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Chapter 22
The Process of Devotional Service
In this Twenty-second Chapter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The speculative method of the so-called jnanis is considered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and mystic yoga. One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of Krsna consciousness. In this way one's life will be successful. If one takes to Krsna 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 Krsna Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the blessings of a pure devotee (sa mahatma sudurlabhah). A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one's dormant Krsna 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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 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 Krsna 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. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 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
TEXT
vande sri-krsna-caitanya-
devam tam karunarnavam
kalav apy ati-gudheyam
bhaktir yena prakasita
SYNONYMS
vande--I offer my respectful obeisances; sri-krsna-caitanya-devam--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tam--unto Him; karuna-arnavam--who is an ocean of mercy; kalau--in this Age of Kali; api--even; ati--very; gudha--confidential; iyam--this; bhaktih--devotional service; yena--by whom; prakasita--manifested.
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 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
TEXT
jaya jaya sri-krsna-caitanya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya--all glories; sri-krsna-caitanya nityananda--to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Prabhu; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! All glories to all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!
TEXT 3
TEXT
eita kahilun sambandha-tattvera vicara
veda-sastre upadese, krsna----eka sara
SYNONYMS
eita--thus; kahilun--I have described; sambandha-tattvera vicara--consideration of one's relationship with Krsna; veda-sastre--all Vedic literature; upadese--instructs; krsna--Lord Krsna; eka sara--the only essential point.
TRANSLATION
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I have described one's relation with Krsna in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Krsna is the center of all activities.
TEXT 4
TEXT
ebe kahi, suna, abhidheya-laksana
yaha haite pai----krsna, krsna-prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
ebe--now; kahi--I shall explain; suna--please hear; abhidheya-laksana--one's prime business (devotional service); yaha haite--from which; pai--one can get; krsna--Lord Krsna; krsna-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 Krsna and His loving transcendental service.
TEXT 5
TEXT
krsna-bhakti----abhidheya, sarva-sastre kaya
ataeva muni-gana kariyache niscaya
SYNONYMS
krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Lord Krsna; abhidheya--the real activity of life; sarva-sastre--all Vedic literatures; kaya--say; ataeva--therefore; muni-gana--all saintly persons; kariyache--have made; niscaya--ascertainment.
TRANSLATION
"A human being's activities should be centered only about devotional service to Lord Krsna. That is the verdict of all Vedic literatures, and all saintly people have ascertained this.
TEXT 6
TEXT
srutir mata prsta disati bhavad-aradhana-vidhim
yatha matur vani smrtir api tatha vakti bhagini
puranadya ye va sahaja-nivahas te tad-anuga
atah satyam jnatam murahara bhavan eva saranam
SYNONYMS
srutih--Vedic knowledge; mata--like a mother who is affectionate to her children; prsta--when questioned; disati--she directs; bhavat--of You; aradhana--worship; vidhim--the process; yatha--just as; matuh vani--the instructions of the mother; smrtih--smrti-sastras, which explain the Vedic literatures; api--also; tatha--similarly; vakti--express; bhagini--like a sister; purana-adyah--headed by the Puranas; ye--which; va--or; sahaja-nivahah--like brothers; te--all of them; tat--of the mother; anugah--followers; atah--therefore; satyam--the truth; jnatam--known; mura-hara--O killer of the demon Mura; bhavan--Your Lordship; eva--only; saranam--the shelter.
TRANSLATION
" 'When the mother Vedas [sruti] is questioned as to whom to worship, she says that You are the only Lord and worshipable object. Similarly, the corollaries of the sruti-sastras, the smrti-sastras, give the same instructions, just like sisters. The Puranas, 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
TEXT
advaya-jnana-tattva krsna----svayam bhagavan
'svarupa-sakti' rupe tanra haya avasthana
SYNONYMS
advaya-jnana--of nondual knowledge; tattva--the principle; krsna--Lord Krsna; svayam bhagavan--Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svarupa--personal expansions; sakti--of potencies; rupe--in the form; tanra--His; haya--there is; avasthana--existence.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna 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. Krsna is described as the source of all potencies, and He is also identified with the external potency, the material energy. Krsna also has internal potencies, or spiritual potencies, which are always engaged in His personal service. His internal potency is different from His external potency. Krsna's internal potency and Krsna Himself, who is the potent, are always identical.
TEXT 8
TEXT
svamsa-vibhinnamsa-rupe hana vistara
ananta vaikuntha-brahmande karena vihara
SYNONYMS
sva-amsa--of personal expansions; vibhinna-amsa--of separated expansions; rupe--in the forms; hana--becoming; vistara--expanded; ananta--unlimited; vaikuntha--in the spiritual planets known as Vaikunthas; brahmande--in the material universes; karena vihara--performs His pastimes.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna 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 Vaikuntha planets, and the material universes are brahmandas, gigantic globes governed by Lord Brahma.
TEXT 9
TEXT
svamsa-vistara----catur-vyuha, avatara-gana
vibhinnamsa jiva----tanra saktite ganana
SYNONYMS
sva-amsa-vistara--the expansion of His personal forms; catuh-vyuha--His quadruple form; avatara-gana--the incarnations; vibhinna-amsa--His separated forms; jiva--the living entities; tanra--His; saktite--in the category of potency; ganana--calculating.
TRANSLATION
"Expansions of His personal self-like the quadruple manifestations of Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Vasudeva-descend as incarnations from Vaikuntha to this material world. The separated expansions are living entities. Although they are expansions of Krsna, they are counted among His different potencies.
PURPORT
The personal expansions are known as visnu-tattva, and the separated expansions are known as jiva-tattva. Although the jivas (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-gita:
apareyam itas tv anyam
prakrtim viddhi me param
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate 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 Krsna's parts and parcels, they are prakrti, not purusa. Sometimes prakrti (a living entity) attempts to imitate the activities of the purusa. 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 visnu-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 Krsna 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 Krsna consciousness movement must be very alert to defy these rascals who are presently misleading the whole world. One such rascal, known as Paundraka, appeared before Lord Krsna, and the Lord immediately killed him. Of course, those who are Krsna's servants cannot kill such imitation gods, but they should try their best to defeat them through the evidence of sastra, authentic knowledge received through the disciplic succession.
TEXT 10
TEXT
sei vibhinnamsa jiva----dui ta' prakara
eka----'nitya-mukta', eka----'nitya-samsara'
SYNONYMS
sei vibhinna-amsa--that separated part and parcel of Krsna; jiva--the living entity; dui ta' prakara--two categories; eka--one; nitya-mukta--eternally liberated; eka--one; nitya-samsara--perpetually conditioned.
TRANSLATION
"The living entities [jivas] are divided into two categories. Some are eternally liberated, and others are eternally conditioned.
TEXT 11
TEXT
'nitya-mukta'----nitya krsna-carane unmukha
'krsna-parisada' nama, bhunje seva-sukha
SYNONYMS
nitya-mukta--eternally liberated; nitya--always; krsna-carane--the lotus feet of Lord Krsna; unmukha--turned toward; krsna-parisada--associates of Lord Krsna; nama--known as; bhunje--enjoy; seva-sukha--the happiness of service.
TRANSLATION
"Those who are eternally liberated are always awake to Krsna consciousness, and they render transcendental loving service at the feet of Lord Krsna. They are to be considered eternal associates of Krsna, and they are eternally enjoying the transcendental bliss of serving Krsna.
TEXT 12
TEXT
'nitya-bandha'----krsna haite nitya-bahirmukha
'nitya-samsara', bhunje narakadi duhkha
SYNONYMS
nitya-bandha--perpetually conditioned; krsna haite--from Krsna; nitya--eternally; bahih-mukha--averse; nitya-samsara--perpetually conditioned in the material world; bhunje--enjoy; naraka-adi duhkha--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
TEXT
sei dose maya-pisaci danda kare tare
adhyatmikadi tapa-traya tare jari, mare
SYNONYMS
sei dose--because of this fault; maya-pisaci--the witch known as the external energy; danda kare--gives punishment; tare--unto him; adhyatmika-adi--beginning with those pertaining to the body and mind; tapa-traya--the threefold miseries; tare--him; jari'--burning; mare--gives pain.
TRANSLATION
"Due to his being opposed to Krsna consciousness, the conditioned soul is punished by the witch of the external energy, maya. 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
TEXT
kama-krodhera dasa hana tara lathi khaya
bhramite bhramite yadi sadhu-vaidya paya
tanra upadesa-mantre pisaci palaya
krsna-bhakti paya, tabe krsna-nikata yaya
SYNONYMS
kama--of lusty desires; krodhera--and of anger; dasa--the servant; hana--becoming; tara--by them; lathi khaya--is kicked; bhramite bhramite--wandering and wandering; yadi--if; sadhu--a devotee; vaidya--physician; paya--he gets; tanra--his; upadesa-mantre--by instruction and hymns; pisaci--the witch (the external energy); palaya--flees; krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Krsna; paya--obtains; tabe--in this way; krsna-nikata yaya--he goes to Krsna.
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, maya. 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 Krsna, and in this way he can approach nearer and nearer to the Lord.
PURPORT
An explanation of verses 8 through 15 is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. The Lord is spread throughout the creation in His quadruple expansions and incarnations. Krsna 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 maya, the external energy. The ever-conditioned are always under the clutches of the external energy. This is described in Bhagavad-gita:
daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
"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 Krsna, and they are known as krsna-parisada, associates of the Lord. Their only business is enjoying Lord Krsna's company, and even though such eternally liberated persons come within this material world to serve the Lord's purpose, they enjoy Lord Krsna's company without stoppage. The ever-liberated person who works on Krsna's behalf enjoys Lord Krsna'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 (adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika), 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 maya, and this is his disease. If by chance he meets a saintly person who works on Krsna's behalf to deliver conditioned souls, and if he agrees to abide by his order, he can gradually approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
TEXT 16
TEXT
kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas
tesam jata mayi na karuna na trapa nopasantih
utsrjyaitan atha yadu-pate sampratam labdha-buddhis
tvam ayatah saranam abhayam mam niyunksvatma-dasye
SYNONYMS
kama-adinam--of my masters such as lust, anger, greed, illusion and envy; kati--how many; na--not; katidha--in how many ways; palitah--obeyed; durnidesah--undesirable orders; tesam--of them; jata--generated; mayi--unto me; na--not; karuna--mercy; na--not; trapa--shame; na--not; upasantih--desire to cease; utsrjya--giving up; etan--all these; atha--herewith; yadu-pate--O best of the Yadu dynasty; sampratam--now; labdha-buddhih--having awakened intelligence; tvam--You; ayatah--approached; saranam--who are the shelter; abhayam--fearless; mam--me; niyunksva--please engage; atma-dasye--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-rasamrta-sindhu (3.2.35). When we chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra we are saying, "Hare! O energy of the Lord! O my Lord Krsna!" In this way we are simply addressing the Lord and His spiritual potency represented as Radha-Krsna, Sita-Rama, or Laksmi-Narayana. 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
TEXT
krsna-bhakti haya abhidheya-pradhana
bhakti-mukha-niriksaka karma-yoga-jnana
SYNONYMS
krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Lord Krsna; haya--is; abhidheya-pradhana--the chief function of the living entity; bhakti-mukha--of the face of devotional service; niriksaka--observers; karma-yoga-jnana--fruitive activities, mystic yoga and speculative knowledge.
TRANSLATION
"Devotional service to Krsna is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul-karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti-but all are dependent on bhakti.
TEXT 18
TEXT
ei saba sadhanera ati tuccha bala
krsna-bhakti vina taha dite nare phala
SYNONYMS
ei saba--all these; sadhanera--of methods of spiritual activities; ati--very; tuccha--insignificant; bala--strength; krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Lord Krsna; vina--without; taha--all these; dite--to deliver; nare--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 Krsna, jnana 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 krsna-bhakti, devotional service. In other words, the real desired result is to invoke dormant love for Krsna. Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) states:
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
Karma, jnana 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 Maharaja 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, jnana and yoga.
TEXT 19
TEXT
naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam
na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam
kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare
na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam
SYNONYMS
naiskarmyam--which does not produce enjoyment of the resultant action; api--although; acyuta-bhava--of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; varjitam--devoid; na--not; sobhate--looks beautiful; jnanam--speculative knowledge; alam--exceedingly; niranjanam--which is without material contamination; kutah--how much less; punah--again; sasvat--always (at the time of practicing and at the time of achieving the goal); abhadram--inauspicious; isvare--to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; na--not; ca--also; arpitam--dedicated; karma--activities; yat--which; api--although; akaranam--causeless.
TRANSLATION
" 'When pure knowledge is beyond all material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme PersonaIity of Godhead [Krsna], 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12). Even after writing many Vedic literatures, Vyasadeva felt very morose. Therefore his spiritual master, Naradadeva, told him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Up to that time, Srila Vyasadeva had written the karma-kanda and jnana-kanda sections of the Vedas, but he had not written about upasana-kanda, or bhakti. Thus his spiritual master, Narada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Vyasadeva began writing Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TEXT 20
TEXT
tapasvino dana-para yasasvino
manasvino mantra-vidah sumangalah
ksemam na vindanti vina yad-arpanam
tasmai subhadra-sravase namo namah
SYNONYMS
tapasvinah--those engaged in severe austerities and penances; dana-parah--those engaged in giving his possessions as charity; yasasvinah--those famous in society; manasvinah--experts in mental speculation or meditation; mantra-vidah--experts in reciting the Vedic hymns; su-mangalah--very auspicious; ksemam--real, eternal auspiciousness; na--never; vindanti--obtain; vina--without; yat-arpanam--dedicating unto whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); tasmai--unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead; su-bhadra sravase--whose glory is very auspicious; namah namah--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.17).
