and love; tāratamye—by comparison; bhakta—devotee; tara-tama—superior and superlative; ekādaśa skandhe—in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; tāra—of him; kariyāche—has made; lakṣaṇa—symptoms.
TRANSLATION
"A devotee is considered superlative and superior according to his attachment and love. In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the following symptoms have been ascertained.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has stated that if one has developed faith in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is to be considered an eligible candidate for further advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Those who have faith are divided into three categories-uttama, madhyama and kaniṣṭha (first-class, second-class and neophyte). A first-class devotee has firm conviction in the revealed scriptures and is expert in arguing according to the śāstras. He is firmly convinced of the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The madhyama-adhikārī, or second-class devotee, has firm conviction in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but he cannot support his conviction by citing śāstric references. The neophyte devotee does not yet have firm faith. In this way the devotees are typed.
The standard of devotion is also categorized in the same way. A neophyte believes that only love of Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very good, but he may not know the basis of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness or how one can become a perfect devotee. Sometimes in the heart of a neophyte there is attraction for karma, j�āna or yoga. When he is free and transcendental to mixed devotional activity, he becomes a second-class devotee. When he becomes expert in logic and can refer to the śāstras, he becomes a first-class devotee. The devotees are also described as positive, comparative and superlative, in terms of their love and attachment for Kṛṣṇa.
It should be understood that a madhyama-adhikārī, a second-class devotee, is fully convinced of Kṛṣṇa consciousness but cannot support his convictions with śāstric reference. A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with śāstric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the śāstras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down, even though he may mix with nondevotees to preach. Conviction and faith gradually increase to make one an uttama-adhikārī, a first-class devotee.
TEXT 72
sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyed
bhagavad-bhāvam ātmanaḥ
bhūtāni bhagavaty ātmany
eṣa bhāgavatottamaḥ
SYNONYMS
sarva-bhūteṣu—in all objects (in matter, spirit, and combinations of matter and spirit); yaḥ—anyone who; paśyet—sees; bhagavat-bhāvam—the ability to be engaged in the service of the Lord; ātmanaḥ—of the supreme spirit soul or the transcendence beyond the material conception of life; bhūtāni—all beings; bhagavati—in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātmani—the basic principle of all existence; eṣaḥ—this; bhāgavata-uttamaḥ—a person advanced in devotional service.
TRANSLATION
" 'A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.45).
TEXT 73
īśvare tad-adhīneṣu
bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā
yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ
SYNONYMS
īśvare—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-adhīneṣu—to persons who have taken fully to Kṛṣṇa consciousness; bāliśeṣu—unto the neophytes or the ignorant; dviṣatsu—to persons envious of Kṛṣṇa and the devotees of Kṛṣṇa; prema—love; maitrī—friendship; kṛpā—mercy; upekṣā—negligence; yaḥ—anyone who; karoti—does; saḥ—he; madhyamaḥ—a second-class devotee.
TRANSLATION
" 'An intermediate, second-class devotee shows love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is friendly to all devotees and is very merciful to neophytes and ignorant people. The intermediate devotee neglects those who are envious of devotional service.
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.46). This statement was made by the great sage Nārada while he was speaking to Vasudeva about devotional service. This subject was originally discussed between Nimi, the King of Videha, and the nine Yogendras.
TEXT 74
arcāyām eva haraye
pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate
na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu
sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
arcāyām—in the temple worship; eva—certainly; haraye—for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pūjām—worship; yaḥ—anyone who; śraddhayā—with faith and love; īhate—executes; na—not; tat-bhakteṣu—to the devotees of the Lord; ca anyeṣu—and to others; saḥ—he; bhaktaḥ—a devotee; prākṛtaḥ—materialistic; smṛtaḥ—is considered.
TRANSLATION
" 'A prākṛta, or materialistic devotee does not purposefully study the śāstra and try to understand the actual standard of pure devotional service. Consequently he does not show proper respect to advanced devotees. He may, however, follow the regulative principles learned from his spiritual master or from his family who worships the Deity. He is to be considered on the material platform, although he is trying to advance in devotional service. Such a person is a bhakta-prāya [neophyte devotee], or bhaktābhāsa, for he is a little enlightened by Vaiṣṇava philosophy.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47). Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that one who has full love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who maintains a good friendship with the Lord's devotees is always callous to those who envy Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's devotees. Such a person is to be considered an intermediate devotee. He becomes a first-class devotee when, in the course of advancing in devotional service, he feels an intimate relationship with all living entities, seeing them as part and parcel of the Supreme Person.
TEXT 75
sarva mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre
kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali sa�cāre
SYNONYMS
sarva—all; mahā—great; guṇa-gaṇa—transcendental qualities; vaiṣṇava-śarīre—in the bodies of Vaiṣṇavas; kṛṣṇa-bhakte—in the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guṇa—the qualities; sakali—all; sa�cāre—appear.
TRANSLATION
"A Vaiṣṇava is one who has developed all good transcendental qualities. All the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa gradually develop in Kṛṣṇa's devotee.
TEXT 76
yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty aki�canā
sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ
harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā
mano-rathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ
SYNONYMS
yasya—of whom; asti—there is; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; bhagavati—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aki�canā—without material desires; sarvaiḥ—all; guṇaiḥ—with good qualities; tatra—there; samāsate—live; surāḥ—the demigods; harau—unto the Lord; abhaktasya—of the nondevotee; kutaḥ—where; mahat-guṇāḥ—the high qualities; manaḥ-rathena—by mental concoction; asati—to temporary material happiness; dhāvataḥ—running; bahiḥ—externally.
TRANSLATION
" 'In one who has unflinching devotional faith in Kṛṣṇa, all the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa and the demigods are consistently manifest. However, he who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord.'
PURPORT
This was spoken by Bhadraśravā and his followers, who were offering prayers to Nṛsiṁhadeva (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.18.12).
TEXT 77
sei saba guṇa haya vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa
saba kahā nā yāya, kari dig-daraśana
SYNONYMS
sei saba guṇa-all those transcendental qualities; haya-are; vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa-the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava; saba-all; kahā nā yāya-cannot be explained; kari-I shall do; dik-daraśana-a general review.
TRANSLATION
"All these transcendental qualities are the characteristics of pure Vaiṣṇavas, and they cannot be fully explained, but I shall try to point out some of the important qualities.
TEXTS 78-80
kṛpālu, akṛta-droha, satya-sāra sama
nidoṣa, vadānya, mṛdu, śuci, aki�cana
sarvopakāraka, śānta, kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇa
akāma, anīha, sthira, vijita-ṣaḍ-guṇa
mita-bhuk, apramatta, mānada, amānī
gambhīra, karuṇa, maitra, kavi, dakṣa, maunī
SYNONYMS
kṛpālu—merciful; akṛta-droha—not defiant; satya-sāra—thoroughly true; sama—equal; nidoṣa—faultless; vadānya—magnanimous; mṛdu—mild; śuci—clean; aki�cana—without material possessions; sarva-upakāraka—working for the welfare of everyone; śānta—peaceful; kṛṣṇa-eka-śaraṇa—exclusively surrendered to Kṛṣṇa; akāma—desireless; anīha—indifferent to material acquisitions; sthira—fixed; vijita-ṣaṭ-guṇa—completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.); mita-bhuk—eating only as much as required; apramatta—without inebriation; māna-da—respectful; amānī—without false prestige; gambhīra—grave; karuṇa—compassionate; maitra—a friend; kavi—a poet; dakṣa—expert; maunī—silent.
TRANSLATION
"Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad qualities-lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave, compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic, expert and silent.
TEXT 81
titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ
SYNONYMS
titikṣavaḥ—very forebearing; kāruṇikāḥ—merciful; suhṛdaḥ—who are well-wishers; sarva-dehinām—to all living entities; ajāta-śatravaḥ—without enemies; śāntāḥ—peaceful; sādhavaḥ—following the injunctions of the śāstra; sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ—who are decorated with good character.
TRANSLATION
" 'Devotees are always tolerant, forebearing and very merciful. They are the well-wishers of every living entity. They follow the scriptural injunctions, and because they have no enemies, they are very peaceful. These are the decorations of devotees.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.21). When the sages, headed by Śaunaka, inquired about Kapiladeva, the incarnation of Godhead, Suta Gosvāmī, who was the topmost devotee of the Lord, quoted talks about self-realization between Maitreya, a friend of Vyāsadeva, and Vidura. It was then that the topic of Lord Kapila came up and His discussions with His mother, wherein He stated that attachment to material things is the cause of conditional life. When a person becomes attached to transcendental things, he is on the path of liberation.
TEXT 82
mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes
tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam
mahāntas te sama-cittāḥ praśāntā
vimanyavaḥ suhṛdaḥ sādhavo ye
SYNONYMS
mahat-sevām—the service of the pure devotee spiritual master; dvāram—door; āhuḥ—they said; vimukteḥ—of liberation; tamaḥ-dvāram—the door to darkness; yoṣitām—of women and money; saṅgi-saṅgam—association with those who enjoy the association; mahāntaḥ—great souls; te—they; sama-cittāḥ—equally disposed to all; praśāntāḥ—very peaceful; vimanyavaḥ—without anger; suhṛdaḥ—well-wishers of everyone; sādhavaḥ—who are endowed with all good qualities, or who do not look for faults in others; ye—those who.
TRANSLATION
" 'It is the verdict of all śāstras and great personalities that by serving a pure devotee, one attains the path of liberation. However, by associating with materialistic people who are attached to material enjoyment and women, one attains the path of darkness. Those who are actually devotees are broadminded, equal to everyone and very peaceful. They never become angry, and they are friendly to all living entities.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.2).
TEXT 83
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-janma-mūla haya 'sādhu-saṅga'
kṛṣṇa-prema janme, teṅho punaḥ mukhya aṅga
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-bhakti—of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; janma-mūla—the root cause; haya—is; sādhu-saṅga—association with advanced devotees; kṛṣṇa-prema—love of Kṛṣṇa; janme—awakens; teṅho—that same association with devotees; punaḥ—again; mukhya aṅga—the chief principle.
TRANSLATION
"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
TEXT 84
bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ
sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
parāvareśe tvayi jāyate ratiḥ
SYNONYMS
bhava-apavargaḥ—liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramataḥ—wandering; yadā—when; bhavet—should be; janasya—of a person; tarhi—at that time; acyuta—O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samāgamaḥ—association with devotees; sat-saṅgamaḥ—association with the devotees; yarhi—when; tadā—at that time; eva—only; sat-gatau—the highest goal of life; parāvareśe—the Lord of the universe; tvayi—to You; jāyate—appears; ratiḥ—attraction.
TRANSLATION
" 'O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the supreme devotees and the Lord of the universe.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).
