Chapter 2 Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam

The Nectar of Scriptural Word

2.1

        sruti-smrty-adi-sastresu, prapattir yan nirupyate
        tad uktam dvitiyadhyaye, sri-sastra-vacanamrte

        This second chapter, Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam, The Nectar of Scriptural Word, describes surrender as corroborated in the Revealed Scriptures headed by the Vedas (Sruti) and the Religious Codes (Smrti).

2.2
prapattih srutau -
        yo brahmanam vidadhati-purvam yo brahma-vidyam
        tasmai gah palayati sma krsnah
        tam hi devam atma-vrtti-prakasam
        mumuksur vai saranam amum vrajet

Tapanyam (Br: Sam, tika)

Surrender is firmly established by the Vedas -
        "In the beginning of creation, He who created the universal creator, Brahma, and then imparted to Brahma knowledge of Brahman, the Absolute - He is the selfsame Lord Krsna who tends the cows (or nourishes the Vedas [gah means both 'cows' and Vedas]). Those desirous of liberation should surrender unto that Lord, who reveals the innate function of the soul."

2.3-4
tadatmya-yatharthyam smrtau -
        ahankrtir ma-karah syan, na-karas tan nisedhakah
        tasmat tu namasa ksetri-, svatantryam pratisidhyate
        bhagavat-paratantro 'sau, tad ayattatma-jivanah
        tasmat sva-samarthya-vidhim, tyajet sarvam asesatah

Padma-uttara-khanda

The cause of the tangible reality of surrender is expounded in the Standard Codes of Religion (Smrti) -
        "The syllable ma means 'self-asserting ego' (the misconception of considering oneself to be a 'doer'), and the syllable na indicates its prevention. Thus, the act of offering obeisances (namah) nullifies the offerer's independence. The soul is naturally subordinate to the Almighty, his intrinsic nature and innate function being servitude to the Supreme Lord. Therefore, all actions performed thinking, 'I am the doer,' should be utterly abandoned."

2.5
ahankarad-aprapattih -
        ahankara-nivrttanam, kesavo nahi duragah
        ahankara-yutanam hi, madhye parvata-rasayah

Br: Vai:

The only obstacle to surrender is self-asserting ego -
        "The Supreme Lord Kesava remains in the company of persons who are free from a mundane conception of life; but there appears to be a great mountain range between the self-asserting egotists and the Lord."

2.6
advaya-jnanam anasritanam eva jagad-darsanam -
        yavat prthaktvam idam atmana indriyartha-
        maya-balam bhagavato jana isa pasyet
        tavan na samsrtir asau pratisankrameta
        vyarthapi duhkha-nivaham vahati kriyartha

Bha: 3.9.9

Persons who do not take shelter of the One without a second, the Supreme Lord, simply loiter in the world of birth and death -
        "O Lord, Soul of all souls, the conditioned soul sees this universe as separate from You, and thinks it is meant for his sense enjoyment. But this is only a creation of Your deluding potency (maya). As long as the living being clings to such an illusory separate interest, he does not give up the miserable world of action and reaction, birth and death, despite its utter meaninglessness."

2.7
tan nityatvam, tad abhave atmano vancitatvat -
        prapyapi durllabhataram,.manusyam vibudhepsitam
        yair asrito na govindas, tair atma vancitas ciram

Br: Vai:

The unsurrendered soul is perpetually deceived; thus, the state of surrender is eternal -
        "A birth in the human species is so valuable that it is aspired for by the demigods. Those who, despite having taken such a birth, do not take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda - they deceive themselves perpetually."

2.8-9
aprapannanam jivana-vaiphalyac ca -
        asitin caturas caiva, laksams tan jiva-jatisu
        bhramyadbhih purusaih prapya, manusyam janma-paryayat
        tad apy aphalatam yatam, tesam atmabhimaninam
        varakanam anasritya, govinda-carana-dvayam

Br: Vai:

The utter futility of life without surrender -
        "After wandering throughout 8,400,000 species, the soul eventually takes a human birth. But that human birth is rendered worthless by those miserable fellows who are so proud of their bodies that they refuse to take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Govinda."

2.10
sarvadhamesv api mukti-datrtvam -
        sarvacara-vivarjitah satha-dhiyo vratya jagad-vancaka
        dambhahankrti-pana-paisuna-parah papantyaja nisthurah
        ye canye dhana-dara-putra-niratah sarvadhamas te 'pi hi
        sri-govinda-padaravinda-sarana mukta bhavanti dvija

Narasimha

Even the lowest of men are liberated by surrender -
        "O twice-born, persons who are devoid of all virtuous practices, who are outcast, rogues, deceitful, audacious, egotistic, addicted to intoxicants, hotbeds of sin, malicious, cruel-natured, grossly infatuated with son, wife, wealth, etc. - even such extremely fallen persons are liberated by surrendering unto the lotus feet of Sri Govinda."