TEXT 21
TEXT
kevala jnana'mukti' dite nare bhakti vine
krsnonmukhe sei mukti haya vina jnane
SYNONYMS
kevala--only; jnana--speculative knowledge; mukti--liberation; dite--to deliver; nare--is not able; bhakti vine--without devotional service; krsna-unmukhe--if one is attached to the service of Lord Krsna; sei mukti--that liberation; haya--appears; vina--without; jnane--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 Bilvamangala Thakura is relevant here:
bhaktis tvayi sthiratara bhagavan yadi syad
daivena nah phalati divya-kisora-murtih
muktih svayam mukulitanjali sevate 'sman
dharmartha-kama-gatayah samaya-pratiksah
"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
TEXT
sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho
klisyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye
tesam asau klesala eva sisyate
nanyad yatha sthula-tusavaghatinam
SYNONYMS
sreyah-srtim--the auspicious path of liberation; bhaktim--devotional service; udasya--giving up; te--of You; vibho--O my Lord; klisyanti--accept increased difficulties; ye--all those persons who; kevala--only; bodha-labdhaye--for obtaining knowledge; tesam--for them; asau--that; klesalah--trouble; eva--only; sisyate--remains; na--not; anyat--anything else; yatha--as much as; sthula--bulky; tusa--husks of rice; avaghatinam--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4).
TEXT 23
TEXT
daivi hy esa guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
SYNONYMS
daivi--belonging to the Supreme Lord; hi--certainly; esa--this; guna-mayi--made of the three modes; mama--My; maya--external energy; duratyaya--very difficult to surpass; mam--unto Me; eva--certainly; ye--those who; prapadyante--surrender fully; mayam--illusory energy; etam--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-gita (7.14).
TEXT 24
TEXT
'krsna-nitya-dasa'----jiva taha bhuli' gela
ei dose maya tara galaya bandhila
SYNONYMS
krsna-nitya-dasa--eternal servant of Krsna; jiva--the living entity; taha--that; bhuli'--forgetting; gela--went; ei dose--for this fault; maya--the material energy; tara--his; galaya--on the neck; bandhila--has bound.
TRANSLATION
"The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of maya because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Krsna.
TEXT 25
TEXT
tate krsna bhaje, kare gurura sevana
maya-jala chute, paya krsnera carana
SYNONYMS
tate--therefore; krsna bhaje--if one worships Lord Krsna; kare--performs; gurura sevana--service to his spiritual master; maya-jala chute--gets free from the binding net of maya; paya--gets; krsnera carana--shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna.
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 maya and become eligible for shelter at Krsna's lotus feet.
PURPORT
It is a fact that every living entity is eternally a servant of Krsna. This is forgotten due to the influence of maya, which induces one to believe in material happiness. Being illusioned by maya, 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 maya's clutches. However, if by Krsna'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 Sri Krsna's shelter.
TEXT 26
TEXT
cari varnasrami yadi krsna nahi bhaje
svakarma karite se raurave padi' maje
SYNONYMS
cari varna-asrami--followers of the four social and spiritual orders of life; yadi--if; krsna--Lord Krsna; nahi--not; bhaje--serve; sva-karma karite--performing his duty in life; se--that person; raurave--in a hellish condition; padi'--falling down; maje--becomes immersed.
TRANSLATION
"The followers of the varnasrama institution accept the regulative principles of the four social orders [brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra] and four spiritual orders [brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa]. However, if one carries out the regulative principles of these orders but does not render transcendental service to Krsna, he falls into the hellish condition of material life.
PURPORT
One may be a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, or one may perfectly follow the spiritual principles of brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa, but ultimately one falls down into a hellish condition unless one becomes a devotee. Without developing one's dormant Krsna consciousness, one cannot be factually elevated. The regulative principles of varnasrama-dharma in themselves are insufficient for attainment of the highest perfection. That is confirmed in the following two quotations from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.2-3).
TEXT 27
TEXT
mukha-bahuru-padebhyah
purusasyasramaih saha
catvaro jajnire varna
gunair vipradayah prthak
SYNONYMS
mukha--the mouth; bahu--the arms; uru--the waist; padebhyah--from the legs; purusasya--of the Supreme Person; asramaih--the different spiritual orders; saha--with; catvarah--the four; jajnire--appeared; varnah--social orders; gunaih--with particular qualifications; vipra-adayah--brahmanas and so on; prthak--separately.
TRANSLATION
" 'From the mouth of Brahma, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the ksatriyas have come, from his waist the vaisyas have come, and from his legs the sudras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa] combine to make human society complete.
TEXT 28
TEXT
ya esam purusam saksad-
atma-prabhavam isvaram
na bhajanty avajananti
sthanad bhrastah patanty adhah
SYNONYMS
ye--anyone who; esam--of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; purusam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; saksat--directly; atma-prabhavam--the source of everyone; isvaram--the supreme controller; na--not; bhajanti--worship; avajananti--or who neglect; sthanat--from their proper place; bhrastah--being fallen; patanti--fall; adhah--downward into hellish conditions.
TRANSLATION
" 'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varnas and asramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Visnu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a heIlish condition.'
TEXT 29
TEXT
jnani jivan-mukta-dasa painu kari, mane
vastutah buddhi 'suddha' nahe krsna-bhakti vine
SYNONYMS
jnani--the speculative philosophers; jivan-mukta-dasa--the stage of liberation even while in this body; painu--I have gotten; kari'--taking; mane--considers; vastutah--factually; buddhi--intelligence; suddha--purified; nahe--not; krsna-bhakti vine--without devotional service to Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"There are many philosophical speculators [jnanis] belonging to the Mayavada school who consider themselves liberated and call themselves Narayana. However, their intelligence is not purified unless they engage in Krsna's devotional service.
TEXT 30
TEXT
ye 'nye 'ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah
aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah
SYNONYMS
ye--all those who; anye--others (nondevotees); aravinda-aksa--O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-maninah--who consider themselves liberated; tvayi--unto You; asta-bhavat--without devotion; avisuddha-buddhayah--whose intelligence is not purified; aruhya--having ascended; krcchrena--by severe austerities and penances; param padam--to the supreme position; tatah--from there; patanti--fall; adhah--down; anadrta--without respecting; yusmat--Your; anghrayah--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32).
TEXT 31
TEXT
krsna----surya-sama; maya haya andhakara
yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara
SYNONYMS
krsna--Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; surya-sama--like the sun planet; maya--the illusory energy; haya--is; andhakara--darkness; yahan krsna--wherever there is Krsna; tahan--there; nahi--not; mayara--of maya, or the darkness of illusion; adhikara--the jurisdiction.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna is compared to sunshine, and maya is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Krsna consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.
PURPORT
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.34) it is stated:
rte 'rtham yat pratiyeta
na pratiyeta catmani
tad vidyad atmano mayam
yathabhaso yatha tamah
Wherever there is light, there cannot be darkness. When a living entity becomes Krsna 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 Krsna conscious, the modes of darkness and passion immediately vanish, and the remaining mode, sattva-guna (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 Krsna conscious, he continuously hears about Krsna, thinks about Him, worships Him and serves Him as a devotee. If he remains in Krsna consciousness in this way, the darkness of maya certainly will not be able to touch him.
TEXT 32
TEXT
vilajjamanaya yasya
sthatum iksa-pathe 'muya
vimohita vikatthante
mamaham iti durdhiyah
SYNONYMS
vilajjamanaya--being ashamed; yasya--of whom; sthatum--to remain; iksa-pathe--in the line of sight; amuya--by that (maya); vimohitah--bewildered; vikatthante--boast; mama--my; aham--I; iti--thus; durdhiyah--having poor intelligence.
TRANSLATION
" 'The external illusory energy of Krsna, known as maya, is always ashamed to stand in front of Krsna, just as darkness is ashamed to remain before the sunshine. However, that maya 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 maya, but as soon as one becomes Krsna conscious, he is immediately relieved from such misconceptions. This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.5.13). There is also another appropriate verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.47):
sasvat prasantam abhayam pratibodha-matram
suddham samam sad-asatah paramatma-tattvam
sabdo na yatra puru-karakavan kriyartho
maya paraity abhimukhe ca vilajjamana
tad vai padam bhagavatah paramasya pumso
brahmeti yad vidur ajasra-sukham visokam
"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 Brahma when he was questioned by the great sage Narada. Narada was surprised to see the creator of the universe meditating, for he was doubting whether there was someone greater than Lord Brahma. While answering the great sage Narada, Lord Brahma described the position of maya and the bewildered living entities. This verse was spoken in that connection.
TEXT 33
TEXT
'krsna, tomara hana' yadi bale eka-bara
maya-bandha haite krsna tare kare para
SYNONYMS
krsna--O my Lord Krsna; tomara hana--I am Yours; yadi--if; bale--someone says; eka-bara--once; maya-bandha haite--from the bondage of conditional life; krsna--Lord Krsna; tare--him; kare para--releases.
TRANSLATION
"One is immediateIy freed from the clutches of maya if he seriously and sincerely says, 'My dear Lord Krsna, 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
TEXT
sakrd eva prapanno yas
tavasmiti ca yacate
abhayam sarvada tasmai
dadamy etad vratam mama
SYNONYMS
sakrt--once only; eva--certainly; prapannah--surrendered; yah--anyone who; tava--Yours; asmi--I am; iti--thus; ca--also; yacate--prays; abhayam--fearlessness; sarvada--always; tasmai--unto him; dadami--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 Ramayana.
TEXT 35
TEXT
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami 'subuddhi' yadi haya
gadha-bhakti-yoge tabe krsnere bhajaya
SYNONYMS
bhukti--of material enjoyment; mukti--of impersonal liberation; siddhi--of achieving mystic power; kami--desirous; su-buddhi--actually intelligent; yadi--if; haya--he is; gadha--deep; bhakti-yoge--by devotional service; tabe--then; krsnere bhajaya--worships Lord Krsna.
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 Krsna consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Sri Krsna.
TEXT 36
TEXT
akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusam param
SYNONYMS
akamah--a pure devotee with no desire for material enjoyment; sarva-kamah--one who has no end to his desires for material enjoyment; va--or; moksa-kamah--one who desires to merge into the existence of Brahman; udara-dhih--being very intelligent; tivrena--firm; bhakti-yogena--by devotional service; yajeta--should worship; purusam--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 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental Ioving service.'
PURPORT
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10).
TEXT 37
TEXT
anya-kami yadi kare krsnera bhajana
na magiteha krsna tare dena sva-carana
SYNONYMS
anya-kami--one who desires many other things; yadi--if; kare--he performs; krsnera bhajana--devotional service to Lord Krsna; na magiteha--although not asking; krsna--Lord Krsna; tare--to him; dena--gives; sva-carana--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 Krsna's lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Krsna is therefore very merciful.
TEXT 38
TEXT
krsna kahe,----'ama bhaje, mage visaya-sukha
amrta chadi' visa mage,----ei bada murkha
SYNONYMS
krsna kahe--Krsna says; ama bhaje--he worships Me; mage--but requests; visaya-sukha--material happiness; amrta chadi'--giving up the nectar; visa mage--he begs for poison; ei bada murkha--he is a great fool.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna 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
TEXT
ami----vijna, ei murkhe 'visaya' kene diba?
sva-caranamrta diya 'visaya' bhulaiba
SYNONYMS
ami--I; vijna--all-intelligent; ei murkhe--unto this foolish person; visaya--material enjoyment; kene diba--why should I give; sva-carana-amrta--the nectar of shelter at My lotus feet; diya--giving; visaya--the idea of material enjoyment; bhulaiba--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 karmi, jnani or yogi somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Krsna 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 Krsna. If a person wants material profit from devotional service, Krsna condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Krsna, 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 Krsna, our only desire should be to satisfy Krsna. That is pure Krsna consciousness. Surrender does not mean that we demand something from the Lord but that we completely depend on His mercy.
TEXT 40
TEXT
satyam disaty arthitam arthito nrnam
naivarthado yat punar arthita yatah
svayam vidhatte bhajatam anicchatam
iccha-pidhanam nija-pada-pallavam
SYNONYMS
satyam--it is true; disati--He awards; arthitam--that which is desired; arthitah--being requested; nrnam--by human beings; na--not; eva--certainly; artha-dah--giving desired things; yat--which; punah--again; arthita--request; yatah--from which; svayam--Himself; vidhatte--He gives; bhajatam--of those engaged in devotional service; anicchatam--even though not desiring; iccha-pidhanam--covering all other desires; nija-pada-pallavam--the shelter of His own lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
" 'Whenever Krsna 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, Krsna forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.19.27).
TEXT 41
TEXT
kama lagi' krsne bhaje, paya krsna-rase
kama chadi' 'dasa' haite haya abhilase
SYNONYMS
kama lagi'--for fulfillment of one's material desires; krsne bhaje--one engages in the transcendental service of Lord Krsna; paya--he gets; krsna-rase--a taste of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna; kama chadi'--giving up all desires for material enjoyment; dasa haite--to be an eternal servant of the Lord; haya--there is; abhilase--aspiration.
TRANSLATION
"When someone engages in Lord Krsna's devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste to serve Krsna, he gives up his material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Krsna.
