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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

The following summary of this chapter is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. According to Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī’s request, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained the well-known Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam verse beginning ātmārāmāś ca munayaḥ. He explained this verse in sixty-one different ways. He analyzed all the words and described each word with its different connotations. Adding the words ca and api, He described all the different meanings of the verse. He then concluded that different classes of transcendentalists (jñānīs, karmīs, yogīs) utilize this verse according to their own interpretation, but if they would give up this process and surrender to Kṛṣṇa, as indicated by the verse itself, they would be able to comprehend the real meaning of the verse. In this regard, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu narrated a story about how the great sage Nārada converted a hunter into a great Vaiṣṇava, and how this was appreciated by Nārada’s friend Parvata Muni. Sanātana Gosvāmī then offered a prayer to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained the glory of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. After this, the Lord gave Sanātana Gosvāmī a synopsis of Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, which Sanātana Gosvāmī later developed into the guiding principle of all Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

আত্মারামেতি পদ্যার্কস্যার্থাংশূন্‌ যঃ প্রকাশয়ন্‌ ।
জগত্তমো জহারাব্যাত্‌ স চৈতন্যোদয়াচলঃ ॥ ১ ॥

Text

ātmārāmeti padyārkasy-
ārthāṁśūn yaḥ prakāśayan
jagat-tamo jahārāvyāt
sa caitanyodayācalaḥ

Synonyms

ātmārāma iti — beginning with the word ātmārāma; padya — verse; arkasya — of the sunlike; artha-aṁśūn — the shining rays of different meanings; yaḥ — who; prakāśayan — manifesting; jagat-tamaḥ — the darkness of the material world; jahāra — eradicated; avyāt — may protect; saḥ — He; caitanya-udaya-acalaḥ — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu who is like the eastern horizon, where the sun rises.

Translation

All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who acted as the eastern horizon where the sun of the ātmārāma verse rose. He manifested its rays in the form of different meanings and thus eradicated the darkness of the material world. May He protect the universe.

Bengali

জয় জয় শ্রীচৈতন্য জয় নিত্যানন্দ ।
জয়াদ্বৈতচন্দ্র জয় গৌরভক্তবৃন্দ ॥ ২ ॥

Text

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Synonyms

jaya jaya — all glories; śrī-caitanya — to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jaya — all glories; nityānanda — to Lord Nityānanda; jaya — all glories; advaita-candra — to Advaita Ācārya; jaya — all glories; gaura-bhakta-vṛnda — to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

Bengali

তবে সনাতন প্রভুর চরণে ধরিয়া ।
পুনরপি কহে কিছু বিনয় করিয়া ॥ ৩ ॥

Text

tabe sanātana prabhura caraṇe dhariyā
punarapi kahe kichu vinaya kariyā

Synonyms

tabe — thereafter; sanātana — Sanātana Gosvāmī; prabhura caraṇe dhariyā — catching the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; punarapi — again; kahe — says; kichu — something; vinaya kariyā — with great humility.

Translation

Thereafter, Sanātana Gosvāmī clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and humbly submitted the following petition.

Bengali

‘পূর্বে শুনিয়াছোঁ, তুমি সার্বভৌম-স্থানে ।
এক শ্লোকে আঠার অর্থ কৈরাছ ব্যাখ্যানে ॥ ৪ ॥

Text

‘pūrve śuniyāchoṅ, tumi sārvabhauma-sthāne
eka śloke āṭhāra artha kairācha vyākhyāne

Synonyms

pūrve — formerly; śuniyāchoṅ — I heard; tumi — You; sārvabhauma-sthāne — at the place of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; eka śloke — in one verse; āṭhāra artha — eighteen meanings; kairācha vyākhyāne — have explained.

Translation

Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My Lord, I have heard that previously, at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, You explained the ātmārāma verse in eighteen different ways.

Bengali

আত্মারামাশ্চ মুনয়ো নির্গ্রন্থা অপ্যুরুক্রমে ।
কুর্বন্ত্যহৈতুকীং ভক্তিমিত্থম্ভূতগুণো হরিঃ ॥ ৫ ॥

Text

ātmārāmāś ca munayo
nirgranthā apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim
ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

Synonyms

ātma-ārāmāḥ — persons who take pleasure in being transcendentally situated in the service of the Lord; ca — also; munayaḥ — great saintly persons who have completely rejected material aspirations, fruitive activities and so forth; nirgranthāḥ — without interest in any material desire; api — certainly; urukrame — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, whose activities are wonderful; kurvanti — do; ahaitukīm — causeless, or without material desires; bhaktim — devotional service; ittham-bhūta — so wonderful as to attract the attention of the self-satisfied; guṇaḥ — who has transcendental qualities; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“ ‘Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the loving service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is called Kṛṣṇa because He has such transcendentally attractive features.’

Purport

This is the famous ātmārāma verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.10).

Bengali

আশ্চর্য শুনিয়া মোর উৎকণ্ঠিত মন ।
কৃপা করি’ কহ যদি, জুড়ায় শ্রবণ ॥’ ৬ ॥

Text

āścarya śuniyā mora utkaṇṭhita mana
kṛpā kari’ kaha yadi, juḍāya śravaṇa’

Synonyms

āścarya — wonderful; śuniyā — hearing; mora — my; utkaṇṭhita — desirous; mana — mind; kṛpā kari’ — showing Your causeless mercy; kaha yadi — if You speak; juḍāya — pleases; śravaṇa — the ear.

Translation

“I have heard this wonderful story and am therefore very inquisitive to hear Your explanation again. If You would kindly repeat it, I would be very pleased to hear.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — “আমি বাতুল, আমার বচনে ।
সার্বভৌম বাতুল তাহা সত্য করি’ মানে ॥ ৭ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — “āmi vātula, āmāra vacane
sārvabhauma vātula tāhā satya kari’ māne

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; āmi — I; vātula — a madman; āmāra vacane — in My words; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; vātula — another madman; tāhā — that (My explanation); satya kari’ māne — took as truth.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I am one madman, and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya is another. Therefore he took My words to be the truth.

Bengali

কিবা প্ৰলাপিলাঙ, কিছু নাহিক স্মরণে ।
তোমার সঙ্গ-বলে যদি কিছু হয় মনে ॥ ৮ ॥

Text

kibā pralāpilāṅa, kichu nāhika smaraṇe
tomāra saṅga-bale yadi kichu haya mane

Synonyms

kibā — what; pralāpilāṅa — I have said; kichu — anything; nāhika — there is not; smaraṇe — in memory; tomāra — of you; saṅga-bale — by the strength of association; yadi — if; kichu — something; haya — there is; mane — in My mind.

Translation

“I do not recall what I spoke in that connection, but if something comes to My mind due to association with you, I shall explain it.

Bengali

সহজে আমার কিছু অর্থ নাহি ভাসে ।
তোমা-সবার সঙ্গ-বলে যে কিছু প্রকাশে ॥ ৯ ॥

Text

sahaje āmāra kichu artha nāhi bhāse
tomā-sabāra saṅga-bale ye kichu prakāśe

Synonyms

sahaje — generally; āmāra — My; kichu — any; artha — meaning; nāhi bhāse — does not manifest; tomā-sabāra saṅga-bale — by the strength of your association; ye — which; kichu — something; prakāśe — manifests.

Translation

“Generally by Myself I cannot give an explanation, but by the strength of your association something may manifest itself.

Bengali

একাদশ পদ এই শ্লোকে সুনির্মল ।
পৃথক্‌ নানা অর্থ পদে করে ঝলমল ॥ ১০ ॥

Text

ekādaśa pada ei śloke sunirmala
pṛthak nānā artha pade kare jhalamala

Synonyms

ekādaśa pada — eleven words; ei — this; śloke — in the verse; su-nirmala — very clear; pṛthak — separately; nānā — various; artha — meanings; pade — in each word; kare jhalamala — are glittering.

Translation

“There are eleven clear words in this verse, but when they are studied separately, various meanings glitter from each word.

Purport

The eleven separate words are (1) ātmārāmāḥ, (2) ca, (3) munayaḥ, (4) nirgranthāḥ, (5) api, (6) urukrame, (7) kurvanti, (8) ahaitukīm, (9) bhaktim, (10) ittham-bhūta-guṇaḥ, and (11) hariḥ. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will explain the different connotations and imports of these words.

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে ব্রহ্ম, দেহ, মন, যত্ন, ধৃতি ।
বুদ্ধি, স্বভাব, — এই সাত অর্থ-প্রাপ্তি ॥ ১১ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde brahma, deha, mana, yatna, dhṛti
buddhi, svabhāva, — ei sāta artha-prāpti

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; brahma — the Absolute Truth; deha — the body; mana — the mind; yatna — endeavor; dhṛti — firmness; buddhi — intelligence; svabhāva — nature; ei sāta — these seven; artha-prāpti — attainment of meanings.

Translation

“The seven different meanings of the word ‘ātmā’ are the Absolute Truth, the body, the mind, endeavor, firmness, intelligence and nature.

Bengali

“আত্মা দেহমনোব্রহ্মস্বভাবধৃতিবুদ্ধিষু । প্রযত্নে চ” ইতি ॥ ১২ ॥

Text

“ātmā deha-mano-brahma-svabhāva-dhṛti-buddhiṣu,
prayatne ca” iti

Synonyms

ātmā — the word ātmā; deha — the body; manaḥ — the mind; brahma — the Absolute Truth; svabhāva — nature; dhṛti — firmness; buddhiṣu — in the sense of intelligence; prayatne — in endeavor; ca — and; iti — thus.

Translation

“ ‘The following are synonyms of the word “ātmā”: the body, mind, Absolute Truth, natural characteristics, firmness, intelligence and endeavor.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary.

Bengali

এই সাতে রমে যেই, সেই আত্মারামগণ ।
আত্মারামগণের আগে করিব গণন ॥ ১৩ ॥

Text

ei sāte rame yei, sei ātmārāma-gaṇa
ātmārāma-gaṇera āge kariba gaṇana

Synonyms

ei sāte — in these seven items; rame — enjoy; yei — those who; sei — they; ātmārāma-gaṇa — ātmārāmas; ātmārāma-gaṇera — of the ātmārāmas; āge — later; kariba gaṇana — shall make a count.

Translation

“The word ‘ātmārāma’ refers to one who enjoys these seven items [the Absolute Truth, body, mind and so on]. Later, I shall enumerate the ātmārāmas.

Bengali

‘মুনি’-আদি শব্দের অর্থ শুন, সনাতন ।
পৃথক্‌ পৃথক্ অর্থ পাছে করিব মিলন ॥ ১৪ ॥

Text

‘muni’-ādi śabdera artha śuna, sanātana
pṛthak pṛthak artha pāche kariba milana

Synonyms

muni — the word muni; ādi — and the other; śabdera — of the words; artha — the meaning; śuna — hear; sanātana — My dear Sanātana; pṛthak pṛthak — separately; artha — meaning; pāche — after; kariba milana — I shall combine.

Translation

“My dear Sanātana, first hear the meanings of the other words, beginning with the word ‘muni.’ I shall first explain their separate meanings, then combine them.

Bengali

‘মুনি’-শব্দে মননশীল, আর কহে মৌনী ।
তপস্বী, ব্রতী, যতি, আর ঋষি, মুনি ॥ ১৫ ॥

Text

‘muni’-śabde manana-śīla, āra kahe maunī
tapasvī, vratī, yati, āra ṛṣi, muni

Synonyms

muni-śabde — by the word muni; manana-śīla — who is thoughtful; āra — also; kahe — it means; maunī — one who is silent; tapasvī — an ascetic; vratī — one who keeps great vows; yati — one in the renounced order of life; āra — and; ṛṣi — a saintly person; muni — they are called muni.

Translation

“The word ‘muni’ refers to one who is thoughtful, one who is grave or silent, an ascetic, one who keeps great vows, one in the renounced order and a saint. These are the different meanings of the word ‘muni.’

Bengali

‘নির্গ্রন্থ’-শব্দে কহে, অবিদ্যা-গ্রন্থি-হীন ।
বিধি-নিষেধ-বেদশাস্ত্র-জ্ঞানাদি-বিহীন ॥ ১৬ ॥

Text

‘nirgrantha’-śabde kahe, avidyā-granthi-hīna
vidhi-niṣedha-veda-śāstra-jñānādi-vihīna

Synonyms

nirgrantha-śabde — by the word nirgrantha; kahe — one means; avidyā — of ignorance; granthi-hīna — without any knot; vidhi-niṣedha — regulative principles of rules and restrictions; veda-śāstra — the Vedic literature; jñāna-ādi — knowledge, and so on; vihīna — without.

Translation

“The word ‘nirgrantha’ refers to one who is liberated from the material knots of ignorance. It also refers to one who is devoid of all regulative principles enjoined in the Vedic literature. It also refers to one who does not have knowledge.

Bengali

মূর্খ, নীচ, ম্লেচ্ছ আদি শাস্ত্ররিক্তগণ ।
ধনসঞ্চয়ী — নির্গ্রন্থ, আর যে নির্ধন ॥ ১৭ ॥

Text

mūrkha, nīca, mleccha ādi śāstra-rikta-gaṇa
dhana-sañcayī — nirgrantha, āra ye nirdhana

Synonyms

mūrkha — foolish, illiterate persons; nīca — lowborn; mleccha — unclean persons with no principles; ādi — and others; śāstra-rikta-gaṇa — persons devoid of all regulative principles stated in the śāstra; dhana-sañcayī — a capitalist (one who gathers wealth); nirgrantha — called nirgrantha; āra — also; ye — anyone who; nirdhana — without riches.

Translation

“ ‘Nirgrantha’ also refers to one who is illiterate, lowborn, misbehaved, unregulated and devoid of respect for the Vedic literature. The word also refers to one who is a capitalist and to one who has no riches.

Bengali

নির্নিশ্চয়ে নিষ্ক্রমার্থে নির্নির্মাণ-নিষেধয়োঃ ।
গ্রন্থো ধনেঽথ সন্দর্ভে বর্ণসংগ্রথনেঽপি চ ॥ ১৮ ॥

Text

nir niścaye niṣ kramārthe
nir nirmāṇa-niṣedhayoḥ
grantho dhane ’tha sandarbhe
varṇa-saṅgrathane ’pi ca

Synonyms

niḥ — the prefix niḥ; niścaye — in the sense of ascertainment; niḥ — the prefix niḥ; krama-arthe — in the sense of succession; niḥ — the prefix niḥ; nirmāṇa — in the sense of forming; niṣedhayoḥ — in the sense of forbidding; granthaḥ — the word grantha; dhane — in the sense of wealth; atha — also; sandarbhe — thesis; varṇa-saṅgrathane — in the sense of tying together words; api — also; ca — and.

Translation

“ ‘The prefix “niḥ” may be used for a sense of ascertainment, gradation, construction or forbidding. The word “grantha” means “riches,” “thesis” and “composition.”’

Purport

This is another quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary.

Bengali

‘উরুক্রম’-শব্দে কহে, বড় যাঁর ক্রম ।
‘ক্রম’-শব্দে কহে এই পাদবিক্ষেপণ ॥ ১৯ ॥

Text

‘urukrama’-śabde kahe, baḍa yāṅra krama
‘krama’-śabde kahe ei pāda-vikṣepaṇa

Synonyms

urukrama-śabde — by the word urukrama; kahe — one means; baḍa — great; yāṅra — whose; krama — step; krama-śabde — by the word krama; kahe — one means; ei — this; pāda-vikṣepaṇa — throwing forth of the foot.

Translation

“The word ‘urukrama’ refers to one whose krama [step] is great. The word ‘krama’ means ‘throwing the foot forward,’ that is, ‘stepping.’

Bengali

শক্তি, কম্প, পরিপাটী, যুক্তি, শক্ত্যে আক্রমণ ।
চরণ-চালনে কাঁপাইল ত্রিভুবন ॥ ২০ ॥

Text

śakti, kampa, paripāṭī, yukti, śaktye ākramaṇa
caraṇa-cālane kāṅpāila tribhuvana

Synonyms

śakti — power; kampa — trembling; paripāṭī — method; yukti — argument; śaktye — with great force; ākramaṇa — attacking; caraṇa-cālane — by moving the foot; kāṅpāila — caused to tremble; tri-bhuvana — the three worlds.

Translation

“ ‘Krama’ also means ‘power,’ ‘trembling,’ ‘a systematic method,’ ‘argument’ and ‘a forcible attack by stepping forward.’ Thus Vāmana caused the three worlds to tremble.

Purport

Uru means “very great,” and krama means “step.” When Lord Vāmanadeva was offered three steps of land, He expanded His three steps by covering the entire universe. In this way the three worlds trembled, and therefore Śrī Vāmanadeva, the incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, is referred to as Urukrama.

Bengali

বিষ্ণোর্নু বীর্যগণনাং কতমোঽর্হতীহ
যঃ পার্থিবান্যপি কবির্বিমমে রজাংসি ।
চস্কম্ভ যঃ স্বরংহসাস্খলতা ত্রিপৃষ্ঠং
যস্মাত্রিসাম্যসদনাদুরুকম্পয়ানম্ ॥ ২১ ॥

Text

viṣṇor nu vīrya-gaṇanāṁ katamo ’rhatīha
yaḥ pārthivāny api kavir vimame rajāṁsi
caskambha yaḥ sva-raṁhasāskhalatā tri-pṛṣṭhaṁ
yasmāt tri-sāmya-sadanād uru kampayānam

Synonyms

viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; nu — certainly; vīrya-gaṇanām — a counting of the different potencies; katamaḥ — who; arhati — is able to do; iha — in this world; yaḥ — who; pārthivāni — of the element earth; api — although; kaviḥ — a learned person; vimame — has counted; rajāṁsi — the atoms; caskambha — captured; yaḥ — who; sva — His own; raṁhasā — by potency; askhalatā — without hindrances; tri-pṛṣṭham — the topmost planet (Satyaloka); yasmāt — from some cause; tri-sāmya — where there is equilibrium of the three guṇas; sadanāt — from the place (from the root of the material world); uru kampayānam — trembling greatly.

Translation

“ ‘Even if a learned man is able to count all the minute atoms in this material world, he still cannot count the potencies of Lord Viṣṇu. In the form of the Vāmana incarnation, Lord Viṣṇu, without hindrance, captured all the planets, extending from the root of the material world up to Satyaloka. Indeed, He caused every planetary system to tremble by the force of His steps.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.40). In the Ṛg Veda mantras (1.2.154.1), it is said:

oṁ viṣṇor nu vīryāṇi kaṁ prāvocaṁ
yaḥ pārthivāni vimame rajāṁsi
yo ’skambhayad uttaraṁ sadha-sthaṁ
vicakramāṇas tredhorugāyaḥ

The meaning of this verse is practically identical to that of the verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam quoted above.

Bengali

বিভুরূপে ব্যাপে, শক্ত্যে ধারণ-পোষণ ।
মাধুর্যশক্ত্যে গোলোক, ঐশ্বর্যে পরব্যোম ॥ ২২ ॥

Text

vibhu-rūpe vyāpe, śaktye dhāraṇa-poṣaṇa
mādhurya-śaktye goloka, aiśvarye paravyoma

Synonyms

vibhu-rūpe — in His all-pervasive feature; vyāpe — expands; śaktye — by His potency; dhāraṇa-poṣaṇa — maintaining and nourishing; mādhurya-śaktye — by His potency of conjugal love; goloka — the planetary system Goloka Vṛndāvana; aiśvarye — and by opulence; para-vyoma — the spiritual world.

Translation

“Through His all-pervasive feature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has expanded the entire creation. He is holding and maintaining this creation by His extraordinary potency. By His conjugal potency, He maintains the planetary system known as Goloka Vṛndāvana. Through His six opulences, He maintains many Vaikuṇṭha planets.

Purport

In His gigantic form, Lord Kṛṣṇa has covered the creation. He holds all the planetary systems and maintains them by His inconceivable potencies. Similarly, He is maintaining His personal abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana, through His conjugal love, and He is maintaining the spiritual world containing the Vaikuṇṭha planets by His opulences.

Bengali

মায়া-শক্ত্যে ব্রহ্মাণ্ডাদি-পরিপাটী-সৃজন ।
‘উরুক্রম’-শব্দের এই অর্থ নিরূপণ ॥ ২৩ ॥

Text

māyā-śaktye brahmāṇḍādi-paripāṭī-sṛjana
‘urukrama’-śabdera ei artha nirūpaṇa

Synonyms

māyā-śaktye — by His external potency; brahmāṇḍa-ādi — of material universes and so on; paripāṭī — an orderly arrangement; sṛjana — creating; urukrama-śabdera — of the word urukrama; ei — this; artha — of the meaning; nirūpaṇa — ascertainment.

Translation

“The word ‘urukrama’ indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, by His external potency, has perfectly created innumerable universes.

Bengali

“ক্রমঃ শক্তৌ পরিপাট্যাং ক্রমশ্চালনকম্পয়োঃ ॥” ২৪ ॥

Text

“kramaḥ śaktau paripāṭyāṁ kramaś cālana-kampayoḥ”

Synonyms

kramaḥ — the word krama; śaktau — in the sense of potency; paripāṭyām — in the sense of systematic arrangement; kramaḥ — the word krama; cālana — in moving; kampayoḥ — or in trembling.

Translation

“ ‘These are the different meanings of the word “krama.” It is used in the sense of potency, systematic arrangement, step, moving or trembling.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive. Not only does He carry the three worlds by His inconceivable energy, but He maintains them also. He is also maintaining His spiritual planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana, by His conjugal love, and He is maintaining the Vaikuṇṭhalokas by His opulences. He maintains the material universes through His external energy. The material universes are perfectly situated because they are created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bengali

‘কুর্বন্তি’-পদ এই পরস্মৈপদ হয় ।
কৃষ্ণসুখনিমিত্ত ভজনে তাৎপর্য কহয় ॥ ২৫ ॥

Text

‘kurvanti’-pada ei parasmaipada haya
kṛṣṇa-sukha-nimitta bhajane tātparya kahaya

Synonyms

kurvanti-pada — the word kurvanti; ei — this; parasmai-pada — a verb form indicating things done for others; haya — is; kṛṣṇa-sukha-nimitta — to satisfy Kṛṣṇa; bhajane — in devotional service; tātparya — the purport; kahaya — is said.

Translation

“The word ‘kurvanti’ means ‘they do something for others,’ since it is a form of the verb ‘to do’ indicating things done for others. It is used in connection with devotional service, which must be executed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. That is the purport of the word ‘kurvanti.’

Purport

In Sanskrit the verb “to do” has two forms, technically called parasmai-pada and ātmane-pada. When things are done for one’s personal satisfaction, the form is called ātmane-pada. In that case, the word “do” in English is kurvate in sanskrit. When things are done for others, the verb form changes to kurvanti. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī that in the ātmārāma verse the verb kurvanti means that things should be done only for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This is supported by the grammarian Pāṇini. The verb is formed as ātmane-pada when the work is to be done for one’s own benefit, and when it is done for others, it is called parasmai-pada. Thus the verb is formed according to whether something is done for one’s self-satisfaction or for another’s satisfaction.

Bengali

“স্বরিতঞিতঃ কর্ত্রভিপ্রায়ে ক্রিয়াফলে ॥” ২৬ ॥

Text

“svarita-ñitaḥ kartr-abhiprāye kriyā-phale”

Synonyms

svarita-ñ-itaḥ — of verbs having an indicatory ñ or a svarita accent; kartṛ-abhiprāye — is meant for the agent; kriyā-phale — when the fruit of the action.

Translation

“ ‘The terminations of the ātmane-pada are employed when the fruit of the action accrues to the agent of verbs having an indicatory ñ or a svarita accent.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Pāṇini’s sūtras (1.3.72).

Bengali

‘হেতু’-শব্দে কহে — ভুক্তি-আদি বাঞ্ছান্তরে ।
ভুক্তি, সিদ্ধি, মুক্তি — মুখ্য এই তিন প্রকারে ॥ ২৭ ॥

Text

‘hetu’-śabde kahe — bhukti-ādi vāñchāntare
bhukti, siddhi, mukti — mukhya ei tina prakāre

Synonyms

hetu-śabde — by the word hetu; kahe — it is said; bhukti — enjoying the result by oneself; ādi — and so on; vāñchā-antare — because of a different ambition; bhukti — enjoying the result of action; siddhi — the perfection of doing something; mukti — liberation; mukhya — chief; ei — these; tina prakāre — in three ways.