TEXT 85
ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ
pṛcchāmo bhavato 'naghāḥ
saṁsāre 'smin kṣaṇārdho 'pi
sat-saṅgaḥ sevadhir nṛṇām
SYNONYMS
ataḥ—therefore (due to the rareness of seeing pure devotees of the Lord); ātyantikam—supreme; kṣemam—auspiciousness; pṛcchāmaḥ—we are asking; ātyantikam—supreme; kṣemam—auspiciousness; pṛcchāmaḥ—we are asking; bhavataḥ—you; anaghāḥ—O sinless ones; saṁsāre—in the material world; asmin—this; kṣaṇa-ardhaḥ—lasting half a moment; api—even; sat-saṅgaḥ—association with devotees; sevadhiḥ—a treasure; nṛṇām—for human society.
TRANSLATION
" 'O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.30).
TEXT 86
satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-samvido
bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani
śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati
SYNONYMS
satām—of the devotees; prasaṅgāt—by the intimate association; mama—of Me; vīrya-samvidaḥ—talks full of spiritual potency; bhavanti—appear; hṛt—to the heart; karṇa—and to the ears; rasa-āyanāḥ—a source of sweetness; kathāḥ—talks; tat—of them; joṣaṇāt—from proper cultivation; āśu—quickly; apavarga—of liberation; vartmani—on the path; śraddhā—faith; ratiḥ—attraction; bhaktiḥ—love; anukramiṣyati—will follow one after another.
TRANSLATION
" 'The spiritually powerful message of Godhead can be properly discussed only in a society of devotees, and it is greatly pleasing to hear in that association. If one hears from devotees, the way of transcendental experience quickly opens, and gradually one attains firm faith that in due course develops into attraction and devotion.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.25). For an explanation see Ādi-līlā (1.60).
TEXT 87
asat-saṅga-tyāga,--ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra
'strī-saṅgī'--eka asādhu, 'kṛṣṇābhakta' āra
SYNONYMS
asat-saṅga-tyāga—rejection of the association of nondevotees; ei—this; vaiṣṇava-ācāra—the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava; strī-saṅgī—who associates with women for sense gratification; eka—one; asādhu—unsaintly person; kṛṣṇa-abhakta—one who is not a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āra—another.
TRANSLATION
"A Vaiṣṇava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaiṣṇavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TEXTS 88-90
satyaṁ śaucaṁ dayā maunaṁ
buddhir hrīḥ śrīr yaśaḥ kṣamā
śamo damo bhagaś ceti
yat-saṅgād yāti saṅkṣayam
teṣv aśānteṣu mūḍheṣu
khaṇḍitātmasv asādhuṣu
saṅgaṁ na kuryāc chocyeṣu
yoṣit-krīḍā-mṛgeṣu ca
na tathāsya bhaven moho
bandhaś cānya-prasaṅgataḥ
yoṣit-saṅgād yathā puṁso
yathā tat-saṅgi-saṅgataḥ
SYNONYMS
satyam—truthfulness; śaucam—cleanliness; dayā—mercy; maunam—silence; buddhiḥ—intelligence; hrīḥ—modesty; śrīḥ—beauty; yaśaḥ—fame; kṣama—forgiveness; śamaḥ—controlling the mind; damaḥ—controlling the senses; bhagaḥ—opulence; ca—and; iti—thus; yat—of whom; saṅgāt—by the association; yāti—goes to; saṅkṣayam—complete destruction; teṣu—among them; aśānteṣu—who are restless; mūdheṣu—among the fools; khaṇḍita-ātmasu—whose self-realization is spoiled; asādhuṣu—not saintly; saṅgam—association; na—not; kuryāt—should do; śocyeṣu—who are full of lamentation; yoṣit—of women; krīḍā-mṛgeṣu—who are like toy animals; ca—also; na—not; tathā—so much; asya—of him; bhavet—there may be; mohaḥ—illusion; bandhaḥ—binding; ca—and; anya—other types; prasaṅgataḥ—from association; yoṣit-saṅgāt—by association with women; yathā—as; puṁsaḥ—of the man; yathā—as well as; tat-saṅgi-saṅgataḥ—by association with persons attached to women.
TRANSLATION
" 'By association with worldly people, one becomes devoid of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, spiritual intelligence, shyness, austerity, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of the senses, fortune and all opportunities. One should not at any time associate with a coarse fool who is bereft of the knowledge of self-realization and who is no more than a toy animal in the hands of a woman. The illusion and bondage that accrue to a man from attachment to any other object are not as complete as that resulting from association with a woman or with men too attached to women.'
PURPORT
These verses, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.31.33-35), were spoken by Kapiladeva, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to His mother. Herein Kapiladeva discusses pious and impious activities and the symptoms of those who are devoid of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Generally people do not know about the miserable conditions within the womb of a mother in any species of life. Due to bad association, one gradually falls into lower species. Association with women is greatly stressed in this regard. When one becomes attached to women or to those who are attached to women, one falls down into the lower species.
puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi
bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu
"The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil among various species." (Bhagavad-gītā 13.22)
According to Vedic civilization, one's association with women should be very much restricted. In spiritual life there are four āśramas-brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. The brahmacārī, vānaprastha and sannyāsī are completely forbidden to associate with women. Only gṛhasthas are allowed to associate with women under certain very restricted conditions-that is, one associates with women to propagate nice children. Other reasons for association are condemned.
TEXT 91
varaṁ huta-vaha-jvālā-
pa�jarāntar-vyavasthitiḥ
na śauri-cintā-vimukha-
jana-saṁvāsa-vaiśasam
SYNONYMS
varam—better; huta-vaha—of fire; jvālā—in the flames; pa�jara-antaḥ—inside a cage; vyavasthitiḥ—abiding; na—not; śauri-cintā—of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or thought of Kṛṣṇa; vimukha—bereft; jana—of persons; saṁvāsa—of the association; vaiśasam—the calamity.
TRANSLATION
" 'It is better to accept the miseries of being encaged within bars and surrounded by burning flames than to associate with those bereft of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Such association is a very great hardship.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Kātyāyana-saṁhitā.
TEXT 92
mā drākṣīḥ kṣīṇa-puṇyān kvacid api
bhagavad-bhakti-hīnān manuṣyān
SYNONYMS
mā—do not; drākṣīḥ—see; kṣīṇa-puṇyān—who are bereft of all piety; kvacit api—at any time; bhagavat-bhakti-hīnān—who are bereft of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service; manuṣyān—persons.
TRANSLATION
" One should not even see those who are bereft of devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and who are therefore devoid of pious activities.
TEXT 93 eta saba chāḍi' āra varṇāśrama-dharma
aki�cana ha�ā laya kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇa
SYNONYMS
eta saba—all these; chāḍi'-giving up; āra—and; varṇa-āśrama-dharma—the regulative principle of four varṇas and four āśramas; aki�cana—without any attachment for anything material; ha�ā—becoming; laya—he takes; kṛṣṇa-eka-śaraṇa—exclusive shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"Without hesitation, one should take the exclusive shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa with full confidence, giving up bad association and even neglecting the regulative principles of the four varṇas and four āśramas. That is to say, one should abandon all material attachment.
TEXT 94
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mam ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
SYNONYMS
sarva-dharmān—all kinds of occupational duties; parityajya—giving up; mām ekam—unto Me only; śaraṇam—as shelter; vraja—go; aham—I; tvām—unto you; sarva-pāpebhyaḥ—from all the reactions of sinful life; mokṣayiṣyāmi—will give liberation; mā—don't; śucaḥ—worry.
TRANSLATION
" 'After giving up all kinds of religious and occupational duties, if you come to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and take shelter, I shall give you protection from all of life's sinful reactions. Do not worry.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa. For an explanation, refer to Madhya-līlā (8.63).
TEXT 95
bhakta-vatsala, kṛtaj�a, samartha, vadānya
hena kṛṣṇa chāḍi' paṇḍita nāhi bhaje anya
SYNONYMS
bhakta-vatsala—very kind to the devotees; kṛta-j�a—grateful; samartha—full of all abilities; vadānya—magnanimous; hena—such; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; chāḍi'-giving up; paṇḍita—a learned man; nāhi—does not; bhaje—worship; anya—anyone else.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Kṛṣṇa is very kind to His devotees. He is always very grateful and magnanimous, and He possesses all abilities. A learned man does not give up Kṛṣṇa to worship anyone else.
PURPORT
An intelligent person gives up the company of those who are attached to women and bereft of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should be free from all kinds of material attachment and should take full shelter under the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is very kind to His devotees. He is always grateful, and He never forgets the service of a devotee. He is also completely opulent and all-powerful. Why, then, should one take shelter of a demigod and leave Lord Kṛṣṇa's shelter? If one worships a demigod and leaves Kṛṣṇa, he must be considered the lowest fool.
TEXT 96
kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad-aparaṁ śaraṇaṁ samīyād
bhakta-priyād ṛta-giraḥ suhṛdaḥ kṛtaj�āt
sarvān dadāti suhṛdo bhajato 'bhikāmān
ātmānam apy upacayāpacayau na yasya
SYNONYMS
kaḥ—what; paṇḍitaḥ—learned man; tvat-aparam—other than Your Lordship; śaraṇam—shelter; samīyāt—would take; bhakta-priyāt—who are affectionate to Your devotees; ṛta-giraḥ—who are truthful to the devotees; suhṛdaḥ—who are the friend of the devotees; kṛta-j�āt—who are grateful to the devotees; sarvān—all; dadāti—gives; suhṛdaḥ—to Your well-wishers; bhajataḥ—who worship You by devotional service; abhikāmān—desires; ātmānam—Yourself; api—even; upacaya—increase; apacayau—and diminution; na—not; yasya—of whom.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear Lord, You are very affectionate to Your devotees. You are also a truthful and grateful friend. Where is that learned man who would give You up and surrender to someone else? You fulfill all the desires of Your devotees, so much so that sometimes You even give Yourself to them. Still, You neither increase nor decrease by such activity.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.48.26).
TEXT 97
vij�a-janera haya yadi kṛṣṇa-guṇa-j�āna
anya tyaji', bhaje, tāte uddhava--pramāṇa
SYNONYMS
vij�a-janera—of an experienced person; haya—there is; yadi—if; kṛṣṇa-guṇa-j�āna—knowledge of Kṛṣṇa's transcendental qualities; anya—others; tyaji'-giving up; bhaje—he engages in devotional service; tāte—in that connection; uddhava—Uddhava; pramāṇa—the evidence.
TRANSLATION
"Whenever an experienced person develops real knowledge of Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental qualities, he naturally gives up all other engagements and renders service to the Lord. Uddhava gives evidence concerning this.
TEXT 98
aho bakī yaṁ stana-kāla-kūṭaṁ
jighāṁsayāpāyayad apy asādhvī
lebhe gatiṁ dhātry-ucitāṁ tato 'nyaṁ
kaṁ vā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajema
SYNONYMS
aho—how wonderful; bakī—Pūtanā, the sister of Bakāsura; yam—whom; stana—on the two breasts; kāla-kūṭam—the deadly poison; jighāṁsayā—with a desire to kill; apāyayat—forced to drink; api—although; asādhvī—dangerously inimical to Kṛṣṇa; lebhe—achieved; gatim—the destination; dhātrī—for a nurse; ucitām—suitable; tataḥ—than Him; anyam—other; kam—to whom; vā—or; dayālum—the most merciful; śaraṇam—shelter; vrajema—shall take.