TEXT 42
TEXT
sthanabhilasi tapasi sthito 'ham
tvam praptavan deva-munindra-guhyam
kacam vicinvann api divya-ratnam
svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace
SYNONYMS
sthana-abhilasi--desiring a very high position in the material world; tapasi--in severe austerities and penances; sthitah--situated; aham--I; tvam--You; praptavan--have obtained; deva-muni-indra-guhyam--difficult to achieve even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings; kacam--a piece of glass; vicinvan--searching for; api--although; divya-ratnam--a transcendental gem; svamin--O my Lord; krta-arthah asmi--I am fully satisfied; varam--any benediction; na yace--I do not ask.
TRANSLATION
[When he was being benedicted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Maharaja 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
TEXT
samsara bhramite kona bhagye keha tare
nadira pravahe yena kastha lage tire
SYNONYMS
samsara bhramite--wandering throughout the universe; kona bhagye--by some good fortune; keha tare--someone crosses the ocean of nescience; nadira pravahe--in the flow of the river; yena--just as; kastha--wood; lage--sticks; tire--on the bank.
TRANSLATION
"There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Krsna'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
TEXT
maivam mamadhamasyapi
syad evacyuta-darsanam
hriyamanah kala-nadya
kvacit tarati kascana
SYNONYMS
ma--not; evam--thus; mama--of me; adhamasya--who is the most fallen; api--although; syat--there may be; eva--certainly; acyuta-darsanam--seeing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hriyamanah--being carried; kala-nadya--by the stream of time; kvacit--sometimes; tarati--crosses over; kascana--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.38.5).
TEXT 45
TEXT
kona bhagye karo samsara ksayonmukha haya
sadhu-sange tabe krsne rati upajaya
SYNONYMS
kona bhagye--by fortune; karo--of someone; samsara--conditioned life; ksaya-unmukha--on the point of destruction; haya--is; sadhu-sange--by association with devotees; tabe--then; krsne--to Lord Krsna; 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 Krsna is awakened.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains this point. Is this bhagya (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 Krsna consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhi sukrti. Pious activities that bestow material opulence are called bhogonmukhi, and pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme are called moksonmukhi. These last two awards of pious activity are not actually fortunate. Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Krsna conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-unmukhi 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 Krsna consciousness is awakened.
TEXT 46
TEXT
bhavapavargo bhramato yada bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samagamah
sat-sangamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
paravarese tvayi jayate ratih
SYNONYMS
bhava-apavargah--liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramatah--wandering; yada--when; bhavet--should be; janasya--of a person; tarhi--at that time; acyuta--O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samagamah--association with devotees; sat-sangamah--association with devotees; yarhi--when; tada--at that time; eva--only; sat-gatau--the highest goal of life; paravarese--the Lord of the universe; tvayi--to You; jayate--appears; ratih--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.51.53).
TEXT 47
TEXT
krsna yadi krpa kare kona bhagyavane
guru-antaryami-rupe sikhaya apane
SYNONYMS
krsna--Lord Krsna; yadi--if; krpa kare--shows His mercy; kona bhagyavane--to some fortunate person; guru--of the spiritual master; antaryami--of the Supersoul; rupe--in the form; sikhaya--teaches; apane--personally.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna 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
TEXT
naivopayanty apacitim kavayas tavesa
brahmayusapi krtam rddha-mudah smarantah
yo 'ntar bahis tanu-bhrtam asubham vidhunvann
acarya-caittya-vapusa sva-gatim vyanakti
SYNONYMS
na eva--not at all; upayanti--are able to express; apacitim--their gratitude; kavayah--learned devotees; tava--Your; isa--O Lord; brahma-ayusa--with a lifetime equal to Lord Brahma's; api--in spite of; krtam--magnanimous work; rddha--increased; mudah--joy; smarantah--remembering; yah--who; antah--within; bahih--outside; tanu-bhrtam--of those who are embodied; asubham--misfortune; vidhunvan--dissipating; acarya--of the spiritual master; caittya--of the Supersoul; vapusa--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 Brahma, for You appear in two features-externally as the acarya 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.6). It was spoken by Uddhava after he had been instructed in yoga by Sri Krsna.
TEXT 49
TEXT
sadhu-sange krsna-bhaktye sraddha yadi haya
bhakti-phala 'prema' haya, samsara yaya ksaya
SYNONYMS
sadhu-sange--by the association of devotees; krsna-bhaktye--in discharging devotional service to Krsna; sraddha--faith; yadi--if; haya--there is; bhakti-phala--the result of devotional service to Krsna; prema--love of Godhead; haya--awakens; samsara--the conditioned life in material existence; yaya ksaya--becomes vanquished.
TRANSLATION
"By associating with a devotee, one awakens his faith in devotional service to Krsna. Because of devotional service, one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, and thus one's material, conditional existence comes to an end.
TEXT 50
TEXT
yadrcchaya mat-kathadau
jata-sraddhas tu yah puman
na nirvinno natisakto
bhakti-yogo 'sya siddhidah
SYNONYMS
yadrcchaya--by some good fortune; mat-katha-adau--in talk about Me; jata-sraddhah--has awakened his attraction; tu--but; yah puman--a person who; na nirvinnah--not falsely detached; na atisaktah--not attached to material existence; bhakti-yogah--the process of devotional service; asya--for such a person; siddhi-dah--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-gita, 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.8) was spoken by Krsna at the time of His departure from this material world. It was spoken to Uddhava.
TEXT 51
TEXT
mahat-krpa vina kona karme 'bhakti' naya
krsna-bhakti dure rahu, samsara nahe ksaya
SYNONYMS
mahat-krpa--the mercy of great devotees; vina--without; kona karme--by some other activity; bhakti naya--there is not devotional service; krsna-bhakti--love of Krsna or devotional service to Krsna; dure rahu--leaving aside; samsara--the bondage of material existence; nahe--there is not; ksaya--destruction.
TRANSLATION
"Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of krsna-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-gita:
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
"O son of Prtha, 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 mahatma who has accepted Krsna as the supreme source of the entire creation. Without being a mahatma, one cannot understand Krsna's absolute position. A mahatma is rare and transcendental, and he is a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. Foolish people consider Krsna a human being, and they consider Lord Krsna's pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, one must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahatma and treat him as the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of such a mahatma 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 mahatma.
TEXT 52
TEXT
rahuganaitat tapasa na yati
na cejyaya nirvapanad grhad va
na cchandasa naiva jalagni-suryair
vina mahat-pada-rajo-'bhisekam
SYNONYMS
rahugana--O King Rahugana; etat--this; tapasa--by severe austerities and penances; na yati--one does not obtain; na--neither; ca--also; ijyaya--by gorgeous worship; nirvapanat--by renounced order of life; grhat--by sacrifices while living in the home; va--or; na chandasa--nor by scholarly study of the Vedas; na--nor; eva--certainly; jala-agni-suryaih--by those who worship water, fire or scorching sunshine; vina--without; mahat-pada-rajah--of the dust of the lotus feet of a mahatma; abhisekam--the sprinkling.
TRANSLATION
" 'O King Rahugana, without taking upon one's head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a mahajana or mahatma], 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 sannyasa or grhastha order, nor by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.12.12). Jada Bharata herein tells King Rahugana how he attained the paramahamsa stage. Maharaja Rahugana, the King of Sindhu-sauvira, had asked Jada Bharata how he had attained the paramahamsa stage. The King had called him to carry his palanquin, but when the King heard from paramahamsa Jada Bharata about the supreme philosophy, he expressed surprise and asked Jada Bharata how he had attained such great liberation. At that time Jada Bharata informed the King how to become detached from material attraction.
TEXT 53
TEXT
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
SYNONYMS
na--not; esam--of those who are attached to household life; matih--the interest; tavat--that long; urukrama-anghrim--the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is credited with uncommon activities; sprsati--touches; anartha--of unwanted things; apagamah--vanquishing; yat--of which; arthah--result; mahiyasam--of the great personalities, devotees; pada-rajah--of the dust of the lotus feet; abhisekam--sprinkling on the head; niskincananam--who are completely detached from material possessions; na vrnita--does not do; yavat--as long as.
TRANSLATION
" 'Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahatmas-devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions-mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Krsna. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted miserable conditions of material life.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32). When the great sage Narada was giving instructions to Maharaja Yudhisthira, he narrated the activities of Prahlada Maharaja. This verse was spoken by Prahlada Maharaja to his father, Hiranyakasipu, the king of demons. Prahlada Maharaja informed his father of the nine basic processes of bhakti-yoga. Whoever takes to these processes is to be considered a highly learned scholar. Hiranyakasipu, however, did not like his son to talk about devotional service; therefore he immediately called his teacher, Sandamarka. The teacher explained that he did not teach devotional service to Prahlada but that the boy was naturally inclined that way. At that time Hiranyakasipu became very angry and asked Prahlada why he had become a Vaisnava. In answer to this question, Prahlada Maharaja 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
TEXT
'sadhu-sanga', 'sadhu-sanga'----sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya
SYNONYMS
sadhu-sanga sadhu-sanga--association with pure devotees; sarva-sastre--all the revealed scriptures; kaya--say; lava-matra--even for a moment; sadhu-sange--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
TEXT
tulayama lavenapi
na svargam napunar-bhavam
bhagavat-sangi-sangasya
martyanam kimutasisah
SYNONYMS
tulayama--we make equal; lavena--with one instant; api--even; na--not; svargam--heavenly planets; na--nor; apunah-bhavam--merging into the existence of the Supreme; bhagavat-sangi-sangasya--of the association of devotees who are always associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; martyanam--of persons destined to die; kim uta--what; asisah--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimisaranya, headed by Saunaka Rsi. 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
TEXT
krsna krpalu arjunere laksya kariya
jagatere rakhiyachena upadesa diya
SYNONYMS
krsna--Lord Krsna; krpalu--merciful; arjunere--Arjuna; laksya kariya--aiming at; jagatere--the whole world; rakhiyachena--has protected; upadesa diya--giving instructions.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna is so merciful that simply by aiming His instructions at Arjuna, He has given protection to the whole world.
TEXTS 57-58
TEXT
sarva-guhyatamam bhuyah
srnu me paramam vacah
isto 'si me drdham iti
tato vaksyami te hitam
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo 'si me
SYNONYMS
sarva-guhya-tamam--most confidential of all; bhuyah--again; srnu--hear; me--My; paramam vacah--supreme instruction; istah--beloved; asi--you are; me--My; drdham iti--very firmly; tatah--therefore; vaksyami--I shall speak; te--to you; hitam--words of benediction; mat-manah--whose mind is always on Me; bhava--become; mat-bhaktah--My devotee; mat-yaji--My worshiper; mam--unto Me; namaskuru--offer obeisances; mam eva--to Me only; esyasi--you will come; satyam--truly; te--to you; pratijane--I promise; priyah 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-gita (18.64-65).
TEXT 59
TEXT
purva ajna,----veda-dharma, karma, yoga, jnana
saba sadhi' sese ei ajna----balavan
SYNONYMS
purva ajna--previous orders; veda-dharma--performance of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; karma--fruitive activities; yoga--mystic yoga practice; jnana--speculative knowledge; saba sadhi'--executing all these processes; sese--at the end; ei ajna--this order; balavan--powerful.
TRANSLATION
"Although Krsna has previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals, performing fruitive activity as enjoined in the Vedas, practicing yoga and cultivating jnana, these last instructions are most powerful and stand above all the others.
TEXT 60
TEXT
ei ajna-bale bhaktera 'sraddha' yadi haya
sarva-karma tyaga kari' se krsna bhajaya
SYNONYMS
ei ajna-bale--on the strength of this supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktera--of the devotees; sraddha--faith; yadi--if; haya--there is; sarva-karma--all other activities, material and spiritual; tyaga kari'--leaving aside; se--he; krsna bhajaya--serves Lord Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"If the devotee has faith in the strength of this order, he worships Lord Krsna and gives up all other activities.
TEXT 61
TEXT
tavat karmani kurvita
na nirvidyeta yavata
mat-katha-sravanadau va
sraddha yavan na jayate
SYNONYMS
tavat--up to that time; karmani--fruitive activities; kurvita--one should execute; na nirvidyeta--is not satiated; yavata--as long as; mat-katha--of discourses about Me; sravana-adau--in the matter of sravanam, kirtanam, and so on; va--or; sraddha--faith; yavat--as long as; na--not; jayate--is awakened.
TRANSLATION
" 'As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by sravanam kirtanam visnoh, one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.9).
TEXT 62
TEXT
'sraddha'-sabde----visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya
krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya
SYNONYMS
sraddha-sabde--by the word sraddha; visvasa--faith; kahe--is said; sudrdha--firm; niscaya--certain; krsne--unto Lord Krsna; bhakti--devotional service; kaile--by executing; sarva-karma--all activities; krta--completed; haya--are.
TRANSLATION
"By rendering transcendental loving service to Krsna, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called sraddha.
PURPORT
Firm faith and confidence are called sraddha. 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 Krsna 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
TEXT
yatha taror mula-nisecanena
trpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopasakhah
pranopaharac ca yathendriyanam
tathaiva sarvarhanam acyutejya
SYNONYMS
yatha--as; taroh--of a tree; mula--on the root; nisecanena--by pouring water; trpyanti--are satisfied; tat--of the tree; skandha--trunk; bhuja--branches; upasakhah--sub-branches; prana--to the living force; upaharat--from offering food; ca--also; yatha--as; indriyanam--of all the senses; tatha--similarly; eva--indeed; sarva--of all; arhanam--worship; acyuta--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ijya--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 Krsna and rendering Him service, one automatically satisfies all the demigods.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.31.14).