Translation

“The word ‘hetu’ [‘cause’] means that a thing is done for some motive. There can be three motives. One may act to enjoy the result personally, to achieve some material perfection, or to attain liberation.

Bengali

এক ভুক্তি কহে, ভোগ — অনন্ত-প্রকার ।
সিদ্ধি — অষ্টাদশ, মুক্তি — পঞ্চবিধাকার ॥ ২৮ ॥

Text

eka bhukti kahe, bhoga — ananta-prakāra
siddhi — aṣṭādaśa, mukti — pañca-vidhākāra

Synonyms

eka — first; bhukti — material enjoyment by doing something; kahe — is known; bhoga — enjoyment; ananta-prakāra — unlimited varieties; siddhi — the yogic perfections; aṣṭādaśa — eighteen in number; mukti — liberation; pañca-vidhā-ākāra — five varieties.

Translation

“First we take the word ‘bhukti’ [‘material enjoyment’], which is of unlimited variety. We may also take the word ‘siddhi’ [‘perfection’], which has eighteen varieties. Similarly, the word ‘mukti’ has five varieties.

Bengali

এই যাঁহা নাহি, তাহা ভক্তি — ‘অহৈতুকী’ ।
যাহা হৈতে বশ হয় শ্রীকৃষ্ণ কৌতুকী ॥ ২৯ ॥

Text

ei yāṅhā nāhi, tāhā bhakti — ‘ahaitukī’
yāhā haite vaśa haya śrī-kṛṣṇa kautukī

Synonyms

ei — these; yāṅhā — where; nāhi — not existing; tāhā — that; bhakti — the platform of devotional service; ahaitukī — unmotivated; yāhā haite — by which; vaśa haya — comes under control; śrī-kṛṣṇa — Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; kautukī — the most funny.

Translation

“Causeless devotional service is unmotivated by sense enjoyment, perfection or liberation. When one is freed from all these contaminations, he can bring Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is very funny, under control.

Bengali

‘ভক্তি’-শব্দের অর্থ হয় দশবিধাকার ।
এক — ‘সাধন’, ‘প্রেমভক্তি’ — নব প্রকার ॥ ৩০ ॥

Text

‘bhakti’-śabdera artha haya daśa-vidhākāra
eka — ‘sādhana’, ‘prema-bhakti’ — nava prakāra

Synonyms

bhakti-śabdera — of the word bhakti; artha — meanings; haya — are; daśa-vidha-ākāra — ten varieties; eka — one; sādhana — the execution of regulative devotional service; prema-bhakti — ecstatic love of Godhead; nava prakāra — nine kinds.

Translation

“There are ten meanings for the word ‘bhakti’ [‘devotional service’]. One is sādhana-bhakti, execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles, and the other nine are varieties of prema-bhakti, ecstatic love of Godhead.

Purport

The nine varieties of prema-bhakti are rati, prema, sneha, māna, praṇaya, rāga, anurāga, bhāva and mahābhāva — attraction, love, affection, adverse feelings, intimacy, attachment, subattachment, ecstatic love and sublime ecstatic love. For the word sādhana-bhakti there is only one meaning, “the execution of devotional service according to regulative principles.”

Bengali

‘রতি’-লক্ষণা, ‘প্রেম’-লক্ষণা, ইত্যাদি প্রচার ।
ভাবরূপা, মহাভাব-লক্ষণরূপা আর ॥ ৩১ ॥

Text

‘rati’-lakṣaṇā, ‘prema’-lakṣaṇā, ityādi pracāra
bhāva-rūpā, mahābhāva-lakṣaṇa-rūpā āra

Synonyms

rati — of attraction; lakṣaṇā — the symptoms; prema — of love; lakṣaṇā — the symptoms; iti-ādi — and so on; pracāra — are known; bhāva-rūpā — in the form of ecstatic love; mahā-bhāva — of higher ecstatic love; lakṣaṇa-rūpā — there are many symptoms; āra — other.

Translation

“Next are explained the symptoms of love of Godhead, which can be divided into nine varieties, beginning with attraction and extending up to ecstatic love and finally up to the topmost ecstatic love [mahābhāva].

Bengali

শান্ত-ভক্তের রতি বাড়ে ‘প্রেম’-পর্যন্ত ।
দাস্য-ভক্তের রতি হয় ‘রাগ’-দশা-অন্ত ॥ ৩২ ॥

Text

śānta-bhaktera rati bāḍe ‘prema’-paryanta
dāsya-bhaktera rati haya ‘rāga’-daśā-anta

Synonyms

śānta-bhaktera — of devotees on the platform of neutrality; rati — attraction; bāḍe — increases; prema-paryanta — up to love of Godhead; dāsya-bhaktera — of devotees on the platform of servitude; rati — attraction; haya — increases; rāga-daśā-anta — up to the point of spontaneous attachment.

Translation

“The attraction to Kṛṣṇa of devotees on the platform of neutrality increases up to love of Godhead [prema], and the attraction of devotees on the platform of servitorship increases to spontaneous attachment [rāga].

Bengali

সখাগণের রতি হয় ‘অনুরাগ’ পর্যন্ত ।
পিতৃ-মাতৃ-স্নেহ আদি ‘অনুরাগ’-অন্ত ॥ ৩৩ ॥

Text

sakhā-gaṇera rati haya ‘anurāga’ paryanta
pitṛ-mātṛ-sneha ādi ‘anurāga’-anta

Synonyms

sakhā-gaṇera — of the friends; rati — the attraction; haya — becomes; anurāga paryanta — up to subecstatic love; pitṛ-mātṛ-sneha — parental love; ādi — and so on; anurāga-anta — up to the end of subecstatic love.

Translation

“Devotees in Vṛndāvana who are friends of the Lord can increase their ecstatic love to the point of anurāga. Parental affectionate lovers, Kṛṣṇa’s father and mother, can increase their love of Godhead up to the end of anurāga.

Bengali

কান্তাগণের রতি পায় ‘মহাভাব’-সীমা ।
‘ভক্তি’-শব্দের এই সব অর্থের মহিমা ॥ ৩৪ ॥

Text

kāntā-gaṇera rati pāya ‘mahābhāva’-sīmā
‘bhakti’-śabdera ei saba arthera mahimā

Synonyms

kāntā-gaṇera — of the devotees in conjugal love; rati — the attraction; pāya — attain; mahā-bhāva-sīmā — the limit of mahābhāva; bhakti-śabdera — of the word bhakti; ei saba — all these; arthera — of the meanings; mahimā — of the glories.

Translation

“The gopīs of Vṛndāvana who are attached to Kṛṣṇa in conjugal love can increase their ecstatic love up to the point of mahābhāva, the greatest ecstatic love. These are some of the glorious meanings of the word ‘bhakti.’

Bengali

‘ইত্থম্ভূতগুণঃ’-শব্দের শুনহ ব্যাখ্যান ।
‘ইত্থং’-শব্দের ভিন্ন অর্থ, ‘গুণ’-শব্দের আন ॥ ৩৫ ॥

Text

‘ittham-bhūta-guṇaḥ’-śabdera śunaha vyākhyāna
‘itthaṁ’-śabdera bhinna artha, ‘guṇa’-śabdera āna

Synonyms

ittham-bhūta-guṇaḥ-śabdera — of the word ittham-bhūta-guṇaḥ; śunaha — please hear; vyākhyāna — the explanation; ittham-śabdera — of the word ittham; bhinna artha — different meanings; guṇa-śabdera — of the word guṇa; āna — others.

Translation

“Please hear the meaning of the word ‘ittham-bhūta-guṇa,’ which is found in the ātmārāma verse. ‘Ittham-bhūta’ has different meanings, and ‘guṇa’ has other meanings.

Bengali

‘ইত্থম্ভূত’-শব্দের অর্থ — পূর্ণানন্দময় ।
যাঁর আগে ব্রহ্মানন্দ তৃণপ্রায় হয় ॥ ৩৬ ॥

Text

‘ittham-bhūta’-śabdera artha — pūrṇānandamaya
yāṅra āge brahmānanda tṛṇa-prāya haya

Synonyms

ittham-bhūta-śabdera — of the word ittham-bhūta; artha — the meaning or import; pūrṇa-ānanda-maya — full of transcendental bliss; yāṅra āge — in front of which; brahma-ānanda — the transcendental bliss derived from impersonalism; tṛṇa-prāya — just like straw; haya — is.

Translation

“The word ‘ittham-bhūta’ is transcendentally exalted because it means ‘full of transcendental bliss.’ Before this transcendental bliss, the bliss derived from merging into the existence of the Absolute [brahmānanda] becomes like a piece of straw in comparison.

Bengali

ত্বত্‌সাক্ষাত্‌করণাহ্লাদবিশুদ্ধাব্ধিস্থিতস্য মে ।
সুখানি গোষ্পদায়ন্তে ব্রাহ্মাণ্যপি জগদ্‌গুরো ॥ ৩৭ ॥

Text

tvat-sākṣāt-karaṇāhlāda-
viśuddhābdhi-sthitasya me
sukhāni goṣ-padāyante
brāhmāṇy api jagad-guro

Synonyms

tvat — Your; sākṣāt — meeting; karaṇa — such action; āhlāda — pleasure; viśuddha — spiritually purified; abdhi — ocean; sthitasya — being situated; me — by me; sukhāni — happiness; goṣ-padāyante — becomes like a small hole created by the hoof of a calf; brāhmāṇi — the pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman understanding; api — also; jagat-guro — O master of the universe.

Translation

“ ‘My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf.’

Purport

This is a verse from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (14.36).

Bengali

সর্বাকর্ষক, সর্বাহ্লাদক, মহারসায়ন ।
আপনার বলে করে সর্ব-বিস্মারণ ॥ ৩৮ ॥

Text

sarvākarṣaka, sarvāhlādaka, mahā-rasāyana
āpanāra bale kare sarva-vismāraṇa

Synonyms

sarva-ākarṣaka — all-attractive; sarva-āhlādaka — all-pleasing; mahā-rasa-ayana — the complete abode of transcendental mellows; āpanāra bale — by His own strength; kare — causes; sarva-vismāraṇa — forgetfulness of all other bliss.

Translation

“Lord Kṛṣṇa is so exalted that He is more attractive than anything else and more pleasing than anything else. He is the most sublime abode of bliss. By His own strength, He causes one to forget all other ecstasies.

Bengali

ভুক্তি-মুক্তি-সিদ্ধি-সুখ ছাড়য় যার গন্ধে ।
অলৌকিক শক্তি-গুণে কৃষ্ণকৃপায় বান্ধে ॥ ৩৯ ॥

Text

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-sukha chāḍaya yāra gandhe
alaukika śakti-guṇe kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya bāndhe

Synonyms

bhukti — material enjoyment; mukti — liberation from material suffering; siddhi — the perfection of mystic yoga; sukha — the happiness derived from these things; chāḍaya — one gives up; yāra — of which; gandhe — simply by the slight fragrance; alaukika — uncommon, transcendental; śakti-guṇe — by the power and quality; kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya — by the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; bāndhe — one becomes bound.

Translation

“Pure devotional service is so sublime that one can very easily forget the happiness derived from material enjoyment, material liberation and mystic or yogic perfection. Thus the devotee is bound by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and His uncommon power and qualities.

Bengali

শাস্ত্রযুক্তি নাহি ইহাঁ সিদ্ধান্ত-বিচার ।
এই স্বভাব-গুণে, যাতে মাধুর্যের সার ॥ ৪০ ॥

Text

śāstra-yukti nāhi ihāṅ siddhānta-vicāra
ei svabhāva-guṇe, yāte mādhuryera sāra

Synonyms

śāstra-yukti — logic on the basis of revealed scripture; nāhi — there is not; ihāṅ — here; siddhānta-vicāra — consideration of logical conclusions; ei — this; svabhāva-guṇe — a natural quality; yāte — in which; mādhuryera sāra — the essence of all transcendental bliss.

Translation

“When one is attracted to Kṛṣṇa on the transcendental platform, there is no longer any logical argument on the basis of revealed scripture, nor are there considerations of such conclusions. This is His transcendental quality that is the essence of all transcendental sweetness.

Bengali

‘গুণ’ শব্দের অর্থ — কৃষ্ণের গুণ অনন্ত ।
সচ্চিদ্‌রূপ-গুণ সর্ব পূর্ণানন্দ ॥ ৪১ ॥

Text

‘guṇa’ śabdera artha — kṛṣṇera guṇa ananta
sac-cid-rūpa-guṇa sarva pūrṇānanda

Synonyms

guṇa śabdera artha — the meaning of the word guṇa; kṛṣṇera guṇa ananta — Kṛṣṇa has unlimited qualities; sat-cit-rūpa-guṇa — such qualities are spiritual and eternal; sarva pūrṇa-ānanda — full of all transcendental bliss.

Translation

“The word ‘guṇa’ means ‘quality.’ The qualities of Kṛṣṇa are transcendentally situated and are unlimited in quantity. All of the spiritual qualities are full of transcendental bliss.

Bengali

ঐশ্বর্য-মাধুর্য-কারুণ্যে স্বরূপ-পূর্ণতা ।
ভক্তবাৎসল্য, আত্মপর্যন্ত বদান্যতা ॥ ৪২ ॥

Text

aiśvarya-mādhurya-kāruṇye svarūpa-pūrṇatā
bhakta-vātsalya, ātma-paryanta vadānyatā

Synonyms

aiśvarya — opulence; mādhurya — transcendental sweetness; kāruṇye — mercy; svarūpa-pūrṇatā — fullness of spiritual value; bhakta-vātsalya — affection for the devotee; ātma-paryanta — up to the point of His personal self; vadānyatā — magnanimity.

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities of opulence, sweetness and mercy are perfect and full. As far as Kṛṣṇa’s affectionate leaning toward His devotees is concerned, He is so magnanimous that He can give Himself to His devotees.

Bengali

অলৌকিক রূপ, রস, সৌরভাদি গুণ ।
কারো মন কোন গুণে করে আকর্ষণ ॥ ৪৩ ॥

Text

alaukika rūpa, rasa, saurabhādi guṇa
kāro mana kona guṇe kare ākarṣaṇa

Synonyms

alaukika rūpa — uncommon beauty; rasa — mellows; saurabha-ādi guṇa — qualities like transcendental fragrance; kāro mana — the mind of a devotee; kona guṇe — by some particular quality; kare — does; ākarṣaṇa — attracting.

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa has unlimited qualities. The devotees are attracted by His uncommon beauty, mellows and fragrance. Thus they are differently situated in the different transcendental mellows. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is called all-attractive.

Bengali

সনকাদির মন হরিল সৌরভাদি গুণে ॥ ৪৪ ॥

Text

sanakādira mana harila saurabhādi guṇe

Synonyms

sanaka-ādira mana — the minds of saintly sages like Sanaka and Sanātana; harila — attracted; saurabha-ādi — such as the transcendental aroma of His lotus feet; guṇe — by the quality.

Translation

“The minds of the four boy sages [Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumāra] were attracted to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa by the aroma of the tulasī that had been offered to the Lord.

Bengali

তস্যারবিন্দনয়নস্য পদারবিন্দ-
কিঞ্জল্কমিশ্রতুলসীমকরন্দবায়ুঃ ।
অন্তর্গতঃ স্ববিবরেণ চকার তেষাং
সংক্ষোভমক্ষরজুষামপি চিত্ততন্বোঃ ॥ ৪৫ ॥

Text

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda-
kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ
antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāṁ
saṅkṣobham akṣara-juṣām api citta-tanvoḥ

Synonyms

tasya — of Him; aravinda-nayanasya — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; padaaravinda — of the lotus feet; kiñjalka — with saffron; miśra — mixed; tulasī — of tulasī leaves; makaranda — with the aroma; vāyuḥ — the air; antaḥ-gataḥ — entered; sva-vivareṇa — through the nostrils; cakāra — created; teṣām — of them; saṅkṣobham — strong agitation; akṣara-juṣām — of the impersonally self-realized (Kumāras); api — also; citta-tanvoḥ — of the mind and body.

Translation

“ ‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.43). For an explanation, see Madhya-līlā 17.142.

Bengali

শুকদেবের মন হরিল লীলা-শ্রবণে ॥ ৪৬ ॥

Text

śukadevera mana harila līlā-śravaṇe

Synonyms

śukadevera — of Śukadeva Gosvāmī; mana — the mind; harila — carried away; līlā-śravaṇe — by hearing the pastimes of the Lord.

Translation

“Śukadeva’s mind was carried away by hearing the pastimes of the Lord.

Bengali

পরিনিষ্ঠিতোহপি নৈর্গুণ্যে উত্তমঃশ্লোকলীলয়া ।
গৃহীতচেতা রাজর্ষে আখ্যানং যদধীতবান্‌ ॥ ৪৭ ॥

Text

pariniṣṭhito ’pi nairguṇye
uttamaḥśloka-līlayā
gṛhīta-cetā rājarṣe
ākhyānaṁ yad adhītavān

Synonyms

pariniṣṭhitaḥ — situated; api — although; nairguṇye — in the transcendental position, freed from the material modes of nature; uttamaḥ-śloka-līlayā — by the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamaḥśloka; gṛhīta-cetāḥ — the mind became fully taken over; rājā-ṛṣe — O great King; ākhyānam — the narration; yat — which; adhītavān — studied.

Translation

“[Śukadeva Gosvāmī addressed Parīkṣit Mahārāja:] ‘My dear King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore I studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from my father.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.9).

Bengali

স্বসুখনিভৃতচেতাস্তদ্‌ব্যুদস্তান্যভাবোঽ-
প্যজিতরুচিরলীলাকৃষ্টসারস্তদীয়ম্‌ ।
ব্যতনুত কৃপয়া যস্তত্ত্বদীপং পুরাণং
তমখিলবৃজিনঘ্নং ব্যাস-সূনুং নতোঽস্মি ॥ ৪৮ ॥

Text

sva-sukha-nibhṛta-cetās tad-vyudastānya-bhāvo
’py ajita-rucira-līlākṛṣṭa-sāras tadīyam
vyatanuta kṛpayā yas tattva-dīpaṁ purāṇaṁ
tam akhila-vṛjina-ghnaṁ vyāsa-sūnuṁ nato ’smi

Synonyms

sva-sukha-nirbhṛta-cetāḥ — whose mind was always fully absorbed in the happiness of self-realization; tat — by that; vyudasta-anya-bhāvaḥ — being freed from all other attractions; api — although; ajita-rucira-līlā — by the most attractive pastimes of Ajita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ākṛṣṭa — attracted; sāraḥ — whose heart; tadīyam — in relation to the Lord; vyatanuta — described and spread; kṛpayā — out of mercy; yaḥ — he who; tattva-dīpam — which is the light of the Absolute Truth; purāṇam — the supplementary Vedic literature Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; tam — to him; akhila-vṛjina-ghnam — who can destroy all kinds of material misery; vyāsa-sūnum — Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva; nataḥ asmi — I offer my respectful obeisances.

Translation

“ ‘I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva and the destroyer of all sinful reactions. Being full in self-realization and bliss, he had no material desire. Still, he was attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and out of compassion for the people he described the transcendental historical literature called Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This is compared to the light of the Absolute Truth.’

Purport

Bengali

শ্রীঅঙ্গ-রূপে হরে গোপিকার মন ॥ ৪৯ ॥

Text

śrī-aṅga-rūpe hare gopikāra mana

Synonyms

śrī-aṅga — of His transcendental body; rūpe — by the beauty; hare — attracts; gopikāra mana — the minds of the gopīs.

Translation

“Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa attracts the minds of all the gopīs with His beautiful, transcendental bodily features.

Bengali

বীক্ষ্যালকাবৃতমুখং তব কুণ্ডলশ্রী-
গণ্ডস্থলাধরসুধং হসিতাবলোকম্‌ ।
দত্তাভয়ঞ্চ ভুজদণ্ডযুগং বিলোক্য
বক্ষঃ শ্রিয়ৈকরমণঞ্চ ভবাম দাস্যঃ ॥ ৫০ ॥

Text

vīkṣyālakāvṛta-mukhaṁ tava kuṇḍala-śrī-
gaṇḍa-sthalādhara-sudhaṁ hasitāvalokam
dattābhayaṁ ca bhuja-daṇḍa-yugaṁ vilokya
vakṣaḥ śriyaika-ramaṇaṁ ca bhavāma dāsyaḥ

Synonyms

vīkṣya — seeing; alaka-āvṛta-mukham — face decorated with curling tresses of hair; tava — Your; kuṇḍala-śrī — beauty of earrings; gaṇḍa-sthala — falling on Your cheeks; adhara-sudham — and the nectar from Your lips; hasita-avalokam — Your smiling glance; datta-abhayam — which assure fearlessness; ca — and; bhuja-daṇḍa-yugam — the two arms; vilokya — by seeing; vakṣaḥ — chest; śriyā — by the beauty; eka-ramaṇam — chiefly producing conjugal attraction; ca — and; bhavāma — we have become; dāsyaḥ — Your maidservants.

Translation

“ ‘Dear Kṛṣṇa, we have simply surrendered ourselves as Your maidservants, for we have seen Your beautiful face decorated with tresses of hair, Your earrings falling upon Your cheeks, the nectar of Your lips, and the beauty of Your smile. Indeed, because we have also been embraced by Your arms, which give us courage, and seen Your chest, which is beautiful and broad, we have surrendered ourselves.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.39) was spoken by the gopīs when they arrived near Kṛṣṇa for the rāsa dance on a full-moon night. The attracted gopīs were awestruck, and they began to speak about how they came to Kṛṣṇa to enjoy the rāsa dance.

Bengali

রূপ-গুণ-শ্রবণে রুক্মিণ্যাদির আকর্ষণ ॥ ৫১ ॥

Text

rūpa-guṇa-śravaṇe rukmiṇy-ādira ākarṣaṇa

Synonyms

rūpa — beauty; guṇa — qualities; śravaṇe — by hearing; rukmiṇī-ādira — of the queens, headed by Rukmiṇī; ākarṣaṇa — attracting.

Translation

“The queens in Dvārakā, headed by Rukmiṇī, are also attracted to Kṛṣṇa simply by hearing about His transcendental beauty and qualities.

Bengali

শ্রুত্বা গুণান্‌ ভুবনসুন্দর শৃণ্বতাং তে
নির্বিশ্য কর্ণবিবরৈর্হরতোঽঙ্গতাপম্‌ ।
রূপং দৃশাং দৃশিমতামখিলার্থলাভং
ত্বয্যচ্যুতাবিশতি চিত্তমপত্রপং মে ॥ ৫২ ॥

Text

śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam
rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām akhilārtha-lābhaṁ
tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me

Synonyms

śrutvā — hearing; guṇān — the transcendental qualities; bhuvana-sundara — O most beautiful one in the whole creation; śṛṇvatām — of those hearing; te — Your; nirviśya — entering; karṇa-vivaraiḥ — by the holes of the ears; harataḥ aṅga-tāpam — decreasing all the miserable conditions of the body; rūpam — the beauty; dṛśām — of the eyes; dṛśi-matām — of those who can see; akhila-artha-lābham — the achievement of all kinds of gains; tvayi — unto You; acyuta — O infallible one; āviśati — enters; cittam — the consciousness; apatrapam — without shame; me — my.

Translation

“ ‘O most beautiful Kṛṣṇa, I have heard about Your transcendental qualities from others, and therefore all my bodily miseries are relieved. If someone sees Your transcendental beauty, his eyes have attained everything profitable in life. O infallible one, I have become shameless after hearing of Your qualities, and I have become attracted to You.’

Purport

This verse (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.52.37) was written by Rukmiṇīdevī in a letter to Kṛṣṇa inviting Him to kidnap her. Śukadeva Gosvāmī described this to Mahārāja Parīkṣit when the King asked him how Rukmiṇī had been kidnapped. Rukmiṇī had heard about Kṛṣṇa’s qualities from different people, and after she heard about them, she decided to accept Kṛṣṇa as her husband. Everything had been arranged for her marriage to Śiśupāla; therefore she wrote a letter to Kṛṣṇa, which she sent through a brāhmaṇa, and invited Him to kidnap her.

