Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latika, Part 2

BY: SUN STAFF

Venugopala
Trichinopoly, c. 1825

Jun 18, 2019 — CANADA (SUN) — Fourteen clusters of flowers on 'The Flowering Vine of Devotion to Lord Hari'.

Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latika

SECOND STABAKA

Text 1

atha bhakta-jana-prasadaika-sadhyatvad bhagavad-bhaktes tan upaslokayati---asesha-brahmanda-prabhur api vihayatma-nilayam
sada y esham parshve vasati vasagah kaitabha-ripuh
vimuktau muktasan murahara-padambhoja-rasikan
bhaje 'ham bhaktams tan bhagavad-avataran bhava-hitan

Because the devotional service of the Lord is attainable only by the mercy of the devotees, the author praises them in the following verses--- Although He is the master of all universes, Lord Hari leaves His own spiritual abode to always stay submissively by His devotee's side. Lord Hari's devotees have given up all aspiration for liberation, and are simply attached to relishing the nectar at the Lord's lotus feet. I worship those devotees, who are empowered by the Lord, and who endeavor to do good to the entire world.

Text 2

tan eva pratyekam abhivadayati---guhyam yogi-durasadam tri-jagatam saram yayaivamritam
yasya nishkapata-prasada-sulabham govinda-padambujam
adyam saktim asesha-loka jananim brahmadibhir vanditam
vande tam kula-devatam iha mahamayam jagan-mohinim

Unapproachable for the yogis, and the best thing in the three worlds. Lord Krishna's nectarean lotus-feet are carefully concealed by Mahamaya, although they may also be easily attained by her genuine favor. Offered obeisances by Lord Brahma and the other devotees, she is the Lord's first potency, and the mother of all living entities. I offer my respectful obeisances to that goddess Mahamaya, who bewilders the entire universe.

Text 3

ananda-nirbaramayim aravinda-nabha-
padaravinda-makarandamaya-pravaham
tam krishna-bhaktim iva murtimatim sravantim
vande mah esvara-siro-ruha-kunda-malam

Saturated with the honey of Lord Hari's lotus feet, and appearing like a garland of white jasmine flowers on the top of Lord Siva's head, the blissful Ganges river shines as splendidly as Krishna-bhakti herself. I offer my respectful obeisances to her.

Text 4

vande rudra-virinci-narada-suka-vyasoddhavakruraka-
prahladarjuna-tarksha-maruti-mukhan sri-vasudeva-priyan
yat-kirtih sura-nimnageva vimala trai-lokyam evapunat
sarpendrasya phaneva visvam avahat tapan sudhevavahat

I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Narada Muni, Sukadeva Gosvami, Srila Vyasadeva,Uddhava, Akrura, Prahlada, Arjuna, Garuda, Hanuman, and all the others who are dear to Lord Vasudeva. Just like the celestial Ganges river, their glory purifies the three worlds. Just like the hood of Lord Vasuki, it maintains the universe, and just like nectar, it removes this world's distress.

Text 5

tat-kamojjhita-loka-veda-varitapatyatma-paty-alaya
radhadya vraja-sundarir aviratam vande mukunda-priyah
yabhih prema-pariplutabhir anisam krishnaika-tanatmabhir
yan-naisargikam ea karma-rahitam sa prema-bhaktih smrita

Headed by Srimati Radharani, the beautiful young girls of Vrajabhumi constantly meditated upon Lord Krishna, and became drowned in pure love for Him. Very dear to Him, they attained the stage of prema-bhakti (devotional service in pure love of God), which is free from any taint of material fruitive activities. In their desire to attain Krishna, they rejected all concern for popular opinion, Vedic convention, and even their own children, husbands, and homes. I repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto them.

