Jun 30, 2019 — CANADA (SUN) — Fourteen clusters of flowers on 'The Flowering Vine of Devotion to Lord Hari'.
EIGHTH STABAKA
(Eighth Cluster of Flowers) - Part One
Text 1
atharcanam aha—-
upacaraih shodashabhir
yathavidhi yathakramam
sampujanam murarater
arcanam parikirtitam'
atha— now; arcanam— worship; aha— the author describes; upacaraih— with services; shodashabhih— sixteen; yatha-vidhi— following the rules and regulations; yatha-kramam— properly; sampujanam— worship; mura-arateh— of Lord Krishna, the enemy of the Mura demon; arcanam— worship; parikirtitam— is known as.
Rendering sixteen kinds of service to Lord Hari, properly and according to the rules and regulations, and worshipping Him is called arcanam (worship).
Text 2
yajnam vihaya nikhilan akhilatma-natham
ye sammadena harim eva yajanti dhirah
ishtah surarshi-pitri-bhuta-narah samasta
neshtvapi tais tri-jagad eva yatheshtam ishtam
yajnan— sacrifices; vihaya— abandoning; nikhilan— all; akhila— of all; atma— of living entities; natham— the Lord; ye— those who; sammadena— jubilantly; harim— Lord Hari; eva— certainly; yajanti— worship; dhirah— intelligent persons; ishtah— worshipped; sura— demigods; rshi— sages; pitri— forefathers; bhuta— living entities; narah— and human beings; samastah— all; na— not; ishtva— having worshipped; api—even; taih— by them; tri-jagat— the three worlds; eva— certainly; yatha-ishtam— as much as could be desired; ishtam— pleased.
Those who are actually intelligent abandon all Vedic Sacrifices to the demigods and simply worship Lord Hari, the master of all living entities, with great pleasure. Although they do not worship the demigods, sages, forefathers, bhutas and human beings, all these entities are pleased with them. The entire three worlds become completely satisfied with such persons.
Text 3
abhyarcite madhuripau nikhilatma-hetau
triptam bhavetri-jagad eva kim atra citram
citrani yani vadane parinirmitani
tany eva bhanti niyatam pratibimbite 'pi
abhyarcite— is worshipped; madhu-ripau— when Lord Krishna, the enemy of the Mura demon; nikhila— all; atma— of living entities; hetau— the cause; triptam— satisfied; bhave— in the material world; tri-jagat— the three planetry systems; eva— certainly; kim— what?; atra— in this regard; citram— is amazing; citrani— amazing features; yani— which; vadane— on ;the face; parinirmitani— marked; tani— they; eva— certainly; bhanti— are manifest; niyatam— eternally; partibimbite— in reflection; api— even.
When Lord Hari, the original cause of everything and the supersoul within all living entities is worshipped, the entire three worlds become satisfied. And there is nothing at all amazing in this. The amazing features of Lord Hari's face are eternally manifested, even when reflected (in this world). N.B. the translator considers this verse unclear?
Text 4
govindam ananda-sudha-samudram
brahmesh-pujyam paripujayed yah
devesha-kamyapi tam eva lakshmis
trailokya-pujyam svayam ashrayeta
govindam— Lord Govinda; ananda— of transcendental bliss; sudha— of the nectar; samudram— the ocean; brahma— by Lord Brahma; isha— and Lord Siva; pujyam— worshippable; paripujayet— worships; yah— one who; deva— of the demigods; isha— by the controllers; kamya— desired; api— even; tam— to him; eva— certainly; lakshmih— the goddess of fortune; trailokya— in all the three worlds; pujyam— worshippable; svayam— personally; ashrayeta— takes shelter.
The goddess of fortune, who is the object of the prayers of the leaders of the demigods and who is worshipped by all the three worlds, personally takes shelter of that person who worships Lord Hari, who is like an ocean of the nectar of transcendental bliss and who is worshipped by Brahma and Shiva.