Bengali

বংশী-গীতে হরে কৃষ্ণ লক্ষ্ম্যাদির মন ॥ ৫৩ ॥

Text

vaṁśī-gīte hare kṛṣṇa lakṣmy-ādira mana

Synonyms

vaṁśī-gīte — by the vibration of His flute; hare — attracts; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; lakṣmī-ādira — of the goddess of fortune and others; mana — the mind.

Translation

“Lord Kṛṣṇa even attracts the mind of the goddess of fortune simply by vibrating His transcendental flute.

Bengali

কস্যানুভাবোঽস্য ন দেব বিদ্মহে
তবাঙ্ঘ্রিরেণুস্পরশাধিকারঃ ।
যদ্বাঞ্ছয়া শ্রীর্ললনাচরত্তপো
বিহায় কামান্‌ সুচিরং ধৃতব্রতা ॥ ৫৪ ॥

Text

kasyānubhāvo ’sya na deva vidmahe
tavāṅghri-reṇu-sparaśādhikāraḥ
yad-vāñchayā śrīr lalanācarat tapo
vihāya kāmān su-ciraṁ dhṛta-vratā

Synonyms

kasya — of what; anubhāvaḥ — a result; asya — of the serpent (Kāliya); na — not; deva — O Lord; vidmahe — we know; tava-aṅghri — of Your lotus feet; reṇu — of the dust; sparaśa — for touching; adhikāraḥ — qualification; yat — which; vāñchayā — by desiring; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; lalanā — the topmost woman; acarat — performed; tapaḥ — austerity; vihāya — giving up; kāmān — all desires; su-ciram — for a long time; dhṛta — a law upheld; vratā — as a vow.

Translation

“ ‘O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. For this end, the goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and taking austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how this serpent Kāliya got such an opportunity.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.16.36) was spoken by the wives of the Kāliya serpent.

Bengali

যোগ্যভাবে জগতে যত যুবতীর গণ ॥ ৫৫ ॥

Text

yogya-bhāve jagate yata yuvatīra gaṇa

Synonyms

yogya-bhāve — by proper behavior; jagate — within the three worlds; yata — all; yuvatīra gaṇa — the groups of young girls.

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa attracts not only the minds of the gopīs and the goddesses of fortune but the minds of all the young girls in the three worlds as well.

Bengali

কাস্ত্র্যঙ্গ তে কলপদামৃতবেণুগীত-
সম্মোহিতার্যচরিতান্ন চলেত্রিলোক্যাম্‌ ।
ত্রৈলোক্যসৌভগমিদঞ্চ নিরীক্ষ্য রূপং
যদ্‌গোদ্বিজদ্রুমমৃগাঃ পুলকান্যবিভ্রন্‌ ॥ ৫৬ ॥

Text

kā stry aṅga te kala-padāmṛta-veṇu-gīta-
sammohitārya-caritān na calet tri-lokyām
trailokya-saubhagam idaṁ ca nirīkṣya rūpaṁ
yad go-dvija-druma-mṛgāḥ pulakāny abibhran

Synonyms

strī — who is that woman; aṅga — O Kṛṣṇa; te — of You; kala-pada — by the rhythms; amṛta-veṇu-gīta — and sweet songs of Your flute; sammohitā — being captivated; ārya-caritāt — from the path of chastity according to Vedic civilization; na — not; calet — would wander; tri-lokyām — within the three worlds; trai-lokya-saubhagam — which is the fortune of the three worlds; idam — this; ca — and; nirīkṣya — by observing; rūpam — the beauty; yat — which; go — the cows; dvija — the birds; druma — the trees; mṛgāḥ — forest animals like the deer; pulakāni — transcendental jubilation; abibhran — manifested.

Translation

“ ‘My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, where is that woman within the three worlds who would not be captivated by the rhythms of the sweet songs coming from Your wonderful flute? Who would not fall down from the path of chastity in this way? Your beauty is the most sublime within the three worlds. Upon seeing Your beauty, even cows, birds, animals and trees in the forest become stunned in jubilation.’

Purport

Bengali

গুরুতুল্য স্ত্রীগণের বাৎসল্যে আকর্ষণ ।
দাস্য-সখ্যাদি-ভাবে পুরুষাদি গণ ॥ ৫৭ ॥

Text

guru-tulya strī-gaṇera vātsalye ākarṣaṇa
dāsya-sakhyādi-bhāve puruṣādi gaṇa

Synonyms

guru-tulya — on the level of a superior guardian; strī-gaṇera — of the ladies of Vṛndāvana; vātsalye — in parental affection; ākarṣaṇa — attracting; dāsya-sakhya-ādi — servants, friends and others; bhāve — in the mood of; puruṣa-ādi gaṇa — all the males of Vṛndāvana.

Translation

“The women of Vṛndāvana who are on the level of superior guardians are attracted to Lord Kṛṣṇa maternally. The men of Vṛndāvana are attracted as servants, friends and fathers.

Bengali

পক্ষী, মৃগ, বৃক্ষ, লতা, চেতনাচেতন ।
প্রেমে মত্ত করি’ আকর্ষয়ে কৃষ্ণগুণ ॥ ৫৮ ॥

Text

pakṣī, mṛga, vṛkṣa, latā, cetanācetana
preme matta kari’ ākarṣaye kṛṣṇa-guṇa

Synonyms

pakṣī — birds; mṛga — animals; vṛkṣa — trees; latā — creepers; cetana-acetana — living entities and even the stones and wood; preme — in ecstatic love; matta — captivated; kari’ — making; ākarṣaye — attract; kṛṣṇa-guṇa — the qualities of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The qualities of Kṛṣṇa captivate and attract everything, living and nonliving. Even birds, animals and trees are attracted to Kṛṣṇa’s qualities.

Bengali

‘হরিঃ’-শব্দে নানার্থ, দুই মুখ্যতম ।
সর্ব অমঙ্গল হরে, প্রেম দিয়া হরে মন ॥ ৫৯ ॥

Text

‘hariḥ’-śabde nānārtha, dui mukhyatama
sarva amaṅgala hare, prema diyā hare mana

Synonyms

hariḥ-śabde — by the word hari; nānā-artha — different imports; dui — two; mukhya-tama — chief; sarva — all; amaṅgala — inauspiciousness; hare — takes away; prema diyā — by ecstatic love; hare — attracts; mana — the mind.

Translation

“Although the word ‘hari’ has many different meanings, two of them are foremost. One meaning is that the Lord takes away all inauspicious things from His devotee, and the second meaning is that He attracts the mind by ecstatic love for God.

Bengali

যৈছে তৈছে যোহি কোহি করয়ে স্মরণ ।
চারিবিধ তাপ তার করে সংহরণ ॥ ৬০ ॥

Text

yaiche taiche yohi kohi karaye smaraṇa
cāri-vidha tāpa tāra kare saṁharaṇa

Synonyms

yaiche taiche — somehow or other; yohi kohi — anywhere and everywhere; karaye smaraṇa — remembers; cāri-vidha — the four kinds; tāpa — miserable conditions of life; tāra — of the devotee; kare saṁharaṇa — He takes away.

Translation

“When the devotee somehow or other always remembers the Supreme Personality of Godhead anywhere and everywhere, Lord Hari takes away life’s four miserable conditions.

Purport

The four miserable conditions are due to the four kinds of sinful activities, known as (1) pātaka, (2) uru-pātaka, (3) mahā-pātaka and (4) ati-pātaka — preliminary sin, very great sin, greater sin and topmost sin. However, Kṛṣṇa assures the devotee, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ: “I will protect you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” The word sarva-pāpebhyaḥ indicates four kinds of sinful activities. As soon as the devotee surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, he is certainly relieved from all sinful activities and their results. The four basic sinful activities are summarized as illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating.

Bengali

যথাগ্নিঃ সুসমৃদ্ধার্চিঃ করোত্যেধাংসি ভস্মসাত্‌ ।
তথা মদ্বিষয়া ভক্তিরুদ্ধবৈনাংসি কৃত্‌স্নশঃ ॥ ৬১ ॥

Text

yathāgniḥ su-samṛddhārciḥ
karoty edhāṁsi bhasma-sāt
tathā mad-viṣayā bhaktir
uddhavaināṁsi kṛtsnaśaḥ

Synonyms

yathā — as; agniḥ — a fire; su-samṛddha-arciḥ — having a full flame; karoti — makes; edhāṁsi — fuel; bhasma-sāt — into ashes; tathā — similarly; mat-viṣayā bhaktiḥ — devotional service in relation to Me; uddhava — O Uddhava; enāṁsi — all kinds of sinful activity; kṛtsnaśaḥ — totally.

Translation

“ ‘As all fuel is burned to ashes by a full-fledged fire, all sinful activities are totally erased when one engages in devotional service to Me.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.19) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

তবে করে ভক্তিবাধক কর্ম, অবিদ্যা নাশ ।
শ্রবণাদ্যের ফল ‘প্রেমা’ করয়ে প্রকাশ ॥ ৬২ ॥

Text

tabe kare bhakti-bādhaka karma, avidyā nāśa
śravaṇādyera phala ‘premā’ karaye prakāśa

Synonyms

tabe — thereafter; kare — does; bhakti-bādhaka — impediments on the path of devotional service; karma — activities; avidyā — ignorance; nāśa — vanquishing; śravaṇa-ādyera — of hearing, chanting and so forth; phala — the result; premā — love of Godhead; karaye prakāśa — causes a manifestation of.

Translation

“In this way, when all sinful activities are vanquished by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one gradually vanquishes all kinds of impediments on the path of devotional service, as well as the ignorance resulting from these impediments. After this, one totally manifests his original love of Godhead through devotional service in nine different ways — hearing, chanting and so forth.

Bengali

নিজ-গুণে তবে হরে দেহেন্দ্রিয়মন ।
ঐছে কৃপালু কৃষ্ণ, ঐছে তাঁর গুণ ॥ ৬৩ ॥

Text

nija-guṇe tabe hare dehendriya-mana
aiche kṛpālu kṛṣṇa, aiche tāṅra guṇa

Synonyms

nija-guṇe — by transcendental qualities; tabe — then; hare — attracts; deha-indriya-mana — the body, senses and mind; aiche — in that way; kṛpālu kṛṣṇa — merciful Kṛṣṇa; aiche — in that way; tāṅra — His; guṇa — transcendental qualities.

Translation

“When the devotee is freed from all sinful material activities, Kṛṣṇa attracts his body, mind and senses to His service. Thus Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, and His transcendental qualities are very attractive.

Bengali

চারি পুরুষার্থ ছাড়ায়, গুণে হরে সবার মন ।
‘হরি’-শব্দের এই মুখ্য কহিলুঁ লক্ষণ ॥ ৬৪ ॥

Text

cāri puruṣārtha chāḍāya, guṇe hare sabāra mana
‘hari’-śabdera ei mukhya kahiluṅ lakṣaṇa

Synonyms

cāri puruṣa-artha — the four kinds of so-called goals of life; chāḍāya — causes to give up; guṇe — by the transcendental qualities; hare — attracts; sabāra mana — everyone’s mind; hari-śabdera — of the word hari; ei — this; mukhya — chief; kahiluṅ — I have explained; lakṣaṇa — the symptoms.

Translation

“When one’s mind, senses and body are attracted to the transcendental qualities of Hari, one gives up the four principles of material success. Thus I have explained the chief meanings of the word ‘hari.’

Purport

The four principles of material success are (1) religious performance, (2) economic development, (3) sense gratification and (4) liberation, or merging into the impersonal effulgence of Brahman. These things do not interest the devotee.

Bengali

‘চ’ ‘অপি’, দুই শব্দ তাতে ‘অব্যয়’ হয় ।
যেই অর্থ লাগাইয়ে, সেই অর্থ হয় ॥ ৬৫ ॥

Text

‘ca’ ‘api’, dui śabda tāte ‘avyaya’ haya
yei artha lāgāiye, sei artha haya

Synonyms

ca — ca; api — api; dui — two; śabda — words; tāte — in that way; avyaya — indeclinable words; haya — are; yei — whatever; artha — meaning; lāgāiye — they want to use; sei — that; artha — meaning; haya — can be used.

Translation

“When the conjunctions ‘ca’ [‘and’] and ‘api’ [‘although’] are added to this verse, the verse can assume whatever meaning one wants to give it.

Bengali

তথাপি চ-কারের কহে মুখ্য অর্থ সাত ॥ ৬৬ ॥

Text

tathāpi ca-kārera kahe mukhya artha sāta

Synonyms

tathāpi — still; ca-kārera — of the word ca; kahe — it is said; mukhya — chief; artha — meanings; sāta — seven.

Translation

“The word ‘ca’ can be explained in seven ways.

Bengali

চান্বাচয়ে সমাহারেঽন্যোঽন্যার্থে চ সমুচ্চয়ে ।
যত্নান্তরে তথা পাদপূরণেঽপ্যবধারণে ॥ ৬৭ ॥

Text

cānvācaye samāhāre
’nyonyārthe ca samuccaye
yatnāntare tathā pāda-
pūraṇe ’py avadhāraṇe

Synonyms

ca — this word ca; anvācaye — in connecting one with another; samāhāre — in the sense of aggregation; anyonya-arthe — to help one another in the imports; ca — the word ca; samuccaye — in aggregate understanding; yatna-antare — in another effort; tathā — as well as; pāda-pūraṇe — in completing the verse; api — also; avadhāraṇe — in the sense of certainty.

Translation

“ ‘The word “ca” [“and”] is used to connect a word or sentence with a previous word or sentence, to give the sense of aggregation, to assist the meaning, to give a collective understanding, to suggest another effort or exertion, or to fulfill the meter of a verse. It is also used in the sense of certainty.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa dictionary.

Bengali

অপি-শব্দে মুখ্য অর্থ সাত বিখ্যাত ॥ ৬৮ ॥

Text

api-śabde mukhya artha sāta vikhyāta

Synonyms

api-śabde — by the word api; mukhya — chief; artha — meanings; sāta — seven; vikhyāta — celebrated.

Translation

“There are seven chief meanings of the word ‘api.’ They are as follows.

Bengali

অপি সম্ভাবনা-প্রশ্ন-শঙ্কা-গর্হা-সমুচ্চয়ে ।
তথা যুক্তপদার্থেষু কামচারক্রিয়াসু চ ॥ ৬৯ ॥

Text

api sambhāvanā-praśna-
śaṅkā-garhā-samuccaye
tathā yukta-padārtheṣu
kāma-cāra-kriyāsu ca

Synonyms

api — the word api; sambhāvanā — possibility; praśna — question; śaṅkā — doubt; garhā — censure or abuse; samuccaye — aggregation; tathā — as well as; yukta-pada-artheṣu — the appropriate application of things; kāma-cāra-kriyāsu — of extravagance; ca — and.

Translation

“ ‘The word “api” is used in the sense of possibility, question, doubt, censure, aggregation, appropriate application of things, and extravagance.’

Purport

This is another quotation from the Viśva-prakāśa.

Bengali

এই ত’ একাদশ পদের অর্থ-নির্ণয় ।
এবে শ্লোকার্থ করি, যথা যে লাগয় ॥ ৭০ ॥

Text

ei ta’ ekādaśa padera artha-nirṇaya
ebe ślokārtha kari, yathā ye lāgaya

Synonyms

ei ta’ — this; ekādaśa — eleven; padera — of the words; artha-nirṇaya — demonstration of import; ebe — now; śloka-artha — the total meaning of the verse; kari — let Me do; yathā — as much as; ye — which; lāgaya — applicable.

Translation

“I have now described the different meanings of the eleven separate words. Now let Me give the complete meaning of the śloka, as it is applied in different places.

Bengali

‘ব্রহ্ম’ শব্দের অর্থ — তত্ত্ব সর্ব-বৃহত্তম ।
স্বরূপ ঐশ্বর্য করি’ নাহি যাঁর সম ॥ ৭১ ॥

Text

‘brahma’ śabdera artha — tattva sarva-bṛhattama
svarūpa aiśvarya kari’ nāhi yāṅra sama

Synonyms

brahma — brahma; śabdera artha — the meaning of the word; tattva — the truth; sarva-bṛhat-tama — the summum bonum among relative truths; svarūpa — the original identity; aiśvarya — opulence; kari’ — accepting; nāhi — not; yāṅra — whose; sama — equal.

Translation

“The word ‘brahma’ indicates the summum bonum, the Absolute Truth, which is greater than all other truths. It is the original identity, and there can be nothing equal to that Absolute Truth.

Bengali

বৃহত্ত্বাদ্‌বৃংহণত্বাচ্চ তদ্‌ব্রহ্ম পরমং বিদুঃ ।
তস্মৈ নমস্তে সর্বাত্মন্‌ যোগিচিন্ত্যাবিকারবত্‌ ॥ ৭২ ॥

Text

bṛhattvād bṛṁhaṇatvāc ca
tad brahma paramaṁ viduḥ
tasmai namas te sarvātman
yogi-cintyāvikāravat

Synonyms

bṛhattvāt — because of being all-pervasive; bṛṁhaṇatvāt — because of increasing unlimitedly; ca — and; tat — that; brahma — Absolute Truth; paramam — the ultimate; viduḥ — they know; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — obeisances; te — unto You; sarva-ātman — the Supreme Soul; yogi-cintya — appreciable by great yogīs; avikāra-vat — without change.

Translation

“ ‘I offer my respectful obeisances to the Absolute Truth, the summum bonum. He is the all-pervasive, all-increasing subject matter for the great yogīs. He is changeless, and He is the soul of all.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (1.12.57).

Bengali

সেই ব্রহ্ম-শব্দে কহে স্বয়ং-ভগবান্‌ ।
অদ্বিতীয়-জ্ঞান, যাঁহা বিনা নাহি আন ॥ ৭৩ ॥

Text

sei brahma-śabde kahe svayaṁ-bhagavān
advitīya-jñāna, yāṅhā vinā nāhi āna

Synonyms

sei — that; brahma-śabde — by the word brahma; kahe — it is said; svayam-bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; advitīya-jñāna — the supreme one, without duality; yāṅhā — which; vinā — without; nāhi āna — there is nothing else.

Translation

“The proper meaning of the word ‘brahma’ is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is one without a second and without whom nothing else exists.

Bengali

বদন্তি তত্তত্ত্ববিদস্তত্ত্বং যজ্‌জ্ঞানমদ্বয়ম্‌ ।
ব্রহ্মেতি পরমাত্মেতি ভগবানিতি শব্দ্যতে ॥ ৭৪ ॥

Text

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

Synonyms

vadanti — they say; tat — that; tattva-vidaḥ — learned souls; tattvam — the Absolute Truth; yat — which; jñānam — knowledge; advayam — nondual; brahma — Brahman; iti — thus; paramātmā — Paramātmā; iti — thus; bhagavān — Bhagavān; iti — thus; śabdyate — is known.

Translation

“ ‘Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth say that it is nondual knowledge and is called impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the Personality of Godhead.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.11). For an explanation, see Ādi-līlā 2.11.

Bengali

সেই অদ্বয়-তত্ত্ব কৃষ্ণ — স্বয়ং-ভগবান্‌ ।
তিনকালে সত্য তিঁহো — শাস্ত্র-প্রমাণ ॥ ৭৫ ॥

Text

sei advaya-tattva kṛṣṇa — svayaṁ-bhagavān
tina-kāle satya tiṅho — śāstra-pramāṇa

Synonyms

sei — that; advaya-tattva — Absolute Truth without a second; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; svayam-bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tina-kāle — in three phases of time (past, present and future); satya — truth; tiṅho — He; śāstra-pramāṇa — the verdict of all Vedic literatures.

Translation

“That Absolute Truth without a second is Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the supreme truth in the past, present and future. That is the evidence of all revealed scriptures.

Bengali

অহমেবাসমেবাগ্রে নান্যদ্‌যৎ সদসত্‌পরম্‌ ।
পশ্চাদহং যদেতচ্চ যোঽবশিষ্যেত সোঽস্ম্যহম্‌ ॥ ৭৬ ॥

Text

aham evāsam evāgre
nānyad yat sad-asat-param
paścād ahaṁ yad etac ca
yo ’vaśiṣyeta so ’smy aham

Synonyms

aham — I, the Personality of Godhead; eva — certainly; āsam — existed; eva — only; agre — before the creation; na — never; anyat — anything else; yat — which; sat — the effect; asat — the cause; param — the supreme; paścāt — after; aham — I, the Personality of Godhead; yat — which; etat — this creation; ca — also; yaḥ — who; avaśiṣyeta — remains; saḥ — that; asmi — am; aham — I, the Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“ ‘Prior to the cosmic creation, only I exist, and no phenomena exist, either gross, subtle or primordial. After creation, only I exist in everything, and after annihilation only I remain eternally.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.33) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa. For an explanation see Ādi-līlā 1.53.

Bengali

‘আত্ম’-শব্দে কহে কৃষ্ণ বৃহত্ত্বস্বরূপ ।
সর্বব্যাপক, সর্বসাক্ষী, পরমস্বরূপ ॥ ৭৭ ॥

Text

‘ātma’-śabde kahe kṛṣṇa bṛhattva-svarūpa
sarva-vyāpaka, sarva-sākṣī, parama-svarūpa

Synonyms

ātma-śabde — by the word ātmā; kahe — it is said; kṛṣṇa — the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa; bṛhattva — the greatest of all; svarūpa — identity; sarva-vyāpaka — all-pervasive; sarva-sākṣī — the witness of all; parama-svarūpa — the supreme form.

Translation

“The word ‘ātmā’ [‘self’] indicates the highest truth, Kṛṣṇa. He is the all-pervasive witness of all, and He is the supreme form.

Bengali

আততত্বাচ্চ মাতৃত্বাদাত্মা হি পরমো হরিঃ ॥ ৭৮ ॥

Text

ātatatvāc ca mātṛtvād
ātmā hi paramo hariḥ

Synonyms

ātatatvāt — due to being all-pervading; ca — and; mātṛtvāt — due to being the progenitor; ātmā — the soul; hi — certainly; paramaḥ — supreme; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“ ‘Hari, the Personality of Godhead, is the all-pervasive original source of everything; He is therefore the Supersoul of everything.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Bhāvārtha-dīpikā, Śrīdhara Svāmī’s commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Bengali

সেই কৃষ্ণপ্রাপ্তি-হেতু ত্রিবিধ ‘সাধন’ ।
জ্ঞান, যোগ, ভক্তি, — তিনের পৃথক্‌ লক্ষণ ॥ ৭৯ ॥

Text

sei kṛṣṇa-prāpti-hetu trividha ‘sādhana’
jñāna, yoga, bhakti, — tinera pṛthak lakṣaṇa

Synonyms

sei — those; kṛṣṇa-prāpti — of achieving the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; hetu — causes; tri-vidha sādhana — the three kinds of execution; jñāna — knowledge; yoga — mystic yoga practice; bhakti — and devotional service; tinera — of these three; pṛthak lakṣaṇa — the symptoms are different.

Translation

“There are three ways to attain the lotus feet of the Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa. There is the process of philosophical speculation, the practice of mystic yoga and the execution of devotional service. Each of these has its different characteristics.

Bengali

তিন সাধনে ভগবান্‌ তিন স্বরূপে ভাসে ।
ব্রহ্ম, পরমাত্মা, ভগবত্তা, — ত্রিবিধ প্রকাশে ॥ ৮০ ॥

Text

tina sādhane bhagavān tina svarūpe bhāse
brahma, paramātmā, bhagavattā, — trividha prakāśe

Synonyms

tina sādhane — by these three different processes; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tina — three; svarūpe — in identities; bhāse — appears; brahma — the impersonal feature; paramātmā — the localized feature; bhagavattā — and the Supreme Personality of Godhead; trividha prakāśe — three manifestations.

Translation

“The Absolute Truth is the same, but according to the process by which one understands Him, He appears in three forms — as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bengali

বদন্তি তত্তত্ত্ববিদস্তত্ত্বং যজ্‌জ্ঞানমদ্বয়ম্‌ ।
ব্রহ্মেতি পরমাত্মেতি ভগবানিতি শব্দ্যতে ॥ ৮১ ॥

Text

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate

Synonyms

vadanti — they say; tat — that; tattva-vidaḥ — learned souls; tattvam — the Absolute Truth; yat — which; jñānam — knowledge; advayam — nondual; brahma — Brahman; iti — thus; paramātmā — Paramātmā; iti — thus; bhagavān — Bhagavān; iti — thus; śabdyate — is known.