2.11
tan nisthasya nadho-gatih -
        paramartham asesasya, jagatam adi karanam
        saranyam saranam yato, govindam navasidati

Br: Na:

A surrendered soul never falls down -
        "Sri Govinda is the origin of all the universes, the Supreme Truth, and the shelter of all. One who surrenders unto His lotus feet can never be cast asunder."

2.12-13
duhkha-haratvam mano-haratvan ca -
        sthitah priya-hite nityam, ya eva purusarsabhah
        rajams tava yadu-srestho, vaikunthah purusottamah
        ya enam samsrayantiha, bhaktya narayanam harim
        te tarantiha durgani, na me 'trasti vicarana

Mahabharata, Santi-parva

Surrender unto the Supreme Lord Hari vanquishes misery and charms the heart with the Lord's divine sweetness -
        "O King, what more can I say? The foremost of the Yadu dynasty, the unassailable great personality who is full of goodwill for you and always your dear friend - He is none other than the Supreme Lord Narayana, Sri Hari. Those who devotedly take full refuge in Him cross over this insurmountable ocean of material existence."

2.14
abhayamrta-datrtvan ca -
        ye sankha-cakrabja-karam hi sarnginam
        khagendra-ketum varadam sriyah patim
        samasrayante bhava-bhiti-nasanam
        tesam bhayam nasti vimukti-bhajam

Vamana

Completely vanquishing all fear, surrender bestows the life of eternal nectar -
        "The Lord of the Goddess of Fortune bears a conchshell, disc, lotus flower, and bow; He is the Master of Garuda, He is the vanquisher of the fear of mundane existence, He is the bestower of all benedictions. No trace of apprehension remains for those who take refuge in Him, since they qualify for positive immortality."

2.15
sarvartha-sadhakatvam -
        samsare 'smin maha-ghore, moha-nidra-samakule
        ye harim saranam yanti, te krtartha na samsayah

Br: Na:

A surrendered soul is successful in all endeavors -
        "In the dense darkness of this material world which is engulfed in ignorance and sleep, those who surrender unto the holy lotus feet of Lord Hari are successful in all their endeavors. Of this there is no doubt."

2.16
ajitendriyanam api siva-datvam -
        kim durapadanam tesam, pumsam uddama-cetasam
        yair asritas tirtha-padas, carano vyasanatyayah

Bha: 3.23.42

By surrender, even persons of uncontrolled senses attain all good fortune -
        "The lotus feet of Lord Hari vanquish material existence. By surrendering unto His lotus feet, nothing remains difficult to achieve, even for a person of agitated mind."

2.17
samsara-klesa-haritvam -
        sarira manasa divya, vaiyase ye ca manusah
        bhautikas ca katham klesa, badheran hari-samsrayam

Bha: 3.22.37

All worldly suffering is vanquished for the surrendered soul -
        "O Vidura, how can a person who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Hari be stricken with bodily and mental tribulation arising from the elements, other persons, or unfavorable astrological circumstances?"

2.18
saranagatanam ayatna-siddham eva param padam -
        samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
        mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
        bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
        padam padam yad vipadam na tesam

Bha: 10.14.53

The Supreme Abode of Lord Visnu is effortlessly attainable for the surrendered souls -
        "This ocean of material existence is as insignificant as the water in a cow's hoofprint to those persons who have taken full refuge in the supreme shelter - the boat of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, whose glories are universally sung as purity's own self. Their destination is the Lord's supreme abode, never this mundane abode of calamities."

2.19
sarvatmasritanam vivarta nivrttih -
        yesam sa eva bhagavan dayayed anantah
        sarvatmanasrita-pado yadi nirvyalikam
        te dustaram atitaranti ca deva-mayam
        naisam mamaham iti dhih sva-srgala-bhaksye

Bha: 2.7.42

The illusion of bodily identification and mundane possessiveness is dispelled for the souls surrendered to the Lord in all respects -
        "Due to their taking shelter of His lotus feet in all respects, those persons upon whom the Infinite Supreme Lord bestows His unreserved grace surpass the insurmountable illusory energy of the Lord. He does not favor those who ascribe the conceptions of 'I and mine' to this material body, which is food for jackals and hounds."

