Part Two -
Abhidheya-tattva-nirupana - Description of the Means of Spiritual Attainment
Chapter Three - Sadhana-paripaka-parakarana
Obstacles to Spiritual Advancement
Sutra 74
svarupanava pty-asat-trishnaparadha-hridaya-daurbalyanity anarthas ca catur-vidhah
svarupa-original form; anavapti-non-attainemnt; asat-for matter; trishna-thirst; aparadha-offense; hridaya-in the heart; daurbalyani-weakness; iti-thus; anarthah-the unwanted; ca-also; catuh-four; vidhah-kinds.
1. Misidentification of the self, 2. thirst for material things, 3. offenses, and 4.
weakness of heart are four obstacles on the spiritual path.
Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Misidentification of the self is described in the Svetasvatara Upanishad (6.1) in these
words:
sva-bhavam eke kavayo vadanti
kalam tathanye parimuhyamanah
"Some thinkers say the material universe is self-manifested. Other bewildered men say
time created the universe."
Thirst for the temporary and unreal things of this world is described in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (4.4.22) in these words:
yesham no 'yam atmayam loka iti te sma putraishanayas ca vittaishanayas ca lokaishanayas ca
vyutthayatha bhiksha-caryam caranti.
"The say, 'The Supreme Lord is the whole world for us.' Renouncing the desire to
enjoy children, wealth, or anything else in this world, they becomes sannyasis. They
accept alms. They wander over the earth."
Offenses are described in the Isa Upanishad in these words:
asurya nama te loka
andhena tamasavritah
tams te pretyabhigacchanti
ye ke catma-hano janah
"The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the
world of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance."*
Weakness of heart is described in the Katha Upanishad (2.1.2) in these words:
para ca kaman anuyanti balas
te mrityor yanti vitatasya pasam
"Childish fools who desire material pleasures run into the noose set by death."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.7.44-45) it is said:
kim u vyavahitapatyadaragara-
dhanadayah
rajya-kosa-gajamatya
bhrityapta mamataspadah
"Since the body itself is ultimately meant to become stool or earth, what is the
meaning of the paraphernalia related to the body, such as wives, residences, wealth,
children, relatives, servants, friends, kingdoms, treasuries, animals, and ministers?
They are also temporary. What more can be said about this?*
kim etair atmanas tucchaih
saha dehena nasvaraih
anarthair artha-sankasair
nityananda-mahodadhe
"All this paraphernalia is very near and dear as long as the body exists, but as soon as
the body is destroyed, all things related to the body are also finished. Therefore,
actually one has nothing to do with them, but because of ignorance one accepts them
as valuable. Compared to the ocean of eternal happiness, they are most insignificant.
What is the use of such insignificant relationships for the eternal living being?"*
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 22.29) it is said:
jnane jivan-mukta dasa painu kari mane
vastutah buddhi-suddha nahe krishna bhakti vine
"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 Krishna's devotional service."*
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 22.140) it is said:
kama tyaji' krishna bhaje sastra ajna mani'
"If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the transcendental
loving service of Krishna, as enjoined in revealed scriptures, he is never indebted to
demigods, sages, or forefathers."*
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita it is also said:
seva namaparadhadi durete varjana
"One should be careful not to commit offenses to devotional service and to the holy
name of the Lord."
Sutra 75
sadhana-yogenacarya-prasadena ca turnam tad-apanayanam eva bhajana-naipunyam
sadhana-yogena-by engagement in the activities of devotional service; acarya-of the spiritual master; prasadena-by the mercy; ca-and; turnam-quickly; tat-them; apanayanam-removal; eva-certainly; bhajana-in devotional service; naipunyamexpertise.
By engaging in the activities of devotional service and by the mercy of the spiritual master one becomes free of all these obstacles and one also becomes expert in devotional service.
Commentary by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
In the Prasna Upanishad (3.2 to 6.8)) it is said:
tasmai sa hovacati-prasnan pricchasi brahmishtho 'siti tasmat te 'ham bravimi. . . te tam
arcayantas tam hi nah pita yo 'smakam avidyayah param param tarayasiti. namah
parama-rishibhyo namah parama-rishibhyah.
"Then he said to him,'You ask many questions, but because you are devoted to the
Supreme Lord, I shall answer them.' . . . (After hearing the answers to all their
questions, the students) worshiped the sage and said,'You are our father. You have
taken us to the farther shore of this ocean of ignorance. We offer our obeisances to the
great sages. We offer our obeisances to the great sages."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.7.30) it is said:
guru-susrushaya bhaktya
sarva-labharpanena ca
sangena sadhu-bhaktanam
isvararadhanena ca
"One must accept the bona fide spiritual master and render service unto him with
great devotion and faith. Whatever one has in one's possession should be offered to
the spiritual master, and in the association of saintly persons and devotees one should
worship the Lord."*
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.25-26) Lord Krishna explains:
yathagnina hema-malam jahati
ghnatam punah svam bhajate svarupam
atma ca karmanusayam vidhuya
mad-bhakti-yogena bhajaty atho mam
"Just as gold, when smelted in fire, gives up its impurities and returns to its pure
brilliant state, similarly, the spirit soul, absorbed in the fire of bhakti-yoga, is purified
of all contamination caused by previous fruitive activities and returns to its original
position of serving Me in the spiritual world.***
yatha yathatma parimrijyate 'sau
mat-punya-gatha-sravanabhidhanaih
tatha tatha pasyati vastu sukshmam
cakshur yathaivam jana-samprayuktam
"When a diseased eye is treated with medicinal ointment, it gradually recovers its
power to see. Similarly, as a conscious living entity cleanses himself of material
contamination by hearing and chanting the pious narrations of My glories, he regains
his ability to see Me, the Absolute Truth, in My subtle spiritual form."***
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 22.45) it is said:
sadhu sange tabe krishne rati upajaya
"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 Krishna is awakened."*
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 22.47) it is said:
guru antaryami rupe sikhaya apane
"Krishna is situated in everyone's heart as Caittya-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."*