Translation

“ ‘Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth say that it is nondual knowledge and is called impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the Personality of Godhead.’

Bengali

‘ব্রহ্ম-আত্মা’-শব্দে যদি কৃষ্ণেরে কহয় ।
‘রূঢ়িবৃত্ত্যে’ নির্বিশেষ অন্তর্যামী কয় ॥ ৮২ ॥

Text

‘brahma-ātmā’-śabde yadi kṛṣṇere kahaya
‘rūḍhi-vṛttye’ nirviśeṣa antaryāmī kaya

Synonyms

brahma-ātmā-śabde — by the words brahma and ātmā; yadi — if; kṛṣṇere kahaya — Kṛṣṇa is indicated; rūḍhi-vṛttye — by the direct meaning; nirviśeṣa — impersonal; antaryāmī — the Supersoul; kaya — is said.

Translation

“Although the words ‘brahma’ and ‘ātmā’ indicate Kṛṣṇa, their direct meaning refers only to the impersonal Brahman and the Supersoul respectively.

Bengali

জ্ঞানমার্গে — নির্বিশেষ-ব্রহ্ম প্রকাশে ।
যোগমার্গে — অন্তর্যামী-স্বরূপেতে ভাসে ॥ ৮৩ ॥

Text

jñāna-mārge — nirviśeṣa-brahma prakāśe
yoga-mārge — antaryāmi-svarūpete bhāse

Synonyms

jñāna-mārge — the process of philosophical speculation; nirviśeṣa-brahma — the impersonal Brahman effulgence; prakāśe — becomes manifest; yoga-mārge — by practicing mystic yoga; antaryāmi-svarūpete — in the localized aspect, the Supersoul; bhāse — appears.

Translation

“If one follows the path of philosophical speculation, the Absolute Truth manifests Himself as impersonal Brahman, and if one follows the path of mystic yoga, He manifests Himself as the Supersoul.

Bengali

রাগভক্তি, বিধিভক্তি হয় দুইরূপ ।
‘স্বয়ং-ভগবত্ত্বে’, ভগবত্ত্বে — প্রকাশ দ্বিরূপ ॥ ৮৪ ॥

Text

rāga-bhakti-vidhi-bhakti haya dui-rūpa
‘svayaṁ-bhagavattve’, bhagavattve — prakāśa dvi-rūpa

Synonyms

rāga-bhakti — spontaneous devotional service; vidhi-bhakti — regulative devotional service; haya — are; dui-rūpa — the two kinds of devotional service; svayam-bhagavattve — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavattve — and in His personal expansion; prakāśa dvi-rūpa — the two kinds of manifestation.

Translation

“There are two kinds of devotional activity — spontaneous and regulative. By spontaneous devotional service, one attains the original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and by the regulative process one attains the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bengali

রাগভক্ত্যে ব্রজে স্বয়ং-ভগবানে পায় ॥ ৮৫ ॥

Text

rāga-bhaktye vraje svayaṁ-bhagavāne pāya

Synonyms

rāga-bhaktye — by the discharge of spontaneous devotional service; vraje — in Vṛndāvana; svayam — Himself; bhagavāne — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pāya — one gets.

Translation

“By executing spontaneous devotional service in Vṛndāvana, one attains the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

নায়ং সুখাপো ভগবান্ দেহিনাং গোপিকাসুতঃ ।
জ্ঞানিনাঞ্চাত্মভূতানাং যথা ভক্তিমতামিহ ॥ ৮৬ ॥

Text

nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān
dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ
jñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁ
yathā bhaktimatām iha

Synonyms

na — not; ayam — this Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; sukha-āpaḥ — easily available; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dehinām — for materialistic persons who have accepted the body as the self; gopikā-sutaḥ — the son of mother Yaśodā; jñāninām — for persons addicted to mental speculation; ca — and; ātma-bhūtānām — for persons performing severe austerities and penances; yathā — as; bhakti-matām — for persons engaged in spontaneous devotional service; iha — in this world.

Translation

“ ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) was spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī. For an explanation see Madhya-līlā 8.227.

Bengali

বিধিভক্ত্যে পার্ষদদেহে বৈকুণ্ঠেতে যায় ॥ ৮৭ ॥

Text

vidhi-bhaktye pārṣada-dehe vaikuṇṭhete yāya

Synonyms

vidhi-bhaktye — by executing regulative devotional service; pārṣada-dehe — in the form of an associate of the Lord; vaikuṇṭhete yāya — one achieves the Vaikuṇṭha planets.

Translation

“By executing regulative devotional service, one becomes an associate of Nārāyaṇa and attains the Vaikuṇṭhalokas, the spiritual planets in the spiritual sky.

Bengali

যচ্চ ব্রজন্ত্যনিমিষামৃষভানুবৃত্ত্যা
দূরে-যমা হ্যুপরি নঃ স্পৃহণীয়শীলাঃ ।
ভর্তুর্মিথঃ সুযশসঃ কথনানুরাগ-
বৈক্লব্যবাষ্পকলয়া পুলকীকৃতাঙ্গাঃ ॥ ৮৮ ॥

Text

yac ca vrajanty animiṣām ṛṣabhānuvṛttyā
dūre-yamā hy upari naḥ spṛhaṇīya-śīlāḥ
bhartur mithaḥ su-yaśasaḥ kathanānurāga-
vaiklavya-bāṣpa-kalayā pulakī-kṛtāṅgāḥ

Synonyms

yat — which; ca — also; vrajanti — go; animiṣām — of the demigods; ṛṣabha-anuvṛttyā — by practicing the best means of spiritual life; dūre — keeping at a distance; yamāḥ — the regulative principles; hi — certainly; upari — above; naḥ — our; spṛhaṇīya-śīlāḥ — decorated with desirable qualities; bhartuḥ — of the master; mithaḥ — mutually; su-yaśasaḥ — who has all transcendental qualities; kathana-anurāga — attracted to discussions; vaiklavya — transformation; bāṣpa-kalayā — with tears in the eyes; pulakī-kṛta — jubilation; aṅgāḥ — bodily limbs.

Translation

“ ‘Those who discuss the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are on the highest platform of devotional life, and they evince the symptoms of tears in the eyes and bodily jubilation. Such persons discharge devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without practicing the rules and regulations of the mystic yoga system. They possess all spiritual qualities, and they are elevated to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, which exist above us.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.25). In this verse Lord Brahmā is speaking to all the demigods, who feared the two asuras in Diti’s womb. Lord Brahmā described the Kumāras’ visit to Vaikuṇṭha, and this was again explained by Maitreya, the friend of Vyāsadeva, when he gave instructions to Vidura.

Bengali

সেই উপাসক হয় ত্রিবিধ প্রকার ।
অকাম, মোক্ষকাম, সর্বকাম আর ॥ ৮৯ ॥

Text

sei upāsaka haya trividha prakāra
akāma, mokṣa-kāma, sarva-kāma āra

Synonyms

sei upāsaka — those devotees; haya — are; tri-vidha prakāra — three varieties; akāma — without material desires; mokṣa-kāma — desiring to become liberated; sarva-kāma — filled with all material desires; āra — and.

Translation

“The devotees are divided into three categories — akāma [desireless], mokṣa-kāma [desiring liberation] and sarva-kāma [desiring material perfection].

Bengali

অকামঃ সর্বকামো বা মোক্ষকাম উদারধীঃ ।
তীব্রেণ ভক্তিযোগেন যজেত পুরুষং পরম্ ॥ ৯০ ॥

Text

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param

Synonyms

akāmaḥ — without material desires; sarva-kāmaḥ — full of all material desires; — or; mokṣa-kāmaḥ — desiring liberation; udāra-dhīḥ — sincere and advanced in devotional service; tīvreṇa — firm; bhaktiyogena — by the practice of bhakti-yoga; yajeta — should worship; puruṣam param — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“ ‘One who is actually intelligent, although he may be a devotee free from material desires, a karmī desiring all kinds of material facilities, or a jñānī desiring liberation, should seriously engage in bhakti-yoga for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.10).

Bengali

বুদ্ধিমান্-অর্থে — যদি ‘বিচারজ্ঞ’ হয় ।
নিজ-কাম লাগিহ তবে কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ॥ ৯১ ॥

Text

buddhimān-arthe — yadi ‘vicāra-jña’ haya
nija-kāma lāgiha tabe kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Synonyms

buddhimān-arthe — by the meaning of intelligent; yadi — if; vicāra-jña — expert in scrutinizing things; haya — is; nija-kāma lāgiha — even for sense gratification; tabe — then; kṛṣṇere bhajana — worships Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The meaning of the word ‘udāra-dhī’ is buddhimān — intelligent or considerate. Because of this, even for one’s own sense gratification one engages in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

ভক্তি বিনু কোন সাধন দিতে নারে ফল ।
সব ফল দেয় ভক্তি স্বতন্ত্র প্রবল ॥ ৯২ ॥

Text

bhakti vinu kona sādhana dite nāre phala
saba phala deya bhakti svatantra prabala

Synonyms

bhakti vinu — without devotional service; kona — some; sādhana — practice for perfection; dite — to give; nāre — not able; phala — any result; saba phala — all the results of different processes; deya — give; bhakti — devotional service; sva-tantra — independent; prabala — and powerful.

Translation

“The other processes cannot yield results unless they are associated with devotional service. Devotional service, however, is so strong and independent that it can give one all the desired results.

Bengali

অজাগলস্তন-ন্যায় অন্য সাধন ।
অতএব হরি ভজে বুদ্ধিমান্ জন ॥ ৯৩ ॥

Text

ajā-gala-stana-nyāya anya sādhana
ataeva hari bhaje buddhimān jana

Synonyms

ajā-gala-stana-nyāya — like the nipples on the neck of a goat; anya — other; sādhana — execution of spiritual life; ataeva — therefore; hari — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaje — one worships; buddhimān jana — the intelligent person.

Translation

“With the exception of devotional service, all the methods of self-realization are like the nipples on the neck of a goat. Therefore an intelligent person adopts only devotional service, giving up all other processes of self-realization.

Purport

Without devotional service, other methods for self-realization and spiritual life are useless. Other methods cannot produce good results at any time, and therefore they are compared to the nipples on the neck of a goat. These nipples cannot produce milk, although it may appear that they can. An unintelligent person cannot understand that only devotional service can elevate one to the transcendental position.

Bengali

চতুর্বিধা ভজন্তে মাং জনাঃ সুকৃতিনোঽর্জুন ।
আর্তো জিজ্ঞাসুরর্থার্থী জ্ঞানী চ ভরতর্ষভ ॥ ৯৪ ॥

Text

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ
janāḥ sukṛtino ’rjuna
ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

Synonyms

catuḥ-vidhāḥ — four kinds; bhajante — worship; mām — Me; janāḥ — persons; sukṛtinaḥ — who have obeyed the principles of human life or the regulative principles of varṇa and āśrama; arjuna — O Arjuna; ārtaḥ — the distressed; jijñāsuḥ — the inquisitive; artha-arthī — one in need of money; jñānī — one pursuing knowledge; ca — also; bharata-ṛṣabha — O best of the Bharata dynasty.

Translation

“ ‘O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me — the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (7.16). The word sukṛtinaḥ is very important in this verse. Su means “auspicious,” and kṛtī means “meritorious” or “regulated.” Unless one follows the regulative principles of religious life, human life is no different from animal life. Religious life means following the principles of varṇa and āśrama. In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is said:

varṇāśramācāravatāpuruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān
viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā
nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam

According to religious life, society is divided into four social divisions — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra — and four spiritual divisions — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. One needs to be trained to become a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, just as one is trained to become an engineer, doctor or lawyer. Those who are properly trained can be considered human beings; if one is not trained socially and spiritually — that is, if one is uneducated and unregulated — his life is on the animal platform. Among animals there is no question of spiritual advancement. Spiritual life can be attained by proper training — either by following the principles of varṇa and āśrama or by being directly trained in the bhakti school by the methods of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam. Without being trained, one cannot be sukṛtī, auspicious. In this verse Kṛṣṇa says that people approach Him when in distress, in need of money or when actually inquisitive to understand the Supreme Being, or the original source of everything. Some people approach Him in the pursuit of knowledge of the Absolute Truth, and others approach Him when they are distressed, like the devotee Gajendra. Others are inquisitive, like the great sages headed by Śaunaka, and others need money, like Dhruva Mahārāja. Śukadeva Gosvāmī approached the Lord when he pursued knowledge. All these great personalities thus took to the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

আর্ত, অর্থার্থী, — দুই সকাম-ভিতরে গণি ।
জিজ্ঞাসু, জ্ঞানী, — দুই মোক্ষকাম মানি ॥ ৯৫ ॥

Text

ārta, arthārthī, — dui sakāma-bhitare gaṇi
jijñāsu, jñānī, — dui mokṣa-kāma māni

Synonyms

ārta — distressed; artha-arthī — desirous of money; dui — two persons; sakāma-bhitare — in the division of material activities; gaṇi — we consider; jijñāsu — inquisitive; jñānī — pursuing knowledge; dui — two; mokṣa-kāma — transcendentalists pursuing spiritual knowledge for liberation; māni — I consider.

Translation

“Materialistic devotees take to devotional service and worship Kṛṣṇa when they are distressed or in need of money. Those who are actually inquisitive to understand the supreme source of everything and those who are in search of knowledge are called transcendentalists, for they desire liberation from all material contamination.

Bengali

এই চারি সুকৃতি হয় মহাভাগ্যবান্ ।
তত্তৎকামাদি ছাড়ি’ হয় শুদ্ধভক্তিমান্ ॥ ৯৬ ॥

Text

ei cāri sukṛti haya mahā-bhāgyavān
tat-tat-kāmādi chāḍi’ haya śuddha-bhaktimān

Synonyms

ei cāri — these four persons; sukṛti — pious men; haya — are; mahā-bhāgyavān — highly fortunate; tat-tat — those respective; kāma-ādi — aspirations; chāḍi’ — giving up; haya — become; śuddha-bhaktimān — pure devotees.

Translation

“Because they have a pious background, all four types of people are to be considered greatly fortunate. Such people gradually give up material desires and become pure devotees.

Bengali

সাধুসঙ্গ-কৃপা কিম্বা কৃষ্ণের কৃপায় ।
কামাদি ‘দুঃসঙ্গ’ ছাড়ি’ শুদ্ধভক্তি পায় ॥ ৯৭ ॥

Text

sādhu-saṅga-kṛpā kimvā kṛṣṇera kṛpāya
kāmādi ‘duḥsaṅga’ chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti pāya

Synonyms

sādhu-saṅga-kṛpā — by the mercy of association with devotees; kimvā — or; kṛṣṇera kṛpāya — by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa; kāma-ādi — material desires and so on; duḥsaṅga — unwanted association; chāḍi’ — giving up; śuddha-bhakti pāya — one obtains the platform of pure devotional life.

Translation

“One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Kṛṣṇa. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people. Thus one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional service.

Bengali

সত্সঙ্গান্মুক্ত-দুঃসঙ্গো হাতুং নোত্সহতে বুধঃ ।
কীর্ত্যমানং যশো যস্য সকৃদাকর্ণ্য রোচনম্ ॥ ৯৮ ॥

Text

sat-saṅgān mukta-duḥsaṅgo
hātuṁ notsahate budhaḥ
kīrtyamānaṁ yaśo yasya
sakṛd ākarṇya rocanam

Synonyms

sat-saṅgāt — by the association of pure devotees; mukta — freed; duḥsaṅgaḥ — the association of materialistic persons; hātum — to give up; na — not; utsahate — is able; budhaḥ — one who is actually learned; kīrtyamānam — being glorified; yaśaḥ — the glories; yasya — of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); sakṛt — once; ākarṇya — hearing; rocanam — very pleasing.

Translation

“ ‘The intelligent, who have understood the Supreme Lord in the association of pure devotees and have become free from bad, materialistic association, can never avoid hearing the glories of the Lord, even though they have heard them only once.’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.10.11). All the members of the Kuru dynasty offered respects when Kṛṣṇa was leaving Hastināpura after the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Kṛṣṇa was going to His own kingdom, and all the members of the Kuru dynasty were overwhelmed by His departure. This verse was spoken in that connection by Sūta Gosvāmī.

A pure devotee becomes attached to Kṛṣṇa by hearing the Lord’s glories. The Lord’s glories and the Lord Himself are identical. One has to be qualified to understand this absolute truth; therefore one should be given a chance to associate with a pure devotee. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. We want to create pure devotees so that other people will benefit by their association. In this way the number of pure devotees increases. Professional preachers cannot create pure devotees. There are many professional preachers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam who read this work to earn their livelihood. However, they cannot convert materialistic people to devotional service. Only a pure devotee can convert others to pure devotional service. It is therefore important for all the preachers in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to first become pure devotees and follow the regulative principles, refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. They should regularly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra on their beads, follow the devotional process, rise early in the morning, attend maṅgala-ārati and recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā regularly. In this way, one can become purified and free from all material contamination.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁtat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all one’s senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.” (Nārada-pañcarātra)

To make a show of devotional service will not help one. One must be a pure devotee following the devotional process; then one can convert others to devotional service. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu practiced devotional service and preached (āpani ācari’ bhakti karila pracāra). If a preacher behaves properly in devotional service, he will be able to convert others. Otherwise, his preaching will have no effect.

Bengali

‘দুঃসঙ্গ’ কহিয়ে — ‘কৈতব’, ‘আত্মবঞ্চনা’ ।
কৃষ্ণ, কৃষ্ণভক্তি বিনু অন্য কামনা ॥ ৯৯ ॥

Text

‘duḥsaṅga’ kahiye — ‘kaitava’, ‘ātma-vañcanā’
kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-bhakti vinu anya kāmanā

Synonyms

duḥsaṅga — bad, unwanted association; kahiye — I say; kaitava — cheating; ātma-vañcanā — cheating oneself; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-bhakti — devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; vinu — without; anya — other; kāmanā — desires.

Translation

“Cheating oneself and cheating others is called kaitava. Associating with those who cheat in this way is called duḥsaṅga, bad association. Those who desire things other than Kṛṣṇa’s service are also called duḥsaṅga, bad association.

Bengali

ধর্মঃ প্রোজ্ঝিত-কৈতবোঽত্র পরমো নির্মত্সরাণাং সতাং
বেদ্যং বাস্তবমত্র বস্তু শিবদং তাপত্রয়োন্মূলনম্ ।
শ্রীমদ্ভাগবতে মহামুনিকৃতে কিংবা পরৈরীশ্বরঃ
সদ্যো হৃদ্যবরুধ্যতেঽত্র কৃতিভিঃ শুশ্রূষুভিস্তত্ক্ষণাৎ ॥ ১০০ ॥

Text

dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ
vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śiva-daṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam
śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ
sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate ’tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṇāt

Synonyms

dharmaḥ — religiosity; projjhita — completely rejected; kaitavaḥ — in which fruitive intention; atra — herein; paramaḥ — the highest; nirmatsarāṇām — of the fully pure in heart; satām — devotees; vedyam — to be understood; vāstavam — factual; atra — herein; vastu — substance; śiva-dam — giving well-being; tāpa-traya — of the threefold miseries; unmūlanam — causing uprooting; śrīmat — beautiful; bhāgavate — in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa; mahā-muni — by the great sage (Vyāsadeva); kṛte — compiled; kim — what; — indeed; paraiḥ — with others; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Lord; sadyaḥ — at once; hṛdi — within the heart; avarudhyate — becomes confined; atra — herein; kṛtibhiḥ — by pious men; śuśrūṣubhiḥ — desiring to hear; tat-kṣaṇāt — without delay.

Translation

“ ‘The great scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, compiled by Mahāmuni Vyāsadeva from four original verses, describes the most elevated and kindhearted devotees and completely rejects the cheating ways of materially motivated religiosity. It propounds the highest principle of eternal religion, which can factually mitigate the threefold miseries of a living being and award the highest benediction of full prosperity and knowledge. Those willing to hear the message of this scripture in a submissive attitude of service can at once capture the Supreme Lord in their hearts. Therefore there is no need for any scripture other than Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.2). For an explanation see Ādi-līlā 1.91.

Bengali

‘প্র’-শব্দে — মোক্ষবাঞ্ছা কৈতবপ্রধান ।
এই শ্লোকে শ্রীধরস্বামী করিয়াছেন ব্যাখ্যান ॥ ১০১ ॥

Text

‘pra’-śabde — mokṣa-vāñchā kaitava-pradhāna
ei śloke śrīdhara-svāmī kariyāchena vyākhyāna

Synonyms

pra-śabde — by the prefix pra; mokṣa-vāñchā — the desire for being liberated; kaitava-pradhāna — first-class cheating; ei śloke — in this verse; śrīdhara-svāmī — the great commentator Śrīdhara Svāmī; kariyāchena — has made; vyākhyāna — explanation.

Translation

“The prefix ‘pra’ in the word ‘projjhita’ specifically refers to those desiring liberation or oneness with the Supreme. Such a desire should be understood to be the foremost cheating propensity. The great commentator Śrīdhara Svāmī has explained this verse in that way.

Bengali

সকাম-ভক্তে ‘অজ্ঞ’ জানি’ দয়ালু ভগবান্ ।
স্ব-চরণ দিয়া করে ইচ্ছার পিধান ॥ ১০২ ॥

Text

sakāma-bhakte ‘ajña’ jāni’ dayālu bhagavān
sva-caraṇa diyā kare icchāra pidhāna

Synonyms

sakāma-bhakte — to devotees who still have material desires to fulfill; ajña — foolish; jāni’ — knowing; dayālu — merciful; bhagavān — Śrī Kṛṣṇa; sva-caraṇa — His own lotus feet; diyā — giving; kare — does; icchāra pidhāna — the covering of other desires.

Translation

“When merciful Lord Kṛṣṇa understands that a foolish devotee desires material prosperity, He gratefully gives him the shelter of His lotus feet. In this way, the Lord covers the devotee’s undesirable ambitions.

Bengali

সত্যং দিশত্যর্থিতমর্থিতো নৃণাং
নৈবার্থদো যৎ পুনরর্থিতা যতঃ ।
স্বয়ং বিধত্তে ভজতামনিচ্ছতা-
মিচ্ছাপিধানং নিজপাদপল্লবম্ ॥ ১০৩ ॥

Text

satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ
naivārtha-do yat punar arthitā yataḥ
svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām
icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam

Synonyms

satyam — it is true; diśati — He awards; arthitam — that which is desired; arthitaḥ — being requested; nṛṇām — by human beings; na — not; eva — certainly; artha-daḥ — giving desired things; yat — which; punaḥ — again; arthitā — request; yataḥ — from which; svayam — Himself; vidhatte — He gives; bhajatām — of those engaged in devotional service; anicchatām — even though not desiring; icchā-pidhānam — covering all other desires; nija-pāda-pallavam — the shelter of His own lotus feet.

Translation

“ ‘Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one’s desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord’s service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.19.27).

Bengali

সাধুসঙ্গ, কৃষ্ণকৃপা, ভক্তির স্বভাব ।
এ তিনে সব ছাড়ায়, করে কৃষ্ণে ‘ভাব’ ॥ ১০৪ ॥

Text

sādhu-saṅga, kṛṣṇa-kṛpā, bhaktira svabhāva
e tine saba chāḍāya, kare kṛṣṇe ‘bhāva’

Synonyms

sādhu-saṅga — the association of devotees; kṛṣṇa-kṛpā — the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaktira — of devotional service; svabhāva — nature; e tine — these three; saba chāḍāya — cause one to give up everything else; kare — do; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhāva — the loving affairs.

Translation

“Association with a devotee, the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, and the nature of devotional service help one to give up all undesirable association and gradually attain elevation to the platform of love of Godhead.