Text 6

tad yatha--anandena mukunda-nama-caritam lila-vilasatmakam
kromancancita-vigrahah sarabhasam srnvanti gayanti ca
tat-saundarya-vihara-magna-manaso nityam smaranti sma tam
gehe karma-samakula api harer bhaktim dadhur gopikah

When the gopis heard and chanted Lord Krishna's Holy Names and pastimes, the hairs of their bodies stood up in ecstasy. Their minds constantly immersed in remembering His pastimes and beauty, they engaged in pure devotional service to the Lord, although very diligently performing their household duties.

Text 7

vina-venu-mrdanga-vadya-valitair nrityaih sva-gitottarais
talpaih pushpa-nava-pravala-racitair asyamritasyarpanaih
gunja-dhatu-sikhanda-puspa vihitair vesair manoharibhih
premna sadhu sishevire madhuripum vridavane gopikah

Playing flutes, vinas and mridangas, dancing, sweetly singing, decorating His sitting place with flowers and fresh buds, offering the nectar of their kisses, and decorating Him with garlands of gunja, mineral pigments, peacock feathers and flowers, the gopis lovingly served Lord Krishna in Vrindavana.

Text 8

svidyat-pani-talena tac-caranayoh sammarjanenarpitam
pady am sneha-jalena carghyam anisam celancalenasanam
dattam cacamaniyam eva niyatam svasyadharasyamritaih
premnaivattham ahar nisam madhuripor gopibhir arca krita

The gopis washed the Lord's feet and their hands began to perspire in ecstasy. They continually offered Him arghya with their tears, a sitting place with the edge of their saris, and acamana with the nectar of their kisses. In this way the gopis constantly served Lord Krishna in pure love.

Text 9

tasam ye tu manoratha nava-navonmilat-kala-kelayas
tesham tavad agocare hi bhagavat-kama-kriya-kausalam
ity e vam nija-manasadhika-rasollasotsavasvadajen-
anandena vavandire madhuripum vrindavane gopikah

Although newer and newer desires for amorous pastimes arose within the gopis' hearts, the Lord's skill at performing these pastimes was always beyond what the gopis could imagine. Tasting the transcendental bliss of festive conjugal pastimes far beyond their desires, the gopis jubilantly offered respectful obeisances to Lord Krishna in Vrindavana.

Text 10

abhyutthana-varasananghri-kamala-prakshalanodvarttanaih
kesopaskarananulepa-tilakaih pratyanga-vesattaraih
bhakshyaih kshira-rasadibhis ca vadane tambula-vikshepanair
malyair vijana-vadya-gita-natanair dasyam vyadhur gopikah

Respectfully rising to greet Him, offering a nice sitting-place, washing and massaging His lotus feet, arranging and decorating His hair, smearing His body with scented ointments, marking it with tilaka and nicely decorating each limb, offering palatable foodstuffs made with milk and other nice ingredients, placing betel-nuts in His mouth, garlanding and fanning Him, playing musical instruments, singing and dancing for His pleasure, the gopis served Lord Krishna.

Text 11

parihasalapaih sahaviharnaih prema-rabhasaih
svabharaih sauhardaih saha-sayana-vasabhyavahritaih
ati-pritya maitrim vraja-pura-yuvatyo vidadhire
harau pritim naisargika-sakhitaya gopa-sisavah

The cowherd boys of Vraja-pura joked, talked, ate, rested, performed pastimes, and stayed with Lord Krishna as His loving friends.

Text 12

tadiya-rupasrita-kama-marganair
nihanyamanah saranam gata iva
krishnaya catmanam api sva-vigraham
nivedayante svayam eva gopikhh

Pierced by the cupid's arrows of His beauty, the gopis surrendered to Krishna and offered Him their minds and bodies.

Text 13

nirapeksha niraharya
nirguna guna-salini
saprema sanuraga ca
gopi-bhaktih kim ucyate

Natural, causeless, beyond the three modes of material nature, enriched with wonderful spiritual attributes, full of great love and attachment, the gopi's devotion to Lord Krishna cannot be described.

Text 14

yabhih krishna-rasavado
virahe 'py anubhuyate
gopinam-sa kshano nasti
yatra govinda-vismritih

Even when separated from Him, the gopis, tasted the mellows of love for Krishna. They did not forget Him for a moment.