TEXT 64
TEXT
sraddhavan jana haya bhakti-adhikari
'uttama', 'madhyama', 'kanistha'----sraddha-anusari
SYNONYMS
sraddhavan jana--a person with faith; haya--is; bhakti-adhikari--eligible for discharging transcendental loving service to the Lord; uttama--first class; madhyama--intermediate; kanistha--the lowest class; sraddha-anusari--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 sraddhavan (faithful) means understanding Krsna to be the summum bonum, the eternal truth and absolute transcendence. If one has full faith in Krsna 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
TEXT
sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha yanra
'uttama-adhikari' sei taraye samsara
SYNONYMS
sastra-yuktye--in argument and logic; su-nipuna--very expert; drdha-sraddha--firm faith and confidence in Krsna; yanra--whose; uttama-adhikari--the topmost devotee; sei--he; taraye samsara--can deliver the whole world.
TRANSLATION
"One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Krsna is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world.
TEXT 66
TEXT
sastre yuktau ca nipunah
sarvatha drdha-niscayah
praudha-sraddho 'dhikari yah
sa bhaktav uttamo matah
SYNONYMS
sastre--in the revealed scriptures; yuktau--in logic; ca--also; nipunah--expert; sarvatha--in all respects; drdha-niscayah--who is firmly convinced; praudha--deep; sraddhah--who has faith; adhikari--eligible; yah--who; sah--he; bhaktau--in devotional service; uttamah--highest; matah--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-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.17) by Srila Rupa Gosvami.
TEXT 67
TEXT
sastra-yukti nahi jane drdha, sraddhavan
'madhyama-adhikari' sei maha-bhagyavan
SYNONYMS
sastra-yukti--logical arguments on the basis of revealed scripture; nahi--not; jane--knows; drdha--firmly; sraddhavan--faithful; madhyama-adhikari--second-class devotee; sei--he; maha-bhagyavan--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
TEXT
yah sastradisv anipunah
sraddhavan sa tu madhyamah
SYNONYMS
yah--anyone who; sastra-adisu--in the revealed scriptures; anipunah--not very expert; sraddhavan--full of faith; sah--he; tu--certainly; madhyamah--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-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.18).
TEXT 69
TEXT
yahara komala sraddha, se 'kanistha' jana
krame krame tenho bhakta ha-ibe 'uttama'
SYNONYMS
yahara--whose; komala sraddha--soft faith; se--such a person; kanistha jana--a neophyte devotee; krame krame--by a gradual progression; tenho--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
TEXT
yo bhavet komala-sraddhah
sa kanistho nigadyate
SYNONYMS
yah--anyone who; bhavet--may be; komala--soft; sraddhah--having faith; sah--such a person; kanisthah--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-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.19).
TEXT 71
TEXT
rati-prema-taratamye bhakta----tara-tama
ekadasa skandhe tara kariyache laksana
SYNONYMS
rati--of attachment; prema--and love; taratamye--by comparison; bhakta--devotee; tara-tama--superior and superlative; ekadasa skandhe--in the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam; tara--of him; kariyache--has made; laksana--symptoms.
TRANSLATION
"A devotee is considered superlative and superior according to his attachment and love. In the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the following symptoms have been ascertained.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has stated that if one has developed faith in Krsna consciousness, he is to be considered an eligible candidate for further advancement in Krsna consciousness. Those who have faith are divided into three categories-uttama, madhyama and kanistha (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 sastras. He is firmly convinced of the science of Krsna consciousness. The madhyama-adhikari, or second-class devotee, has firm conviction in Krsna consciousness, but he cannot support his conviction by citing sastric 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 Krsna or Krsna consciousness is very good, but he may not know the basis of pure Krsna consciousness or how one can become a perfect devotee. Sometimes in the heart of a neophyte there is attraction for karma, jnana 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 sastras, he becomes a first-class devotee. The devotees are also described as positive, comparative and superlative, in terms of their love and attachment for Krsna.
It should be understood that a madhyama-adhikari, a second-class devotee, is fully convinced of Krsna consciousness but cannot support his convictions with sastric 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 sastric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the sastras 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-adhikari, a first-class devotee.
TEXT 72
TEXT
sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed
bhagavad-bhavam atmanah
bhutani bhagavaty atmany
esa bhagavatottamah
SYNONYMS
sarva-bhutesu--in all objects (in matter, spirit, and combinations of matter and spirit); yah--anyone who; pasyet--sees; bhagavat-bhavam--the ability to be engaged in the service of the Lord; atmanah--of the supreme spirit soul or the transcendence beyond the material conception of life; bhutani--all beings; bhagavati--in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atmani--the basic principle of all existence; esah--this; bhagavata-uttamah--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, Sri Krsna. 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45).
TEXT 73
TEXT
isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
prema-maitri-krpopeksa
yah karoti sa madhyamah
SYNONYMS
isvare--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-adhinesu--to persons who have taken fully to Krsna consciousness; balisesu--unto the neophytes or the ignorant; dvisatsu--to persons envious of Krsna and the devotees of Krsna; prema--love; maitri--friendship; krpa--mercy; upeksa--negligence; yah--anyone who; karoti--does; sah--he; madhyamah--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.46). This statement was made by the great sage Narada 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
TEXT
arcayam eva haraye
pujam yah sraddhayehate
na tad-bhaktesu canyesu
sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah
SYNONYMS
arcayam--in the temple worship; eva--certainly; haraye--for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pujam--worship; yah--anyone who; sraddhaya--with faith and love; ihate--executes; na--not; tat-bhaktesu--to the devotees of the Lord; ca anyesu--and to others; sah--he; bhaktah--a devotee; prakrtah--materialistic; smrtah--is considered.
TRANSLATION
" 'A prakrta, or materialistic devotee does not purposefully study the sastra 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-praya [neophyte devotee], or bhaktabhasa, for he is a little enlightened by Vaisnava philosophy.'
PURPORT
This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.47). Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura 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 Krsna and Krsna'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
TEXT
sarva maha-guna-gana vaisnava-sarire
krsna-bhakte krsnera guna sakali sancare
SYNONYMS
sarva--all; maha--great; guna-gana--transcendental qualities; vaisnava-sarire--in the bodies of Vaisnavas; krsna-bhakte--in the devotees of Lord Krsna; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; guna--the qualities; sakali--all; sancare--appear.
TRANSLATION
"A Vaisnava is one who has developed all good transcendental qualities. All the good qualities of Krsna gradually develop in Krsna's devotee.
TEXT 76
TEXT
yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana
sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah
harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna
mano-rathenasati dhavato bahih
SYNONYMS
yasya--of whom; asti--there is; bhaktih--devotional service; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akincana--without material desires; sarvaih--all; gunaih--with good qualities; tatra--there; samasate--live; surah--the demigods; harau--unto the Lord; abhaktasya--of the nondevotee; kutah--where; mahat-gunah--the high qualities; manah-rathena--by mental concoction; asati--to temporary material happiness; dhavatah--running; bahih--externally.
TRANSLATION
" 'In one who has unflinching devotional faith in Krsna, all the good qualities of Krsna 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 Bhadrasrava and his followers, who were offering prayers to Nrsimhadeva (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12).
TEXT 77
TEXT
sei saba guna haya vaisnava-laksana
saba kaha na yaya, kari dig-darasana
SYNONYMS
sei saba guna--all those transcendental qualities; haya--are; vaisnava-laksana--the symptoms of a Vaisnava; saba--all; kaha na yaya--cannot be explained; kari--I shall do; dik-darasana--a general review.
TRANSLATION
"All these transcendental qualities are the characteristics of pure Vaisnavas, and they cannot be fully explained, but I shall try to point out some of the important qualities.
TEXTS 78-80
TEXT
krpalu, akrta-droha, satya-sara sama
nidosa, vadanya, mrdu, suci, akincana
sarvopakaraka, santa, krsnaika-sarana
akama, aniha, sthira, vijita-sad-guna
mita-bhuk, apramatta, manada, amani
gambhira, karuna, maitra, kavi, daksa, mauni
SYNONYMS
krpalu--merciful; akrta-droha--not defiant; satya-sara--thoroughly true; sama--equal; nidosa--faultless; vadanya--magnanimous; mrdu--mild; suci--clean; akincana--without material possessions; sarva-upakaraka--working for the welfare of everyone; santa--peaceful; krsna-eka-sarana--exclusively surrendered to Krsna; akama--desireless; aniha--indifferent to material acquisitions; sthira--fixed; vijita-sat-guna--completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.); mita-bhuk--eating only as much as required; apramatta--without inebriation; mana-da--respectful; amani--without false prestige; gambhira--grave; karuna--compassionate; maitra--a friend; kavi--a poet; daksa--expert; mauni--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 Krsna 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
TEXT
titiksavah karunikah
suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah
SYNONYMS
titiksavah--very forebearing; karunikah--merciful; suhrdah--who are well-wishers; sarva-dehinam--to all living entities; ajata-satravah--without enemies; santah--peaceful; sadhavah--following the injunctions of the sastra; sadhu-bhusanah--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.21). When the sages, headed by Saunaka, inquired about Kapiladeva, the incarnation of Godhead, Suta Gosvami, who was the topmost devotee of the Lord, quoted talks about self-realization between Maitreya, a friend of Vyasadeva, 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
TEXT
mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes
tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam
mahantas te sama-cittah prasanta
vimanyavah suhrdah sadhavo ye
SYNONYMS
mahat-sevam--the service of the pure devotee spiritual master; dvaram--door; ahuh--they said; vimukteh--of liberation; tamah-dvaram--the door to darkness; yositam--of women and money; sangi-sangam--association with those who enjoy the association; mahantah--great souls; te--they; sama-cittah--equally disposed to all; prasantah--very peaceful; vimanyavah--without anger; suhrdah--well-wishers of everyone; sadhavah--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 sastras 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.2).
TEXT 83
TEXT
krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya 'sadhu-sanga'
krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga
SYNONYMS
krsna-bhakti--of devotional service to Krsna; janma-mula--the root cause; haya--is; sadhu-sanga--association with advanced devotees; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; janme--awakens; tenho--that same association with devotees; punah--again; mukhya anga--the chief principle.
TRANSLATION
"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
TEXT 84
TEXT
bhavapavargo bhramato yada bhavej
janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samagamah
sat-sangamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau
paravarese tvayi jayate ratih
SYNONYMS
bhava-apavargah--liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramatah--wandering; yada--when; bhavet--should be; janasya--of a person; tarhi--at that time; acyuta--O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samagamah--association with devotees; sat-sangamah--association with the devotees; yarhi--when; tada--at that time; eva--only; sat-gatau--the highest goal of life; paravarese--the Lord of the universe; tvayi--to You; jayate--appears; ratih--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.51.53).
TEXT 85
TEXT
ata atyantikam ksemam
prcchamo bhavato 'naghah
samsare 'smin ksanardho 'pi
sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam
SYNONYMS
atah--therefore (due to the rareness of seeing pure devotees of the Lord); atyantikam--supreme; ksemam--auspiciousness; prcchamah--we are asking; atyantikam--supreme; ksemam--auspiciousness; prcchamah--we are asking; bhavatah--you; anaghah--O sinless ones; samsare--in the material world; asmin--this; ksana-ardhah--lasting half a moment; api--even; sat-sangah--association with devotees; sevadhih--a treasure; nrnam--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.30).
TEXT 86
TEXT
satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati
SYNONYMS
satam--of the devotees; prasangat--by the intimate association; mama--of Me; virya-samvidah--talks full of spiritual potency; bhavanti--appear; hrt--to the heart; karna--and to the ears; rasa-ayanah--a source of sweetness; kathah--talks; tat--of them; josanat--from proper cultivation; asu--quickly; apavarga--of liberation; vartmani--on the path; sraddha--faith; ratih--attraction; bhaktih--love; anukramisyati--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.25). For an explanation see Adi-lila (1.60).
TEXT 87
TEXT
asat-sanga-tyaga,----ei vaisnava-acara
'stri-sangi'----eka asadhu, 'krsnabhakta' ara
SYNONYMS
asat-sanga-tyaga--rejection of the association of nondevotees; ei--this; vaisnava-acara--the behavior of a Vaisnava; stri-sangi--who associates with women for sense gratification; eka--one; asadhu--unsaintly person; krsna-abhakta--one who is not a devotee of Lord Krsna; ara--another.
TRANSLATION
"A Vaisnava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaisnavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Krsna.
