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 blessin