Text 5
arcanti ye bhagavatash caranaravindam
shraddhanvitah parama-yogi-janair vimrigyam
te mukta-koti-jananarjita-karma-bandhah
pare bhavambudhi sudhambunidhim labhante
arcanti— worship; ye— those who; bhagvatah— of the supreme Personality of godhead; carana— feet; aravindam— lotus; shraddha— with faith; anvitah— endowed; parama— greatest; yogi-janaih— by the yogis; vimrigyam— sought; te— they; mukta— freed; koti— milions; janana— of births; arjita— attained; karma— of karmic reactions; bandhah— bonds; pare— on the farther shore; bhava— of material existance; ambudhi— of the ocean; sudha— of nectar; ambunidhim— the ocean; labhante— they attain.
Faithful persons who worship Lord Hari's lotus feet, which are sought by the greatest of yogis, become free from the karmic bondage attained after millions of births. They attain the ocean of transcendental nectar which lies beyond the ocean of material existence.
Text 6
krita-punyah sabhagyas te
kritartha eva te matah
mukundam pujayishyama
iti yesham manasy api
krita— performed; punyah— pious activities; sabhagyah— fortunate; te— they; krita-arthah— successful; eva— certainly; te— they; matah— are considered; mukundam— Lord Mukunda; pujayishyamah— lit us worship; iti— thus; yesham— of whom; manasi— in the mind; api— even.
Those who, within their hearts, say: "Let us worship Lord Mukunda", are considered to be greatly pious, fortunate, and successful.
Text 7
yan-namoccaranad eva
sadyo mucyate bandhanat
pujarambhe krite casya
kim anyad avashishyate
yat— whose; nama— of the holy name; uccaranat— from the speaking; eva— certainly; sadyah— immediately; mucyate— becomes free; bandhanat— from the bondage of material existance; puja— of the worship; arambhe— in the activity; krite— when done; ca— and; asya— of Him; kim— what?; anyat— further; avashishyate— remains.
When one pronounces Lord Krishna's holy name, he becomes immediately free from material bondage. When that Lord Krishna is worshipped, what further remains to be done?
Text 8
akamash ca sakamash ca
moksha-kamas tathapare
arcanti kevalam bhaktya
bhakta-kalpa-drumam harim
akamah— without material desires; ca— and; sakamah== full of material desires; ca— and; moksha— liberation; kamah— desiring; tatha— and; apare— on the other hand; arcanti— worship; kevalam— only; bhaktya— with devotion; bhakta— of the devotees; kalpa— desire; drumam— tree; harim— Lord Hari.
Whether free from material desires, full of material desires, or desiring liberation, intelligent persons devotedly and exclusively worship Lord Hari, who is like a desire tree which fulfills the desires of the devotees.
Text 9
sarve 'py ashramino varna
diksham acarya tantrikim
tad-uktena vidhanena
pujayanti janardanam
sarve— all; api— and; ashraminah— members of the four asramas; varnah— members of the four varnas; diksham— initiation; acarya—accepting; tantrikim— in the regulation; pujayanti— worwhip; janardanam— Lord Janardana.
All members of the four varnas and ashramas may accept a tantric initiation and worship Lord Hari according to the tantric regulations.
Text 10
tad yatha—-
snato 'ti-shuddha-vasano jala-dhauta-padah
pracimukhas tilakam ujjvalam adadhanah
acanta atta-kamalasana asana-stho
baddhanjalir guru-ganadhipatin namasyet
tat— that; yatha— just as; snatah— bathed;ati— very; shuddha— clean; vasanah— with garments; jala— with water; dhauta— washed; padah— feet; pracimukhah— facing; tilakam— tilaka markings; ujjvalam— splendid; adadhanah— accepting; acantah— sipping water; atta— accepted; kamala— lotus; asane— seat; asana— on a seat; sthah— situated; baddha-anjalih— with respectfully folded hands; guru— to the spiritual master; gana-adhipatin— to the saintly devotees, such as the four Kumaras, who are the best of living entities; namasyet— should offer obeisances.