TEXTS 88-90
TEXT
satyam saucam daya maunam
buddhir hrih srir yasah ksama
samo damo bhagas ceti
yat-sangad yati sanksayam
tesv asantesu mudhesu
khanditatmasv asadhusu
sangam na kuryac chocyesu
yosit-krida-mrgesu ca
na tathasya bhaven moho
bandhas canya-prasangatah
yosit-sangad yatha pumso
yatha tat-sangi-sangatah
SYNONYMS
satyam--truthfulness; saucam--cleanliness; daya--mercy; maunam--silence; buddhih--intelligence; hrih--modesty; srih--beauty; yasah--fame; ksama--forgiveness; samah--controlling the mind; damah--controlling the senses; bhagah--opulence; ca--and; iti--thus; yat--of whom; sangat--by the association; yati--goes to; sanksayam--complete destruction; tesu--among them; asantesu--who are restless; mudhesu--among the fools; khandita-atmasu--whose self-realization is spoiled; asadhusu--not saintly; sangam--association; na--not; kuryat--should do; socyesu--who are full of lamentation; yosit--of women; krida-mrgesu--who are like toy animals; ca--also; na--not; tatha--so much; asya--of him; bhavet--there may be; mohah--illusion; bandhah--binding; ca--and; anya--other types; prasangatah--from association; yosit-sangat--by association with women; yatha--as; pumsah--of the man; yatha--as well as; tat-sangi-sangatah--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (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 Krsna. 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.
purusah prakrti-stho hi
bhunkte prakrti-jan gunan
karanam guna-sango '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-gita 13.22)
According to Vedic civilization, one's association with women should be very much restricted. In spiritual life there are four asramas-brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. The brahmacari, vanaprastha and sannyasi are completely forbidden to associate with women. Only grhasthas 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
TEXT
varam huta-vaha-jvala-
panjarantar-vyavasthitih
na sauri-cinta-vimukha-
jana-samvasa-vaisasam
SYNONYMS
varam--better; huta-vaha--of fire; jvala--in the flames; panjara-antah--inside a cage; vyavasthitih--abiding; na--not; sauri-cinta--of Krsna consciousness, or thought of Krsna; vimukha--bereft; jana--of persons; samvasa--of the association; vaisasam--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 Krsna consciousness. Such association is a very great hardship.'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from the Katyayana-samhita.
TEXT 92
TEXT
ma draksih ksina-punyan kvacid api
bhagavad-bhakti-hinan manusyan
SYNONYMS
ma--do not; draksih--see; ksina-punyan--who are bereft of all piety; kvacit api--at any time; bhagavat-bhakti-hinan--who are bereft of Krsna consciousness and devotional service; manusyan--persons.
TRANSLATION
" One should not even see those who are bereft of devotional service in Krsna consciousness and who are therefore devoid of pious activities.
TEXT 93
TEXT
eta saba chadi' ara varnasrama-dharma
akincana hana laya krsnaika-sarana
SYNONYMS
eta saba--all these; chadi'--giving up; ara--and; varna-asrama-dharma--the regulative principle of four varnas and four asramas; akincana--without any attachment for anything material; hana--becoming; laya--he takes; krsna-eka-sarana--exclusive shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"Without hesitation, one should take the exclusive shelter of Lord Krsna with full confidence, giving up bad association and even neglecting the regulative principles of the four varnas and four asramas. That is to say, one should abandon all material attachment.
TEXT 94
TEXT
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
SYNONYMS
sarva-dharman--all kinds of occupational duties; parityajya--giving up; mam ekam--unto Me only; saranam--as shelter; vraja--go; aham--I; tvam--unto you; sarva-papebhyah--from all the reactions of sinful life; moksayisyami--will give liberation; ma--don't; sucah--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-gita (18.66) spoken by Lord Krsna. For an explanation, refer to Madhya-lila (8.63).
TEXT 95
TEXT
bhakta-vatsala, krtajna, samartha, vadanya
hena krsna chadi' pandita nahi bhaje anya
SYNONYMS
bhakta-vatsala--very kind to the devotees; krta-jna--grateful; samartha--full of all abilities; vadanya--magnanimous; hena--such; krsna--Lord Krsna; chadi'--giving up; pandita--a learned man; nahi--does not; bhaje--worship; anya--anyone else.
TRANSLATION
"Lord Krsna 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 Krsna to worship anyone else.
PURPORT
An intelligent person gives up the company of those who are attached to women and bereft of Krsna consciousness. One should be free from all kinds of material attachment and should take full shelter under the lotus feet of Krsna. Krsna 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 Krsna's shelter? If one worships a demigod and leaves Krsna, he must be considered the lowest fool.
TEXT 96
TEXT
kah panditas tvad-aparam saranam samiyad
bhakta-priyad rta-girah suhrdah krtajnat
sarvan dadati suhrdo bhajato 'bhikaman
atmanam apy upacayapacayau na yasya
SYNONYMS
kah--what; panditah--learned man; tvat-aparam--other than Your Lordship; saranam--shelter; samiyat--would take; bhakta-priyat--who are affectionate to Your devotees; rta-girah--who are truthful to the devotees; suhrdah--who are the friend of the devotees; krta-jnat--who are grateful to the devotees; sarvan--all; dadati--gives; suhrdah--to Your well-wishers; bhajatah--who worship You by devotional service; abhikaman--desires; atmanam--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.48.26).
TEXT 97
TEXT
vijna-janera haya yadi krsna-guna-jnana
anya tyaji', bhaje, tate uddhava----pramana
SYNONYMS
vijna-janera--of an experienced person; haya--there is; yadi--if; krsna-guna-jnana--knowledge of Krsna's transcendental qualities; anya--others; tyaji'--giving up; bhaje--he engages in devotional service; tate--in that connection; uddhava--Uddhava; pramana--the evidence.
TRANSLATION
"Whenever an experienced person develops real knowledge of Krsna and His transcendental qualities, he naturally gives up all other engagements and renders service to the Lord. Uddhava gives evidence concerning this.
TEXT 98
TEXT
aho baki yam stana-kala-kutam
jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi
lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam tato 'nyam
kam va dayalum saranam vrajema
SYNONYMS
aho--how wonderful; baki--Putana, the sister of Bakasura; yam--whom; stana--on the two breasts; kala-kutam--the deadly poison; jighamsaya--with a desire to kill; apayayat--forced to drink; api--although; asadhvi--dangerously inimical to Krsna; lebhe--achieved; gatim--the destination; dhatri--for a nurse; ucitam--suitable; tatah--than Him; anyam--other; kam--to whom; va--or; dayalum--the most merciful; saranam--shelter; vrajema--shall take.
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, how wonderful it is! Putana, the sister of Bakasura, wanted to kill Krsna by smearing deadly poison on her breasts and having Krsna take it. Nonetheless, Lord Krsna accepted her as His mother, and thus she attained the destination befitting Krsna's mother. Of whom should I take shelter but Krsna, who is most merciful?'
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.2.23).
TEXT 99
TEXT
saranagatera, akincanera----eka-i laksana
tara madhye pravesaye 'atma-samarpana'
SYNONYMS
saranagatera--of a person who has fully taken shelter of Krsna; akincanera--of a person who is free of all material desires; eka-i laksana--the symptoms are one and the same; tara madhye--of them all; pravesaye--enters; atma-samarpana--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 Krsna's lotus feet are qualified with another transcendental quality-atma-samarpana, full surrender without reservation.
TEXT 100
TEXT
anukulyasya sankalpah
pratikulyasya varjanam
raksisyatiti visvaso
goptrtve varanam tatha
atma-niksepa-karpanye
sad-vidha saranagatih
SYNONYMS
anukulyasya--of anything that assists devotional service to the Lord; sankalpah--acceptance; pratikulyasya--of anything that hinders devotional service; varjanam--complete rejection; raksisyati--He will protect; iti--thus; visvasah--strong conviction; goptrtve--in being the guardian, like the father or husband, master or maintainer; varanam--acceptance; tatha--as well as; atma-niksepa--full self-surrender; karpanye--humility; sat-vidha--sixfold; sarana-agatih--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 Krsna 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 Krsna 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, Krsna 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 Krsna as his supreme maintainer and master. He should not think that he is being protected by a demigod. He should depend only on Krsna, considering Him the only protector. The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no protector or maintainer other than Krsna. (5) Self-surrender means remembering that one's activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thinks as Krsna desires. (6) The devotee is meek and humble. As stated in Bhagavad-gita:
sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham
"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 Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." (Bg. 15.15)
Situated in everyone's heart, Krsna 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 Krsna's personal protection. When a living entity is fully surrendered, he is under the direct protection of Krsna, and Krsna 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 Krsna. Sometimes it is asked how Krsna causes one to forget. Krsna causes His devotee to forget material activities, and through the agency of maya, Krsna causes the nondevotee to forget his devotional service to the Lord. This is called apohana.
TEXT 101
TEXT
tavasmiti vadan vaca
tathaiva manasa vidan
tat-sthanam asritas tanva
modate saranagatah
SYNONYMS
tava--His; asmi--I am; iti--thus; vadan--saying; vaca--by words; tatha--so; eva--certainly; manasa--with the mind; vidan--knowing; tat-sthanam--His place; asritah--taken shelter of; tanva--by the body; modate--he enjoys; sarana-agatah--fully surrendered.
TRANSLATION
" 'One whose body is fully surrendered takes shelter at the holy place where Krsna 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-vilasa (11.417,418).
TEXT 102
TEXT
sarana lana kare krsne atma-samarpana
krsna tare kare tat-kale atma-sama
SYNONYMS
sarana lana--taking shelter; kare--does; krsne--unto Krsna; atma-samarpana--fully surrendering; krsna--Lord Krsna; tare--him; kare--makes; tat-kale--immediately; atma-sama--one of His confidential associates.
TRANSLATION
"When a devotee thus fully surrenders unto Krsna's lotus feet, Krsna accepts him as one of His confidential associates.
TEXT 103
TEXT
martyo yada tyakta-samasta-karma
niveditatma vicikirsito me
tadamrtatvam pratipadyamano
mayatma-bhuyaya ca kalpate vai
SYNONYMS
martyah--the living entity subjected to birth and death; yada--as soon as; tyakta--given up; samasta--all; karma--fruitive activities; nivedita-atma--a fully surrendered soul; vicikirsitah--desired to act; me--by Me; tada--at that time; amrtatvam--immortality; pratipadyamanah--attaining; maya--with Me; atma-bhuyaya--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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.34). Krsna 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
TEXT
ebe sadhana-bhakti-laksana suna, sanatana
yaha haite pai krsna-prema-maha-dhana
SYNONYMS
ebe--now; sadhana-bhakti--regulative principles for executing devotional service; laksana--the symptoms; suna--please hear; sanatana--My dear Sanatana; yaha haite--from which; pai--one can get; krsna-prema-maha-dhana--the most valuable treasure of love for Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanatana, 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
TEXT
krti-sadhya bhavet sadhya-
bhava sa sadhanabhidha
nitya-siddhasya bhavasya
prakatyam hrdi sadhyata
SYNONYMS
krti-sadhya--which is to be executed by the senses; bhavet--should be; sadhya-bhava--by which love of Godhead is acquired; sa--that; sadhana-abhidha--called sadhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice; nitya-siddhasya--which is eternally present; bhavasya--of love of Godhead; prakatyam--the awakening; hrdi--in the heart; sadhyata--potentiality.
TRANSLATION
" 'When transcendental devotional service by which love for Krsna is attained is executed by the senses, it is called sadhana-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-rasamrta-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 sravana kirtana, 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 Krsna mantra chanted by a pure Vaisnava. One who hears the Hare Krsna mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Krsna consciousness. In this way one's mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (ceto-darpana-marjanam). 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 Krsna is awakened.
TEXT 106
TEXT
sravanadi-kriya----tara 'svarupa'-laksana
'tatastha'-laksane upajaya prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
sravana-adi-kriya--the process of hearing, chanting and so forth; tara--of that; svarupa-laksana--symptoms of the nature; tatastha-laksane--marginal symptoms; upajaya--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 Krsna.
TEXT 107
TEXT
nitya-siddha krsna-prema 'sadhya' kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya
SYNONYMS
nitya-siddha--eternally proved; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; sadhya--to be gained; kabhu--at any time; naya--not; sravana-adi--by hearing, etc.; suddha--purified; citte--in the heart; karaye udaya--awakens.
TRANSLATION
"Pure love for Krsna 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
TEXT
ei ta sadhana-bhakti----dui ta' prakara
eka 'vaidhi bhakti', 'raganuga-bhakti' ara
SYNONYMS
ei ta--this; sadhana-bhakti--process of devotional service; dui ta' prakara--two kinds; eka--one; vaidhi bhakti--the regulative devotional service; raganuga-bhakti--spontaneous devotional service; ara--and.
TRANSLATION
"There are two processes of practical devotional service. One is regulative devotional service, and the other is spontaneous devotional service.
TEXT 109
TEXT
raga-hina jana bhaje sastrera ajnaya
'vaidhi bhakti' bali' tare sarva-sastre gaya
SYNONYMS
raga-hina--who are without spontaneous attachment to Krsna; jana--persons; bhaje--execute devotional service; sastrera ajnaya--according to the principles and regulations described in the revealed scriptures; vaidhi bhakti--regulative devotional service; bali'--calling; tare--that; sarva-sastre--all revealed scriptures; gaya--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 vaidhi 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. Ahaituki, apratihata. 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 vaidhi bhakti and spontaneous bhakti. Dormant love for Krsna 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 krsna-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 mangala-arati 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 vaidhi bhakti.
TEXT 110
TEXT
tasmad bharata sarvatma
bhagavan harir isvarah
srotavyah kirtitavyas ca
smartavyas cecchatabhayam
SYNONYMS
tasmat--therefore; bharata--O descendant of Bharata; sarva-atma--the all pervasive Lord, who is situated in everyone's heart; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harih--Lord Hari, who takes away all the miserable conditions of material existence; isvarah--the supreme controller; srotavyah--to be heard about (from bona fide sources); kirtitavyah--to be glorified (as one has heard); ca--also; smartavyah--to be remembered; ca--and; icchata--by a person desiring; abhayam--freedom from the fearful condition of material existence.