Text 15

paty-apatya-dhanair adhyam
griham yogisu dustyajam
hathena trinavat tyaktva
bhejuh krishnam vraja-striyah

Endowed with great wealth, charming children and husbands, the gopis homes were difficult even for great yogis to abandon. The gopis, nevertheless, vigorously rejected their opulent homes, considering them as worthless as a piece of straw, and went to worship Lord Krishna.

Text 16

gopinam bhakti-mahima
vaktum sakyo na vedhasa
tat-sutena sukenapi
ke vayam jada-buddhayah

Even Brahma, Narada, and Sukadeva Gosvami cannot describe the glories of the gopi's devotional service to Lord Krishna. What are we, whose intelligence is very stunted, in comparison to them?

Text 17

na tatha brahma-rudradya
lakshmir vananta eva va
govindasya jagad-bandhor
yatha gopi-janah priyah

Neither Lakshmi-devi, Lord Ananta-deva, nor the devotees headed by Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, are as dear to Lord Govinda, the friend of the universe, as the gopis.

Text 18

parisilayato 'nantam
satatam santapasam-tamo-hantrin
bhagavatan iha vande
punyambhodher ivotthitams candran

The devotees appear like moons which have arisen from the ocean of piety. Those devotee-moons perform pastimes in the sky which is Lord Krishna, and they dispell the suffering and ignorant darkness of this world. I offer my respectful obeisances unto them.

Text 19

atha ke te bhagavata ity apekshayam ahaye srinvanti mukunda-nama-caritam gayanti cananditas
tam sarvatra saman smaranti satatam tat-pada-samsevinah
vandante paripuujayanti ca rasad dasyam atanvate
sakhyam catma-nivedanam ca niyatam karmarpanam kurvate

The author here describes the Lord's devotees--- The devotees hear the holy names and pastimes of Lord Mukunda, and delight in chanting them. They always remember Him, continually service His lotus feet, worship, offer obeisances, serve by friend, completely surrender, and offer the fruits of their work to Him.

Text 20

krishnatmanah krishna-dhanah
krishna-bandhu-sutadayah
ye tad-arthojjhitaseshas
te 'pi bhuri-parigrahah

Many devotees have renounced everything to attain Krishna. Krishna is their wealth, friend, family member, and son.

Text 21

krishnarpita-dhanagara-
dara-bandhu-sutaday ah
ye parigrahavanto 'pi
sada nishkincana janah

Those devotees offer to Krishna their wealth, home, wife, children, friends, relatives, and all their possessions. They never claim any property as their own.

Text 22

tad-rupa-guna-naivedya-nirmalya-vyapritendriyah
vishayavishaya ye 'pi
sada vishaya-salinah

Turning away from external objects, the devotees see Lord Hari's beautiful form, hear about His glorious transcendental qualities, taste the foodstuffs offered to Him, and smell the flowers garlands which were His decorations. In this way, the devotees always engage their senses in the perception of Krishna.

Text 23

Krishnarpita-mano-buddhi-
deha-pranendriya-kriyah
apy anakanshitataya
nirjita vishayormayah

Without personal desire, the devotees offer to Krishna their mind, intelligence, body, life, and the actions of the senses. In this way they conquer the six inimical waves of materialism.

Text 24

krishnenaiva hrit-sthitena
sada santushta-cetasah
ye daridra api prayo
rajadhika-sukha-sthitah

Although the devotees are generally poor, because their minds are satisfied by Lord Krishna, who remains within their hearts, they enjoy happiness greater even than a king.

Text 25

nabhyasuyanti kebhyo 'pi
na ca kebhyo 'pi bibhyati
ye na duhkhad udvijante
na ramante bahih-sukhe

The devotees do not envy or fear anyone. They are not agitated by material distress, and they do not take pleasure in the external happiness of this world.

Text 26

ye na bibhyati papnabhyo
na kutascic ca jantutah
hari-vismaranad eva
ye ca bibhyayti sarvada

Although the devotees do not fear any sinful reactions or any living entity, they constantly fear the state of forgetting Krishna.