The author here describes the worship of the Lord—- Nicely bathed, wearing very clear garments, his feet washed with water, decorated with nicely drawn tilaka markings, performing acamana, and respectfully folding his hands, one should offer obeisances to His guru who is seated on the kamalasana and also the exalted Vaishnavas, such as the four Kumaras, who are the best of living entities.
Text 11
sadharam argha-patram ca
padya-patram ca vamatah
pushpa-naivedya-sambharam
nija-dakshinato nyaset
sa— with; adharam— a recepticle; argha— argha; patram— dish; ca— and; padya— water for washing the feet; patram- ; ca— and; vamatah— on the left; pushpa— flowers; naivedya— foodstuffs; sambharan— abundance; nija— own; dakshinatah— on the right; nyaset— should place.
One should place cups of water for washing the mouth and feet on his left, and he should place the offerings of flowers and foodstuffs on his right.
Text 12
vidhaya shuddhatmani bhuta-shuddhim
nyasadikam prana-vidharanam ca
yathokta-pujam iha danavareh
kurvanti sarve rahita vikalpaih
vidhaya— placing; shuddha— purified; ztmani— in the body; bhuta-shuddhim— the ceremony of bhuta-suddhi; nyasa— with nyasa (appropriate gestures); adikam— etc.; pran-vidharanam— breath— control; ca— and; yatha— as; ukta— described; pujam— worship; iha— here; danava-areh— of Lord Krishna, the enemy of the demons; kurvanti— perform; sarve— all; rahitah— free from; vikalpaih— doubts.
Performing the bhuta-shuddhi ceremony with a purified body, performing nyasa (gestures) with the hands and limbs, and controlling the breath, free form doubts, everyone should worship Lord Hari according to the prescribed regulations.
Text 13
nana-vikalpaih sankalpair
yesham kalushitam manah
pranayama-shatenapi
te na shuddhim avapnuyuh
nana— various; vikalpaih— by doubts; sankalpaih— by desires; yesam— of whom; kalushitam— muddied; manah— the mind; pranayama— controlling the breathing; shatena— for hundreds of times; api— even; te— they; na— not; shuddhim— purity; avapnuyuh— attain.
Those whose minds are contaminated by various doubts and desires are not able to become purified by practicing pranayama (breath-control), even for hundreds of times.
Text 14
manasam catha bahyam ca
pujanam dvi-vidham matam
pratimadau kritam bahyam
manasam ca dhiyatmani
manasam— within the mind; ca— and; atha— then; bahyam— external; ca— and; pujanam— worship; dvi-vidham— two-fold; matam— is considered; pratima— before the diety; adau— etc.; kritam— performed; bahyam— external; manasam— within the mind; ca— and; dhiya— by the intelligence; atmani— in the mind.
There are two kinds of worship—- external worship and worship performed within the mind. External worship is performed in the presence of the deity or in other ways. The intelligence performs internal worship within the mind.
Text 15
tatradau manasim pujam
acaret susamahitah
sthira-buddhir yathakamam
krishnam dhyayan yathoditam
tatra— there; adau— in the beginning; manasim— mental; pujam— worship; acaret— may perform; susamahitah— with fixed mind; sthira— unwavering; buddhih— with intelligence; yatha-kamam— as wished; Krishnam— Lord Drsna; dhyayan— meditating; yatha— as; uditam— described.
According to one's own desire, with fixed mind and unwavering intelligence, meditating on Lord Krishna as He has been described by the bona-fide sources, one may engage in the activities of worship within his mind.