TRANSLATION
" 'O descendant of Bharata! O Maharaja Pariksit! The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone's heart as Paramatma, 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.5). It is one's duty to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the hearing process. This is called srotavyah. 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 kirtitavyah. When one hears about the Lord and glorifies Him, it is natural to think of Him. This is called smartavyah. All this must be carried out if one actually wants to be immune from fear.
TEXT 111
TEXT
mukha-bahuru-padebhyah
purusasyasramaih saha
catvaro jajnire varna
gunair vipradayah prthak
SYNONYMS
mukha--the mouth; bahu--the arms; uru--the waist; padebhyah--from the legs; purusasya--of the supreme person; asramaih--the different spiritual orders; saha--with; catvarah--the four; jajnire--appeared; varnah--social orders; gunaih--with particular qualifications; vipra-adayah--brahmanas, etc.; prthak--separately.
TRANSLATION
" 'From the mouth of Brahma, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the ksatriyas have come, from his waist the vaisyas have come and from his legs the sudras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa] combine to make human society complete.
PURPORT
This verse and the next are quotations from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.2-3).
TEXT 112
TEXT
ya esam purusam saksad
atma-prabhavam isvaram
na bhajanty avajananti
sthanad bhrastah patanty adhah
SYNONYMS
ye--those who; esam--of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; purusam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; saksat--directly; atma-prabhavam--the source of everyone; isvaram--the supreme controller; na--not; bhajanti--worship; avajananti--or who neglect; sthanat--from their proper place; bhrastah--being fallen; patanti--fall; adhah--downward into hellish conditions.
TRANSLATION
" 'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varnas and asramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Visnu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.'
TEXT 113
TEXT
smartavyah satatam visnur
vismartavyo na jatucit
sarve vidhi-nisedhah syur
etayor eva kinkarah
SYNONYMS
smartavyah--to be remembered; satatam--always; visnuh--Lord Visnu; vismartavyah--to be forgotten; na--not; jatucit--at any time; sarve--all; vidhi-nisedhah--rules and prohibitions mentioned in the revealed scripture or given by the spiritual master; syuh--should be; etayoh--of these two principles (always to remember Krsna or Visnu and never to forget Him); eva--certainly; kinkarah--the servants.
TRANSLATION
" 'Krsna is the origin of Lord Visnu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the sastras should be the servants of these two principles.'
PURPORT
This verse is a quotation from the Padma Purana. There are many regulative principles in the sastras and directions given by the spiritual master. These regulative principles should act as servants of the basic principle-that is, one should always remember Krsna and never forget Him. This is possible when one chants the Hare Krsna mantra. Therefore one must strictly chant the Hare Krsna maha-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 Krsna 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 Krsna 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 Krsna. When one goes with a sankirtana party or sells books, he naturally remembers that he is going to sell Krsna's books. In this way, he is remembering Krsna. When one goes to enlist a life member, he talks about Krsna and thereby remembers Him. Smartavyah satatam visnur vismartavyo na jatucit. The conclusion is that one must act in such a way that he will always remember Krsna, and one must refrain from doing things that make him forget Krsna. These two principles form the basic background of Krsna consciousness.
TEXT 114
TEXT
vividhanga sadhana-bhaktira bahuta vistara
sanksepe kahiye kichu sadhananga-sara
SYNONYMS
vividha-anga--varieties of limbs (regulative principles); sadhana-bhaktira--of regulative devotional service; bahuta--many; vistara--expansions; sanksepe--in brief; kahiye--I shall speak; kichu--something; sadhana-anga-sara--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
TEXT
guru-padasraya, diksa, gurura sevana
sad-dharma-siksa, prccha, sadhu-marganugamana
SYNONYMS
guru-pada-asraya--shelter at the feet of a bona fide spiritual master; diksa--initiation by the spiritual master; gurura sevana--service to the spiritual master; sat-dharma-siksa--instruction in the transcendental process of devotional service; prccha--and inquiry; sadhu-marga--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 acaryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master.
TEXT 116
TEXT
krsna-pritye bhoga-tyaga, krsna-tirthe vasa
yavan-nirvaha-pratigraha, ekadasy-upavasa
SYNONYMS
krsna-pritye--for satisfaction of Krsna; bhoga-tyaga--acceptance and rejection of something; krsna-tirthe vasa--residence in a place where Krsna is situated; yavat-nirvaha--as much as required to keep the body and soul together; pratigraha--acceptance of gifts; ekadasi-upavasa--observance of fasting on the Ekadasi day.
TRANSLATION
"The next steps are as follows: (6) One should be prepared to give up everything for Krsna's satisfaction, and one should also accept everything for Krsna's satisfaction. (7) One must live in a place where Krsna is present-a city like Vrndavana or Mathura or a Krsna temple. (8) One should acquire a livelihood that is just sufficient to keep body and soul together. (9) One must fast on Ekadasi day.
TEXT 117
TEXT
dhatry-asvattha-go-vipra-vaisnava-pujana
seva-namaparadhadi dure visarjana
SYNONYMS
dhatri--a type of tree; asvattha--the banyan trees; go--the cows; vipra--the brahmanas; vaisnava--the devotees of Lord Visnu; pujana--worshiping; seva--in devotional service; nama--in chanting of the holy name; aparadha-adi--the offenses; dure--far away; visarjana--giving up.
TRANSLATION
"One should worship dhatri trees, banyan trees, cows, brahmanas and devotees of Lord Visnu. 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 dhatri tree, banyan tree, cow, brahmana and devotee of Lord Visnu. The eleventh item is to avoid offenses when rendering devotional service and chanting the holy names.
TEXT 118
TEXT
avaisnava-sanga-tyaga, bahu-sisya na kariba
bahu-grantha-kalabhyasa-vyakhyana varjiba
SYNONYMS
avaisnava--of one who is not a devotee of the Lord; sanga--the association; tyaga--giving up; bahu-sisya--an unlimited number of disciples; na kariba--should not accept; bahu-grantha--of many different types of scriptures; kala-abhyasa--studying a portion; vyakhyana--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 Srila Jiva Gosvami, a preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 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 Krsna consciousness movement we have therefore limited our study of Vedic literatures to Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta and Bhakti-rasamrta-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
TEXT
hani-labhe sama, sokadira vasa na ha-iba
anya-deva, anya-sastra ninda na kariba
SYNONYMS
hani--in loss; labhe--in gain; sama--equal; soka-adira--of lamentation and so on; vasa--under the control; na ha-iba--we should not be; anya-deva--other demigods; anya-sastra--other scriptures; ninda--criticizing; na 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
TEXT
visnu-vaisnava-ninda, gramya-varta na suniba
prani-matre manovakye udvega na diba
SYNONYMS
visnu-vaisnava-ninda--blaspheming of Lord Visnu and His devotee; gramya-varta--ordinary talks; na suniba--we should not hear; prani-matre--to any living entity however insignificant; manah-vakye--by mind or by words; udvega--anxiety; na diba--we should not give.
TRANSLATION
"Eighteen: The devotee should not hear Lord Visnu 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
TEXT
sravana, kirtana, smarana, pujana, vandana
paricarya, dasya, sakhya, atma-nivedana
SYNONYMS
sravana--hearing; kirtana--chanting; smarana--remembering; pujana--worshiping; vandana--praying; paricarya--serving; dasya--accepting servitorship; sakhya--friendship; atma-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
TEXT
agre nrtya, gita, vijnapti, dandavan-nati
abhyutthana, anuvrajya, tirtha-grhe gati
SYNONYMS
agre nrtya--dancing before the Deity; gita--songs; vijnapti--opening the mind; dandavat-nati--offering obeisances; abhyutthana--stand up; anuvrajya--following; tirtha-grhe gati--going to temples and places of pilgrimage.
TRANSLATION
"One should also (l0) 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
TEXT
parikrama, stava-patha, japa, sankirtana
dhupa-malya-gandha-mahaprasada-bhojana
SYNONYMS
parikrama--circumambulation; stava-patha--recitation of different prayers; japa--chanting softly; sankirtana--chanting congregationally; dhupa--incense; malya--flower garlands; gandha--scents; maha-prasada--remnants of food offered to Visnu; 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
TEXT
aratrika-mahotsava-srimurti-darsana
nija-priya-dana, dhyana, tadiya-sevana
SYNONYMS
aratrika--arati; mahotsava--festivals; srimurti-darsana--seeing the Deity; nija-priya-dana--to present to the Lord something very dear to oneself; dhyana--meditation; tadiya-sevana--rendering service to those related to the Lord.
TRANSLATION
"One should (23) attend arati 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
TEXT
'tadiya'----tulasi, vaisnava, mathura, bhagavata
ei carira seva haya krsnera abhimata
SYNONYMS
tadiya--related to the Lord; tulasi--tulasi leaves; vaisnava--devotees; mathura--the birthplace of Krsna; bhagavata--Srimad-Bhagavatam; ei carira--of these four; seva--the service; haya--is; krsnera abhimata--the desire of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
"Tadiya means the tulasi leaves, the devotees of Krsna, the birthplace of Krsna, Mathura, and the Vedic literature Srimad-Bhagavatam. Krsna is very eager to see His devotee serve tulasi, Vaisnavas, Mathura and Bhagavatam.
PURPORT
After item twenty-six (meditation), the twenty-seventh is to serve tulasi, the twenty-eighth is to serve the Vaisnava, the twenty-ninth is to live in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krsna, and the thirtieth is to read Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly.
TEXT 126
TEXT
krsnarthe akhila-cesta, tat-krpavalokana
janma-dinadi-mahotsava lana bhakta-gana
SYNONYMS
krsna-arthe--for the sake of Krsna; akhila-cesta--all activity; tat-krpa-avalokana--looking for His mercy; janma-dina-adi--the appearance day and so on; mahotsava--festivals; lana bhakta-gana--with devotees.
TRANSLATION
"Thirty-one: One should perform all endeavors for Krsna. (32) One should look forward to His mercy. (33) One should partake of various ceremonies with devotees, ceremonies like Lord Krsna's birthday or Ramacandra's birthday.
TEXT 127
TEXT
sarvatha saranapatti, kartikadi-vrata
'catuh-sasti anga' ei parama-mahattva
SYNONYMS
sarvatha--in all respects; sarana-apatti--surrender; kartika-adi-vrata--to observe special vows in the month of Karttika; catuh-sasti anga--sixty-four parts; ei--this; parama-mahattva--very important items.
TRANSLATION
"Thirty-four: One should surrender to Krsna in all respects. (35) One should observe particular vows like kartika-vrata. These are some of the sixty-four important items of devotional service.
TEXT 128
TEXT
sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana
SYNONYMS
sadhu-sanga--association with devotees; nama-kirtana--chanting the holy name; bhagavata-sravana--hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam; mathura-vasa--living at Mathura; sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana--worshiping the Deity with faith and veneration.
TRANSLATION
"One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith and veneration.
TEXT 129
TEXT
sakala-sadhana-srestha ei panca anga
krsna-prema janmaya ei pancera alpa sanga
SYNONYMS
sakala-sadhana--of all items for executing devotional service; srestha--the best; ei panca anga--these five limbs; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; janmaya--awakens; ei--these; pancera--of the five; alpa sanga--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 Krsna.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura points out that there are thirty-five items up to the point of observing special vows in the month of Karttika. 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 caranamrta. These four items are understood to be included by Kaviraja Gosvami 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 Krsna maha-mantra, reading Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly, residing in Mathura, the birthplace of Krsna, 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-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami states:
anganam pancakasyasya
purva-vilikhitasya ca
nikhila-sraisthya-bodhaya
punar apy atra samsanam
"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
TEXT
sraddha visesatah pritih
sri-murter anghri-sevane
SYNONYMS
sraddha--faith; visesatah--particularly; pritih--love; sri-murteh--of the Deity form of the Lord; anghri-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-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.90-92).
TEXT 131
TEXT
srimad-bhagavatarthanam
asvado rasikaih saha
sajatiyasaye snigdhe
sadhau sangah svato vare
SYNONYMS
srimad-bhagavata--of Srimad-Bhagavatam; arthanam--of the meanings; asvadah--enjoying the taste; rasikaih saha--with the devotees; sa-jatiya--similar; asaye--endowed with a desire; snigdhe--advanced in devotional affection; sadhau--with a devotee; sangah--association; svatah--for one's self; vare--better.
TRANSLATION
" 'One should taste the meaning of Srimad-Bhagavatam 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 sajatiyasaye snigdhe sadhau sangah svato vare are very important items. One should not associate with professional Bhagavatam reciters. A professional Bhagavatam 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam. One should also avoid those who are averse to Lord Visnu and His devotees, those who are Mayavadis, those who offend the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, those who simply dress as Vaisnavas or so-called gosvamis, and those who make a business by selling Vedic mantras and reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam to maintain their families. One should not try to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam from such materialistic people. According to the Vedic injunctions: yasya deve para bhaktih. Srimad-Bhagavatam can only be recited by one who has unflinching faith in the lotus feet of Krsna and His devotee, the spiritual master. One should try to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam from the spiritual master. The Vedic injunction states: bhaktya bhagavatam grahyam na buddhya na ca tikaya. One has to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam through the process of devotional service and by hearing the recitation of a pure devotee. These are the injunctions of Vedic literature-sruti and smrti. Those who are not in the disciplic succession and who are not pure devotees cannot understand the real mysterious objective of Srimad-Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-gita.
TEXT 132
TEXT
nama-sankirtanam sriman-
mathura-mandale sthitih
SYNONYMS
nama-sankirtanam--chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra; sriman-mathura-mandale--in Mathura, where Krsna specifically performs His pastimes; sthitih--residence.