Text 27

uccair api bahun doshan
sadarishta-gunan api
y e paresham na pasyanti
catmanas tu viparvavam

The devotees do not see others faults and lack of virtues, but their own.

Text 28

maitrim satusu kripam dine
punya-salini sammadam
kurvanti papishupeksham
api ye sama-buddhyah

Although equal to all, the devotee makes friendship with other devotees, is merciful to the innocent conditioned souls, is delighted to meet an elevated pure soul, and ignores the sinful demons.

Text 29

nigamagama-mantranam
jape nasakta-buddhy ah
sankhy aya hari-namani
ye japanti divanisam

Unattracted to the various mantras prescribed in many Vedic literatures, the devotees continually chant Lord Hari's holy names a fixed number of times.

Text 30

parityaktaihika-sukhah
svargadishv api nisprihah
nirmamaham-mada-stambha
ye sada krishna-cetasah

Aloof from the so-called happiness of this material world, not aspiring to attain the Svarga and other celestial planets, and not intoxicated by false ego and a false sense of possessiveness, the devotees constantly remember Krishna.

Text 31

sva-nindaya/m na duyante
na h rishyanti stutav api
ye na nindanti kam api
na prasamsanti kan api

The devotees do not become dejected when they are criticised, nor elated when praised. They neither criticise or praise anyone.

Text 32

ye ca sat-sanga-nishpanna
jnana-nirdhuta-bandhanah
punya-papair ha badhyante
trinair iva matanga jah

Those cleansed from all ignorance by the association of saintly devotees are not bound by the reactions of their previous sinful or pious deeds, just as elephants cannot be confined by a rope fashioned with blades of grass.

Text 33

jnanamritakara-sparsa-
paramahlada-nirvritah
klesadibhir na badhyante
tapais cadhyatmikadibhih

Joyful because of the touch of the nectarean moonbeams of spiritual knowledge, the devotees are not made unhappy by the sufferings of this world, occasioned by one's own body and mind, other living entities, and the demigods.

Text 34

ahar nisonmishad-bhakti-
sapatni-samhrita-kshana
yesham rushtaivakarma-stri
svayam eva nivartate

Seeing her co-wife bhakti (devotional service) always present, karma (fruitive activity) becomes unhappy and angry, and will not approach.

Text 35

yatha-sakti nijan dharman
asaktah paryupasate
guna-dosha-dhiyo mukta
nisiddham nacaranti ye

Unattached to the fruits of their actions, the devotees diligently perform their prescribed duties as far as they are able. They do not praise or criticise others, and they avoid forbidden things.

Text 36

api trailokya-rajyasya
hetor mokshasya va punah
kshanardham api ye saurer
na calanti padambujat

Even for a fraction of a second, the devotees will not abandon Lord Hari's lotus feet, although by doing that they may attain the kingdom of the three worlds, or liberation from them.

Text 37

mukunda-caranambhoja-
makaranda-pravahinim
dharmadharmojjhita ye 'pi
nisevante surapagam

Rejecting materially pious and impious deeds, the devotees serve the celestial Ganges river of honey flowing from Lord Mukunda's lotus feet.

Text 38

ahima satyam asteyam
sauca-sila-dama-kshamah
santi-santosha-dhrityadya
yesham ca sahaja gunah

Non-violence, truthfulness, honesty, purity, good-conduct, self-control, forgiveness, peacefulness, satisfaction, and steadfastness are some of the devotee's many natural virtues.

Text 39

yesham papeshu himsabhud
akshamendriya-nigrahe
apy asatyam paratrane
cadhairyam krishna-kirtane

Nevertheless, the devotees are violent to the sinful demons, impatient to control the senses, willing to lie for another's protection, and free from soberness and gravity in the chanting of Lord Krishna's holy names.