Purport

This verse-refers to the association of pure devotees, the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the rendering of devotional service. All these help one give up the association of nondevotees and the material opulence awarded by the external energy, māyā. A pure devotee is never attracted by material opulence, for he understands that wasting time to acquire material opulence is a misuse of the gift of human life. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said, śrama eva hi kevalam. In the eyes of a devotee, politicians, social workers, philanthropists, philosophers and humanitarians are simply wasting their time, for human society is not freed from the cycle of birth and death by their activity and propaganda. These so-called philanthropists, politicians and philosophers have no knowledge because they do not know that there is life after death. Understanding that there is life after death is the beginning of spiritual knowledge. A person can understand himself and what he is simply by understanding the first lessons of the Bhagavad-gītā (2.13):

dehino ’smin yathā dehekaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir
dhīras tatra na muhyati

“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.”

Not knowing the real science of life, a foolish person engages in the temporary activities of this life and thus becomes further entangled in the cycle of birth and death. He always desires material opulence, which can be attained by karma, jñāna and yoga. But when one is actually elevated to the devotional platform, he gives up all these desires. This is called anyābhilāṣitā-śūnya. Then one becomes a pure devotee.

Bengali

আগে যত যত অর্থ ব্যাখ্যান করিব ।
কৃষ্ণগুণাস্বাদের এই হেতু জানিব ॥ ১০৫ ॥

Text

āge yata yata artha vyākhyāna kariba
kṛṣṇa-guṇāsvādera ei hetu jāniba

Synonyms

āge — ahead; yata yata — as many as; artha — meanings; vyākhyāna kariba — I shall explain; kṛṣṇa-guṇa-āsvādera — of tasting the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; ei — this; hetu — reason; jāniba — we shall understand.

Translation

“In this way I shall progressively explain all the words in the ātmārāma verse. It should be understood that all these words are meant to enable one to taste the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

শ্লোকব্যাখ্যা লাগি’ এই করিলুঁ আভাস ।
এবে করি শ্লোকের মূলার্থ প্রকাশ ॥ ১০৬ ॥

Text

śloka-vyākhyā lāgi’ ei kariluṅ ābhāsa
ebe kari ślokera mūlārtha prakāśa

Synonyms

śloka-vyākhyā — of the explanation of the verse; lāgi’ — for the matter; ei — this; kariluṅ — I did; ābhāsa — indication; ebe — now; kari — let Me do; ślokera — of the verse; mūla-artha — the real meaning; prakāśa — the manifestation.

Translation

“I have given all these explanations just to give some indication of the verse’s meaning. Now let Me explain the real meaning of the verse.

Bengali

জ্ঞানমার্গে উপাসক — দুইত’ প্রকার ।
কেবল ব্রহ্মোপাসক, মোক্ষাকাঙ্ক্ষী আর ॥ ১০৭ ॥

Text

jñāna-mārge upāsaka — duita’ prakāra
kevala brahmopāsaka, mokṣākāṅkṣī āra

Synonyms

jñāna-mārge — on the path of philosophical speculation; upāsaka — worshipers; duita’ prakāra — two varieties; kevala — only; brahma-upāsaka — the worshiper of impersonal Brahman; mokṣa-ākāṅkṣī — desiring liberation; āra — and.

Translation

“There are two kinds of worshipers on the path of philosophical speculation — one is called brahma-upāsaka, a worshiper of the impersonal Brahman, and the other is called mokṣākāṅkṣī, one who desires liberation.

Bengali

কেবল ব্রহ্মোপাসক তিন ভেদ হয় ।
সাধক, ব্রহ্মময়, আর প্রাপ্ত-ব্রহ্মলয় ॥ ১০৮ ॥

Text

kevala brahmopāsaka tina bheda haya
sādhaka, brahmamaya, āra prāpta-brahma-laya

Synonyms

kevala brahma-upāsaka — the worshiper of only the impersonal Brahman; tina bheda haya — there are three different groups; sādhaka — the beginner; brahma-maya — absorbed in thought of Brahman; āra — and; prāpta-brahma-laya — actually merged into the Brahman effulgence.

Translation

“There are three types of people who worship the impersonal Brahman. The first is the beginner, the second is one whose thoughts are absorbed in Brahman, and the third is one who is actually merged in the impersonal Brahman.

Bengali

ভক্তি বিনা কেবল জ্ঞানে ‘মুক্তি’ নাহি হয় ।
ভক্তি সাধন করে যেই ‘প্রাপ্ত-ব্রহ্মলয়’ ॥ ১০৯ ॥

Text

bhakti vinā kevala jñāne ‘mukti’ nāhi haya
bhakti sādhana kare yei ‘prāpta-brahma-laya’

Synonyms

bhakti — devotional service; vinā — without; kevala — only; jñāne — by philosophical speculation; mukti — liberation; nāhi haya — there is not; bhakti — devotional service; sādhana — practice; kare — does; yei — anyone who; prāpta-brahma-laya — as good as merging into the impersonal Brahman.

Translation

“One cannot attain liberation simply through philosophical speculation devoid of devotional service. However, if one renders devotional service, he is automatically on the Brahman platform.

Bengali

ভক্তির স্বভাব, — ব্রহ্ম হৈতে করে আকর্ষণ ।
দিব্য দেহ দিয়া করায় কৃষ্ণের ভজন ॥ ১১০ ॥

Text

bhaktira svabhāva, — brahma haite kare ākarṣaṇa
divya deha diyā karāya kṛṣṇera bhajana

Synonyms

bhaktira — of devotional service; svabhāva — nature; brahma — impersonal Brahman realization; haite — from; kare — does; ākarṣaṇa — attracting; divya — transcendental; deha — body; diyā — offering; karāya — causes to perform; kṛṣṇera bhajana — the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“Characteristically, one in devotional service is attracted away from the impersonal Brahman platform. He is offered a transcendental body to engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service.

Bengali

ভক্তদেহ পাইলে হয় গুণের স্মরণ ।
গুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা করে নির্মল ভজন ॥ ১১১ ॥

Text

bhakta-deha pāile haya guṇera smaraṇa
guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kare nirmala bhajana

Synonyms

bhakta-deha — the body of a devotee; pāile — when one gets; haya — there is; guṇera smaraṇa — remembrance of the transcendental qualities; guṇa-ākṛṣṭa hañā — being attracted by the transcendental qualities; kare — performs; nirmala bhajana — pure devotional service.

Translation

“When one gets a devotee’s spiritual body, he can remember the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Simply by being attracted to Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, one becomes a pure devotee engaged in His service.

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has given the following summary of verses 107-111. Transcendentalists on the path of philosophical speculation can be divided into two categories — the pure worshipers of impersonal Brahman and those who wish to merge into the existence of impersonal Brahman. When one is fully absorbed in the thought that one is not different from the Supreme Absolute Truth, one is said to be a worshiper of the impersonal Brahman. The impersonal worshipers of Brahman can again be divided into three categories — (1) sādhakas, those who are nearing perfect execution of the process of Brahman realization; (2) those who are fully absorbed in meditation on Brahman; and (3) those who are on the brahma-bhūta platform and have no relationship with material existence. Even though the worshiper of impersonal Brahman can be highly advanced, he cannot attain liberation without discharging devotional service. Anyone who has realized himself as spirit soul can engage in devotional service. This is the verdict of the Bhagavad-gītā (18.54):

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmāna śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”

To attain the platform of pure devotional service, one has to become spiritually pure and attain the brahma-bhūta platform, which is beyond material anxiety and material discrimination. When one approaches pure devotional service after realizing Brahman, one becomes attracted by pure devotional service. At such a time, by rendering devotional service, one gets a spiritual body with purified senses.

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁtat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate

When one’s senses are pure, one can render loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. A pure devotee can only remember Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities. Remembering them, he fully engages in the loving service of the Lord.

Bengali

“মুক্তা অপি লীলয়া বিগ্রহং কৃত্বা ভগবন্তং ভজন্তে ॥” ১১২ ॥

Text

“muktā api līlayā vigrahaṁ
kṛtvā bhagavantaṁ bhajante”

Synonyms

muktāḥ — liberated; api — although; līlayā — by pastimes; vigraham — the form of the Lord; kṛtvā — having installed; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhajante — worship.

Translation

“ ‘Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.’

Purport

Highly elevated Māyāvādī sannyāsīs sometimes worship the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity and discuss the pastimes of the Lord, but their purpose is not elevation to Goloka Vṛndāvana. They want to merge into the Lord’s effulgence. This statement is quoted from Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary on the Upaniṣad known as Nṛsiṁha-tāpanī.

Bengali

জন্ম হৈতে শুক-সনকাদি ‘ব্রহ্মময়’ ।
কৃষ্ণগুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ॥ ১১৩ ॥

Text

janma haite śuka-sanakādi ‘brahmamaya’
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Synonyms

janma haite — from birth; śuka — Śukadeva Gosvāmī; sanaka-ādi — the four Kumāras; brahma-maya — absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman; kṛṣṇa-guṇa-ākṛṣṭa — attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Lord; hañā — becoming; kṛṣṇere bhajaya — worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“Although Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the four Kumāras were always absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman and were thus Brahmavādīs, they were nonetheless attracted by the transcendental pastimes and qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore they later became devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

সনকাদ্যের কৃষ্ণকৃপায় সৌরভে হরে মন ।
গুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা করে নির্মল ভজন ॥ ১১৪ ॥

Text

sanakādyera kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya saurabhe hare mana
guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kare nirmala bhajana

Synonyms

sanaka-ādyera — of the four Kumāras, headed by Sanaka; kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya — by the mercy of the Lord; saurabhe — the fragrance; hare — took away; mana — the minds; guṇa-ākṛṣṭa hañā — thus being attracted by the qualities of Kṛṣṇa; kare — perform; nirmala bhajana — pure devotional service.

Translation

“The minds of the four Kumāras were attracted by the aroma of the flowers offered to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Being thus attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, they engaged in pure devotional service.

Bengali

তস্যারবিন্দনয়নস্য পদারবিন্দ-
কিঞ্জল্কমিশ্রতুলসীমকরন্দবায়ুঃ ।
অন্তর্গতঃ স্ববিবরেণ চকার তেষাং
সংক্ষোভমক্ষরজুষামপি চিত্ততন্বোঃ ॥ ১১৫ ॥

Text

tasyāravinda-nayanasya padāravinda-
kiñjalka-miśra-tulasī-makaranda-vāyuḥ
antar-gataḥ sva-vivareṇa cakāra teṣāṁ
saṅkṣobham akṣara-juṣām api citta-tanvoḥ

Synonyms

tasya — of Him; aravinda-nayanasya — of the lotus-eyed Lord; pada-aravinda — of the lotus feet; kiñjalka — with saffron; miśra — mixed; tulasī — the tulasī leaves; makaranda — fragrance; vāyuḥ — breeze; antaḥ-gataḥ — entered within; sva-vivareṇa — through their nostrils; cakāra — made; teṣām — of the Kumāras; saṅkṣobham — agitation for change; akṣara-juṣām — attached to impersonal Brahman realization; api — even though; citta-tanvoḥ — in both the mind and body.

Translation

“ ‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasī leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumāras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.43).

Bengali

ব্যাসকৃপায় শুকদেবের লীলাদি-স্মরণ ।
কৃষ্ণগুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা করেন ভজন ॥ ১১৬ ॥

Text

vyāsa-kṛpāya śukadevera līlādi-smaraṇa
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā karena bhajana

Synonyms

vyāsa-kṛpāya — by the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva; śukadevera — of Śukadeva Gosvāmī; līlā-ādi-smaraṇa — remembrance of the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-guṇa-ākṛṣṭa — attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; hañā — becoming; karena — performed; bhajana — loving service.

Translation

“By the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was attracted by the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Being thus attracted by Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, he also became a devotee and engaged in His service.

Bengali

হরের্গুণাক্ষিপ্তমতির্ভগবান্ বাদরায়ণিঃ ।
অধ্যগান্মহদাখ্যানং নিত্যং বিষ্ণুজনপ্রিয়ঃ ॥ ১১৭ ॥

Text

harer guṇākṣipta-matir
bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ
adhyagān mahad-ākhyānaṁ
nityaṁ viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ

Synonyms

hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guṇa-ākṣipta-matiḥ — whose mind was agitated by the qualities; bhagavān — the most powerful transcendentalist; bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śukadeva, son of Vyāsadeva; adhyagāt — studied; mahat-ākhyānam — the great epic description; nityam — eternally; viṣṇu-jana-priyaḥ — who is very dear to the Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of Lord Viṣṇu.

Translation

“ ‘Being very much attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, the mind of Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī was agitated by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He therefore began to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by the grace of his father.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.11).

Bengali

নব-যোগীশ্বর জন্ম হৈতে ‘সাধক’ জ্ঞানী ।
বিধি-শিব-নারদ-মুখে কৃষ্ণগুণ শুনি’ ॥ ১১৮ ॥

Text

nava-yogīśvara janma haite ‘sādhaka’ jñānī
vidhi-śiva-nārada-mukhe kṛṣṇa-guṇa śuni’

Synonyms

nava — nine; yogī-īśvara — great saintly yogīs; janma haite — from the very birth; sādhaka — practicers; jñānī — well versed in transcendental knowledge; vidhi — Lord Brahmā; śiva — Lord Śiva; nārada — the great sage Nārada; mukhe — in their mouths; kṛṣṇa-guṇa śuni’ — hearing the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“From their very births, the nine great mystic yogīs [Yogendras] were impersonal philosophers of the Absolute Truth. But because they heard about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s qualities from Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the great sage Nārada, they also became Kṛṣṇa’s devotees.

Bengali

গুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা করে কৃষ্ণের ভজন ।
একাদশ-স্কন্ধে তাঁর ভক্তি-বিবরণ ॥ ১১৯ ॥

Text

guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kare kṛṣṇera bhajana
ekādaśa-skandhe tāṅra bhakti-vivaraṇa

Synonyms

guṇa-ākṛṣṭa hañā — being attracted by the transcendental qualities; kare — engaged in; kṛṣṇera bhajana — the devotional service of the Lord; ekādaśa-skandhe — in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; tāṅra — of them; bhakti-vivaraṇa — description of the devotional service.

Translation

“In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a full description of the devotional service of the nine Yogendras, who rendered devotional service because they were attracted by the Lord’s transcendental qualities.

Bengali

অক্লেশাং কমলভুবঃ প্রবিশ্য গোষ্ঠীং
কুর্বন্তঃ শ্রুতিশিরসাং শ্রুতিং শ্রুতজ্ঞাঃ ।
উত্তুঙ্গং যদুপুরসঙ্গমায় রঙ্গং
যোগীন্দ্রাঃ পুলকভৃতো নবাপ্যবাপুঃ ॥ ১২০ ॥

Text

akleśāṁ kamala-bhuvaḥ praviśya goṣṭhīṁ
kurvantaḥ śruti-śirasāṁ śrutiṁ śruta-jñāḥ
uttuṅgaṁ yadu-pura-saṅgamāya raṅgaṁ
yogīndrāḥ pulaka-bhṛto navāpy avāpuḥ

Synonyms

akleśām — without material trouble; kamala-bhuvaḥ — of Lord Brahmā, who took his birth from the lotus flower; praviśya — entering; goṣṭhīm — the association; kurvantaḥ — continuously performing; śruti-śirasām — of the topmost Vedic knowledge; śrutim — hearing; śruta-jñāḥ — who are expert in Vedic knowledge; uttuṅgam — very high; yadu-pura-saṅgamāya — for going back home, back to Godhead, to Dvārakā; raṅgam — to Raṅga-kṣetra; yogī-indrāḥ — great saintly persons; pulaka-bhṛtaḥ — being spiritually pleased; nava — nine; api — although; avāpuḥ — achieved.

Translation

“ ‘The nine Yogendras entered Lord Brahmā’s association and heard from him the real meaning of the topmost Vedic literatures, the Upaniṣads. Although the Yogendras were already conversant in Vedic knowledge, they became very jubilant in Kṛṣṇa consciousness just by listening to Brahmā. Thus they wanted to enter Dvārakā, the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way they finally achieved the place known as Raṅga-kṣetra.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Mahā Upaniṣad.

Bengali

মোক্ষাকাঙ্ক্ষী জ্ঞানী হয় তিনপ্রকার ।
মুমুক্ষু, জীবন্মুক্ত, প্রাপ্তস্বরূপ আর ॥ ১২১ ॥

Text

mokṣākāṅkṣī jñānī haya tina-prakāra
mumukṣu, jīvan-mukta, prāpta-svarūpa āra

Synonyms

mokṣa-ākāṅkṣī — those who desire to merge into the impersonal Brahman; jñānī — advanced in knowledge; haya — are; tina-prakāra — three varieties; mumukṣu — desiring to be liberated; jīvan-mukta — already liberated, even in this life; prāpta-svarūpa — self-realized; āra — and.

Translation

“Those who wish to merge into the impersonal Brahman are also divided into three categories — those desiring to be liberated, those already liberated and those who have realized Brahman.

Bengali

‘মুমুক্ষু’ জগতে অনেক সংসারী জন ।
‘মুক্তি’ লাগি’ ভক্ত্যে করে কৃষ্ণের ভজন ॥ ১২২ ॥

Text

‘mumukṣu’ jagate aneka saṁsārī jana
‘mukti’ lāgi’ bhaktye kare kṛṣṇera bhajana

Synonyms

mumukṣu — desiring to be liberated; jagate — in this world; aneka — many; saṁsārī jana — engaged in material activities; mukti lāgi’ — for the sake of liberation; bhaktye — in devotional service; kare — perform; kṛṣṇera bhajana — the worship of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“There are many people within this material world who desire liberation, and for this purpose they render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

মুমুক্ষবো ঘোররূপান্ হিত্বা ভূতপতীনথ ।
নারায়ণ-কলাঃ শান্তা ভজন্তি হ্যনসূয়বঃ ॥ ১২৩ ॥

Text

mumukṣavo ghora-rūpān
hitvā bhūta-patīn atha
nārāyaṇa-kalāḥ śāntā
bhajanti hy anasūyavaḥ

Synonyms

mumukṣavaḥ — those who are perfectly learned, who desire the highest perfection, and who, unlike demons and nondevotees, are never envious of anyone; ghora-rūpān — demigods with fearful bodily features; hitvā — giving up; bhūta-patīn — the forefathers (prajāpatis); atha — therefore; nārāyaṇa-kalāḥ — the plenary expansions of Lord Nārāyaṇa; śāntāḥ — very peaceful; bhajanti — they worship; hi — certainly; anasūyavaḥ — nonenvious.

Translation

“ ‘Those who want to be relieved from the material clutches give up the worship of the various demigods who have fearful bodily features. Such peaceful devotees, who are not envious of the demigods, worship the different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.26). Those who actually want the highest perfection worship Lord Viṣṇu in His different incarnations. Those who are attracted to the materialistic way of life and who are always agitated and full of anxiety worship demigods who appear fierce — demigods like goddess Kālī and Kāla-bhairava (Rudra). The devotees of Kṛṣṇa, however, do not envy the demigods or their worshipers but peacefully render devotional service to the incarnations of Nārāyaṇa instead.

Bengali

সেই সবের সাধুসঙ্গে গুণ স্ফুরায় ।
কৃষ্ণভজন করায়, ‘মুমুক্ষা’ ছাড়ায় ॥ ১২৪ ॥

Text

sei sabera sādhu-saṅge guṇa sphurāya
kṛṣṇa-bhajana karāya, ‘mumukṣā’ chāḍāya

Synonyms

sei sabera — of all those worshipers of different demigods; sādhu-saṅge — the contact of real devotees; guṇa sphurāya — awakens the appreciation of transcendental qualities; kṛṣṇa-bhajana karāya — engages in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mumukṣā chāḍāya — and causes to give up the desire to be liberated or merge into the impersonal feature of the Lord.

Translation

“If those who are attached to demigod worship fortunately associate with the devotees, their dormant devotional service and appreciation of the Lord’s qualities gradually awaken. In this way they also engage in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service and give up the desire for liberation and the desire to merge into the existence of impersonal Brahman.

Purport

The four Kumāras (Catuḥsana), Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the nine Yogendras were absorbed in Brahman realization, and how they became devotees is described herein. There are three kinds of impersonalists — the mumukṣu (those desiring liberation), the jīvan-muktas (those liberated in this life) and the prāpta-svarūpas (those merged in Brahman realization). All three types of jñānīs are called mokṣākāṅkṣīs, those desiring liberation. By associating with devotees, such people give up the mumukṣu principle and render devotional service. The real cause for this change is the association of devotees. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to attract all types of men, even those who desire things other than the Lord’s devotional service. Through the association of devotees, they gradually begin to render devotional service.

Bengali

অহো মহাত্মন্ বহুদোষদুষ্টোঽ-
প্যেকেন ভাত্যেষ ভবো গুণেন ।
সৎসঙ্গমাখ্যেন সুখাবহেন
কৃতাদ্য নো যেন কৃশা মুমুক্ষা ॥ ১২৫ ॥

Text

aho mahātman bahu-doṣa-duṣṭo
’py ekena bhāty eṣa bhavo guṇena
sat-saṅgamākhyena sukhāvahena
kṛtādya no yena kṛśā mumukṣā

Synonyms

aho mahā-ātman — O great devotee; bahu-doṣa-duṣṭaḥ — infected with varieties of material disease or attachment; api — although; ekena — with one; bhāti — shines; eṣaḥ — this; bhavaḥ — birth in this material world; guṇena — with a good quality; sat-saṅgama-ākhyena — known as association with devotees; sukha-āvahena — which brings about happiness; kṛtā — made; adya — now; naḥ — our; yena — by which; kṛśā — insignificant; mumukṣā — the desire for liberation.

Translation

“ ‘O great learned devotee, although there are many faults in this material world, there is one good opportunity — the association with devotees. Such association brings about great happiness. Due to this good quality, our strong desire to achieve liberation by merging into the Brahman effulgence has become weakened.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya.

Bengali

নারদের সঙ্গে শৌনকাদি মুনিগণ ।
মুমুক্ষা ছাড়িয়া কৈলা কৃষ্ণের ভজন ॥ ১২৬ ॥

Text

nāradera saṅge śaunakādi muni-gaṇa
mumukṣā chāḍiyā kailā kṛṣṇera bhajana

Synonyms

nāradera saṅge — by the association of the great saintly person Nārada; śaunaka-ādi muni-gaṇa — the great sages headed by Śaunaka Muni; mumukṣā chāḍiyā — giving up the desire for liberation; kailā — performed; kṛṣṇera bhajana — devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“By associating with the great saint Nārada, Śaunaka and other great sages gave up the desire for liberation and engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণের দর্শনে, কারো কৃষ্ণের কৃপায় ।
মুমুক্ষা ছাড়িয়া গুণে ভজে তাঁর পা’য় ॥ ১২৭ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇera darśane, kāro kṛṣṇera kṛpāya
mumukṣā chāḍiyā guṇe bhaje tāṅra pā’ya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇera darśane — simply by meeting Kṛṣṇa; kāro — someone; kṛṣṇera kṛpāya — by the favor of Kṛṣṇa; mumukṣā chāḍiyā — giving up the desire for liberation; guṇe — being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; bhaje — engages in service; tāṅra pā’ya — at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“Simply by meeting Kṛṣṇa or receiving Kṛṣṇa’s special favor, one can give up the desire for liberation. Being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, one can engage in His service.

Bengali

অস্মিন্ সুখঘনমূর্তৌ পরমাত্মনি বৃষ্ণিপত্তনে স্ফুরতি ।
আত্মারামতয়া মে বৃথা গতো বত চিরং কালঃ ॥ ১২৮ ॥

Text

asmin sukha-ghana-mūrtau param-ātmani vṛṣṇi-pattane sphurati
ātmārāmatayā me vṛthā gato bata ciraṁ kālaḥ

Synonyms

asmin — when this; sukha-ghana-mūrtau — form of complete happiness; parama-ātmani — the Supreme Person; vṛṣṇi-pattane — in Dvārakā-dhāma; sphurati — exists; ātmārāmatayā — by the process of cultivating Brahman realization; me — my; vṛthā — uselessly; gataḥ — wasted; bata — alas, what can I say; ciram — for a long time; kālaḥ — time.

Translation

“ ‘In this Dvārakā-dhāma, I am being attracted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is personified spiritual bliss. Simply by seeing Him, I am feeling great happiness. Oh, I have wasted so much time trying to become self-realized through impersonal cultivation. This is a cause for lamentation!’