Text 16
shuddhatma suvashi-kritendriya-gano buddhyaiva samshuddhaya
pratyahritya mano bahir vishayato nirmukta-sankalpakah
svatmany eva sada vasantam akhilatmanam sukhambhonidhim
dhyatva nanda-tanudbhavam krita-matih padyadibhih pujayet
shuddha— pure; atma— heart; suvashi-krita— controlled; indriya— of senses; ganah— multitude; buddhya— with intelligence; eva— certainly; samshuddhaya— pure; pratyahritya— withdrawing; manah— the mind; bahih— external; vishayatah— from the objects of the senses; nirmukta— free; sankalpakah— from desires; sva— own; atmani— in the mind; eva— certainly; sada— continually; vasantam— residing; akhila— of all living entities; atmanam— the supersoul; sukha— of transcendental bliss; ambhonidhim— the ocean; dhyatva— having meditated; nanda— of Nanda Maharaja; tanudbhavam— the transcendental son; krita-matih— fixing his mind; padya— with water for washing the feet; adibhih— and other services; pujayet— one should worship.
With purified intelligence, one should withdraw the mind from external sense-objects and control the senses. Freed from all desires, one may meditate on Lord Krishna, the supersoul of all living entities, who is an ocean of transcendental bliss. Meditating on that transcendental son of Nanda Maharaja within his heart, the pure soul may worship Him by offering water to wash His feet and by performing many other services.
Text 17
tad yatha—-
candravadatam lasad-ashta-patram
smaret praphullam hridayaravindam
tatra sthitam sandra-sukhamburashim
harim smaret purva-nirukta-rupam
tat— that; yatha— as; candra— as the moon; avadatam— splendid; lasat— shining; ashta— with eight; patram— petals; smaret— one may meditate; praphulam— blossoming; hridaya— of the heart; aravindam— lotus flower; tatra— there; sthitam— situated; sandra— intense; sukha— of spiritual happiness; amburashim— ocean; harim— Lord Hari; smaret— one may meditate; purva— previously; nirukta— described; rupam— form.
One may meditate on the heart as a blossoming eight-petaled lotus flower as splendid as the moon. One may meditate on Lord Hari, who is an ocean of intense transcendental bliss and whose beautiful form has previously been described, as standing on that lotus flower.
Text 18
vakshyamana-kramenaiva
manasa-sthair upayanaih
svatmani paramatmanam
Krishnam vidhivad arcayet
vakshyamana— being described; kramena— gradually; eva— certainly; manasa— within the mind; sthaih— situated; upayanaih— by services; sva— won; atmani— in the mind; parama-atmanam— the supersoul; Krishnam— Lord Krishna; arcayet— one may worship.
Mentally performing the previously described services, one may worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna within his mind, according to the prescribed regulations.
Text 19
tata unmilya nayane
purah santam muradvisham
yajed upayanair bahyair
anindaih svayam ahritaih
tatah— then; unmlya— opening; nayane— the two eyes; purah— in the presence; santam— the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead; muradvisham— Lord Hari, the enemy of the Mura demon; yajet— may worship; upayanaih— with services; bahyaih— external; anindaih— without committing offenses; svayam— personally; ahritaih— brought.
Then one may open his eyes and worship Lord Hari, the eternal Supreme Personality of godhead Standing before him, by personally offering various services without offense.
Text 20
tad evaha—-
asau hi sakshad bhagavan sa evety
akhanda-vishvasa-vivriddha-bhavah
tadiya-murtim drisadadikaptam
premna yajeta snapanasanadyaih
tat— that; eva— certainly; aha— the author describes; asau— this; hi— indeed; sakshat— directly; bhagavan— the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sah— He; eva— certainly; iti— thus; akhanda— unbroken; vishvasa— with faith; vivriddha— great; bhavah— with love; tadiya— of the Lord; murtim— the diety form; drisadadika-aptam— percieved by the eyes; premna— with pure love; yajeta— may worship; snapana— by bathing; asana— offering a throne; adyaih— and other services.
The author now describes the external type of deity worship—- Full of faith that the deity is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should lovingly worship the Lord by bathing Him, offering Him a throne, and performing many other services.
Permission for publication of this series granted by Touchstone Media, the publisher. www.touchstonemedia.com.