TRANSLATION
" 'One should congregationally chant the holy name of the Lord and reside in Vrndavana.'
PURPORT
Navadvipa-dhama, Jagannatha Puri-dhama and Vrndavana-dhama are considered to be identical. If one goes to Mathura-mandala-bhumi 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 Vrndavana-dhama. After taking on such a body, the offender is liberated in the next life. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that residing in Vrndavana with a view to enjoy sense gratification surely leads a so-called devotee to a lower species.
TEXT 133
TEXT
duruhadbhuta-virye 'smin
sraddha dure 'stu pancake
yatra svalpo 'pi sambandhah
sad-dhiyam bhava-janmane
SYNONYMS
duruha--difficult to be reconciled; adbhuta--wonderful; virye--in the power; asmin--in this; sraddha--faith; dure--far away; astu--let it be; pancake--in the above-mentioned five principles; yatra--in which; svalpah--a little; api--even; sambandhah--connection; sat-dhiyam--of those who are intelligent and offenseless; bhava-janmane--to awaken one's dormant love for Krsna.
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 Krsna simply by being a little connected with them.'
PURPORT
This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.238).
TEXT 134
TEXT
'eka' anga sadhe, keha sadhe 'bahu' anga
'nistha' haile upajaya premera taranga
SYNONYMS
eka--one; anga--portion; sadhe--executes; keha--someone; sadhe--executes; bahu--many; anga--portions; nistha--firm faith; haile--if there is; upa-jaya--awaken; premera--of love of Godhead; taranga--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 sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam.
TEXT 135
TEXT
'eka' ange siddhi paila bahu bhakta-gana
ambarisadi bhaktera 'bahu' anga-sadhana
SYNONYMS
eka ange--by one portion; siddhi--perfection; paila--achieved; bahu--many; bhakta-gana--devotees; ambarisa-adi--King Ambarisa Maharaja and others; bhaktera--of devotees; bahu anga-sadhana--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 Maharaja Ambarisa execute all nine items and they also get ultimate success.
TEXT 136
TEXT
sri-visnoh sravane pariksid abhavad vaiyasakih kirtane
prahladah smarane tad-anghri-bhajane laksmih prthuh pujane
akruras tv abhivandane kapi-patir dasye 'tha sakhye 'rjunah
sarvasvatma-nivedane balir abhut krsnaptir esam para
SYNONYMS
sri-visnoh--of Lord Sri Visnu; sravane--in hearing; pariksit--King Pariksit, known also as Visnurata, or one who is protected by Lord Visnu; abhavat--was; vaiyasakih--Sukadeva Gosvami; kirtane--in reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam; prahladah--Maharaja Prahlada; smarane--in remembering; tat-anghri--of Lord Visnu's lotus feet; bhajane--in serving; laksmih--the goddess of fortune; prthuh--Maharaja Prthu; pujane--in worshiping the Deity of the Lord; akrurah--Akrura; tu--but; abhivandane--in offering prayers; kapi-patih--Hanumanji, or Vajrangaji; dasye--in servitude to Lord Ramacandra; atha--moreover; sakhye--in friendship; arjunah--Arjuna; sarvasva-atma-nivedane--in fully dedicating oneself; balih--Maharaja Bali; abhut--was; krsna-aptih--the achievement of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna; esam--of all of them; para--transcendental.
TRANSLATION
" 'Maharaja Pariksit attained the highest perfection, shelter at Lord Krsna's lotus feet, simply by hearing about Lord Visnu. Sukadeva Gosvami attained perfection simply by reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam. Prahlada Maharaja attained perfection by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune attained perfection by massaging the transcendental legs of Maha-Visnu. Maharaja Prthu attained perfection by worshiping the Deity, and Akrura attained perfection by offering prayers unto the Lord. Vajrangaji [Hanuman] attained perfection by rendering service to Lord Ramacandra, and Arjuna attained perfection simply by being Krsna's friend. Bali Maharaja attained perfection by dedicating everything to the lotus feet of Krsna.'
PURPORT
This verse appears in the Padyavali (53) and the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.265).
TEXTS 137-139
TEXT
sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor
vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane
karau harer mandira-marjanadisu
srutim cakaracyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-lingalaya-darsane drsau
tad-bhrtya-gatra-sparase 'nga-sangamam
ghranam ca tat-pada-saroja-saurabhe
srimat-tulasya rasanam tad-arpite
padau hareh ksetra-padanusarpane
siro hrsikesa-padabhivandane
kamam ca dasye na tu kama-kamyaya
yathottamahsloka-janasraya ratih
SYNONYMS
sah--he (Maharaja Ambarisa); vai--certainly; manah--the mind; krsna-pada-aravindayoh--on the two lotus feet of Krsna; vacamsi--words; vaikuntha-guna-anuvarnane--in describing the transcendental character of Krsna; karau--the two hands; hareh--of Lord Krsna or Visnu; mandira-marjana-adisu--in cleansing the temple of Hari and similar other duties; srutim--the ears; cakara--engaged; acyuta--of the Lord; sat-katha-udaye--in the arising of transcendental topics; mukunda-linga--of the Deities of the Lord; alaya--temples; darsane--in visiting; drsau--the two eyes; tat-bhrtya--of the servants of the Lord; gatra--the bodies; sparase--in touching; anga-sangamam--bodily contact such as embracing or touching the lotus feet; ghranam--the sensation of smell; ca--and; tat-pada-saroja--of the Lord's lotus feet; saurabhe--in the fragrance; srimat--most auspicious; tulasyah--of tulasi leaves; rasanam--the tongue; tat-arpite--in food offered to the Lord; padau--the two feet; hareh--of the Lord; ksetra--the place of pilgrimage; pada-anusarpane--in walking to; sirah--the head; hrsikesa--of the Lord of the senses, the Personality of Godhead; pada-abhivandane--in offering prayers at the lotus feet; kamam--all desires; dasye--in serving the Lord; na--not; tu--but; kama-kamyaya--with a desire for sense gratification; yatha--as much as; uttamah-sloka--of the Lord, who is worshiped by selected poems; jana--in the devotee; asraya--having shelter; ratih--attachment.
TRANSLATION
" 'Maharaja Ambarisa always engaged his mind at the lotus feet of Krsna, 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 Krsna in the temple, his body in touching the lotus feet of Vaisnavas and embracing them, his nostrils in smelling the aroma of the tulasi leaves offered to Krsna's lotus feet, his tongue in tasting food offered to Krsna, his legs in going to places of pilgrimage like Vrndavana and Mathura or to the Lord's temple, and his head in touching the lotus feet of the Lord and offering Him prayers. Thus Maharaja Ambarisa 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.4.18-20).
TEXT 140
TEXT
kama tyaji' krsna bhaje sastra-ajna mani'
deva-rsi-pitradikera kabhu nahe rni
SYNONYMS
kama--material desires; tyaji'--giving up; krsna--Lord Krsna; bhaje--worships; sastra-ajna--the direction of the revealed scripture; mani'--accepting; deva--demigods; rsi--great sages; pitr-adikera--of the forefathers and so on; kabhu--at any time; nahe--not; rni--a debtor.
TRANSLATION
"If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the transcendental loving service of Krsna, 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 Vyasadeva, Narada, 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 Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.41).
TEXT 141
TEXT
devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan
sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
SYNONYMS
deva--of the demigods; rsi--of the sages; bhuta--of ordinary living entities; apta--of friends and relatives; nrnam--of ordinary men; pitrnam--of the forefathers; na--not; kinkarah--the servant; na--nor; ayam--this one; rni--debtor; ca--also; rajan--O King; sarva-atmana--with his whole being; yah--a person who; saranam--shelter; saranyam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who affords shelter to all; gatah--approached; mukundam--Mukunda; parihrtya--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:
adhyapanam brahma-yajnah
pitr-yajnas tu tarpanam
homo daivo balir bhauto
nr-yajno 'tithi-pujanam
"By performing oblations with ghee, the demigods are satisfied. By studying the Vedas, brahma-yajna is performed, and by this the great sages are satisfied. Offering libations of water before one's forefathers is called pitr-yajna. By offering tribute, bhuta-yajna is performed. By properly receiving guests, nr-yajna is performed." There are five yajnas 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 yajnas, but when one takes to sankirtana-yajna (the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra) one doesn't have to perform any other yajna. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Narada Muni made a statement about the systematic performance of bhagavata-dharma in connection with statements previously made by the nine Yogendras before Maharaja Nimi. The sage Karabhajana Rsi explained the four incarnations of the four yugas, and at the end, in this verse (text 141), he explained the position of Krsna's pure devotee and how he is absolved of all debts.
TEXT 142
TEXT
vidhi-dharma chadi' bhaje krsnera carana
nisiddha papacare tara kabhu nahe mana
SYNONYMS
vidhi-dharma chadi'--giving up all regulative principles of the varna and asrama institution; bhaje--worships; krsnera carana--the lotus feet of Lord Krsna; nisiddha--forbidden; papa-acare--in sinful activities; tara--his; kabhu--at any time; nahe--not; mana--the mind.
TRANSLATION
"Although the pure devotee does not follow all the regulative principles of varnasrama, he worships the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore he naturally has no tendency to commit sin.
PURPORT
The varnasrama 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.
purusah prakrti-stho hi
bhunkte prakrti-jan gunan
karanam guna-sango '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 Krsna consciousness. One cannot take to Krsna consciousness without being freed from all sinful activities. Naturally one who is very serious about Krsna 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 Krsna consciousness, he can very easily give up all sinful activity. This is confirmed herein.
TEXT 143
TEXT
ajnane va haya yadi 'papa' upasthita
krsna tanre suddha kare, na karaya prayascitta
SYNONYMS
ajnane--by ignorance; va--or; haya--there are; yadi--if; papa--sinful activities; upasthita--present; krsna--Lord Krsna; tanre--him (the devotee); suddha kare--purifies; na karaya--does not cause; prayascitta--atonement.
TRANSLATION
"If, however, a devotee accidentally becomes involved in a sinful activity, Krsna purifies him. He does not have to undergo the regulative form of atonement.
PURPORT
Krsna purifies from within as caitya-guru, the spiritual master within the heart. This is described in the following verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.42).
TEXT 144
TEXT
svapada-mulam bhajatah priyasya
tyaktanya-bhavasya harih paresah
vikarma yac cotpatitam kathancit
dhunoti sarvam hrdi sannivistah
SYNONYMS
sva-pada-mulam--the lotus feet of Krsna, the shelter of the devotees; bhajatah--who is engaged in worshiping; priyasya--who is very dear to Krsna; tyakta--given up; anya--for others; bhavasya--of one whose disposition or inclination; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; para-isah--the Supreme Lord; vikarma--sinful activities; yat--whatever; ca--and; utpatitam--occurred; kathancit--somehow; dhunoti--removes; sarvam--everything; hrdi--in the heart; sannivistah--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 Krsna. 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
TEXT
jnana-vairagyadi----bhaktira kabhu nahe 'anga'
ahimsa-yama-niyamadi bule krsna-bhakta-sanga
SYNONYMS
jnana--the path of knowledge; vairagya-adi--the path of renunciation and so on; bhaktira--of devotional service; kabhu--at any time; nahe--not; anga--a part; ahimsa--nonviolence; yama--controlling the senses and the mind; niyama-adi--restrictions and so on; bule--roam; krsna-bhakta-sanga--in the association of a devotee of Lord Krsna.
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 Krsna.
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 Krsna. 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
TEXT
tasman mad-bhakti-yuktasya
yogino vai mad-atmanah
na jnanam na ca vairagyam
prayah sreyo bhaved iha
SYNONYMS
tasmat--therefore; mat-bhakti--in My devotional service; yuktasya--of one who is engaged; yoginah--the first-class yogi or mystic; vai--certainly; mat-atmanah--whose mind is always engaged in Me; na--not; jnanam--speculative knowledge; na--not; ca--also; vairagyam--dry renunciation; prayah--for the most part; sreyah--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 (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.20.31) was spoken by Lord Krsna when He was speaking to Uddhava before His departure from this material world. These are important instructions given directly by Lord Krsna. Sri Uddhava asked the Lord about the two kinds of instructions given in the Vedas. One instruction is called pravrtti-marga, and the other is called nivrtti-marga. 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. Krsna 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
TEXT
ete na hy adbhuta vyadha
tavahimsadayo gunah
hari-bhaktau pravrtta ye
na te syuh paratapinah
SYNONYMS
ete--all these; na--not; hi--certainly; adbhutah--wonderful; vyadha--O hunter; tava--your; ahimsa-adayah--nonviolence and others; gunah--qualities; hari-bhaktau--in devotional service; pravrttah--engaged; ye--those who; na--not; te--they; syuh--are; paratapinah--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 Purana.
TEXT 148
TEXT
vaidhi-bhakti-sadhanera kahilun vivarana
raganuga-bhaktira laksana suna, sanatana
SYNONYMS
vaidhi-bhakti--of devotional service according to the regulative principles; sadhanera--of the execution; kahilun--I have made; vivarana--description; raganuga-bhaktira--of spontaneous devotional service; laksana--the symptoms; suna--please hear; sanatana--O Sanatana.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanatana, 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
TEXT
ragatmika-bhakti----'mukhya' vraja-vasi-jane
tara anugata bhaktira 'raganuga'-name
SYNONYMS
ragatmika-bhakti--spontaneous devotional service; mukhya--preeminent; vraja-vasi-jane--in the inhabitants of Vraja, or Vrndavana; tara--that; anugata--following; bhaktira--of devotional service; raganuga-name--named raganuga or following after spontaneous devotional service.