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, how wonderful it is! Pūtanā, the sister of Bakāsura, wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa by smearing deadly poison on her breasts and having Kṛṣṇa take it. Nonetheless, Lord Kṛṣṇa accepted her as His mother, and thus she attained the destination befitting Kṛṣṇa's mother. Of whom should I take shelter but Kṛṣṇa, who is most merciful?'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.2.23).
TEXT 99
śaraṇāgatera, aki�canera--eka-i lakṣaṇa
tāra madhye praveśaye 'ātma-samarpaṇa'
SYNONYMS
śaraṇāgatera—of a person who has fully taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa; aki�canera—of a person who is free of all material desires; eka-i lakṣaṇa—the symptoms are one and the same; tāra madhye—of them all; praveśaye—enters; ātma-samarpaṇa—full surrender.
TRANSLATION
"There are two kinds of devotees-those who are fully satiated and free from all material desires and those who are fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord. Their qualities are one and the same, but those who are fully surrendered to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet are qualified with another transcendental quality-ātma-samarpaṇa, full surrender without reservation.
TEXT 100
ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasya varjanam
rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso
goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā
ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye
ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ
SYNONYMS
ānukūlyasya—of anything that assists devotional service to the Lord; saṅkalpaḥ—acceptance; prātikūlyasya—of anything that hinders devotional service; varjanam—complete rejection; rakṣiṣyati—He will protect; iti—thus; viśvāsaḥ—strong conviction; goptṛtve—in being the guardian, like the father or husband, master or maintainer; varaṇam—acceptance; tathā—as well as; ātma-nikṣepa—full self-surrender; kārpaṇye—humility; ṣaṭ-vidhā—sixfold; śaraṇa-āgatiḥ—process of surrender.
TRANSLATION
" 'The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of those things favorable to devotional service, the rejection of unfavorable things, the conviction that Kṛṣṇa will give protection, the acceptance of the Lord as one's guardian or master, full self-surrender and humility.
PURPORT
One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics. (1) The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable for the rendering of transcendental loving service to the Lord. (2) He must reject everything unfavorable to the Lord's service. This is also called renunciation. (3) A devotee must be firmly convinced that Kṛṣṇa will give him protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith. This kind of faith is different from the faith of an impersonalist who wants to merge into the Brahman effulgence in order to benefit by cessation of repeated birth and death. A devotee wants to remain always in the Lord's service. In this way, Kṛṣṇa is merciful to His devotee and gives him all protection from the dangers found on the path of devotional service. (4) The devotee should accept Kṛṣṇa as his supreme maintainer and master. He should not think that he is being protected by a demigod. He should depend only on Kṛṣṇa, considering Him the only protector. The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no protector or maintainer other than Kṛṣṇa. (5) Self-surrender means remembering that one's activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Kṛṣṇa, and he acts and thinks as Kṛṣṇa desires. (6) The devotee is meek and humble. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā:
sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir j�ānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham
"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." (Bg. 15.15)
Situated in everyone's heart, Kṛṣṇa deals differently according to the living entity's position. The living entity's position is to be under the protection of the illusory energy or under Kṛṣṇa's personal protection. When a living entity is fully surrendered, he is under the direct protection of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa gives him all intelligence by which he can advance in spiritual realization. The nondevotee, however, being under the protection of the illusory energy, increasingly forgets his relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes it is asked how Kṛṣṇa causes one to forget. Kṛṣṇa causes His devotee to forget material activities, and through the agency of māyā, Kṛṣṇa causes the nondevotee to forget his devotional service to the Lord. This is called apohana.
TEXT 101
tavāsmīti vadan vācā
tathaiva manasā vidan
tat-sthānam āśritas tanvā
modate śaraṇāgataḥ
SYNONYMS
tava—His; asmi—I am; iti—thus; vadan—saying; vācā—by words; tathā—so; eva—certainly; manasā—with the mind; vidan—knowing; tat-sthānam—His place; āśritaḥ—taken shelter of; tanvā—by the body; modate—he enjoys; śaraṇa-āgataḥ—fully surrendered.
TRANSLATION
" 'One whose body is fully surrendered takes shelter at the holy place where Kṛṣṇa had His pastimes, and he prays to the Lord, "My Lord, I am Yours." Understanding this with his mind, he enjoys spiritual bliss.
PURPORT
These last two verses appear in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (11.417,418).
TEXT 102
śaraṇa la�ā kare kṛṣṇe ātma-samarpaṇa
kṛṣṇa tāre kare tat-kāle ātma-sama
SYNONYMS
śaraṇa la�ā—taking shelter; kare—does; kṛṣṇe—unto Kṛṣṇa; ātma-samarpaṇa—fully surrendering; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāre—him; kare—makes; tat-kāle—immediately; ātma-sama—one of His confidential associates.
TRANSLATION
"When a devotee thus fully surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa accepts him as one of His confidential associates.
TEXT 103
martyo yadā tyakta-samasta-karmā
niveditātmā vicikīrṣito me
tadāmṛtatvaṁ pratipadyamāno
mayātma-bhūyāya ca kalpate vai
SYNONYMS
martyaḥ—the living entity subjected to birth and death; yadā—as soon as; tyakta—given up; samasta—all; karmā—fruitive activities; nivedita-ātmā—a fully surrendered soul; vicikīrṣitaḥ—desired to act; me—by Me; tadā—at that time; amṛtatvam—immortality; pratipadyamānaḥ—attaining; mayā—with Me; ātma-bhūyāya—for becoming of a similar nature; ca—also; kalpate—is eligible; vai—certainly.
TRANSLATION
" 'The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.34). Kṛṣṇa was advising His most confidential servant, Uddhava, about sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. These concern one's relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the activities of that relationship, as well as the perfection of life. The Lord also described the characteristics of confidential devotees.
TEXT 104
ebe sādhana-bhakti-lakṣaṇa śuna, sanātana
yāhā haite pāi kṛṣṇa-prema-mahā-dhana
SYNONYMS
ebe—now; sādhana-bhakti—regulative principles for executing devotional service; lakṣaṇa—the symptoms; śuna—please hear; sanātana—My dear Sanātana; yāhā haite—from which; pāi—one can get; kṛṣṇa-prema-mahā-dhana—the most valuable treasure of love for Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanātana, please now hear about the regulative principles for the execution of devotional service. By this process, one can attain the highest perfection of love of Godhead, which is the most desirable treasure.
TEXT 105
kṛti-sādhyā bhavet sādhya-
bhāvā sā sādhanābhidhā
nitya-siddhasya bhāvasya
prākaṭyaṁ hṛdi sādhyatā
SYNONYMS
kṛti-sādhyā—which is to be executed by the senses; bhavet—should be; sādhya-bhāvā—by which love of Godhead is acquired; sā—that; sādhana-abhidhā—called sādhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice; nitya-siddhasya—which is eternally present; bhāvasya—of love of Godhead; prākaṭyam—the awakening; hṛdi—in the heart; sādhyatā—potentiality.
TRANSLATION
" 'When transcendental devotional service by which love for Kṛṣṇa is attained is executed by the senses, it is called sādhana-bhakti, or the regulative discharge of devotional service. Such devotion eternally exists within the heart of every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is the potentiality of devotional service in practice.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.2). Because living entities are minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with śravaṇa kīrtana, hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to hear the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanted by a pure Vaiṣṇava. One who hears the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one's mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam). When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.
TEXT 106
śravaṇādi-kriyā--tāra 'svarūpa'-lakṣaṇa
'taṭastha'-lakṣaṇe upajāya prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
śravaṇa-ādi-kriyā—the process of hearing, chanting and so forth; tāra—of that; svarūpa-lakṣaṇa—symptoms of the nature; taṭastha-lakṣaṇe—marginal symptoms; upajāya—awakens; prema-dhana—love of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
"The spiritual activities of hearing, chanting, remembering and so forth are the natural characteristics of devotional service. The marginal characteristic is that it awakens pure love for Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 107
nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema 'sādhya' kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
SYNONYMS
nitya-siddha—eternally proved; kṛṣṇa-prema—love of Kṛṣṇa; sādhya—to be gained; kabhu—at any time; naya—not; śravaṇa-ādi—by hearing, etc.; śuddha—purified; citte—in the heart; karaye udaya—awakens.
TRANSLATION
"Pure love for Kṛṣṇa is eternally established in the hearts of living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, the living entity naturally awakens.
TEXT 108
ei ta sādhana-bhakti--dui ta' prakāra
eka 'vaidhī bhakti', 'rāgānugā-bhakti' āra
SYNONYMS
ei ta—this; sādhana-bhakti—process of devotional service; dui ta' prakāra—two kinds; eka—one; vaidhī bhakti—the regulative devotional service; rāgānugā-bhakti—spontaneous devotional service; āra—and.
TRANSLATION
"There are two processes of practical devotional service. One is regulative devotional service, and the other is spontaneous devotional service.
TEXT 109
rāga-hīna jana bhaje śāstrera āj�āya
'vaidhī bhakti' bali' tāre sarva-śāstre gāya
SYNONYMS
rāga-hīna—who are without spontaneous attachment to Kṛṣṇa; jana—persons; bhaje—execute devotional service; śāstrera āj�āya—according to the principles and regulations described in the revealed scriptures; vaidhī bhakti—regulative devotional service; bali'-calling; tāre—that; sarva-śāstre—all revealed scriptures; gāya—sing.
TRANSLATION
"Those who have not attained the platform of spontaneous attachment in devotional service render devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master according to the regulative principles mentioned in the revealed scriptures. According to the revealed scriptures, this kind of devotional service is called vaidhī bhakti.
PURPORT
In the beginning, one has to hear from a bona fide spiritual master. This is favorable for advancing in devotional service. According to this process, one hears, chants, remembers and engages in Deity worship, acting under the directions of the spiritual master. These are the essential primary activities of devotional service. Devotional service must not be executed for some material purpose. One should not even have a desire to merge into the Absolute Truth. One has to render such service out of love only. Ahaitukī, apratihatā. Devotional service must be without ulterior motives; then material conditions cannot check it. Gradually one can rise to the platform of spontaneous loving service. A child is sent to school by force to receive an education, but when he gets a little taste of education at an advanced age, he automatically participates and becomes a learned scholar. One cannot force a person to become a scholar, but sometimes force is used in the beginning. A child is forced to go to school and read and write according to the instructions of his teachers. Such is the difference between vaidhī bhakti and spontaneous bhakti. Dormant love for Kṛṣṇa exists in everyone's heart, and it simply has to be awakened by the regulative process of devotional service. One has to learn to use a typewriter by following the regulative principles of the typing book. One has to place his fingers on the keys in such a way and practice, but when one becomes adept, he can type swiftly and correctly without even looking at the keys. Similarly, one has to follow the rules and regulations of devotional service as they are set down by the spiritual master; then one can come to the point of spontaneous loving service. This love is already there within the heart of everyone (nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema).