2.20
tad upeksitanam duhkha-pratikarah ksanika eva -
        balasya neha saranam pitarau nrsimha
        nartasya cagadam udanvati majjato nauh
        taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihanjasestas
        tavad vibho tanu-bhrtam tvad-upeksitanam

Bha: 7.9.19

For persons devoid of a relationship with the Supreme Lord Hari, prevention of suffering cannot but be transitory -
        "O Nrsimha, O Almighty Lord, precautions and remedies are only short-lived when attempted by the suffering embodied souls who are not favored by You. Parents are not the guardians of their child, medicine is not the cure for the diseased, and a boat is not the savior of a man drowning in the ocean."

2.21
anasritanam asad avagrahad eva vividharttih -
        tavad bhayam dravina-deha-suhrn-nimittam
        sokah sprha paribhavo vipulas ca lobhah
        tavan mamety asad-avagraha arti-mulam
        yavan na te 'nghrim abhayam pravrnita lokah

Bha: 3.9.6

The various tribulations of the unsurrendered souls are simply due to their obsession with the unreal -
        "O Lord, as long as the people of the world do not take the safe and sound shelter of Your lotus feet, they remain full of anxiety about their wealth, their bodies, and their friends; overwhelmed with lamentation, hankering, obsession, and intense greed, they cannot obtain relief from the suffering which is deeply rooted in their imaginary conceptions of ÔI and mineÕ."

2.22
paripurna-kamo harir evasrayaniyo 'nyad-heyam -
        avismitam tam paripurna-kamam, svenaiva labhena samam prasantam
        vinopasarpaty aparam hi balisah, sva-langulenatititartti sindhum

Bha: 6.9.22

One should take refuge in the fully self-satisfied Supreme Lord Hari; the shelter of 'other gods' yields a lamentably inferior result -
        "Lord Krsna is perfectly replete in everything desirable, fully self-sufficient, poised and tranquil. Nothing can be astonishing for Him. Only a fool disregards Him to take shelter in any demigod whose propitiation may be prescribed for the accomplishment of worldly benefits. Such a person may be compared to one who seizes a dog's tail in order to cross the ocean."

2.23
harer eva sarvoddharitvam -
        kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
        abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
        ye 'nye ca papa yad-upasrayasrayah
        sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah

Bha: 2.4.18

Only Sri Hari is capable of delivering the living being in all circumstances -
        "Persons such as those belonging to the races known as Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha (Kanka), Yavana, and Khasa - nay, persons of each and every sinful birth are perfectly purified without a doubt, by taking shelter of the devotees surrendered to Lord Visnu, the Almighty. I do offer my respectful obeisances unto Him."

2.24
hari-caranasrita eva sara-grahino 'nyatha karma-yogadibhir atma-ghatitvam -
        athata ananda-dugham padambujam
        hamsah srayerann aravinda-locana
        sukham nu visvesvara yoga-karmabhis
        tan mayayami vihata na maninah

Bha: 11.29.3

Only surrendered souls can properly distinguish substance from form; those who disregard Lord Hari to seek happiness on the empirical paths based on yoga and karma are simply on a suicidal course -
        "O lotus-eyed one, the swans (topmost pure devotees, paramahamsas) take refuge in Your ecstasy-yielding lotus feet. O Universal Lord, those who do not accept the joy of the shelter of Your lotus feet and pursue the paths of abstract liberation and mundane acquisition - such persons are devastated by Your deluding potency."

2.25
krsna-carana-saranagateh parama-sadhyatvam -
        na naka-prstham na ca sarva-bhaumam
        na paramesthyam na rasadhipatyam
        na yoga-siddhir apunar-bhavam va
        vanchanti yat pada-rajah prapannah

Bha: 10.16.37

Full refuge in the lotus feet of Sri Krsna is the supreme objective -
        "Those souls who have taken refuge in the dust of Your lotus feet have no desire to attain heaven, universal dominion, the post of Lord Brahma, sovereignty over the earth, yogic perfections, or liberation."

2.26
hari-prapannanam anya-nistara-samarthyam-atmaramanam api hari-pada-prapattis ca -
        yat pada-samsrayah suta, munayah prasamayanah
        sadyah punanty upasprstah, svardhuny-apo 'nusevaya

Bha: 1.1.15

Souls surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord Hari are competent to deliver others, and the fully self-satisfied souls also surrender to the Lord's lotus feet -
        "The slightest association with the supremely tranquil sages who have surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord purifies the people of the world; but the river Ganga purifies only those who bathe in it."