Purport

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (3.1.34).

Bengali

‘জীবন্মুক্ত’ অনেক, সেই দুই ভেদ জানি ।
‘ভক্ত্যে জীবন্মুক্ত’, ‘জ্ঞানে জীবন্মুক্ত’ মানি ॥ ১২৯ ॥

Text

‘jīvan-mukta’ aneka, sei dui bheda jāni
‘bhaktye jīvan-mukta’, ‘jñāne jīvan-mukta’ māni

Synonyms

jīvan-mukta — liberated in this life; aneka — there are many; sei — all of them; dui bheda — two divisions; jāni — we consider; bhaktye jīvan-mukta — one liberated in this life by pursuing the process of devotional service; jñāne jīvan-mukta — a person liberated in this life by following the process of philosophical speculation; māni — we can understand.

Translation

“There are many people who are liberated even in this lifetime. Some are liberated by discharging devotional service, and others are liberated through the philosophical speculative process.

Bengali

‘ভক্ত্যে জীবন্মুক্ত’ গুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা কৃষ্ণ ভজে ।
শুষ্কজ্ঞানে জীবন্মুক্ত অপরাধে অধো মজে ॥ ১৩০ ॥

Text

‘bhaktye jīvan-mukta’ guṇākṛṣṭa hañā kṛṣṇa bhaje
śuṣka-jñāne jīvan-mukta aparādhe adho maje

Synonyms

bhaktye jīvan-mukta — persons liberated in this life by discharging devotional service; guṇa-ākṛṣṭa hañā — being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa bhaje — engage in the devotional service of the Lord; śuṣka-jñāne jīvan-mukta — so-called liberated in this life by dry, speculative knowledge; aparādhe — by offenses; adho maje — fall down.

Translation

“Those who are liberated by devotional service become more and more attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa. Thus they engage in His service. Those who are liberated by the speculative process eventually fall down again due to offensive activity.

Bengali

যেঽন্যেঽরবিন্দাক্ষ বিমুক্তমানিন-
স্ত্বয্যস্তভাবাদবিশুদ্ধবুদ্ধয়ঃ ।
আরুহ্য কৃচ্ছ্রেণ পরং পদং ততঃ
পতন্ত্যধোঽনাদৃতযুষ্মদঙ্ঘ্রয়ঃ ॥ ১৩১ ॥

Text

ye ’nye ’ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas
tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ
āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ
patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ

Synonyms

ye — all those who; anye — others (nondevotees); aravinda-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-māninaḥ — who consider themselves liberated; tvayi — unto You; asta-bhāvāt — without devotion; aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ — whose intelligence is not purified; āruhya — having ascended; kṛcchreṇa — by severe austerities and penances; param padam — to the supreme position; tataḥ — from there; patanti — fall; adhaḥ — down; anādṛta — without respecting; yuṣmat — Your; aṅghrayaḥ — lotus feet.

Translation

“ ‘O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but are without devotional service to You are 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 is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32).

Bengali

ব্রহ্মভূতঃ প্রসন্নাত্মা ন শোচতি ন কাঙ্ক্ষতি ।
সমঃ সর্বেষু ভূতেষু মদ্ভক্তিং লভতে পরাম্ ॥ ১৩২ ॥

Text

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

Synonyms

brahma-bhūtaḥ — being one with the Absolute; prasanna-ātmā — fully joyful; na — never; śocati — laments; na — never; kāṅkṣati — desires; samaḥ — equally disposed; sarveṣu — all; bhūteṣu — to living entities; mat-bhaktim — My devotional service; labhate — gains; parām — transcendental.

Translation

“ ‘One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (18.54).

Bengali

অদ্বৈতবীথীপথিকৈরুপাস্যাঃ
স্বানন্দসিংহাসনলব্ধদীক্ষাঃ ।
শঠেন কেনাপি বয়ং হঠেন
দাসীকৃতা গোপবধূবিটেন ॥ ১৩৩ ॥

Text

advaita-vīthī-pathikair upāsyāḥ
svānanda-siṁhāsana-labdha-dīkṣāḥ
śaṭhena kenāpi vayaṁ haṭhena
dāsī-kṛtā gopa-vadhū-viṭena

Synonyms

advaita-vīthī — on the path of monism; pathikaiḥ — by the wanderers; upāsyāḥ — worshipable; sva-ānanda — of self-realization; siṁha-āsana — on the throne; labdha-dīkṣāḥ — being initiated; śaṭhena — by a cheater; kena api — some; vayam — I; haṭhena — by force; dāsī-kṛtā — made into a maidservant; gopa-vadhū-viṭena — engaged in joking with the gopīs.

Translation

“ ‘Although I was worshiped by those on the path of monism and initiated into self-realization through the yoga system, I have nonetheless been forcibly turned into a maidservant by some cunning boy who is always joking with the gopīs.’

Purport

This is a verse written by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura.

Bengali

ভক্তিবলে ‘প্রাপ্তস্বরূপ’ দিব্যদেহ পায় ।
কৃষ্ণগুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা ভজে কৃষ্ণ-পা’য় ॥ ১৩৪ ॥

Text

bhakti-bale ‘prāpta-svarūpa’ divya-deha pāya
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā bhaje kṛṣṇa-pā’ya

Synonyms

bhakti-bale — by the strength of devotional service; prāpta-svarūpa — attaining his original status; divya-deha — a transcendental body; pāya — one gets; kṛṣṇa-guṇa-ākṛṣṭa — attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; hañā — being; bhaje — takes to devotional service; kṛṣṇa-pā’ya — at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

Translation

“One who has attained his constitutional position by the strength of devotional service attains a transcendental body even in this lifetime. Being attracted by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, he fully engages in service at His lotus feet.

Bengali

নিরোধোঽস্যানুশয়নমাত্মনঃ সহ শক্তিভিঃ ।
মুক্তির্হিত্বান্যথারূপং স্বরূপেণ ব্যবস্থিতিঃ ॥ ১৩৫ ॥

Text

nirodho ’syānuśayanam
ātmanaḥ saha śaktibhiḥ
muktir hitvānyathā-rūpaṁ
svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ

Synonyms

nirodhaḥ — winding up; asya — of this; anu — after; śayanam — lying down; ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Lord; saha — with; śaktibhiḥ — the energies (marginal and external); muktiḥ — liberation; hitvā — giving up; anyathā — other; rūpam — form; svarūpeṇa — with one’s own eternal form; vyavasthitiḥ — staying.

Translation

“ ‘The living entities and other potencies merge into Mahā-Viṣṇu as the Lord lies down and winds up [destroys] the cosmic manifestation. Liberation means being situated in one’s eternal, original form after giving up the changeable gross and subtle bodies.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.10.6).

Bengali

কৃষ্ণ-বহির্মুখ-দোষে মায়া হৈতে ভয় ।
কৃষ্ণোন্মুখ ভক্তি হৈতে মায়া-মুক্ত হয় ॥ ১৩৬ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha-doṣe māyā haite bhaya
kṛṣṇonmukha bhakti haite māyā-mukta haya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-bahir-mukha — of going against Kṛṣṇa consciousness; doṣe — by the fault; māyā haite — from the illusory energy; bhaya — fear; kṛṣṇa-unmukha — in favor of Kṛṣṇa consciousness; bhakti — devotional service; haite — from; māyā-mukta — liberated from māyā; haya — one becomes.

Translation

“By opposing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one becomes conditioned and fearful due to the influence of māyā. By executing devotional service faithfully, one is liberated from māyā.

Bengali

ভয়ং দ্বিতীয়াভিনিবেশতঃ স্যা-
দীশাদপেতস্য বিপর্যয়োঽস্মৃতিঃ ।
তন্মায়য়াতো বুধ আভজেত্তং
ভক্ত্যৈকয়েশং গুরুদেবতাত্মা ॥ ১৩৭ ॥

Text

bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād
īśād apetasya viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ
tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ
bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā

Synonyms

bhayam — fear; dvitīya-abhiniveśataḥ — from the misconception of being a product of material energy; syāt — arises; īśāt — from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; apetasya — of one who has withdrawn (the conditioned soul); viparyayaḥ — reversal of position; asmṛtiḥ — no conception of his relationship with the Supreme Lord; tat-māyayā — because of the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord; ataḥ — therefore; budhaḥ — one who is wise; ābhajet — must worship; tam — Him; bhaktyā — by devotional service; ekayā — not diverted to karma and jñāna; īśam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guru — as the spiritual master; devatā — worshipable Lord; ātmā — Supersoul.

Translation

“ ‘When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Kṛṣṇa, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes Kṛṣṇa’s competitor. This is called viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.’

Purport

This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.37).

Bengali

দৈবী হ্যেষা গুণময়ী মম মায়া দুরত্যয়া ।
মামেব যে প্রপদ্যন্তে মায়ামেতাং তরন্তি তে ॥ ১৩৮ ॥

Text

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

Synonyms

daivī — belonging to the Supreme Lord; hi — certainly; eṣā — this; guṇa-mayī — made of the three modes; mama — My; māyā — external energy; duratyayā — very difficult to surpass; mām — unto Me; eva — certainly; ye — those who; prapadyante — surrender fully; māyām — the illusory energy; etām — 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 the Bhagavad-gītā (7.14).

Bengali

ভক্তি বিনু মুক্তি নাহি, ভক্ত্যে মুক্তি হয় ॥ ১৩৯ ॥

Text

bhakti vinu mukti nāhi, bhaktye mukti haya

Synonyms

bhakti — devotional service; vinu — without; mukti — liberation; nāhi — there is not; bhaktye — actually by devotional service; mukti haya — liberation is attained.

Translation

“One does not attain liberation without rendering devotional service. Liberation is attained only by devotional service.

Bengali

শ্রেয়ঃসৃতিং ভক্তিমুদস্য তে বিভো
ক্লিশ্যন্তি যে কেবল-বোধলব্ধয়ে ।
তেষামসৌ ক্লেশল এব শিষ্যতে
নান্যদ্‌যথা স্থূলতুষাবঘাতিনাম্ ॥ ১৪০ ॥

Text

śreyaḥ-sṛtiṁ bhaktim udasya te vibho
kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye
teṣām asau kleśala eva śiṣyate
nānyad yathā sthūla-tuṣāvaghātinām

Synonyms

śreyaḥ-sṛtim — the auspicious path of liberation; bhaktim — devotional service; udasya — giving up; te — of You; vibho — O my Lord; kliśyanti — accept increased difficulties; ye — all those persons who; kevala — only; bodha-labdhaye — for obtaining knowledge; teṣām — for them; asau — that; kleśalaḥ — trouble; eva — only; śiṣyate — remains; na — not; anyat — anything else; yathā — as much as; sthūla — bulky; tuṣa — husks of rice; avaghātinām — 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 actions are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. His labor becomes fruitless.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.4).

Bengali

যেঽন্যেঽরবিন্দাক্ষ বিমুক্তমানিন-
স্ত্বয্যস্তভাবাদবিশুদ্ধবুদ্ধয়ঃ ।
আরুহ্য কৃচ্ছ্রেণ পরং পদং ততঃ
পতন্ত্যধোঽনাদৃতযুষ্মদঙ্ঘ্রয়ঃ ॥ ১৪১ ॥

Text

ye ’nye ’ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas
tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ
āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ
patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ

Synonyms

ye — all those who; anye — others (nondevotees); aravinda-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-māninaḥ — who consider themselves liberated; tvayi — unto You; asta-bhāvāt — without devotion; aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ — whose intelligence is not purified; āruhya — having ascended; kṛcchreṇa — by severe austerities and penances; param padam — to the supreme position; tataḥ — from there; patanti — fall; adhaḥ — down; anādṛta — without respecting; yuṣmat — Your; aṅghrayaḥ — lotus feet.

Translation

“ ‘O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but are without devotional service to You are 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 is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32).

Bengali

য এষাং পুরুষং সাক্ষাদাত্মপ্রভবমীশ্বরম্‌ ।
ন ভজন্ত্যবজানন্তি স্থানাদ্‌ভ্রষ্টাঃ পতন্ত্যধঃ ॥ ১৪২ ॥

Text

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād
ātma-prabhavam īśvaram
na bhajanty avajānanti
sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

Synonyms

ye — those who; eṣām — of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt — directly; ātma-prabhavam — the source of everyone; īśvaram — the supreme controller; na — do not; bhajanti — worship; avajānanti — or who neglect; sthānāt — from their proper place; bhraṣṭāḥ — being fallen; patanti — fall; adhaḥ — downward into hellish conditions.

Translation

“ ‘If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.’

Purport

This is also a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.3).

Bengali

ভক্ত্যে মুক্তি পাইলেহ অবশ্য কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ॥ ১৪৩ ॥

Text

bhaktye mukti pāileha avaśya kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Synonyms

bhaktye — by devotional service; mukti — liberation; pāileha — if one gets; avaśya — certainly; kṛṣṇere — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhajaya — renders service.

Translation

“When one is actually liberated by executing devotional service, he always engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Bengali

“মুক্তা অপি লীলয়া বিগ্রহং কৃত্বা ভগবন্তং ভজন্তে ॥” ১৪৪ ॥

Text

“muktā api līlayā vigrahaṁ
kṛtvā bhagavantaṁ bhajante”

Synonyms

muktāḥ — liberated; api — although; līlayā — by the pastimes; vigraham — the form of the Lord; kṛtvā — having installed; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhajante — worship.

Translation

“ ‘Even a liberated soul merged in the impersonal Brahman effulgence is attracted to the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. He thus installs a Deity and renders the Lord service.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary on the Nṛsiṁha-tāpanī Upaniṣad.

Bengali

এই ছয় আত্মারাম কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ।
পৃথক্ পৃথক্ চ-কারে ইহা ‘অপি’র অর্থ কয় ॥ ১৪৫ ॥

Text

ei chaya ātmārāma kṛṣṇere bhajaya
pṛthak pṛthak ca-kāre ihā ‘api’ra artha kaya

Synonyms

ei chaya — all these six; ātmārāma — transcendentalists; kṛṣṇere bhajaya — render service to Kṛṣṇa; pṛthak pṛthak — separately; ca-kāre — in the use of the word ca; ihā — here; apira — of the word api; artha — meaning; kaya — says.

Translation

“These six kinds of ātmārāmas engage in the loving service of Kṛṣṇa. The varieties of service are indicated by adding ‘ca,’ and they also bear the meaning of ‘api’ [‘indeed’].

Purport

There are six kinds of ātmārāmas: the neophyte student (sādhaka), one who is absorbed in Brahman realization (brahma-maya), one who has already attained the Brahman position (prāpta-brahma-laya), one who desires to be liberated (mumukṣu), one who is liberated even in this life (jīvan-mukta), and one who is self-realized (prāpta-svarūpa).

Bengali

“আত্মারামাশ্চ অপি” করে কৃষ্ণে অহৈতুকী ভক্তি ।
“মুনয়ঃ সন্তঃ” ইতি কৃষ্ণমননে আসক্তি ॥ ১৪৬ ॥

Text

“ātmārāmāś ca api” kare kṛṣṇe ahaitukī bhakti
“munayaḥ santaḥ” iti kṛṣṇa-manane āsakti

Synonyms

ātmārāmāḥ ca api — self-realized persons also; kare — do; kṛṣṇe — unto Kṛṣṇa; ahaitukī bhakti — unmotivated devotional service; munayaḥ santaḥ — great saintly persons and transcendentalists; iti — thus; kṛṣṇa-manane — in meditation on Kṛṣṇa; āsakti — attraction.

Translation

“The six kinds of ātmārāmas render devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without ulterior motives. The words ‘munayaḥ’ and ‘santaḥ’ indicate those who are very much attached to meditating upon Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

“নির্গ্রন্থাঃ” — অবিদ্যাহীন, কেহ — বিধিহীন ।
যাহাঁ যেই যুক্ত, সেই অর্থের অধীন ॥ ১৪৭ ॥

Text

“nirgranthāḥ” — avidyā-hīna, keha — vidhi-hīna
yāhāṅ yei yukta, sei arthera adhīna

Synonyms

nirgranthāḥ — nirgranthāḥ; avidyā-hīna — without ignorance; keha — some of them; vidhi-hīna — without following any regulative principles; yāhāṅ — wherever; yei — which; yukta — appropriate; sei arthera adhīna — comes under that different import.

Translation

“The word ‘nirgranthāḥ’ means ‘without ignorance’ and ‘devoid of rules and regulations.’ Whichever meaning fits may be applied.

Bengali

চ-শব্দে করি যদি ‘ইতরেতর’ অর্থ ।
আর এক অর্থ কহে পরম সমর্থ ॥ ১৪৮ ॥

Text

ca-śabde kari yadi ‘itaretara’ artha
āra eka artha kahe parama samartha

Synonyms

ca-śabde — by the word ca; kari — I do; yadi — if; itara-itara artha — different and separate meanings; āra — another; eka — one; artha — meaning; kahe — is said; parama samartha — highly suitable.

Translation

“The use of the word ‘ca’ in different places produces different meanings. Over and above them, there is another meaning that is very important.

Bengali

“আত্মারামাশ্চ আত্মারামাশ্চ” করি’ বার ছয় ।
পঞ্চ আত্মারাম ছয় চ-কারে লুপ্ত হয় ॥ ১৪৯ ॥

Text

“ātmārāmāś ca ātmārāmāś ca” kari’ bāra chaya
pañca ātmārāma chaya ca-kāre lupta haya

Synonyms

ātmārāmāḥ ca ātmārāmāḥ ca — repeating the words ātmārāmāḥ and ca; kari’ — doing; bāra chaya — six times; pañca ātmārāma — five kinds of ātmārāmas; chaya — six; ca-kāre — by the word ca; lupta haya — become unpronounced.

Translation

“Although the words ‘ātmārāmāś ca’ would be repeated six times, simply by adding the word ‘ca,’ five ‘ātmārāmas’ are deleted.

Bengali

এক ‘আত্মারাম’-শব্দ অবশেষ রহে ।
এক ‘আত্মারাম’-শব্দে ছয় জন কহে ॥ ১৫০ ॥

Text

eka ‘ātmārāma’-śabda avaśeṣa rahe
eka ‘ātmārāma’-śabde chaya-jana kahe

Synonyms

eka — one; ātmārāma — ātmārāma; śabda — vibration; avaśeṣa rahe — remains at last; eka ātmārāma — one ātmārāma; śabde — by vibrating; chaya-jana — six persons; kahe — are indicated.

Translation

“Therefore there is no need to repeat the word ‘ātmārāma.’ One is sufficient, and that one word indicates six persons.

Bengali

“সরূপাণামেকশেষ একবিভক্তৌ” ।
উক্তার্থানামপ্ৰয়োগঃ ।
রামশ্চ রামশ্চ রামশ্চ রামা ইতিবৎ ॥ ১৫১ ॥

Text

“sarūpāṇām eka-śeṣa eka-vibhaktau”
uktārthānām aprayogaḥ,
rāmaś ca rāmaś ca rāmaś ca rāmā itivat.

Synonyms

sa-rūpāṇām — of words of the same form; eka-śeṣaḥ — only the last; eka-vibhaktau — in the same case; ukta-arthānām — of the previously spoken meanings; aprayogaḥ — nonapplication; rāmaḥ ca — and Rāma; rāmaḥ ca — and Rāma; rāmaḥ ca — and Rāma; rāmāḥ iti-vat — in this way, by one rāma, many rāmas are indicated.

Translation

“ ‘Of words having the same form and case termination, the last one is the only one retained. For example, the word “rāmāḥ” is used to stand for “rāmaś ca, rāmaś ca, rāmaś ca, etc.”’

Purport

This is a quotation from Pāṇini’s sūtras (1.2.64).

Bengali

তবে যে চ-কার, সেই ‘সমুচ্চয়’ কয় ।
“আত্মারামাশ্চ মুনয়শ্চ” কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ॥ ১৫২ ॥

Text

tabe ye ca-kāra, sei ‘samuccaya’ kaya
“ātmārāmāś ca munayaś ca” kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Synonyms

tabe — then; ye — that; ca-kāra — syllable ca; sei — that; samuccaya — aggregation; kaya — is said; ātmārāmāḥ ca — all those who enjoy in the self; munayaḥ ca — all saintly persons; kṛṣṇere bhajaya — worship Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“By the aggregate use of the word ‘ca,’ it is indicated that all the ātmārāmas and saints serve and worship Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

“নির্গ্রন্থা অপি”র এই ‘অপি’ — সম্ভাবনে ।
এই সাত অর্থ প্রথমে করিলুঁ ব্যাখ্যানে ॥ ১৫৩ ॥

Text

“nirgranthā api”ra ei ‘api’ — sambhāvane
ei sāta artha prathame kariluṅ vyākhyāne

Synonyms

nirgranthāḥ apira — of the words nirgranthāḥ api; ei — this; api — the word api; sambhāvane — in the matter of exposition; ei sāta artha — these seven different meanings; prathame — in the beginning; kariluṅ — I have done; vyākhyāne — in explanation.

Translation

“ ‘Api’ added to the word ‘nirgranthāḥ’ is used for exposition. Thus I have tried to clarify seven meanings [of the ātmārāma verse].

Bengali

অন্তর্যামি-উপাসক ‘আত্মারাম’ কয় ।
সেই আত্মারাম যোগীর দুই ভেদ হয় ॥ ১৫৪ ॥

Text

antaryāmi-upāsaka ‘ātmārāma’ kaya
sei ātmārāma yogīra dui bheda haya

Synonyms

antaryāmi — of the Supersoul; upāsaka — worshiper; ātmārāma kaya — is also said to be an ātmārāma; sei ātmārāma — that ātmārāma; yogīra — of the mystic yogī; dui bheda haya — there are two kinds.

Translation

“The yogī who worships the Supersoul within himself is also called ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāma-yogīs.

Bengali

সগর্ভ, নিগর্ভ, — এই হয় দুই ভেদ ।
এক এক তিন ভেদে ছয় বিভেদ ॥ ১৫৫ ॥

Text

sagarbha, nigarbha, — ei haya dui bheda
eka eka tina bhede chaya vibheda

Synonyms

sagarbha — sagarbha; nigarbha — nigarbha; ei — thus; haya — there are; dui — two; bheda — different varieties; eka eka — each one; tina bhede — in three varieties; chaya vibheda — therefore there are six varieties.

Translation

“The two types of ātmārāma-yogīs are called sagarbha and nigarbha. Each of these is divided into three; therefore there are six types of worshipers of the Supersoul.

Purport

The word sagarbha-yogī refers to a yogī who worships the Supersoul in the Viṣṇu form. The nigarbha-yogī worships the Supersoul without form. The sagarbha and nigarbha yogīs are further categorized: (1) sagarbha-yogārurukṣu, (2) nigarbha-yogārurukṣu, (3) sagarbha-yogārūḍha, (4) nigarbha-yogārūḍha, (5) sagarbha-prāpta-siddhi and (6) nigarbha-prāpta-siddhi.

Bengali

কেচিৎ স্বদেহান্তর্হৃদয়াবকাশে প্রাদেশমাত্রং পুরুষং বসন্তম্ ।
চতুর্ভুজং কঞ্জরথাঙ্গশঙ্খগদাধরং ধারণয়া স্মরন্তি ॥ ১৫৬ ॥

Text

kecit sva-dehāntar hṛdayāvakāśe
prādeśa-mātraṁ puruṣaṁ vasantam
catur-bhujaṁ kañja-rathāṅga-śaṅkha-
gadā-dharaṁ dhāraṇayā smaranti

Synonyms

kecit — some of them; sva-deha-antaḥ — within one’s own body; hṛdaya-avakāśe — in the cavity of the heart; prādeśa-mātram — with the measurement of six inches; puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vasantam — residing; catuḥ-bhujam — with four hands; kañja — a lotus flower; ratha-aṅga — a disc like the wheel of a chariot; śaṅkha — a conchshell; gadā-dharam — holding the club; dhāraṇayā — by such contemplation; smaranti — they remember.

Translation

“ ‘Some yogīs think of the Lord within their hearts as measuring about six inches. The Lord has four hands, in which He holds a conchshell, club, disc and lotus flower. Those who worship this form of Viṣṇu within the heart are called sagarbha-yogīs.’