Spontaneous service is not artificial. One simply has to come to that platform by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles. Thus one has to practice hearing and chanting and follow the other regulative principles by washing the temple, cleansing oneself, rising early in the morning, attending maṅgala-ārati and so on. If one does not come to the platform of spontaneous service in the beginning, he must adopt regulative service according to the instructions of the spiritual master. This regulative service is called vaidhī bhakti.
TEXT 110
tasmād bhārata sarvātmā
bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
smartavyaś cecchatābhayam
SYNONYMS
tasmāt-therefore; bhārata-O descendant of Bharata; sarva-ātmā-the all pervasive Lord, who is situated in everyone's heart; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ-Lord Hari, who takes away all the miserable conditions of material existence; īśvaraḥ-the supreme controller; śrotavyaḥ-to be heard about (from bona fide sources); kīrtitavyaḥ-to be glorified (as one has heard); ca-also; smartavyaḥ-to be remembered; ca-and; icchatā-by a person desiring; abhayam-freedom from the fearful condition of material existence.
TRANSLATION
" 'O descendant of Bharata! O Mahārāja Parīkṣit! The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart as Paramātmā, who is the supreme controller and who always removes the miseries of living entities, must always be heard about from reliable sources, and He must be glorified and remembered by one who wishes to become fearless.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.5). It is one's duty to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the hearing process. This is called śrotavyaḥ. If one has heard properly about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his duty is to glorify the Lord and preach His glories. This is called kīrtitavyaḥ. When one hears about the Lord and glorifies Him, it is natural to think of Him. This is called smartavyaḥ. All this must be carried out if one actually wants to be immune from fear.
TEXT 111
mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ
puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha
catvāro jaj�ire varṇā
guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak
SYNONYMS
mukha—the mouth; bāhu—the arms; ūru—the waist; pādebhyaḥ—from the legs; puruṣasya—of the supreme person; āśramaiḥ—the different spiritual orders; saha—with; catvāraḥ—the four; jaj�ire—appeared; varṇāḥ—social orders; guṇaiḥ—with particular qualifications; vipra-ādayaḥ—brāhmaṇas, etc.; pṛthak—separately.
TRANSLATION
" 'From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.
PURPORT
This verse and the next are quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).
TEXT 112
ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād
ātma-prabhavam īśvaram
na bhajanty avajānanti
sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ
SYNONYMS
ye—those who; eṣām—of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; puruṣam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt—directly; ātma-prabhavam—the source of everyone; īśvaram—the supreme controller; na—not; bhajanti—worship; avajānanti—or who neglect; sthānāt—from their proper place; bhraṣṭāḥ—being fallen; patanti—fall; adhaḥ—downward into hellish conditions.
TRANSLATION
" 'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.'
TEXT 113
smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur
vismartavyo na jātucit
sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur
etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ
SYNONYMS
smartavyaḥ—to be remembered; satatam—always; viṣṇuḥ—Lord Viṣṇu; vismartavyaḥ—to be forgotten; na—not; jātucit—at any time; sarve—all; vidhi-niṣedhāḥ—rules and prohibitions mentioned in the revealed scripture or given by the spiritual master; syuḥ—should be; etayoḥ—of these two principles (always to remember Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu and never to forget Him); eva—certainly; kiṅkarāḥ—the servants.
TRANSLATION
" 'Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.'
PURPORT
This verse is a quotation from the Padma Purāṇa. There are many regulative principles in the śāstras and directions given by the spiritual master. These regulative principles should act as servants of the basic principle-that is, one should always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him. This is possible when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore one must strictly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra twenty-four hours daily. One may have other duties to perform under the direction of the spiritual master, but he must first abide by the spiritual master's order to chant a certain number of rounds. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we have recommended that the neophyte chant at least sixteen rounds. This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely necessary if one wants to remember Kṛṣṇa and not forget Him. Of all the regulative principles, the spiritual master's order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential.
One may sell books or enlist life members or render some other service, but these duties are not ordinary duties. These duties serve as an impetus for remembering Kṛṣṇa. When one goes with a saṅkīrtana party or sells books, he naturally remembers that he is going to sell Kṛṣṇa's books. In this way, he is remembering Kṛṣṇa. When one goes to enlist a life member, he talks about Kṛṣṇa and thereby remembers Him. Smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātucit. The conclusion is that one must act in such a way that he will always remember Kṛṣṇa, and one must refrain from doing things that make him forget Kṛṣṇa. These two principles form the basic background of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
TEXT 114
vividhāṅga sādhana-bhaktira bahuta vistāra
saṅkṣepe kahiye kichu sādhanāṅga-sāra
SYNONYMS
vividha-aṅga—varieties of limbs (regulative principles); sādhana-bhaktira—of regulative devotional service; bahuta—many; vistāra—expansions; saṅkṣepe—in brief; kahiye—I shall speak; kichu—something; sādhana-aṅga-sāra—the essential parts of the practice of devotional service.
TRANSLATION
"I shall say something about the various practices of devotional service, which is expanded in so many ways. I wish to speak briefly of the essential practices.
TEXT 115
guru-pādāśraya, dīkṣā, gurura sevana
sad-dharma-śikṣā, pṛcchā, sādhu-mārgānugamana
SYNONYMS
guru-pāda-āśraya—shelter at the feet of a bona fide spiritual master; dīkṣā—initiation by the spiritual master; gurura sevana—service to the spiritual master; sat-dharma-śikṣā—instruction in the transcendental process of devotional service; pṛcchā—and inquiry; sādhu-mārga—the path of transcendental devotional service; anugamana—following strictly.
TRANSLATION
"On the path of regulative devotional service, one must observe the following items: (1) One must accept a bona fide spiritual master. (2) Accept initiation from him. (3) Serve him. (4) Receive instructions from the spiritual master and make inquiries in order to learn devotional service. (5) Follow in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master.
TEXT 116
kṛṣṇa-prītye bhoga-tyāga, kṛṣṇa-tīrthe vāsa
yāvan-nirvāha-pratigraha, ekādaśy-upavāsa
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-prītye—for satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa; bhoga-tyāga—acceptance and rejection of something; kṛṣṇa-tīrthe vāsa—residence in a place where Kṛṣṇa is situated; yāvat-nirvāha—as much as required to keep the body and soul together; pratigraha—acceptance of gifts; ekādaśī-upavāsa—observance of fasting on the Ekādaśī day.
TRANSLATION
"The next steps are as follows: (6) One should be prepared to give up everything for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction, and one should also accept everything for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction. (7) One must live in a place where Kṛṣṇa is present-a city like Vṛndāvana or Mathurā or a Kṛṣṇa temple. (8) One should acquire a livelihood that is just sufficient to keep body and soul together. (9) One must fast on Ekādaśī day.
TEXT 117
dhātry-aśvattha-go-vipra-vaiṣṇava-pūjana
sevā-nāmāparādhādi dūre visarjana
SYNONYMS
dhātrī—a type of tree; aśvattha—the banyan trees; go—the cows; vipra—the brāhmaṇas; vaiṣṇava—the devotees of Lord Viṣṇu; pūjana—worshiping; sevā—in devotional service; nāma—in chanting of the holy name; aparādha-ādi—the offenses; dūre—far away; visarjana—giving up.
TRANSLATION
"One should worship dhātrī trees, banyan trees, cows, brāhmaṇas and devotees of Lord Viṣṇu. One should avoid offenses against devotional service and the holy name.
There are ten items in the beginning of devotional service, up to the point of worshiping the dhātrī tree, banyan tree, cow, brāhmaṇa and devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. The eleventh item is to avoid offenses when rendering devotional service and chanting the holy names.
TEXT 118
avaiṣṇava-saṅga-tyāga, bahu-śiṣya nā kariba
bahu-grantha-kalābhyāsa-vyākhyāna varjiba
SYNONYMS
avaiṣṇava—of one who is not a devotee of the Lord; saṅga—the association; tyāga—giving up; bahu-śiṣya—an unlimited number of disciples; nā kariba—should not accept; bahu-grantha—of many different types of scriptures; kalā-abhyāsa—studying a portion; vyākhyāna—and explanation; varjiba—we should give up.
TRANSLATION
"The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to give references and expand explanations.
PURPORT
Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples is very risky for one who is not a preacher. According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, a preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is risky because when a spiritual master accepts a disciple, he naturally accepts the disciple's sinful activities and their reactions. Unless he is very powerful, he cannot assimilate all the sinful reactions of his disciples. Thus if he is not powerful, he has to suffer the consequences, for one is forbidden to accept many disciples.
One should not partially study a book just to pose oneself as a great scholar by being able to refer to scriptures. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we have therefore limited our study of Vedic literatures to Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta and Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. These four works are sufficient for preaching purposes. They are adequate for the understanding of the philosophy and the spreading of missionary activities all over the world. If one studies a particular book, he must do so thoroughly. That is the principle. By thoroughly studying a limited number of books, one can understand the philosophy.
TEXT 119
hāni-lābhe sama, śokādira vaśa nā ha-iba
anya-deva, anya-śāstra nindā nā kariba
SYNONYMS
hāni—in loss; lābhe—in gain; sama—equal; śoka-ādira—of lamentation and so on; vaśa—under the control; nā ha-iba—we should not be; anya-deva—other demigods; anya-śāstra—other scriptures; nindā—criticizing; nā kariba—we should not do.
TRANSLATION
"Fifteen: The devotee should treat loss and gain equally. (16) The devotee should not be overwhelmed by lamentation. (17) The devotee should not worship demigods, nor should he disrespect them. Similarly, the devotee should not study or criticize other scriptures.
TEXT 120
viṣṇu-vaiṣṇava-nindā, grāmya-vārtā nā śuniba
prāṇi-mātre manovākye udvega nā diba
SYNONYMS
viṣṇu-vaiṣṇava-nindā—blaspheming of Lord Viṣṇu and His devotee; grāmya-vārtā—ordinary talks; nā śuniba—we should not hear; prāṇi-mātre—to any living entity however insignificant; manaḥ-vākye—by mind or by words; udvega—anxiety; nā diba—we should not give.
TRANSLATION
"Eighteen: The devotee should not hear Lord Viṣṇu or His devotees blasphemed. (19) The devotee should avoid reading or hearing newspapers or mundane books that contain stories of love affairs between men and women or subjects palatable to the senses. (20) Neither by mind nor words should the devotee cause anxiety to any living entity, regardless how insignificant he may be.
PURPORT
The first ten items are dos and the second ten items are don'ts. Thus the first ten items give direct action, and the second ten items give indirect action.
TEXT 121
śravaṇa, kīrtana, smaraṇa, pūjana, vandana
paricaryā, dāsya, sakhya, ātma-nivedana
SYNONYMS
śravaṇa—hearing; kīrtana—chanting; smaraṇa—remembering; pūjana—worshiping; vandana—praying; paricaryā—serving; dāsya—accepting servitorship; sakhya—friendship; ātma-nivedana—surrendering fully.