2.27
sri-krsnaika-sarana naiva vidhi-kinkarah -
        devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
        na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan
        sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
        gato mukundam parihrtya karttam

Bha: 11.5.41

Those souls who have exclusively surrendered unto Krsna are not subservient to scriptural injunctions and prohibitions -
        "O King, one who abandons all worldly obligations and wholeheartedly surrenders unto Mukunda, the exclusive shelter of all beings in every respect - such a person is no longer indebted to the demigods, sages, other life-forms, friends and relatives, mankind, and ancestors."

2.28
tad anugrhita veda-dharmatita eva -
        yada yasyanugrhnati, bhagavan atma-bhavitah
        sa jahati matim loke, vede ca parinisthitam

Bha: 4.29.45

The recipients of the Lord's mercy are transcendental to Vedic religiosity -
        "Because of the intense love of His surrendered soul, the Supreme Lord bestows His grace upon that devotee by ushering divine inspiration into his heart. Such a devotee then abandons the preoccupation with adhering to worldly obligations and Vedic religiosity."

2.29
sri-krsna-svarupam eva paramasraya-padam -
        dasame dasamam laksyam, asritasraya-vigraham
        sri-krsnakhyam param dhama, jagad-dhama namami tat

Bhavartha-dipika, Bha: 10.1.1

As the epitome of divine ecstasy (rasa), the Supreme Lord's original form - Krsna - is the highest refuge -
        "In the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Krsna has been distinguished as the embodiment of shelter for the surrendered souls. I bow down unto that supreme refuge of the universe, who is known as ÔKrsnaÕ."

2.30
sriman-mahaprabhoh padasraya-mahatmyam -
        dhyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhista-doham
        tirthaspadam siva-virinci-nutam saranyam
        bhrtyarti-ham pranata-pala-bhavabdhi-potam
        vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam

Bha: 11.5.33

The matchless, unsurpassable gift of surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatara who enacts His pastimes as a great devotee -
        "O guardian of the surrendered, O great personality (the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, who enacts His divine pastimes as a pure devotee [maha-bhagavata]), You alone are the reality to be constantly meditated upon by the pure souls. You are the destroyer of the soul's illusion, You are the divine wish-fulfilling tree, the refuge of all devotees. Worshippable by Siva and Virinci (Sadasiva in the form of Sri Advaita Acarya, and Brahma in the form of Haridasa Thakura), You are the shelter of all and everything, and You are the dispeller of Your devotee's suffering which originates in offenses to the holy name (nama-aparadha). You are the only boat for crossing the ocean of this material world of suffering. I do worship Your holy lotus feet."

2.31
sri-caitanya-carana-sarane cid-eka-rasa-vilasa-labhah -
        samsara-sindhu-tarane hrdayam yadi syat
        sankirtanamrta-rase ramate manas cet
        premambudhau viharane yodi citta-vrttis
        caitanya-candra-carane saranam prayatu

Caitanya-candramrta 8.93

The souls surrendered unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyadeva bathe in the ocean of divine love -
        "If you have a desire to cross the ocean of material existence, an aspiration to taste the ecstasy of the nectarean congregational chanting of the holy names (sankirtana), and a longing to sport in the ocean of divine love - then please surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyacandra."

2.32
sad-vidha-saranagatih -
        anukulyasya-sankalpah, pratikulya-vivarjjanam
        raksisyatiti visvaso, goptrtve varanam tatha
        atma-niksepa-karpanye, sad-vidha saranagatih

Vaisnava-tantra

Six divisions of surrender -
        "Acceptance of the favorable, rejection of the unfavorable, the faith that 'He will surely protect me,' embracing the Lord's guardianship, complete dependence on Him, and the perception of one's utter helplessness without Him - these six are the essential limbs of exclusive surrender to the Lord (saranagati)."

2.33
sa ca kaya-mano-vakyaih sadhya -
        tavasmiti vadan vaca, tathaiva manasa vidan
        tat sthanam asritas tanva, modate saranagatah

Vaisnava-tantra

Saranagati should be practiced in thought, word, and deed -
"By his power of speech, the surrendered soul declares, 'I am Yours'; in his thoughts, he knows the same; and in person, he takes refuge in the Lord's holy abode. In this way the surrendered soul passes his life, his heart filled with joy."

iti sri-prapanna-jivanamrte
sri-sastra-vacanamrtam nama dvitiyo 'dhyayah

thus ends the second chapter
The Nectar of Scriptural Word
in
Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls
Positive and Progressive Immortality

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