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.2.8).

Bengali

এবং হরৌ ভগবতি প্রতিলব্ধভাবো
ভক্ত্যা দ্রবদ্ধৃদয় উৎপুলকঃ প্রমোদাত্‌ ।
ঔৎকণ্ঠ্যবাষ্পকলয়া মুহুরর্দ্যমান-
স্তচ্চাপি চিত্তবড়িশং শনকৈর্বিযুঙ্‌ক্তে ॥ ১৫৭ ॥

Text

evaṁ harau bhagavati pratilabdha-bhāvo
bhaktyā dravad-dhṛdaya utpulakaḥ pramodāt
autkaṇṭhya-bāṣpa-kalayā muhur ardyamānas
tac cāpi citta-baḍiśaṁ śanakair viyuṅkte

Synonyms

evam — thus; harau — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavati — the Lord; pratilabdha-bhāvaḥ — one who has awakened a sense of ecstatic love; bhaktyā — by devotional service; dravat — melting; hṛdayaḥ — the heart; utpulakaḥ — very pleased; pramodāt — because of happiness; autkaṇṭhya — with eagerness; bāṣpa-kalayā — with tears in the eyes; muhuḥ — always; ardyamānaḥ — merged in spiritual bliss; tat ca api — that also; citta-baḍiśam — with the heart like a fishing hook; śanakaiḥ — gradually; viyuṅkte — separates.

Translation

“ ‘When one is in ecstatic love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s heart is melted by bhakti-yoga and one feels transcendental bliss. There are bodily symptoms manifest, and due to eagerness, there are tears in the eyes. Thus one is subjected to spiritual bliss. When the heart is overly afflicted, the meditative mind, like a fishing hook, is gradually separated from the object of meditation.’

Purport

This is also a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.28.34).

Bengali

‘যোগারুরুক্ষু’, ‘যোগারূঢ়’ ‘প্রাপ্তসিদ্ধি’ আর ।
এই তিন ভেদে হয় ছয় প্রকার ॥ ১৫৮ ॥

Text

‘yogārurukṣu’, ‘yogārūḍha’ ‘prāpta-siddhi’ āra
ei tina bhede haya chaya prakāra

Synonyms

yoga-ārurukṣu — persons desiring elevation to the platform of yogic perfection; yoga-ārūḍha — persons already elevated to that position; prāpta-siddhi — persons who have achieved the success; āra — also; ei tina — these three; bhede — by varieties; haya — there are; chaya prakāra — six kinds.

Translation

“By these three divisions of advancement in yoga — yogārurukṣu, yogārūḍha and prāpta-siddhi — there are six kinds of mystic yogīs.

Bengali

আরুরুক্ষোর্মুনের্যোগং কর্ম কারণমুচ্যতে ।
যোগারূঢ়স্য তস্যৈব শমঃ কারণমুচ্যতে ॥ ১৫৯ ॥

Text

ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ
karma kāraṇam ucyate
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva
śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate

Synonyms

ārurukṣoḥ — of a person desiring to rise to the platform of yogic perfection; muneḥ — of a saintly person; yogam — spiritual knowledge; karma — work; kāraṇam — the cause; ucyate — is said; yoga-ārūḍhasya — of one who has attained such perfect knowledge; tasya — for him; eva — certainly; śamaḥ — controlling the mind without being disturbed; kāraṇam — cause; ucyate — is said.

Translation

“ ‘For those saintly persons who wish to rise to the platform of yogic perfection, the means consists of practicing the yoga system by strictly following its regulative principles and practicing the yoga postures and breathing exercises. And for those who are already elevated to this platform, the means consists of maintaining mental equilibrium [śama] by rejecting all material activity and practicing meditation to keep the mind on the Supreme Lord.

Purport

texts 159 and 160 are from the Bhagavad-gītā (6.3-4).

Bengali

যদা হি নেন্দ্রিয়ার্থেষু ন কর্মস্বনুষজ্জতে ।
সর্বসংকল্পসন্ন্যাসী যোগারূঢ়স্তদোচ্যতে ॥ ১৬০ ॥

Text

yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu
na karmasv anuṣajjate
sarva-saṅkalpa-sannyāsī
yogārūḍhas tadocyate

Synonyms

yadā — when; hi — certainly; na — not; indriya-artheṣu — sense gratification; na — not; karmasu — in activities; anuṣajjate — one becomes engaged; sarva — all kinds of; saṅkalpa — desires; sannyāsī — renouncing; yoga-ārūḍhaḥ — one who has actually attained perfection in the yoga system; tadā — at that time; ucyate — is said.

Translation

“ ‘When a person is no longer interested in acting for sense gratification and when he renounces all material desires, he is said to be situated in perfect yoga [yogārūḍha].’

Bengali

এই ছয় যোগী সাধুসঙ্গাদি-হেতু পাঞা ।
কৃষ্ণ ভজে কৃষ্ণগুণে আকৃষ্ট হঞা ॥ ১৬১ ॥

Text

ei chaya yogī sādhu-saṅgādi-hetu pāñā
kṛṣṇa bhaje kṛṣṇa-guṇe ākṛṣṭa hañā

Synonyms

ei — this; chaya — six; yogī — mystics; sādhu — of devotees; saṅga-ādi — the association; hetu — because of; pāñā — getting; kṛṣṇa bhaje — render service to Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-guṇe — by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; ākṛṣṭa — attracted; hañā — becoming.

Translation

“When a purified yogī associates with devotees, he engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service, being attracted by the Lord’s transcendental qualities.

Bengali

চ-শব্দে ‘অপি’র অর্থ ইহাঁও কহয় ।
‘মুনি’, ‘নির্গ্রন্থ’-শব্দের পূর্ববৎ অর্থ হয় ॥ ১৬২ ॥

Text

ca-śabde ‘api’ra artha ihāṅo kahaya
‘muni’, ‘nirgrantha’-śabdera pūrvavat artha haya

Synonyms

ca-śabde — by the word ca; ‘api’ra — of the word api; artha — the meaning; ihāṅo — here also; kahaya — is applicable; muni — muni; nirgrantha — nirgrantha; śabdera — of the words; pūrva-vat — as mentioned above; artha haya — there are the meanings.

Translation

“The meanings of the words ‘ca’ and ‘api’ can be applied here. The meanings of the words ‘muni’ and ‘nirgrantha’ are the same as before.

Bengali

উরুক্রমে অহৈতুকী কাহাঁ কোন অর্থ ।
এই তের অর্থ কহিলুঁ পরম সমর্থ ॥ ১৬৩ ॥

Text

urukrame ahaitukī kāhāṅ kona artha
ei tera artha kahiluṅ parama samartha

Synonyms

urukrame — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who acts uncommonly; ahaitukī — the word ahaitukī; kāhāṅ — wherever; kona — some; artha — import; ei — in this way; tera artha — thirteen imports; kahiluṅ — I have explained; parama — supremely; samartha — complete.

Translation

“The word ‘ahaitukī’ is always applicable to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Urukrama. In this way I have described thirteen complete meanings [of the ātmārāma verse].

Purport

The thirteen meanings of the ātmārāma verse mentioned here are based on the following meanings for the word ātmārāma: (1) sādhaka, the neophyte performer; (2) brahma-maya, one absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman; (3) prāpta-brahma-laya, one who has actually attained Brahman perfection; (4) mumukṣu, one who desires liberation; (5) jīvan-mukta, one who is liberated in this life; (6) prāpta-svarūpa, one who has attained his original constitutional position; (7) nirgrantha-muni, a completely liberated saint; (8) sagarbha-yogārurukṣu, a yogī meditating upon the four-handed Viṣṇu form and desiring yogic perfection; (9) nigarbha-yogārurukṣu, one who is trying for perfection in impersonal meditation; (10) sagarbha-yogārūḍha, one who has been elevated to the platform of yogic perfection by meditating on the Viṣṇu form; (11) nigarbha-yogārūḍha, an impersonal yogī on the platform of perfection; (12) sagarbha-prāpta-siddhi, one who has attained the perfectional stage by meditating on the Viṣṇu form; (13) nigarbha-prāpta-siddhi, one who has attained perfection by practicing impersonal meditation.

Bengali

এই সব শান্ত যবে ভজে ভগবান্ ।
‘শান্ত’ ভক্ত করি’ তবে কহি তাঁর নাম ॥ ১৬৪ ॥

Text

ei saba śānta yabe bhaje bhagavān
‘śānta’ bhakta kari’ tabe kahi tāṅra nāma

Synonyms

ei saba — all these; śānta — neutral; yabe — when; bhaje — worship; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śānta bhakta — devotees in the neutral stage of devotional service; kari’ — describing as; tabe — that time; kahi — I speak; tāṅra — their; nāma — name.

Translation

“These thirteen types of yogīs and munis are called śānta-bhaktas, for they render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the neutral stage.

Bengali

‘আত্মা’ শব্দে ‘মন’ কহ — মনে যেই রমে ।
সাধুসঙ্গে সেহ ভজে শ্রীকৃষ্ণচরণে ॥ ১৬৫ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’ śabde ‘mana’ kaha — mane yei rame
sādhu-saṅge seha bhaje śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇe

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; mana — the mind; kaha — if you say; mane — within the mind; yei rame — one who is satisfied by speculation; sādhu-saṅge — by the association of devotees; seha — he also; bhaje — takes to devotional service; śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇe — at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The word ‘ātmā’ sometimes means ‘the mind.’ In this case the word ‘ātmārāma’ means ‘a person who is satisfied by mental speculation.’ When such a person associates with a pure devotee, he takes to devotional service at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

উদরমুপাসতে য ঋষিবর্ত্মসু কূর্পদৃশঃ
পরিসরপদ্ধতিং হৃদয়মারুণয়ো দহরম্ ।
তত উদ্‌গাদনন্ত তব ধাম শিরঃ পরমং
পুনরিহ যৎ সমেত্য ন পতন্তি কৃতান্তমুখে ॥ ১৬৬ ॥

Text

udaram upāsate ya ṛṣi-vartmasu kūrpa-dṛśaḥ
parisara-paddhatiṁ hṛdayam āruṇayo daharam
tata udagād ananta tava dhāma śiraḥ paramaṁ
punar iha yat sametya na patanti kṛtānta-mukhe

Synonyms

udaram — the abdomen; upāsate — worship; ye — those who; ṛṣivartmasu — on the path marked out by the great saintly persons; kūrpa-dṛśaḥ — whose vision is grossly situated in the bodily conception of life; parisara-paddhatim — from which the system of the arteries comes; hṛdayam — the heart; āruṇayaḥ — saintly persons headed by Āruṇa Ṛṣi; daharam — the sky within the heart, the subtle conception of the Supersoul within the heart; tataḥ — from that; udagāt — went up; ananta — O unlimited one; tava — Your; dhāma — place; śiraḥ — the top of the head; paramam — supreme; punaḥ — again; iha — in this material world; yat — which; sametya — having achieved; na — not; patanti — fall down; kṛta-anta-mukhe — in the repetition of birth and death.

Translation

“ ‘Those who follow the path of great, saintly mystic yogīs take to the yogic gymnastic process and begin worshiping from the abdomen, where it is said that Brahman is located. Such people are called śārkarākṣa, which means that they are situated in the gross bodily conception. There are also followers of the ṛṣi known as Āruṇa. Following his path, they observe the activities of the arteries. Thus they gradually rise to the heart, where subtle Brahman, Paramātmā, is situated. They then worship Him. O unlimited Ananta! Better than these persons are the mystic yogīs who worship You from the top of their heads. Beginning with the abdomen and proceeding through the heart, they reach the top of the head and pass through the brahma-randhra, the hole at the top of the skull. Thus these yogīs attain the perfectional platform and do not enter the cycle of birth and death again.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.18).

Bengali

এহো কৃষ্ণগুণাকৃষ্ট মহামুনি হঞা ।
অহৈতুকী ভক্তি করে নির্গ্রন্থ হঞা ॥ ১৬৭ ॥

Text

eho kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa mahā-muni hañā
ahaitukī bhakti kare nirgrantha hañā

Synonyms

eho — such yogīs; kṛṣṇa guṇa-ākṛṣṭa — attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; mahā-muni hañā — becoming great saintly persons; ahaitukī bhakti kare — they perform causeless devotional service; nirgrantha hañā — becoming indifferent to the mystic yoga process.

Translation

“Being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, such yogīs become great saints. At that time, not being hampered by the yogic process, they engage in unalloyed devotional service.

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে ‘যত্ন’ কহে — যত্ন করিয়া ।
“মুনয়োঽপি” কৃষ্ণ ভজে গুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা ॥ ১৬৮ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde ‘yatna’ kahe — yatna kariyā
“munayo ’ ” kṛṣṇa bhaje guṇākṛṣṭa hañā

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; yatna — endeavor; kahe — one means; yatna kariyā — by great endeavor; munayaḥ api — even great saintly persons; kṛṣṇa bhaje — take to the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa; guṇa-ākṛṣṭa hañā — being attracted by His transcendental qualities.

Translation

“ ‘Ātmā’ also means ‘endeavor.’ Being attracted by Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, some saints make a great endeavor to come to the point of rendering service to Him.

Bengali

তস্যৈব হেতোঃ প্ৰযতেত কোবিদো
ন লভ্যতে যদ্‌ভ্রমতামুপর্যধঃ ।
তল্লভ্যতে দুঃখবদন্যতঃ সুখং
কালেন সর্বত্র গভীর-রংহসা ॥ ১৬৯ ॥

Text

tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ
tal labhyate duḥkha-vad anyataḥ sukhaṁ
kālena sarvatra gabhīra-raṁhasā

Synonyms

tasya eva — for that; hetoḥ — reason; prayateta — should endeavor; kovidaḥ — one who is learned and intelligent; na — not; labhyate — is achieved; yat — that which; bhramatām — of those wandering; upari adhaḥ — up and down; tat — that; labhyate — is achieved; duḥkha-vat — exactly like unhappiness or distress; anyataḥ — from other reasons (one’s past actions); sukham — happiness; kālena — by time; sarvatra — everywhere; gabhīra — insurmountable; raṁhasā — having force.

Translation

“ ‘The transcendental position cannot be attained by wandering up and down from Brahmaloka and Satyaloka to Pātālaloka. If one is actually intelligent and learned, he should endeavor for that rare transcendental position. By the force of time one attains whatever material happiness is available within the fourteen worlds, just as one attains distress in due course of time. But since spiritual consciousness is not attained in this way, one should try for it.’

Purport

This verse was spoken by Nārada Muni in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.18). Nārada Muni was speaking to Vyāsadeva, who was morose even after he had compiled all the Vedic literatures. In this connection, Nārada Muni advised Śrīla Vyāsadeva to try to attain devotional service and nothing else.

Bengali

সদ্ধর্মস্যাববোধায় যেষাং নির্বন্ধিনী মতিঃ ।
অচিরাদেব সর্বার্থঃ সিধ্যত্যেষামভীপ্সিতঃ ॥ ১৭০ ॥

Text

sad-dharmasyāvabodhāya
yeṣāṁ nirbandhinī matiḥ
acirād eva sarvārthaḥ
sidhyaty eṣām abhīpsitaḥ

Synonyms

sat-dharmasya — of the path of progressive devotional service; avabodhāya — for understanding; yeṣām — those whose; nirbandhinī — unflinching; matiḥ — intelligence; acirāt — very soon; eva — certainly; sarva-arthaḥ — the goal of life; sidhyati — becomes fulfilled; eṣām — of these persons; abhīpsitaḥ — desired.

Translation

“ ‘Those who are eager to awaken their spiritual consciousness and who thus have unflinching, undeviated intelligence certainly attain the desired goal of life very soon.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Nāradīya Purāṇa.

Bengali

চ-শব্দ অপি-অর্থে, ‘অপি’ — অবধারণে ।
যত্নাগ্রহ বিনা ভক্তি না জন্মায় প্রেমে ॥ ১৭১ ॥

Text

ca-śabda api-arthe, ‘api’ — avadhāraṇe
yatnāgraha vinā bhakti nā janmāya preme

Synonyms

ca-śabda — the word ca; api — of the word api; arthe — in the sense; api avadhāraṇe — this api is used for emphasis; yatna-āgraha vinā — without sincere endeavor; bhakti — devotional service; — not; janmāya — begets; preme — love of Godhead.

Translation

“The word ‘ca’ may be used in place of ‘api,’ which gives emphasis to something. Thus it means that without sincere endeavor in devotional service, one cannot attain love of Godhead.

Bengali

সাধনৌঘৈরনাসঙ্গৈরলভ্যা সুচিরাদপি ।
হরিণা চাশ্বদেয়েতি দ্বিধা সা স্যাৎ সুদুর্লভা ॥ ১৭২ ॥

Text

sādhanaughair anāsaṅgair
alabhyā su-cirād api
hariṇā cāśv adeyeti
dvidhā sā syāt su-durlabhā

Synonyms

sādhana — activities of devotional service; oghaiḥ — by masses of; anāsaṅgaiḥ — without attachment; alabhyā — very difficult to achieve; su-cirāt api — even after a considerable duration of time; hariṇā — by the Supreme Lord; ca — also; āśu — very soon; adeyā — not to be delivered; iti — thus; dvidhā — two ways; — that; syāt — is; su-durlabhā — very difficult to obtain.

Translation

“ ‘Devotional perfection is very difficult to attain for two reasons. First, unless one is attached to Kṛṣṇa, he cannot attain devotional perfection even if he renders devotional service for a long time. Second, Kṛṣṇa does not easily deliver perfection in devotional service.’

Purport

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.6.18), muktiṁ dadāti karhicit. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī told Mahārāja Parīkṣit that Kṛṣṇa readily grants liberation but does not very readily grant perfection in devotional service. This means that Kṛṣṇa wants to see that a devotee is actually sincere and serious and that he does not have ulterior motives. If this is the case, devotional service can very easily be successful; otherwise it is very difficult to obtain from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.35).

Bengali

তেষাং সততযুক্তানাং ভজতাং প্রীতিপূর্বকম্ ।
দদামি বুদ্ধিযোগং তং যেন মামুপযান্তি তে ॥ ১৭৩ ॥

Text

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

Synonyms

teṣām — to them; satata-yuktānām — always engaged; bhajatām — in devotional service; prīti-pūrvakam — in loving ecstasy; dadāmi — I give; buddhi-yogam — real intelligence; tam — that; yena — by which; mām — unto Me; upayānti — come; te — they.

Translation

“ ‘To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10). For an explanation, see Ādi-līlā 1.49

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে ‘ধৃতি’ কহে, — ধৈর্যে যেই রমে ।
ধৈর্যবন্ত এব হঞা করয় ভজনে ॥ ১৭৪ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde ‘dhṛti’ kahe, — dhairye yei rame
dhairyavanta eva hañā karaya bhajane

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; dhṛti — perseverance; kahe — it is said; dhairye — with perseverance; yei rame — anyone who endeavors; dhairya-vanta — such persons with endurance; eva — certainly; hañā — becoming; karaya — perform; bhajane — devotional service.

Translation

“Another meaning of ‘ātmā’ is dhṛti, or endurance. A person who endeavors with endurance is ātmārāma. With endurance, such a person engages in devotional service.

Bengali

‘মুনি’-শব্দে — পক্ষী, ভৃঙ্গ, ‘নির্গ্রন্থে’ — মূর্খজন ।
কৃষ্ণকৃপায় সাধুকৃপায় দোঁহার ভজন ॥ ১৭৫ ॥

Text

‘muni’-śabde — pakṣī, bhṛṅga; ‘nirgranthe’ — mūrkha-jana
kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya sādhu-kṛpāya doṅhāra bhajana

Synonyms

muni-śabde — by the word muni; pakṣī — bird; bhṛṅga — bumblebee; nirgranthe — by the word nirgrantha; mūrkha-jana — foolish people; kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya — by the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sādhu-kṛpāya — by the mercy of a devotee; doṅhāra bhajana — engages in devotional service of both (Kṛṣṇa and his spiritual master or the sādhu).

Translation

“The word ‘muni’ also means ‘bird’ and ‘bumblebee.’ The word ‘nirgrantha’ refers to foolish people. By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, such creatures contact a sādhu [spiritual master] and thus engage in devotional service.

Bengali

প্রায়ো বতাম্ব মুনয়ো বিহগা বনেঽস্মিন্
কৃষ্ণেক্ষিতং তদুদিতং কলবেণুগীতম্ ।
আরুহ্য যে দ্রুমভুজান্ রুচিরপ্রবালান্
শৃণ্বন্তি মীলিতদৃশো বিগতান্যবাচঃ ॥ ১৭৬ ॥

Text

prāyo batāmba munayo vihagā vane ’smin
kṛṣṇekṣitaṁ tad-uditaṁ kala-veṇu-gītam
āruhya ye druma-bhujān rucira-pravālān
śṛṇvanti mīlita-dṛśo vigatānya-vācaḥ

Synonyms

prāyaḥ — almost; bata — certainly; amba — O mother; munayaḥ — great sages; vihagāḥ — the birds; vane — in the forest; asmin — this; kṛṣṇa-īkṣitam — seeing the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; tat-uditam — created by Him; kala-veṇu-gītam — sweet vibrations made by playing the flute; āruhya — rising; ye — all of them; druma-bhujān — to the branches of the trees; rucira-pravālān — having beautiful creepers and twigs; śṛṇvanti — hear; mīlita-dṛśaḥ — closing their eyes; vigata-anya-vācaḥ — stopping all other sounds.

Translation

“ ‘My dear mother, in this forest, all the birds, after rising on the beautiful branches of the trees, are closing their eyes and, not being attracted by any other sound, are simply listening to the vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. Such birds must be on the same level as great saints.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.14). This statement was made by the gopīs, who were lamenting in separation from Kṛṣṇa and studying how the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were enjoying life like saintly persons.

Bengali

এতেঽলিনস্তব যশোঽখিল-লোকতীর্থং
গায়ন্ত আদিপুরুষানুপথং ভজন্তে ।
প্রায়ো অমী মুনিগণা ভবদীয়মুখ্যা
গূঢ়ং বনেঽপি ন জহত্যনঘাত্মদৈবম্ ॥ ১৭৭ ॥

Text

ete ’linas tava yaśo ’khila-loka-tīrthaṁ
gāyanta ādi-puruṣānupathaṁ bhajante
prāyo amī muni-gaṇā bhavadīya-mukhyā
gūḍhaṁ vane ’pi na jahaty anaghātma-daivam

Synonyms

ete — all these; alinaḥ — bees; tava — Your; yaśaḥ — reputation; akhila — all; loka-tīrtham — auspicious for the planets; gāyante — are singing; ādi-puruṣa — O original person; anu-patham — along the path; bhajante — they are engaged in transcendental loving service; prāyaḥ — almost; amī — these; muni-gaṇāḥ — great saintly persons; bhavadīya — in relation with You; mukhyāḥ — very advanced devotees; gūḍham — unknown; vane — in the forest; api — although; na — not; jahati — give up; anagha — O personality of transcendental goodness; ātma-daivam — their worshipable Deity.

Translation

“ ‘O good fortune personified! O original Personality of Godhead, all these bees are chanting about Your transcendental fame, which will purify the entire universe. Indeed, they are following Your path in the forest and are worshiping You. Actually they are all saintly persons, but now they have taken the form of bees. Although You are playing like a human being, they could not forget that You are their worshipable Deity.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.15.6). Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were just on the verge of boyhood and were entering the forest of Vṛndāvana when Kṛṣṇa began to offer prayers to please Balarāma.

Bengali

সরসি সারসহংসবিহঙ্গাশ্চারুগীতহৃতচেতস এত্য ।
হরিমুপাসত তে যতচিত্তা হন্ত মীলিতদৃশো ধৃতমৌনাঃ ॥ ১৭৮ ॥

Text

sarasi sārasa-haṁsa-vihaṅgāś
cāru-gīta-hṛta-cetasa etya
harim upāsata te yata-cittā
hanta mīlita-dṛśo dhṛta-maunāḥ

Synonyms

sarasi — in the water; sārasa — cranes; haṁsa — swans; vihaṅgāḥ — birds; cāru-gīta — by the melodious song of Kṛṣṇa’s flute; hṛta-cetasaḥ — devoid of material consciousness; etya — coming near; harim — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upāsata — worshiped; te — all of them; yata-cittāḥ — with full attention; hanta — alas; mīlita-dṛśaḥ — closing their eyes; dhṛta-maunāḥ — completely silent.