TRANSLATION
"After one is established in devotional service, the positive actions are (1) hearing, (2) chanting, (3) remembering, (4) worshiping, (5) praying, (6) serving, (7) accepting servitorship, (8) becoming a friend and (9) surrendering fully.
TEXT 122
agre nṛtya, gīta, vij�apti, daṇḍavan-nati
abhyūtthāna, anuvrajyā, tīrtha-gṛhe gati
SYNONYMS
agre nṛtya—dancing before the Deity; gīta—songs; vij�apti—opening the mind; daṇḍavat-nati—offering obeisances; abhyūtthāna—stand up; anuvrajyā—following; tīrtha-gṛhe gati—going to temples and places of pilgrimage.
TRANSLATION
"One should also (10) dance before the Deity, (11) sing before the Deity, (12) open one's mind to the Deity, (13) offer obeisances to the Deity, (14) stand up before the Deity and the spiritual master just to show them respect, (15) follow the Deity or the spiritual master and (16) visit different places of pilgrimage or go see the Deity in the temple.
TEXT 123
parikramā, stava-pāṭha, japa, saṅkīrtana
dhūpa-mālya-gandha-mahāprasāda-bhojana
SYNONYMS
parikramā—circumambulation; stava-pāṭha—recitation of different prayers; japa—chanting softly; saṅkīrtana—chanting congregationally; dhūpa—incense; mālya—flower garlands; gandha—scents; mahā-prasāda—remnants of food offered to Viṣṇu; bhojana—eating or enjoying.
TRANSLATION
"One should (17) circumambulate the temple, (18) recite various prayers, (19) chant softly, (20) chant congregationally, (21) smell the incense and flower garlands offered to the Deity, and (22) eat the remnants of food offered to the Deity.
TEXT 124
ārātrika-mahotsava-śrīmūrti-darśana
nija-priya-dāna, dhyāna, tadīya-sevana
SYNONYMS
ārātrika—ārati; mahotsava-festivals; śrīmūrti-darśana—seeing the Deity; nija-priya-dāna—to present to the Lord something very dear to oneself; dhyāna—meditation; tadīya-sevana—rendering service to those related to the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"One should (23) attend ārati and festivals, (24) see the Deity, (25) present what is very dear to oneself to the Deity, (26) meditate, and (27) serve those related to the Lord.
TEXT 125
'tadīya'--tulasī, vaiṣṇava, mathurā, bhāgavata
ei cārira sevā haya kṛṣṇera abhimata
SYNONYMS
tadīya—related to the Lord; tulasī—tulasī leaves; vaiṣṇava—devotees; mathurā—the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa; bhāgavata—Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; ei cārira—of these four; sevā—the service; haya—is; kṛṣṇera abhimata—the desire of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"Tadīya means the tulasī leaves, the devotees of Kṛṣṇa, the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa, Mathurā, and the Vedic literature Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Kṛṣṇa is very eager to see His devotee serve tulasī, Vaiṣṇavas, Mathurā and Bhāgavatam.
PURPORT
After item twenty-six (meditation), the twenty-seventh is to serve tulasī, the twenty-eighth is to serve the Vaiṣṇava, the twenty-ninth is to live in Mathurā, the birthplace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and the thirtieth is to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly.
TEXT 126
kṛṣṇārthe akhila-ceṣṭā, tat-kṛpāvalokana
janma-dinādi-mahotsava la�ā bhakta-gaṇa
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇa-arthe—for the sake of Kṛṣṇa; akhila-ceṣṭā—all activity; tat-kṛpa-avalokana—looking for His mercy; janma-dina-ādi—the appearance day and so on; mahotsava—festivals; la�ā bhakta-gaṇa—with devotees.
TRANSLATION
"Thirty-one: One should perform all endeavors for Kṛṣṇa. (32) One should look forward to His mercy. (33) One should partake of various ceremonies with devotees, ceremonies like Lord Kṛṣṇa's birthday or Rāmacandra's birthday.
TEXT 127
sarvathā śaraṇāpatti, kārtikādi-vrata
'catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi aṅga' ei parama-mahattva
SYNONYMS
sarvathā—in all respects; śaraṇa-āpatti—surrender; kārtika-ādi-vrata—to observe special vows in the month of Kārttika; catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi aṅga—sixty-four parts; ei—this; parama-mahattva—very important items.
TRANSLATION
"Thirty-four: One should surrender to Kṛṣṇa in all respects. (35) One should observe particular vows like kārtika-vrata. These are some of the sixty-four important items of devotional service.
TEXT 128
sādhu-saṅga, nāma-kīrtana, bhāgavata-śravaṇa
mathurā-vāsa, śrī-mūrtira śraddhāya sevana
SYNONYMS
sādhu-saṅga—association with devotees; nāma-kīrtana—chanting the holy name; bhāgavata-śravaṇa—hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; mathurā-vāsa—living at Mathurā; śrī-mūrtira śraddhāya sevana—worshiping the Deity with faith and veneration.
TRANSLATION
"One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, reside at Mathurā and worship the Deity with faith and veneration.
TEXT 129
sakala-sādhana-śreṣṭha ei pa�ca aṅga
kṛṣṇa-prema janmāya ei pāṅcera alpa saṅga
SYNONYMS
sakala-sādhana—of all items for executing devotional service; śreṣṭha—the best; ei pa�ca aṅga—these five limbs; kṛṣṇa-prema—love of Kṛṣṇa; janmāya—awakens; ei—these; pāṅcera—of the five; alpa saṅga—slight association with or performance.
TRANSLATION
"These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Kṛṣṇa.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura points out that there are thirty-five items up to the point of observing special vows in the month of Kārttika. To these thirty-five items, another four are added-namely marking tilaka on different parts of the body, writing the names of the Lord all over the body, accepting the Deity's garland and accepting caraṇāmṛta. These four items are understood to be included by Kavirāja Gosvāmī within arcana, worship of the Deity. Although these items are not mentioned here, they are to be added to the previous thirty-five items. Thus the total number becomes thirty-nine. To these thirty-nine should be added five others: association with devotees, chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly, residing in Mathurā, the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa, and worshiping the Deity with great respect and veneration. The thirty-nine items plus these five come to a total of forty-four. If we add the previous twenty items to these forty-four, the total number becomes sixty-four. The five items mentioned above repeat previously mentioned items. In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states:
aṅgānāṁ pa�cakasyāsya
pūrva-vilikhitasya ca
nikhila-śraiṣṭhya-bodhāya
punar apy atra śaṁsanam
"The glorification of these five items [association with devotees, chanting the holy name and so on] is to make known the complete superiority of these five practices of devotional service.
The sixty-four items of devotional service include all the activities of the body, mind and senses. Thus the sixty-four items engage one in devotional service in all respects.
TEXT 130
śraddhā viśeṣataḥ prītiḥ
śrī-mūrter aṅghri-sevane
SYNONYMS
śraddhā—faith; viśeṣataḥ—particularly; prītiḥ—love; śrī-mūrteḥ—of the Deity form of the Lord; aṅghri-sevane—in service of the lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
" 'One should have full faith and Iove in worshiping the lotus feet of the Deity.
PURPORT
This verse and the following two verses are found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.90-92).
TEXT 131
śrīmad-bhāgavatārthānām
āsvādo rasikaiḥ saha
sajātīyāśaye snigdhe
sādhau saṅgaḥ svato vare
SYNONYMS
śrīmad-bhāgavata—of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; arthānām—of the meanings; āsvādaḥ—enjoying the taste; rasikaiḥ saha—with the devotees; sa-jātīya—similar; āśaye—endowed with a desire; snigdhe—advanced in devotional affection; sādhau—with a devotee; saṅgaḥ—association; svataḥ—for one's self; vare—better.
TRANSLATION
" 'One should taste the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of pure devotees, and one should associate with the devotees who are more advanced than oneself and endowed with a similar type of affection for the Lord.
PURPORT
The words sajātīyāśaye snigdhe sādhau saṅgaḥ svato vare are very important items. One should not associate with professional Bhāgavatam reciters. A professional Bhāgavatam reciter is one who is not in the disciplic succession or one who has no taste for bhakti-yoga. Simply on the strength of grammatical knowledge and word jugglery, professional reciters maintain their bodies and their desires for sense gratification by reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One should also avoid those who are averse to Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees, those who are Māyāvādīs, those who offend the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, those who simply dress as Vaiṣṇavas or so-called gosvāmīs, and those who make a business by selling Vedic mantras and reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to maintain their families. One should not try to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from such materialistic people. According to the Vedic injunctions: yasya deve parā bhaktiḥ. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam can only be recited by one who has unflinching faith in the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and His devotee, the spiritual master. One should try to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the spiritual master. The Vedic injunction states: bhaktyā bhāgavataṁ grāhyaṁ na buddhyā na ca ṭīkayā. One has to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam through the process of devotional service and by hearing the recitation of a pure devotee. These are the injunctions of Vedic literature-śruti and smṛti. Those who are not in the disciplic succession and who are not pure devotees cannot understand the real mysterious objective of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā.
TEXT 132
nāma-saṅkīrtanaṁ śrīman-
mathurā-maṇḍale sthitiḥ
SYNONYMS
nāma-saṅkīrtanam—chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra; śrīman-mathurā-maṇḍale—in Mathurā, where Kṛṣṇa specifically performs His pastimes; sthitiḥ—residence.
TRANSLATION
" 'One should congregationally chant the holy name of the Lord and reside in Vṛndāvana.'
PURPORT
Navadvīpa-dhāma, Jagannātha Purī-dhāma and Vṛndāvana-dhāma are considered to be identical. If one goes to Mathurā-maṇḍala-bhūmi for sense gratification or to make a livelihood, he commits an offense and is condemned. Whoever does so must be penalized in the next life by becoming a hog or a monkey in Vṛndāvana-dhāma. After taking on such a body, the offender is liberated in the next life. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that residing in Vṛndāvana with a view to enjoy sense gratification surely leads a so-called devotee to a lower species.
TEXT 133
durūhādbhuta-vīrye 'smin
śraddhā dūre 'stu pa�cake
yatra svalpo 'pi sambandhaḥ
sad-dhiyāṁ bhāva-janmane
SYNONYMS
durūha—difficult to be reconciled; adbhuta—wonderful; vīrye—in the power; asmin—in this; śraddhā—faith; dūre—far away; astu—let it be; pa�cake—in the above-mentioned five principles; yatra—in which; svalpaḥ—a little; api—even; sambandhaḥ—connection; sat-dhiyām—of those who are intelligent and offenseless; bhāva-janmane—to awaken one's dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
" 'The power of these five principles is very wonderful and difficult to reconcile. Even without faith in them, a person who is offenseless can experience dormant love of Kṛṣṇa simply by being a little connected with them.'
PURPORT
This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.238).
TEXT 134
'eka' aṅga sādhe, keha sādhe 'bahu' aṅga
'niṣṭhā' haile upajaya premera taraṅga
SYNONYMS
eka—one; aṅga—portion; sādhe—executes; keha—someone; sādhe—executes; bahu—many; aṅga—portions; niṣṭhā—firm faith; haile—if there is; upa-jaya—awaken; premera—of love of Godhead; taraṅga—the waves.