Text 40

anatma-buddhir de hadau
mithya-drishtis ca samsritau
rago hari-kathasv eva
dveshash ca vishayeshv abhut

The devotees do not misidentify the self as the material body or things related to the body, and they see the material world as temporary and false. They are attracted to hear the topics of Lord Hari, and adverse to material sense-gratification.

Text 41-42

muktershya-mana-matsarya
dambha-stantanritadayah
ye naham-vadinah
sarvatra-sama-darsinah
paripurnah paricchinna-dis
canandakhilatmanah
vasudevad anyatamam
na pasyanti jagat-trayam

Free from envy, pride, malice, hypocrisy, rudeness, deceitfulness, and all other vices, and without false-ego, the peaceful devotees see everyone and everything with equal vision. They do not see the three material planetary systems as something different from the perfect, complete, unlimited, all-knowing, blissful, and all-pervading Supersoul, Lord Vasudeva.

Text 43

akuntha-smritayo ye ca
bhakter anyam na sampadam
vipadam ca na manyante
krishna-vismaranat param

Keenly intelligent, the devotees do not see any good-fortune superior to pure devotional service, or any catastrophe greater than forgetfulness of Krishna.

Text 44

santa-santata-santapa
mahantah santa-cetasah
suhridah sarva-bhutanam
svaparabhinna-buddhayah

Free from all distress, their minds pacified, the friends of all living entities, the exalted devotees do not distinguish between themselves and others.

Text 45

na bhashante 'nya-marma-sprik
sada sunrita-bhashinah
ye cardra-cetaso dine
karunamrita-varshinah

The devotees do not speak to humiliate others and they always tell the truth. They are compassionate towards the fallen conditioned souls, and they shower them with the nectarean rain of their mercy.

Text 46

na sahante satam nindam
api sarva-sahishnavah
kamayante na kim api
sada dasyabhilashinah

Although all-tolerant, the devotees cannot tolerate the blasphemy of other devotees. Always desiring Lord Krishna's service, they do not desire anything else.

Text 47

antahsara mahatmanah
kula-saila iva sthirah
satrubhih krodha-kamadyair
na calyante 'nilair iva

Strong within, the great devotees are not moved by anger, lust, or other enemies, just as great mountains are not shaken by the wind.

Text 48

sada tac-caranambhoja-
sudha-vada-pralobhinam
yesham mokshe 'pi necchabhut
parameshthyadike kutah

Those who constantly aspire to taste the nectar of Lord Hari's lotus feet do not even desire liberation. How can they wish for trivial benedictions like the post of Lord Brahma?

Text 49

gabhirata-svacchatadyair
ye payonidhi-sannibhah
krishnasrita na maryadam
pralaye 'ti jahaty aho

Taking shelter of Lord Krishna, the devotees are profound, clear, and full of auspicious qualities like the ocean. Even at the time of devastation they do not cross beyond the shoreline of their own nature and reject the Lord's shelter.

Text 50

navadha bhakti-bhavena
sarvada bhavitatmanaam
yesham punar visheshena
jivanam hari-kirtanam

Although the devotees are constantly engaged in Lord Hari's devotional service in nine ways, the glorification of the Lord is especially their life and soul. Note: the nine methods of devotional service are: hearing about the Lord, chanting His glories, remembering Him, serving His lotus feet, worshipping Him, offering obeisances, serving, befriending Him, and surrendering everything to Him.

Text 51

hareh sankirtanarambhe
tan-nimagna-mano-dhiyah
ta eva jananti param
tad-asvada-sukhodayam

The devotees whose minds and intelligence become immersed in the Lord's glorification (sankirtana), are able to taste the Happiness of the sweet mellows of devotional service.

Text 52

jivanto bhakti-labhaya
kevalam prana-vrittayah
ayatnopanitam suddham
bhunjate kesavarpitam

The devotees only live to attain devotional service. They accept pure foodstuffs, offered to Lord Kesava, and attained without great endeavor, only to maintain the body for this purpose.

Permission for publication of this series granted by Touchstone Media, the publisher. www.touchstonemedia.com.

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