TRANSLATION
"The original inhabitants of Vrndavana are attached to Krsna spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called ragatmika bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vrndavana, his devotional service is called raganuga bhakti.
PURPORT
In his Bhakti-sandarbha, Jiva Gosvami states:
tad evam tat-tad-abhimana-laksana-bhava-visesvena svabhavika-ragasya vaisistye sati tat-tad-raga-prayukta sravana-kirtana-smarana-pada-sevana-vandanatma-nivedana-praya bhaktis tesam ragatmika bhaktir ity ucyate.... tatas tadiyam ragam rucyanugacchanti sa raganuga.
When a pure devotee follows the footsteps of a devotee in Vrndavana, he develops raganuga bhakti.
TEXT 150
TEXT
iste svarasiki ragah
paramavistata bhavet
tanmayi ya bhaved bhaktih
satra ragatmikodita
SYNONYMS
iste--unto the desired object of life; svarasiki--appropriate for one's own original aptitude of love; ragah--attachment; parama-avistata--absorption in the service of the Lord; bhavet--is; tat-mayi--consisting of that transcendental attachment; ya--which; bhavet--is; bhaktih--devotional service; sa--that; atra--here; ragatmika-udita--called ragatmika, 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 ragatmika, or spontaneous devotional service.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.272).
TEXT 151
TEXT
iste 'gadha-trsna'----ragera svarupa-laksana
iste 'avistata'----ei tatastha-laksana
SYNONYMS
iste--in the desired object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gadha-trsna--deep attachment; ragera--of spontaneous love; svarupa-laksana--the primary symptom; iste--unto the Supreme; avistata--absorption; ei--this; tatastha-laksana--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
TEXT
ragamayi-bhaktira haya 'ragatmika' nama
ta-ha suni' lubdha haya kona bhagyavan
SYNONYMS
raga-mayi--consisting of attachment; bhaktira--of devotional service; haya--is; ragatmika--spontaneous love; nama--the name; taha suni'--hearing this; lubdha--covetous; haya--becomes; kona bhagyavan--some fortunate person.
TRANSLATION
"Thus devotional service which consists of raga [deep attachment] is called ragatmika, spontaneous loving service. If a devotee covets such a position, he is considered to be most fortunate.
TEXT 153
TEXT
lobhe vraja-vasira bhave kare anugati
sastra-yukti nahi mane----raganugara prakrti
SYNONYMS
lobhe--in such covetousness; vraja-vasira bhave--in the moods of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, Vraja; kare anugati--follows; sastra-yukti--injunctions or reasonings of the sastras; nahi mane--does not abide by; raganugara--of spontaneous love; prakrti--the nature.
TRANSLATION
"If one follows in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vrndavana out of such transcendental covetousness, he does not care for the injunctions or reasonings of sastra. That is the way of spontaneous love.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a devotee is attracted by the service of the inhabitants of Vrndavana-namely the cowherd men, Maharaja Nanda, mother Yasoda, Radharani, the gopis, 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 svarupa-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 vaidhi bhakti, one's natural inclination is gradually awakened. That is called spontaneous attraction, or raganuga bhakti.
An advanced devotee situated on the platform of spontaneity is already very expert in sastric instruction, logic and argument. When he comes to the point of eternal love for Krsna, no one can deviate him from that position, neither by argument nor by sastric 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 sahajiyas, who manufacture their own way and commit sins by indulging in illicit sex, intoxication and gambling, if not meat-eating. Sometimes the sahajiyas imitate advanced devotees and live in their own whimsical way, avoiding the principles set down in the revealed scriptures. Unless one follows the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopala Bhatta and Raghunatha dasa-one cannot be a bona fide spontaneous lover of Krsna. In this connection, Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says: rupa-raghunatha-pade haibe akuti kabe hama bujhaba se yugala piriti. The sahajiyas' understanding of the love affairs between Radha and Krsna is not bona fide because they do not follow the principles laid down by the six Gosvamis. Their illicit connection and their imitation of the dress of Rupa Gosvami as well as their avoidance of the prescribed methods of revealed scriptures will lead them to the lowest regions of hell. These imitative sahajiyas are cheated and unfortunate. They are not equal to advanced devotees (paramahamsas). Debauchees and paramahamsas are not on the same level.
TEXT 154
TEXT
virajantim abhivyaktam
vraja-vasi-janadisu
ragatmikam anusrta
ya sa raganugocyate
SYNONYMS
virajantim--shining intensely; abhivyaktam--fully expressed; vraja-vasi-jana-adisu--among the eternal inhabitants of Vrndavana; ragatmika--devotional service consisting of spontaneous love; anusrta--following; ya--which; sa--that; raganuga--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 Vrndavana. Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called raganuga bhakti, or devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.270).
TEXT 155
TEXT
tat-tad-bha' vadi-madhurye
srute dhir yad apeksate
natra sastram na yuktim ca
tal lobhotpatti-laksanam
SYNONYMS
tat-tat--respective; bhava-adi-madhurye--the sweetness of the loving moods (namely santa-rasa, dasya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa and madhurya-rasa) of the inhabitants of Vrndavana; srute--when heard; dhih--the intelligence; yat--which; apeksate--depends on; na--not; atra--here; sastram--revealed scriptures; na--not; yuktim--logic and argument; ca--also; tat--that; lobha--of covetousness to follow in the footsteps; utpatti-laksanam--the symptom of awakening.
TRANSLATION
" 'When an advanced realized devotee hears about the affairs of the devotees of Vrndavana-in the mellows of santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya-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 sastra, revealed scripture, logic or argument.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.292).
TEXTS 156-157
TEXT
bahya, antara,----ihara dui ta' sadhana
'bahye' sadhaka-dehe kare sravana-kirtana
'mane' nija-siddha-deha kariya bhavana
ratri-dine kare vraje krsnera sevana
SYNONYMS
bahya--externally; antara--internally; ihara--of this spontaneous love of Godhead; dui--two; ta'--indeed; sadhana--such processes of execution; bahye--externally; sadhaka-dehe--with the body of an advanced devotee; kare--does; sravana-kirtana--hearing and chanting; mane--the mind; nija--own; siddha-deha--eternal body or self-realized position; kariya bhavana--thinking of; ratri-dine--night and day; kare--executes; vraje--in Vrndavana; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; sevana--service.
TRANSLATION
"There are two processes by which one may execute this raganuga bhakti-external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the sastric injunctions, especially hearing and chanting. However, within his mind, in his original purified self-realized position, he serves Krsna in Vrndavana in his particular way. He serves Krsna twenty-four hours, all day and night.
TEXT 158
TEXT
seva sadhaka-rupena
siddha-rupena catra hi
tad-bhava-lipsuna karya
vraja-lokanusaratah
SYNONYMS
seva--service; sadhaka-rupena--with the external body as a devotee practicing regulative devotional service; siddha-rupena--with a body suitable for eternal, self-realized service; ca--also; atra--in this connection; hi--certainly; tat--of that; bhava--the mood; lipsuna--desiring to obtain; karya--to be executed; vraja-loka--of the particular servant of Krsna in Vrndavana; anusaratah--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 Krsna in Vrndavana. 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-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.295).
TEXT 159
TEXT
nijabhista krsna-prestha pacheta' lagiya
nirantara seva kare antarmana hana
SYNONYMS
nija-abhista--one's own choice; krsna-prestha--the servitor of Krsna; pacheta' lagiya--following; nirantara--twenty-four hours a day; seva--service; kare--executes; antarmana--within the mind; hana--being.
TRANSLATION
"Actually the inhabitants of Vrndavana are very dear to Krsna. If one wants to engage in spontaneous loving service, he must follow the inhabitants of Vrndavana and constantly engage in devotional service within his mind.
TEXT 160
TEXT
krsnam smaran janam casya
prestham nija-samihitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau
kuryad vasam vraje sada
SYNONYMS
krsnam--Lord Krsna; smaran--thinking of; janam--a devotee; ca--and; asya--of His; prestham--very dear; nija-samihitam--chosen by oneself; tat-tat-katha--to those respective topics; ratah--attached; ca--and; asau--that; kuryat--should do; vasam--living; vraje--in Vrndavana; sada--always.
TRANSLATION
" 'The devotee should always think of Krsna within himself, and one should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Krsna in Vrndavana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship to Krsna, and one should live in Vrndavana. However, if one is physically unable to go to Vrndavana, he should mentally live there.'
PURPORT
This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.294).
TEXT 161
TEXT
dasa-sakha-pitradi-preyasira gana
raga-marge nija-nija-bhavera ganana
SYNONYMS
dasa--servants; sakha--friends; pitr-adi--parents; preyasira gana--conjugal lovers; raga-marge--on the path of spontaneous loving service; nija-nija--of one's own choice; bhavera--of the ecstasy; ganana--counting.
TRANSLATION
"Krsna 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
TEXT
na karhicin mat-parah santa-rupe
nanksyanti no me 'nimiso ledhi hetih
yesam aham priya atma sutas ca
sakha guruh suhrdo daivam istam
SYNONYMS
na--not; karhicit--at any time; mat-parah--devotees of Me; santa-rupe--O mother, the symbol of peacefulness; nanksyanti--will perish; no--nor; me--My; animisah--time; ledhi--licks up (destroys); hetih--weapon; yesam--of whom; aham--I; priyah--dear; atma--the Supersoul; sutah--the son; ca--and; sakha--friend; guruh--spiritual master; suhrdah--well-wisher; daivam--the Deity; istam--chosen.
TRANSLATION
" 'My dear mother, Devahuti! 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 Devahuti and is recorded in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.38). Kapiladeva instructed His mother in sankhya-yoga, but the importance of bhakti-yoga is mentioned here. Later sanhkya-yoga was imitated by atheists, whose system was founded by a different Kapiladeva, Rsi Kapiladeva.
TEXT 163
TEXT
pati-putra-suhrd-bhratr-
pitrvan mitravad dharim
ye dhyayanti sadodyuktas
tebhyo 'piha namo namah
SYNONYMS
pati--a husband; putra--a son; suhrt--a friend; bhratr--a brother; pitr--a father; vat--like; mitra--an intimate friend; vat--like; harim--on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ye--all those who; dhyayanti--meditate; sada--always; udyuktah--full of eagerness; tebhyah--unto them; api--also; iha--here; namah namah--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-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.308).
TEXT 164
TEXT
ei mata kare yeba raganuga-bhakti
krsnera carane tanra upajaya 'priti'
SYNONYMS
ei mata--in this way; kare--executes; yeba--anyone who; raganuga-bhakti--spontaneous devotional service to Krsna; krsnera carane--to the lotus feet of Krsna; tanra--his; upajaya--awakens; priti--affection.
TRANSLATION
"If one engages in spontaneous loving service to the Lord, his affection at the lotus feet of Krsna gradually increases.
TEXT 165
TEXT
prity-ankure 'rati', 'bhava'----haya dui nama
yaha haite vasa hana sri-bhagavan
SYNONYMS
priti-ankure--in the seed of affection; rati--attachment; bhava--emotion; haya--there are; dui nama--two names; yaha haite--from which; vasa--controlled; hana--is; sri-bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
"In the seed of affection, there is attachment which goes by two names, rati and bhava. The Supreme Personality of Godhead comes under the control of such attachment.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments on this verse. Externally a devotee performs all the items of devotional service-sravana and kirtana-in nine different ways, and within his mind he always thinks of his eternal relationship with Krsna and follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vrndavana. If one engages himself in the service of Radha and Krsna in this way, he can transcend the regulative principles enjoined in the sastras and, through his spiritual master, fully engage in rendering spontaneous love to Krsna. In this way, he attains affection at the lotus feet of Krsna. Krsna actually comes under the control of such spontaneous feelings, and ultimately one can attain association with the Lord.
TEXT 166
TEXT
yaha haite pai krsnera prema-sevana
eita' kahilun 'abhidheya'-vivarana
SYNONYMS
yaha haite--from which; pai--I can get; krsnera--of Lord Krsna; prema-sevana--affectionate service; eita'--this; kahilun--I have done; abhidheya-vivarana--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
TEXT
abhidheya, sadhana-bhakti ebe kahilun sanatana
sanksepe kahilun, vistara na yaya varnana
SYNONYMS
abhidheya--the means of obtaining the desired object; sadhana-bhakti--devotional service performed by means of the body and senses; ebe--now; kahilun--I have described; sanatana--My dear Sanatana; sanksepe--in short; kahilun--I have described; vistara--expansion; na yaya--is not possible; varnana--describing.
TRANSLATION
"My dear Sanatana, I have briefly described the process of devotional service in practice, which is the means for obtaining love of Krsna. It cannot be described broadly."
TEXT 168
TEXT
abhidheya sadhana-bhakti sune yei jana
acirat paya sei krsna-prema-dhana
SYNONYMS
abhidheya--necessary duty; sadhana-bhakti--devotional service in practice; sune--hears; yei jana--anyone who; acirat--very soon; paya--gets; sei--that person; krsna-prema-dhana--the treasure of love of Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Whoever hears the process of practical devotional service very soon attains shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna in love and affection.
TEXT 169
TEXT
sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa
SYNONYMS
sri-rupa--Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; yara--whose; asa--expectation; caitanya-caritamrta--the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe--describes; krsnadasa--Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.
TRANSLATION
Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Twenty-second Chapter, describing the execution of devotional service.