TRANSLATION
"When one is firmly fixed in devotional service, whether he executes one or many processes of devotional service, the waves of love of Godhead will awaken.
PURPORT
The processes of devotional service are śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam.
TEXT 135
'eka' aṅge siddhi pāila bahu bhakta-gaṇa
ambarīṣādi bhaktera 'bahu' aṅga-sādhana
SYNONYMS
eka aṅge—by one portion; siddhi—perfection; pāila—achieved; bahu—many; bhakta-gaṇa—devotees; ambarīṣa-ādi—King Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and others; bhaktera—of devotees; bahu aṅga-sādhana—execution of many processes of devotional service.
TRANSLATION
"There are many devotees who execute only one of the nine processes of devotional service. Nonetheless, they get ultimate success. Devotees like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa execute all nine items and they also get ultimate success.
TEXT 136
śrī-viṣṇoḥ śravaṇe parīkṣid abhavad vaiyāsakiḥ kīrtane
prahlādaḥ smaraṇe tad-aṅghri-bhajane lakṣmīḥ pṛthuḥ pūjane
akrūras tv abhivandane kapi-patir dāsye 'tha sakhye 'rjunaḥ
sarvasvātma-nivedane balir abhūt kṛṣṇāptir eṣāṁ parā
SYNONYMS
śrī-viṣṇoḥ—of Lord Śrī Viṣṇu; śravaṇe—in hearing; parīkṣit—King Parīkṣit, known also as Viṣṇurāta, or one who is protected by Lord Viṣṇu; abhavat—was; vaiyāsakiḥ—Śukadeva Gosvāmī; kīrtane—in reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; prahlādaḥ—Mahārāja Prahlāda; smaraṇe—in remembering; tat-aṅghri—of Lord Viṣṇu's lotus feet; bhajane—in serving; lakṣmīḥ—the goddess of fortune; pṛthuḥ—Mahārāja Pṛthu; pūjane—in worshiping the Deity of the Lord; akrūraḥ—Akrūra; tu—but; abhivandane—in offering prayers; kapi-patiḥ—Hanumānjī, or Vajrāṅgajī; dāsye—in servitude to Lord Rāmacandra; atha—moreover; sakhye—in friendship; arjunaḥ—Arjuna; sarvasva-ātma-nivedane—in fully dedicating oneself; baliḥ—Mahārāja Bali; abhūt—was; kṛṣṇa-āptiḥ—the achievement of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; eṣām—of all of them; parā—transcendental.
TRANSLATION
" 'Mahārāja Parīkṣit attained the highest perfection, shelter at Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, simply by hearing about Lord Viṣṇu. Śukadeva Gosvāmī attained perfection simply by reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Prahlāda Mahārāja attained perfection by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune attained perfection by massaging the transcendental legs of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Mahārāja Pṛthu attained perfection by worshiping the Deity, and Akrūra attained perfection by offering prayers unto the Lord. Vajrāṅgajī [Hanumān] attained perfection by rendering service to Lord Rāmacandra, and Arjuna attained perfection simply by being Kṛṣṇa's friend. Bali Mahārāja attained perfection by dedicating everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in the Padyāvalī (53) and the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.265).
TEXTS 137-139
sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor
vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane
karau harer mandira-mārjanādiṣu
śrutiṁ cakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-liṅgālaya-darśane dṛśau
tad-bhṛtya-gātra-sparaśe 'ṅga-saṅgamam
ghrāṇaṁ ca tat-pāda-saroja-saurabhe
śrīmat-tulasyā rasanāṁ tad-arpite
pādau hareḥ kṣetra-padānusarpaṇe
śiro hṛṣīkeśa-padābhivandane
kāmaṁ ca dāsye na tu kāma-kāmyayā
yathottamaḥśloka-janāśrayā ratiḥ
SYNONYMS
saḥ—he (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa); vai—certainly; manaḥ—the mind; kṛṣṇa-pada-aravindayoḥ—on the two lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; vacāṁsi—words; vaikuṇṭha-guṇa-anuvarṇane—in describing the transcendental character of Kṛṣṇa; karau—the two hands; hareḥ—of Lord Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu; mandira-mārjana-ādiṣu—in cleansing the temple of Hari and similar other duties; śrutim—the ears; cakāra—engaged; acyuta—of the Lord; sat-kathā-udaye—in the arising of transcendental topics; mukunda-liṅga—of the Deities of the Lord; ālaya—temples; darśane—in visiting; dṛśau—the two eyes; tat-bhṛtya—of the servants of the Lord; gātra—the bodies; sparaśe—in touching; aṅga-saṅgamam—bodily contact such as embracing or touching the lotus feet; ghrāṇam—the sensation of smell; ca—and; tat-pāda-saroja—of the Lord's lotus feet; saurabhe—in the fragrance; śrīmat—most auspicious; tulasyāḥ—of tulasī leaves; rasanām—the tongue; tat-arpite—in food offered to the Lord; pādau—the two feet; hareḥ—of the Lord; kṣetra—the place of pilgrimage; pada-anusarpaṇe—in walking to; śiraḥ—the head; hṛṣīkeśa—of the Lord of the senses, the Personality of Godhead; pada-abhivandane—in offering prayers at the lotus feet; kāmam—all desires; dāsye—in serving the Lord; na—not; tu—but; kāma-kāmyayā—with a desire for sense gratification; yathā—as much as; uttamaḥ-śloka—of the Lord, who is worshiped by selected poems; jana—in the devotee; āśrayā—having shelter; ratiḥ—attachment.
TRANSLATION
" 'Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the spiritual world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his hands in cleansing and washing the Lord's temple, his ears in hearing topics about the Supreme Lord, his eyes in seeing the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa in the temple, his body in touching the lotus feet of Vaiṣṇavas and embracing them, his nostrils in smelling the aroma of the tulasī leaves offered to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, his tongue in tasting food offered to Kṛṣṇa, his legs in going to places of pilgrimage like Vṛndāvana and Mathurā or to the Lord's temple, and his head in touching the lotus feet of the Lord and offering Him prayers. Thus Mahārāja Ambarīṣa desired only to serve the Lord faithfully. In this way he engaged his senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As a result, he awakened his dormant loving propensity for the Lord's service.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.18-20).
TEXT 140
kāma tyaji' kṛṣṇa bhaje śāstra-āj�ā māni'
deva-ṛṣi-pitrādikera kabhu nahe ṛṇī
SYNONYMS
kāma—material desires; tyaji'-giving up; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaje—worships; śāstra-āj�ā—the direction of the revealed scripture; māni'-accepting; deva—demigods; ṛṣi—great sages; pitṛ-ādikera—of the forefathers and so on; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; ṛṇī—a debtor.
TRANSLATION
"If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa, as enjoined in revealed scriptures, he is never indebted to demigods, sages or forefathers.
PURPORT
After birth, every man is indebted in so many ways. He is indebted to the demigods for their supplying necessities like air, light and water. When one takes advantage of Vedic literatures, one becomes indebted to great sages like Vyāsadeva, Nārada, Devala and Asita. When one takes birth in a particular family, he becomes indebted to his forefathers. We are even indebted to common living entities like cows, from whom we take milk. Because we accept service from so many animals, we become indebted. However, if one is completely engaged in the Lord's devotional service, he is absolved of all debts. This is confirmed in the following verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41).
TEXT 141
devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṝṇāṁ
na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan
sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ
gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam
SYNONYMS
deva—of the demigods; ṛṣi—of the sages; bhūta—of ordinary living entities; āpta—of friends and relatives; nṛṇām—of ordinary men; pitṝṇām—of the forefathers; na—not; kiṅkaraḥ—the servant; na—nor; ayam—this one; ṛṇī—debtor; ca—also; rājan—O King; sarva-ātmanā—with his whole being; yaḥ—a person who; śaraṇam—shelter; śaraṇyam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who affords shelter to all; gataḥ—approached; mukundam—Mukunda; parihṛtya—giving up; kartam—duties.
TRANSLATION
" 'One who has given up all material duties and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, who gives shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one's forefathers who have passed away.'
PURPORT
It is said:
adhyāpanaṁ brahma-yaj�aḥ
pitṛ-yaj�as tu tarpaṇam
homo daivo balir bhauto
nṛ-yaj�o 'tithi-pūjanam
"By performing oblations with ghee, the demigods are satisfied. By studying the Vedas, brahma-yaj�a is performed, and by this the great sages are satisfied. Offering libations of water before one's forefathers is called pitṛ-yaj�a. By offering tribute, bhūta-yaj�a is performed. By properly receiving guests, nṛ-yaj�a is performed." There are five yaj�as and five kinds of indebtedness-indebtedness to the demigods, great sages, forefathers, living entities and common men. Therefore one has to perform five kinds of yaj�as, but when one takes to saṅkīrtana-yaj�a (the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra) one doesn't have to perform any other yaj�a. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Nārada Muni made a statement about the systematic performance of bhāgavata-dharma in connection with statements previously made by the nine Yogendras before Mahārāja Nimi. The sage Karabhājana Ṛṣi explained the four incarnations of the four yugas, and at the end, in this verse (text 141), he explained the position of Kṛṣṇa's pure devotee and how he is absolved of all debts.
TEXT 142
vidhi-dharma chāḍi' bhaje kṛṣṇera caraṇa
niṣiddha pāpācāre tāra kabhu nahe mana
SYNONYMS
vidhi-dharma chāḍi'-giving up all regulative principles of the varṇa and āśrama institution; bhaje—worships; kṛṣṇera caraṇa—the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; niṣiddha—forbidden; pāpa-ācāre—in sinful activities; tāra—his; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; mana—the mind.
TRANSLATION
"Although the pure devotee does not follow all the regulative principles of varṇāśrama, he worships the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he naturally has no tendency to commit sin.
PURPORT
The varṇāśrama institution is planned in such a way that one will not commit sinful activities. Material existence continues due to sinful activity. When one acts sinfully in this life, he gets a suitable body for the next life. When one again acts sinfully, he takes on another material body. In this way one is continuously under the influence of material nature.
puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi
bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu
"The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of material nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil among various species." (Bg. 13.22)
Due to our association with the modes of material nature, we get different types of bodies-good and bad. One cannot be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, known as transmigration of the soul, unless one is completely freed from all sinful activities. The best process, therefore, is to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One cannot take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness without being freed from all sinful activities. Naturally one who is very serious about Kṛṣṇa consciousness is freed from all sinful activity. Consequently a devotee is never inclined to commit sins. If one is pressured by the law or obligations to give up sinful activity, one cannot do so. However, if one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he can very easily give up all sinful activity. This is confirmed herein.
TEXT 143
aj�āne vā haya yadi 'pāpa' upasthita
kṛṣṇa tāṅre śuddha kare, nā karāya prāyaścitta
SYNONYMS
aj�āne—by ignorance; vā—or; haya—there are; yadi—if; pāpa—sinful activities; upasthita—present; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāṅre—him (the devotee); śuddha kare—purifies; nā karāya—does not cause; prāyaścitta—atonement.
TRANSLATION
"If, however, a devotee accidentally becomes involved in a sinful activity, Kṛṣṇa purifies him. He does not have to undergo the regulative form of atonement.
PURPORT
Kṛṣṇa purifies from within as caitya-guru, the spiritual master within the heart. This is described in the following verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.42).
TEXT 144
svapāda-mūlaṁ bhajataḥ priyasya
tyaktānya-bhāvasya hariḥ pareśaḥ
vikarma yac cotpatitaṁ katha�cit
dhunoti sarvaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ
SYNONYMS
sva-pāda-mūlam—the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the devotees; bhajataḥ—who is engaged in worshiping; priyasya—who is very dear to Kṛṣṇa; tyakta—given up; anya—for others; bhāvasya—of one whose disposition or inclination; hariḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; para-īśaḥ—the Supreme Lord; vikarma—sinful activities; yat—whatever; ca—and; utpatitam—occurred; katha�cit—somehow; dhunoti—removes; sarvam—everything; hṛdi—in the heart; sanniviṣṭaḥ—entered.
TRANSLATION
" 'One who has given up everything and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If he is involved in some sinful activity by accident, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated within everyone's heart, removes his sins without difficulty.'
TEXT 145
j�āna-vairāgyādi--bhaktira kabhu nahe 'aṅga'
ahiṁsā-yama-niyamādi bule kṛṣṇa-bhakta-saṅga
SYNONYMS
j�āna—the path of knowledge; vairāgya-ādi—the path of renunciation and so on; bhaktira—of devotional service; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; aṅga—a part; ahiṁsā—nonviolence; yama—controlling the senses and the mind; niyama-ādi—restrictions and so on; bule—roam; kṛṣṇa-bhakta-saṅga—in the association of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
"The path of speculative knowledge and renunciation is not very essential for devotional service. Indeed, good qualities such as nonviolence and mind and sense control automatically accompany a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
PURPORT
Sometimes a neophyte devotee or ordinary person thinks highly of speculative knowledge, austerity, penances and renunciation, thinking them the only path for advancement in devotional service. Actually this is not a fact. The path of knowledge, mystic yoga and renunciation has nothing to do with the pure soul. When one is temporarily in the material world, such processes may help a little, but they are not necessary for a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. In the material world, such activities end in material enjoyment or merging into the effulgence of the Supreme. They have nothing to do with the eternal loving service of the Lord. If one abandons speculative knowledge and simply engages in devotional service, he has attained his perfection. The devotee has no need for speculative knowledge, pious activity or mystic yoga. All these are automatically present when one renders the Lord transcendental loving service.
TEXT 146
tasmān mad-bhakti-yuktasya
yogino vai mad-ātmanaḥ
na j�ānaṁ na ca vairāgyaṁ
prāyaḥ śreyo bhaved iha
SYNONYMS
tasmāt—therefore; mat-bhakti—in My devotional service; yuktasya—of one who is engaged; yoginaḥ—the first-class yogī or mystic; vai—certainly; mat-ātmanaḥ—whose mind is always engaged in Me; na—not; j�ānam—speculative knowledge; na—not; ca—also; vairāgyam—dry renunciation; prāyaḥ—for the most part; śreyaḥ—beneficial; bhavet—would be; iha—in this world.
TRANSLATION
" 'For one who is fully engaged in My devotional service, whose mind is fixed on Me in bhakti-yoga, the path of speculative knowledge and dry renunciation is not very beneficial.'
PURPORT
The path of devotional service is always independent of other activity. The path of speculative knowledge or mystic yoga may be a little beneficial in the beginning, but it cannot be considered part of devotional service. This verse (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.31) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa when He was speaking to Uddhava before His departure from this material world. These are important instructions given directly by Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Uddhava asked the Lord about the two kinds of instructions given in the Vedas. One instruction is called pravṛtti-mārga, and the other is called nivṛtti-mārga. These are directions for enjoying the material world according to regulative principles and then giving up the material world for higher spiritual understanding. Sometimes one does not know whether to practice speculative knowledge or mystic yoga for advancement in spiritual knowledge. Kṛṣṇa explains to Uddhava that the mechanical process of speculative knowledge and yoga is not necessary for advancing in devotional service. Devotional service is completely spiritual; it has nothing to do with material things. It is awakened by hearing and chanting in the association of devotees. Because devotional service is always transcendental, it has nothing to do with material activity.
TEXT 147
ete na hy adbhutā vyādha
tavāhiṁsādayo guṇāḥ
hari-bhaktau pravṛttā ye
na te syuḥ paratāpinaḥ
SYNONYMS
ete—all these; na—not; hi—certainly; adbhutāḥ—wonderful; vyādha—O hunter; tava—your; ahiṁsā-ādayaḥ—nonviolence and others; guṇāḥ—qualities; hari-bhaktau—in devotional service; pravṛttāḥ—engaged; ye—those who; na—not; te—they; syuḥ—are; paratāpinaḥ—envious of other living entities.
TRANSLATION
" 'O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those who are engaged in the Lord's devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others because of envy.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Skanda Purāṇa.
TEXT 148
vaidhī-bhakti-sādhanera kahiluṅ vivaraṇa
rāgānugā-bhaktira lakṣaṇa śuna, sanātana
SYNONYMS
vaidhī-bhakti—of devotional service according to the regulative principles; sādhanera—of the execution; kahiluṅ—I have made; vivaraṇa—description; rāgānugā-bhaktira—of spontaneous devotional service; lakṣaṇa—the symptoms; śuna—please hear; sanātana—O Sanātana.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanātana, I have now in detail described devotional service according to the regulative principles. Now hear from Me about spontaneous devotional service and its characteristics.
TEXT 149
rāgātmikā-bhakti--'mukhyā' vraja-vāsi-jane
tāra anugata bhaktira 'rāgānugā'-nāme
SYNONYMS
rāgātmikā-bhakti—spontaneous devotional service; mukhyā—preeminent; vraja-vāsi-jane—in the inhabitants of Vraja, or Vṛndāvana; tāra—that; anugata—following; bhaktira—of devotional service; rāgānugā-nāme—named rāgānugā or following after spontaneous devotional service.
TRANSLATION
"The original inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are attached to Kṛṣṇa spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called rāgātmikā bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, his devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti.
PURPORT
In his Bhakti-sandarbha, Jīva Gosvāmī states:
tad evaṁ tat-tad-abhimāna-lakṣaṇa-bhāva-viśeṣveṇa svābhāvika-rāgasya vaiśiṣṭye sati tat-tad-rāga-prayuktā śravaṇa-kīrtana-smaraṇa-pāda-sevana-vandanātma-nivedana-prāyā bhaktis teṣāṁ rāgātmikā bhaktir ity ucyate.... tatas tadīyaṁ rāgaṁ rucyānugacchantī sā rāgānugā.
When a pure devotee follows the footsteps of a devotee in Vṛndāvana, he develops rāgānugā bhakti.
TEXT 150
iṣṭe svārasikī rāgaḥ
paramāviṣṭatā bhavet
tanmayī yā bhaved bhaktiḥ
sātra rāgātmikoditā
SYNONYMS
iṣṭe—unto the desired object of life; svārasikī—appropriate for one's own original aptitude of love; rāgaḥ—attachment; parama-āviṣṭatā—absorption in the service of the Lord; bhavet—is; tat-mayī—consisting of that transcendental attachment; yā—which; bhavet—is; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; sā—that; atra—here; rāgātmikā-uditā—called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.
TRANSLATION
" 'When one becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his natural inclination to love is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord. That is called transcendental attachment, and devotional service according to that attachment is called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.272).
TEXT 151
iṣṭe 'gāḍha-tṛṣṇā'--rāgera svarūpa-lakṣaṇa
iṣṭe 'āviṣṭatā'--ei taṭastha-lakṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
iṣṭe—in the desired object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gāḍha-tṛṣṇā—deep attachment; rāgera—of spontaneous love; svarūpa-lakṣaṇa—the primary symptom; iṣṭe—unto the Supreme; āviṣṭatā—absorption; ei—this; taṭastha-lakṣaṇa—the marginal symptom.
TRANSLATION
"The primary characteristic of spontaneous love is deep attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Absorption in Him is a marginal characteristic.
TEXT 152
rāgamayī-bhaktira haya 'rāgātmikā' nāma
ta-hā śuni' lubdha haya kona bhāgyavān
SYNONYMS
rāga-mayī—consisting of attachment; bhaktira—of devotional service; haya—is; rāgātmikā—spontaneous love; nāma—the name; tāhā śuni'-hearing this; lubdha—covetous; haya—becomes; kona bhāgyavān—some fortunate person.
TRANSLATION
"Thus devotional service which consists of rāga [deep attachment] is called rāgātmikā, spontaneous loving service. If a devotee covets such a position, he is considered to be most fortunate.
TEXT 153
lobhe vraja-vāsīra bhāve kare anugati
śāstra-yukti nāhi māne--rāgānugāra prakṛti
SYNONYMS
lobhe-in such covetousness; vraja-vāsīra bhāve-in the moods of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, Vraja; kare anugati-follows; śāstra-yukti-injunctions or reasonings of the śāstras; nāhi māne-does not abide by; rāgānugāra-of spontaneous love; prakṛti-the nature.
TRANSLATION
"If one follows in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana out of such transcendental covetousness, he does not care for the injunctions or reasonings of śāstra. That is the way of spontaneous love.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that a devotee is attracted by the service of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-namely the cowherd men, Mahārāja Nanda, mother Yaśodā, Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs, and the cows and calves. An advanced devotee is attracted by the service rendered by an eternal servitor of the Lord. This attraction is called spontaneous attraction. Technically it is called svarūpa-upalabdhi. This stage is not achieved in the beginning. In the beginning one has to render service strictly according to the regulative principles set forth by the revealed scriptures and spiritual master. By continuously rendering service through the process of vaidhī bhakti, one's natural inclination is gradually awakened. That is called spontaneous attraction, or rāgānugā bhakti.
An advanced devotee situated on the platform of spontaneity is already very expert in śāstric instruction, logic and argument. When he comes to the point of eternal love for Kṛṣṇa, no one can deviate him from that position, neither by argument nor by śāstric evidence. An advanced devotee has realized his eternal relationship with the Lord, and consequently he does not accept the logic and arguments of others. Such an advanced devotee has nothing to do with the sahajiyās, who manufacture their own way and commit sins by indulging in illicit sex, intoxication and gambling, if not meat-eating. Sometimes the sahajiyās imitate advanced devotees and live in their own whimsical way, avoiding the principles set down in the revealed scriptures. Unless one follows the six Gosvāmīs-Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Raghunātha dāsa-one cannot be a bona fide spontaneous lover of Kṛṣṇa. In this connection, Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says: rūpa-raghunātha-pade haibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhaba se yugala pirīti. The sahajiyās' understanding of the love affairs between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is not bona fide because they do not follow the principles laid down by the six Gosvāmīs. Their illicit connection and their imitation of the dress of Rūpa Gosvāmī as well as their avoidance of the prescribed methods of revealed scriptures will lead them to the lowest regions of hell. These imitative sahajiyās are cheated and unfortunate. They are not equal to advanced devotees (paramahaṁsas). Debauchees and paramahaṁsas are not on the same level.
TEXT 154
virājantīm abhivyaktāṁ
vraja-vāsi-janādiṣu
rāgātmikām anusṛtā
yā sā rāgānugocyate
SYNONYMS
virājantīm—shining intensely; abhivyaktām—fully expressed; vraja-vāsi-jana-ādiṣu—among the eternal inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; rāgātmikā—devotional service consisting of spontaneous love; anusṛtā—following; yā—which; sā—that; rāgānugā—devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous love; ucyate—is said.
TRANSLATION
" 'Devotional service in spontaneous love is vividly expressed and manifested by the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti, or devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.270).
TEXT 155
tat-tad-bhā' vādi-mādhurye
śrute dhīr yad apekṣate
nātra śāstraṁ na yuktiṁ ca
tal lobhotpatti-lakṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
tat-tat—respective; bhāva-ādi-mādhurye—the sweetness of the loving moods (namely śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vātsalya-rasa and mādhurya-rasa) of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; śrute—when heard; dhīḥ—the intelligence; yat—which; apekṣate—depends on; na—not; atra—here; śāstram—revealed scriptures; na—not; yuktim—logic and argument; ca—also; tat—that; lobha—of covetousness to follow in the footsteps; utpatti-lakṣaṇam—the symptom of awakening.
TRANSLATION
" 'When an advanced realized devotee hears about the affairs of the devotees of Vṛndāvana-in the mellows of śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya-he becomes inclined in that way, and his intelligence becomes attracted. Indeed, he begins to covet that particular type of devotion. When such covetousness is awakened, one's intelligence no longer depends on the instruction of śāstra, revealed scripture, logic or argument.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.292).
TEXTS 156-157
bāhya, antara,--ihāra dui ta' sādhana
'bāhye' sādhaka-dehe kare śravaṇa-kīrtana
'mane' nija-siddha-deha kariyā bhāvana
rātri-dine kare vraje kṛṣṇera sevana
SYNONYMS
bāhya—externally; antara—internally; ihāra—of this spontaneous love of Godhead; dui—two; ta'-indeed; sādhana—such processes of execution; bāhye—externally; sādhaka-dehe—with the body of an advanced devotee; kare—does; śravaṇa-kīrtana—hearing and chanting; mane—the mind; nija—own; siddha-deha—eternal body or self-realized position; kariyā bhāvana—thinking of; rātri-dine—night and day; kare—executes; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sevana—service.
TRANSLATION
"There are two processes by which one may execute this rāgānugā bhakti-external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the śāstric injunctions, especially hearing and chanting. However, within his mind, in his original purified self-realized position, he serves Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana in his particular way. He serves Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours, all day and night.
TEXT 158
sevā sādhaka-rūpeṇa
siddha-rūpeṇa cātra hi
tad-bhāva-lipsunā kāryā
vraja-lokānusārataḥ
SYNONYMS
sevā—service; sādhaka-rūpeṇa—with the external body as a devotee practicing regulative devotional service; siddha-rūpeṇa—with a body suitable for eternal, self-realized service; ca—also; atra—in this connection; hi—certainly; tat—of that; bhāva—the mood; lipsunā—desiring to obtain; kāryā—to be executed; vraja-loka—of the particular servant of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana; anusārataḥ—by following in the footsteps.
TRANSLATION
" 'The advanced devotee who is inclined to spontaneous loving service should follow the activities of a particular associate of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. He should execute service externally as a regulative devotee as well as internally from his self-realized position. Thus he should perform devotional service both externally and internally.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.295).
TEXT 159
nijābhīṣṭa kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha pācheta' lāgiyā
nirantara sevā kare antarmanā ha�ā
SYNONYMS
nija-abhīṣṭa—one's own choice; kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha—the servitor of Kṛṣṇa; pācheta' lāgiyā—following; nirantara—twenty-four hours a day; sevā—service; kare—executes; antarmanā—within the mind; ha�ā—being.
TRANSLATION
"Actually the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If one wants to engage in spontaneous loving service, he must follow the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and constantly engage in devotional service within his mind.
TEXT 160
kṛṣṇaṁ smaran janaṁ cāsya
preṣṭhaṁ nija-samīhitam
tat-tat-kathā-rataś cāsau
kuryād vāsaṁ vraje sadā
SYNONYMS
kṛṣṇam—Lord Kṛṣṇa; smaran—thinking of; janam—a devotee; ca—and; asya—of His; preṣṭham—very dear; nija-samīhitam—chosen by oneself; tat-tat-kathā—to those respective topics; rataḥ—attached; ca—and; asau—that; kuryāt—should do; vāsam—living; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; sadā—always.
TRANSLATION
" 'The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself, and one should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship to Kṛṣṇa, and one should live in Vṛndāvana. However, if one is physically unable to go to Vṛndāvana, he should mentally live there.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.294).
TEXT 161
dāsa-sakhā-pitrādi-preyasīra gaṇa
rāga-mārge nija-nija-bhāvera gaṇana
SYNONYMS
dāsa—servants; sakhā—friends; pitṛ-ādi—parents; preyasīra gaṇa—conjugal lovers; rāga-mārge—on the path of spontaneous loving service; nija-nija—of one's own choice; bhāvera—of the ecstasy; gaṇana—counting.
TRANSLATION
"Kṛṣṇa has many types of devotees-some are servants, some are friends, some are parents, and some are conjugal lovers. Those who are situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are considered to be on the path of spontaneous loving service.
TEXT 162
na karhicin mat-parāḥ śānta-rūpe
naṅkṣyanti no me 'nimiṣo leḍhi hetiḥ
yeṣām ahaṁ priya ātmā sutaś ca
sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam
SYNONYMS
na—not; karhicit—at any time; mat-parāḥ—devotees of Me; śānta-rūpe—O mother, the symbol of peacefulness; naṅkṣyanti—will perish; no—nor; me—My; animiṣaḥ—time; leḍhi—licks up (destroys); hetiḥ—weapon; yeṣām—of whom; aham—I; priyaḥ—dear; ātmā—the Supersoul; sutaḥ—the son; ca—and; sakhā—friend; guruḥ—spiritual master; suhṛdaḥ—well-wisher; daivam—the Deity; iṣṭam—chosen.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear mother, Devahūti! O emblem of peace! My weapon, the disc of time, never vanquishes those for whom I am very dear, for whom I am the Supersoul, the son, friend, spiritual master, well-wisher, worshipable Deity and desired goal. Since the devotees are always attached to Me, they are never vanquished by the agents of time.'
PURPORT
This was spoken by Kapiladeva to His mother Devahūti and is recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.38). Kapiladeva instructed His mother in sāṅkhya-yoga, but the importance of bhakti-yoga is mentioned here. Later sāṅhkya-yoga was imitated by atheists, whose system was founded by a different Kapiladeva, Ṛṣi Kapiladeva.
TEXT 163
pati-putra-suhṛd-bhrātṛ-
pitṛvan mitravad dharim
ye dhyāyanti sadodyuktās
tebhyo 'pīha namo namaḥ
SYNONYMS
pati—a husband; putra—a son; suhṛt—a friend; bhrātṛ—a brother; pitṛ—a father; vat—like; mitra—an intimate friend; vat—like; harim—on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ye—all those who; dhyāyanti—meditate; sadā—always; udyuktāḥ—full of eagerness; tebhyaḥ—unto them; api—also; iha—here; namaḥ namaḥ—repeated respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
" 'Let me offer my respectful obeisances again and again to those who always eagerly meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a husband, son, friend, brother, father or intimate friend.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.308).
TEXT 164
ei mata kare yebā rāgānugā-bhakti
kṛṣṇera caraṇe tāṅra upajaya 'prīti'
SYNONYMS
ei mata—in this way; kare—executes; yebā—anyone who; rāgānugā-bhakti—spontaneous devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇera caraṇe—to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; tāṅra—his; upajaya—awakens; prīti—affection.
TRANSLATION
"If one engages in spontaneous loving service to the Lord, his affection at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa gradually increases.
TEXT 165
prīty-aṅkure 'rati', 'bhāva'--haya dui nāma
yāhā haite vaśa hana śrī-bhagavān
SYNONYMS
prīti-aṅkure—in the seed of affection; rati—attachment; bhāva—emotion; haya—there are; dui nāma—two names; yāhā haite—from which; vaśa—controlled; hana—is; śrī-bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
"In the seed of affection, there is attachment which goes by two names, rati and bhāva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead comes under the control of such attachment.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments on this verse. Externally a devotee performs all the items of devotional service-śravaṇa and kīrtana-in nine different ways, and within his mind he always thinks of his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana. If one engages himself in the service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in this way, he can transcend the regulative principles enjoined in the śāstras and, through his spiritual master, fully engage in rendering spontaneous love to Kṛṣṇa. In this way, he attains affection at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa actually comes under the control of such spontaneous feelings, and ultimately one can attain association with the Lord.
TEXT 166
yāhā haite pāi kṛṣṇera prema-sevana
eita' kahiluṅ 'abhidheya'-vivaraṇa
SYNONYMS
yāhā haite—from which; pāi—I can get; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prema-sevana—affectionate service; eita'-this; kahiluṅ—I have done; abhidheya-vivaraṇa—description of the means (devotional service) in detail.
TRANSLATION
"That by which one can attain loving service to the Lord I have described in detail as the execution of devotional service called abhidheya.
TEXT 167
abhidheya, sādhana-bhakti ebe kahiluṅ sanātana
saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ, vistāra nā yāya varṇana
SYNONYMS
abhidheya—the means of obtaining the desired object; sādhana-bhakti—devotional service performed by means of the body and senses; ebe—now; kahiluṅ—I have described; sanātana—My dear Sanātana; saṅkṣepe—in short; kahiluṅ—I have described; vistāra—expansion; nā yāya—is not possible; varṇana—describing.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanātana, I have briefly described the process of devotional service in practice, which is the means for obtaining love of Kṛṣṇa. It cannot be described broadly."
TEXT 168
abhidheya sādhana-bhakti śune yei jana
acirāt pāya sei kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
abhidheya—necessary duty; sādhana-bhakti—devotional service in practice; śune—hears; yei jana—anyone who; acirāt—very soon; pāya—gets; sei—that person; kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana—the treasure of love of Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears the process of practical devotional service very soon attains shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in love and affection.
TEXT 169
śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa
SYNONYMS
śrī-rūpa—Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha—Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade—at the lotus feet; yāra—whose; āśa—expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta—the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe—describes; kṛṣṇadāsa—Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Twenty-second Chapter, describing the execution of devotional service.
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