Translation

“ ‘All the cranes and swans in the water are being enchanted by the melodious song of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. They have approached and are worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full attention. Alas, they are closing their eyes and are becoming completely silent.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.35.11). In the day, Kṛṣṇa went to the forest of Vṛndāvana, and at that time the gopīs, being morose due to separation from Him, were lamenting in this way.

Bengali

কিরাতহূনান্ধ্রপুলিন্দপুক্কশা
আভীরশুহ্মা যবনাঃ খশাদয়ঃ ।
যেঽন্যে চ পাপা যদুপাশ্রয়াশ্রয়াঃ
শুধ্যন্তি তস্মৈ প্রভবিষ্ণবে নমঃ ॥ ১৭৯ ॥

Text

kirāta-hūnāndhra-pulinda-pukkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khaśādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-upāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Synonyms

kirāta — the aborigines named Kirātas; hūna — the Hūnas; āndhra — Āndhras; pulinda — Pulindas; pukkaśāḥ — Pukkaśas; ābhīra — Ābhīras; śumbhāḥ — Śumbhas; yavanāḥ — persons who do not follow the Vedic injunctions and who eat cow’s flesh; khaśa-ādayaḥ — Khaśas and others; ye — those who; anye — similar others; ca — also; pāpāḥ — sinful persons; yat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upāśraya — of the devotees; āśrayāḥ — taking shelter; śudhyanti — become purified; tasmai — unto Him, Lord Viṣṇu, because of whom they become purified; prabhaviṣṇave — to Lord Viṣṇu, the most powerful; namaḥ — respectful obeisances.

Translation

“ ‘Kirātas, Hūnas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pukkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khaśa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18). This verse was spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī when Parīkṣit Mahārāja asked him for a description of the creation. While offering obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śukadeva Gosvāmī described the unlimited potencies of Lord Viṣṇu, who can purify the lowborn creatures mentioned herein.

Bengali

কিংবা ‘ধৃতি’-শব্দে নিজপূর্ণতাদি-জ্ঞান কয় ।
দুঃখাভাবে উত্তমপ্রাপ্ত্যে মহাপূর্ণ হয় ॥ ১৮০ ॥

Text

kiṁvā ‘dhṛti’-śabde nija-pūrṇatādi-jñāna kaya
duḥkhābhāve uttama-prāptye mahā-pūrṇa haya

Synonyms

kiṁvā — or; dhṛti-śabde — by the word dhṛti; nija — own; pūrṇatā-ādi — perfection and so on; jñāna — knowledge; kaya — says; duḥkha-abhāve — in the absence of all material miseries; uttama — the best; prāptye — by obtaining; mahā-pūrṇa haya — becomes perfectly perfect.

Translation

“The word ‘dhṛti’ is also used when one is fully perfect in knowledge. When, due to having obtained the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has no material miseries, he attains mahā-pūrṇa, the highest level of perfection.

Bengali

ধৃতিঃ স্যাৎ পূর্ণতা জ্ঞান-দুঃখাভাবোত্তমাপ্তিভিঃ ।
অপ্রাপ্তাতীত-নষ্টার্থানভিসংশোচনাদিকৃৎ ॥ ১৮১ ॥

Text

dhṛtiḥ syāt pūrṇatā-jñāna-
duḥkhābhāvottamāptibhiḥ
aprāptātīta-naṣṭārthā-
nabhisaṁśocanādi-kṛt

Synonyms

dhṛtiḥ — endurance; syāt — may become; pūrṇatā — fullness; jñāna — knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duḥkha-abhāva — the absence of misery; uttama-āptibhiḥ — by attainment of the highest platform of perfection; aprāpta — not obtained; atīta — gone; naṣṭa — destroyed; artha — object, goal; anabhisaṁśocana — absence of lamentation; ādi — and so on; kṛt — doing.

Translation

“ ‘Dhṛti is the fullness felt due to the absence of misery and the attainment of knowledge of the Supreme Lord and pure love for Him. The lamentation that accrues from not obtaining a goal or from losing something already attained does not affect this completeness.’

Purport

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.4.144).

Bengali

কৃষ্ণভক্ত — দুঃখহীন, বাঞ্ছান্তর-হীন ।
কৃষ্ণপ্রেম-সেবা-পূর্ণানন্দ-প্রবীণ ॥ ১৮২ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-bhakta — duḥkha-hīna, vāñchāntara-hīna
kṛṣṇa-prema-sevā-pūrṇānanda-pravīṇa

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-bhakta — a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa; duḥkha-hīna — not under miserable material conditions; vāñchā-antara-hīna — he has no desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-prema — love of Kṛṣṇa; sevā — service; pūrṇa-ānanda — full in transcendental bliss; pravīṇa — and very expert or experienced in all subject matters.

Translation

“A devotee of Kṛṣṇa is never in a miserable condition, nor does he have any desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa. He is experienced and advanced. He feels the transcendental bliss of love of Kṛṣṇa and always engages in His service in full perfection.

Bengali

মৎসেবয়া প্রতীতং তে সালোক্যাদি-চতুষ্টয়ম্ ।
নেচ্ছন্তি সেবয়া পূর্ণাঃ কুতোঽন্যৎ কালবিপ্লুতম্ ॥ ১৮৩ ॥

Text

mat-sevayā pratītaṁ te
sālokyādi-catuṣṭayam
necchanti sevayā pūrṇāḥ
kuto ’nyat kāla-viplutam

Synonyms

mat — of Me; sevayā — by service; pratītam — obtained; te — they; sālokya-ādi — liberation, beginning with sālokya; catuṣṭayam — the four kinds of; na icchanti — do not desire; sevayā — by service; pūrṇāḥ — complete; kutaḥ — where; anyat — other things; kāla-viplutam — which are lost in time.

Translation

“ ‘My devotees, having fulfilled their desires by serving Me, do not accept the four kinds of salvation that are easily earned by such service. Why then should they accept any pleasures that are lost in the course of time?’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.67).

Bengali

হৃষীকেশে হৃষীকাণি যস্য স্থৈর্যগতানি হি ।
স এব ধৈর্যমাপ্নোতি সংসারে জীবচঞ্চলে ॥ ১৮৪ ॥

Text

hṛṣīkeśe hṛṣīkāṇi
yasya sthairya-gatāni hi
sa eva dhairyam āpnoti
saṁsāre jīva-cañcale

Synonyms

hṛṣīkeśe — to the master of the senses; hṛṣīkāṇi — all the senses; yasya — whose; sthairya-gatāni — fixed; hi — certainly; saḥ — that person; eva — of course; dhairyam āpnoti — attains the position of dhairya, endurance; saṁsāre — in the material world; jīva-cañcale — where everyone is disturbed.

Translation

“ ‘In this material world, all living entities are disturbed due to their flickering position. A devotee, however, is fixed in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, the master of the senses. Such a person is to be considered situated in endurance and patience.’

Bengali

‘চ’ — অবধারণে, ইহা ‘অপি’ — সমুচ্চয়ে ।
ধৃতিমন্ত হঞা ভজে পক্ষি-মূর্খ-চয়ে ॥ ১৮৫ ॥

Text

‘ca’ — avadhāraṇe, ihā ‘api’ — samuccaye
dhṛtimanta hañā bhaje pakṣi-mūrkha-caye

Synonyms

ca — the word ca; avadhāraṇe — in emphasis; ihā — here; api — the word api; samuccaye — in the sense of an aggregate; dhṛtimanta — fully saturated; hañā — becoming; bhaje — worship; pakṣi-mūrkha-caye — dull creatures like the birds, the most foolish.

Translation

“The word ‘ca’ is for emphasis, and the word ‘api’ is used to indicate an aggregate. Thus it is to be understood that even dull creatures [birds and illiterates] can also be situated in endurance and engage in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে ‘বুদ্ধি’ কহে বুদ্ধিবিশেষ ।
সামান্যবুদ্ধিযুক্ত যত জীব অবশেষ ॥ ১৮৬ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde ‘buddhi’ kahe buddhi-viśeṣa
sāmānya-buddhi-yukta yata jīva avaśeṣa

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; buddhi — intelligence; kahe — it is said; buddhi-viśeṣa — a particular type of intelligence; sāmānya-buddhi-yukta — endowed with common intelligence; yata — all; jīva — living entities; avaśeṣa — the rest.

Translation

“The word ‘ātmā’ is also used for a particular type of intelligence. Since all living entities generally have some intelligence, more or less, they are included.

Bengali

বুদ্ধ্যে রমে আত্মারাম — দুই ত’ প্রকার ।
‘পণ্ডিত’ মুনিগণ, নির্গ্রন্থ ‘মূর্খ’ আর ॥ ১৮৭ ॥

Text

buddhye rame ātmārāma — dui ta’ prakāra
‘paṇḍita’ muni-gaṇa, nirgrantha ‘mūrkha’ āra

Synonyms

buddhye — in intelligence; rame — who enjoys; ātmārāma — is an ātmārāma; dui ta’ prakāra — two varieties; paṇḍita — learned; muni-gaṇa — philosophers; nirgrantha — without education; mūrkha — foolish; āra — also.

Translation

“Everyone has some kind of intelligence, and one who utilizes his intelligence is called an ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāmas. One is a learned scholar and philosopher, and the other is an uneducated, illiterate, foolish person.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণকৃপায় সাধুসঙ্গে রতি-বুদ্ধি পায় ।
সব ছাড়ি’ শুদ্ধভক্তি করে কৃষ্ণপায় ॥ ১৮৮ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya sādhu-saṅge rati-buddhi pāya
saba chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti kare kṛṣṇa-pāya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya — by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa; sādhu-saṅge — in the association of devotees; rati-buddhi — devotional attraction and intelligence; pāya — one obtains; saba chāḍi’ — giving up everything; śuddha-bhakti — pure devotional service; kare — performs; kṛṣṇa-pāya — at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and by the association of devotees, one increases his attraction to and intelligence for pure devotional service; therefore one gives up everything and engages himself at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees.

Bengali

অহং সর্বস্য প্রভবো মত্তঃ সর্বং প্রবর্ততে ।
ইতি মত্বা ভজন্তে মাং বুধা ভাবসমন্বিতাঃ ॥ ১৮৯ ॥

Text

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṁ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

Synonyms

aham — I, Lord Kṛṣṇa; sarvasya — of everyone; prabhavaḥ — the original source; mattaḥ — from Me; sarvam — everything; pravartate — emanates; iti — thus; matvā — understanding; bhajante — they engage in devotional service; mām — to Me; budhāḥ — those who are learned; bhāva-samanvitāḥ — with love and devotion.

Translation

“ ‘I [Kṛṣṇa] am the original source of everything. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My service with love and devotion.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (10.8).

Bengali

তে বৈ বিদন্ত্যতিতরন্তি চ দেবমায়াং
স্ত্রীশূদ্রহূনশবরা অপি পাপজীবাঃ ।
যদ্যদ্ভুতক্রমপরায়ণ-শীল-শিক্ষা-
স্তির্যগ্জনা অপি কিমু শ্রুতধারণা যে ॥ ১৯০ ॥

Text

te vai vidanty atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
strī-śūdra-hūna-śabarā api pāpa-jīvāḥ
yady adbhuta-krama-parāyaṇa-śīla-śikṣās
tiryag-janā api kim u śruta-dhāraṇā ye

Synonyms

te — all of them; vai — certainly; vidanti — understand; atitaranti — cross over; ca — also; deva-māyām — the influence of the external illusory energy; strī — women; śūdra — fourth-class men; hūna — uncivilized hill tribes; śabarāḥ — and hunters; api — even; pāpa-jīvāḥ — sinful creatures; yadi — if; adbhuta-krama — of the performer of wonderful activities; parāyaṇa — of the devotees; śīla-śikṣāḥ — characteristics and education; tiryak-janāḥ — birds and beasts; api — even; kim u — what to speak of; śruta-dhāraṇāḥ ye — persons advanced in the education of Vedic knowledge.

Translation

“ ‘Women, fourth-class men, uncivilized hill tribes, hunters and many others born of low families, as well as birds and beasts, can engage in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead — who acts very wonderfully — and follow the path of the devotees and take lessons from them. Although the ocean of nescience is vast, they can still cross over it. What, then, is the difficulty for those who are advanced in Vedic knowledge?’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.46). Lord Brahmā said this when speaking to his disciple Nārada about the wonderful characteristics of Lord Viṣṇu. Simply by chanting the glories of Lord Viṣṇu, one can cross the ocean of nescience, even though one may be lowborn.

Bengali

বিচার করিয়া যবে ভজে কৃষ্ণ-পায় ।
সেই বুদ্ধি দেন তাঁরে, যাতে কৃষ্ণ পায় ॥ ১৯১ ॥

Text

vicāra kariyā yabe bhaje kṛṣṇa-pāya
sei buddhi dena tāṅre, yāte kṛṣṇa pāya

Synonyms

vicāra — consideration; kariyā — doing; yabe — when; bhaje — one worships; kṛṣṇa-pāya — at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; sei buddhi — that intelligence; dena — gives; tāṅre — to him; yāte — by which; kṛṣṇa pāya — one gets the shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“Considering all these points, when one engages in the service of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, Kṛṣṇa gives one the intelligence by which he can gradually progress toward perfection in service to the Lord.

Bengali

তেষাং সততযুক্তানাং ভজতাং প্রীতিপূর্বকম্ ।
দদামি বুদ্ধিযোগং তং যেন মামুপযান্তি তে ॥ ১৯২ ॥

Text

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

Synonyms

teṣām — to them; satata-yuktānām — always engaged; bhajatām — in devotional service; prīti-pūrvakam — in loving ecstasy; dadāmi — I give; buddhi-yogam — real intelligence; tam — that; yena — by which; mām — unto Me; upayānti — come; te — they.

Translation

“ ‘To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10).

Bengali

সৎসঙ্গ, কৃষ্ণসেবা, ভাগবত, নাম ।
ব্রজে বাস, — এই পঞ্চ সাধন প্রধান ॥ ১৯৩ ॥

Text

sat-saṅga, kṛṣṇa-sevā, bhāgavata, nāma
vraje vāsa, — ei pañca sādhana pradhāna

Synonyms

sat-saṅga — association with devotees; kṛṣṇa-sevā — engagement in the service of Kṛṣṇa; bhāgavata — devotees and the book known as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; nāma — the chanting of the holy name; vraje vāsa — residence in Vṛndāvana or Mathurā; ei — these; pañca — five; sādhana pradhāna — the chief processes of devotion.

Translation

“To be elevated to the platform of devotional service, the following five items should be observed: association with devotees, engagement in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the reading of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the chanting of the holy names and residence at Vṛndāvana or Mathurā.

Bengali

এই-পঞ্চ-মধ্যে এক ‘স্বল্প’ যদি হয় ।
সুবুদ্ধি জনের হয় কৃষ্ণপ্রেমোদয় ॥ ১৯৪ ॥

Text

ei-pañca-madhye eka ‘svalpa’ yadi haya
subuddhi janera haya kṛṣṇa-premodaya

Synonyms

ei — these; pañca-madhye — out of the five; eka — of only one; svalpa — a small quantity; yadi — if; haya — there is; su-buddhi — intelligent; janera — of the person; haya — there is; kṛṣṇa-prema-udaya — awakening of dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“One’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa gradually awakens if one is a little advanced in one of these five items and is intelligent.

Bengali

দুরূহাদ্ভুতবীর্যেঽস্মিন্ শ্রদ্ধা দূরেঽস্তু পঞ্চকে ।
যত্র স্বল্পোঽপি সম্বন্ধঃ সদ্ধিয়াং ভাবজন্মনে ॥ ১৯৫ ॥

Text

durūhādbhuta-vīrye ’smin
śraddhā dūre ’stu pañcake
yatra sv-alpo ’pi sambandhaḥ
sad-dhiyāṁ bhāva-janmane

Synonyms

dur-ūha — difficult to understand; adbhuta — wonderful; vīrye — in the power; asmin — in this; śraddhā — faith; dūre — far away; astu — let it be; pañcake — in the above-mentioned five principles; yatra — in which; su-alpaḥ — a little; api — even; sambandhaḥ — connection; sat-dhiyām — of those who are intelligent and offenseless; bhāva-janmane — to awaken one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“ ‘The power of these five principles is very wonderful and difficult to understand. Even without faith in them, a person who is offenseless can awaken his dormant love of Kṛṣṇa simply by being a little connected with them.’

Purport

This verse is found in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.238).

Bengali

উদার মহতী যাঁর সর্বোত্তমা বুদ্ধি ।
নানা কামে ভজে, তবু পায় ভক্তিসিদ্ধি ॥ ১৯৬ ॥

Text

udāra mahatī yāṅra sarvottamā buddhi
nānā kāme bhaje, tabu pāya bhakti-siddhi

Synonyms

udāra — liberal; mahatī — great; yāṅra — whose; sarva-uttamā — first class; buddhi — intelligence; nānā — various; kāme — with desires; bhaje — engages in devotional service; tabu — still; pāya — gets; bhakti-siddhi — perfection in devotional service.

Translation

“If a person is actually liberal and intelligent, he can advance and become perfect in devotional service even if he has material desires and serves the Lord with some motive.

Bengali

অকামঃ সর্বকামো বা মোক্ষকাম উদারধীঃ ।
তীব্রেণ ভক্তিযোগেন যজেত পুরুষং পরম্ ॥ ১৯৭ ॥

Text

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param

Synonyms

akāmaḥ — without material desires; sarva-kāmaḥ — full of all material desires; — or; mokṣa-kāmaḥ — desiring liberation; udāra-dhīḥ — sincere and advanced in devotional service; tīvreṇa — firm; bhakti-yogena — by the practice of bhakti-yoga; yajeta — should worship; puruṣam param — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental loving service.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.10).

Bengali

ভক্তি-প্রভাব, — সেই কাম ছাড়াঞা ।
কৃষ্ণপদে ভক্তি করায় গুণে আকর্ষিয়া ॥ ১৯৮ ॥

Text

bhakti-prabhāva, — sei kāma chāḍāñā
kṛṣṇa-pade bhakti karāya guṇe ākarṣiyā

Synonyms

bhakti-prabhāva — the influence of devotional service; sei — that; kāma — material desire; chāḍāñā — causing to give up; kṛṣṇa-pade — unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; bhakti karāya — engages in devotional service; guṇe — by transcendental qualities; ākarṣiyā — attracting.

Translation

“Devotional service is so strong that when one engages in it, he gradually gives up all material desires and becomes fully attracted to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. All this is brought about by attraction for the transcendental qualities of the Lord.

Bengali

সত্যং দিশত্যর্থিতমর্থিতো নৃণাং
নৈবার্থদো যৎ পুনরর্থিতা যতঃ ।
স্বয়ং বিধত্তে ভজতামনিচ্ছতা-
মিচ্ছা-পিধানং নিজপাদপল্লবম্ ॥ ১৯৯ ॥

Text

satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ
naivārtha-do yat punar arthitā yataḥ
svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām
icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam

Synonyms

satyam — it is true; diśati — He awards; arthitam — that which is desired; arthitaḥ — being requested; nṛṇām — by human beings; na — not; eva — certainly; artha-daḥ — giving desired things; yat — which; punaḥ — again; arthitā — request; yataḥ — from which; svayam — Himself; vidhatte — He gives; bhajatām — of those engaged in devotional service; anicchatām — even though not desiring; icchā-pidhānam — covering all other desires; nija-pāda-pallavam — the shelter of His own lotus feet.

Translation

“ ‘Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one’s desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord’s service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.’

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.19.27).

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে ‘স্বভাব’ কহে, তাতে যেই রমে ।
আত্মারাম জীব যত স্থাবর-জঙ্গমে ॥ ২০০ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde ‘svabhāva’ kahe, tāte yei rame
ātmārāma jīva yata sthāvara-jaṅgame

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; svabhāva — nature; kahe — is sometimes said; tāte — in that; yei rame — one who takes pleasure; ātmārāma — called ātmārāma; jīva — the living entities; yata — all of them; sthāvara-jaṅgame — the moving and nonmoving.

Translation

“Another meaning of the word ‘ātmā’ is ‘one’s characteristic nature.’ Whoever enjoys his particular type of nature is called ātmārāma. Therefore, all living entities — be they moving or nonmoving — are also called ātmārāma.

Bengali

জীবের স্বভাব — কৃষ্ণ-‘দাস’-অভিমান ।
দেহে আত্ম-জ্ঞানে আচ্ছাদিত সেই ‘জ্ঞান’ ॥ ২০১ ॥

Text

jīvera svabhāva — kṛṣṇa-‘dāsa’-abhimāna
dehe ātma-jñāne ācchādita sei ‘jñāna’

Synonyms

jīvera svabhāva — the original characteristic of all living entities; kṛṣṇa-dāsa — servant of Kṛṣṇa; abhimāna — the conception; dehe — in the material body; ātma-jñāne — by the conception of the self; ācchādita — covered; sei jñāna — that original consciousness.

Translation

“The original nature of every living entity is to consider himself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. But under the influence of māyā he thinks himself to be the body, and thus his original consciousness is covered.

Bengali

চ-শব্দে ‘এব’, ‘অপি’-শব্দ সমুচ্চয়ে ।
‘আত্মারামা এব’ হঞা শ্রীকৃষ্ণ ভজয়ে ॥ ২০২ ॥

Text

ca-śabde ‘eva’, ‘api’-śabda samuccaye
‘ātmārāmā eva’ hañā śrī-kṛṣṇa bhajaye

Synonyms

ca-śabde — by the word ca; eva — the word eva; api-śabda — the word api; samuccaye — in the sense of aggregation; ātmārāmāḥ eva — all the ātmārāmas (all kinds of living entities); hañā — being; śrī-kṛṣṇa bhajaye — become engaged in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“In that case, by the word ‘ca,’ the word ‘eva’ is meant. The word ‘api’ can be taken in the sense of aggregation. Thus the verse would read ātmārāmā eva — that is, ‘even all kinds of living beings worship Kṛṣṇa.’

Purport

It is here mentioned that every living entity is ātmārāma. Temporarily covered by the influence of māyā, the living entity serves his senses, which are represented as kāma-krodha-lobha-moha-mada-mātsarya — lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy. In the material condition, all living entities are engaged in sense gratification, but when they associate with devotees who follow the regulative principles, they become purified and awakened to their original consciousness. They then attempt to satisfy the senses of Lord Kṛṣṇa and engage in His devotional service.

Bengali

এই জীব — সনকাদি সব মুনিজন ।
‘নির্গ্রন্থ’ — মূর্খ, নীচ, স্থাবর-পশুগণ ॥ ২০৩ ॥

Text

ei jīva — sanakādi saba muni-jana
‘nirgrantha’ — mūrkha, nīca, sthāvara-paśu-gaṇa

Synonyms

ei jīva — these living entities; sanaka-ādi saba muni-jana — all the great personalities, such as Sanaka and Sanātana; nirgrantha — down to the illiterate; mūrkha — foolish person; nīca — lowborn; sthāvara — the trees and plants; paśu-gaṇa — the beasts and birds.

Translation

“Living entities include great personalities like the four Kumāras, and also low-class foolish people, trees, plants, birds and beasts.

Bengali

ব্যাস-শুক-সনকাদির প্রসিদ্ধ ভজন ।
‘নির্গ্রন্থ’ স্থাবরাদির শুন বিবরণ ॥ ২০৪ ॥

Text

vyāsa-śuka-sanakādira prasiddha bhajana
‘nirgrantha’ sthāvarādira śuna vivaraṇa

Synonyms

vyāsa — of Vyāsadeva; śuka — of Śukadeva Gosvāmī; sanaka-ādira — of the four Kumāras; prasiddha bhajana — the devotional service is celebrated; nirgrantha — foolish, uneducated; sthāvara-ādira — of the immovable elements; śuna vivaraṇa — hear the description.

Translation

“The devotional service of Vyāsa, Śuka and the four Kumāras has already been well celebrated. Now let Me explain how immovable living entities like trees and plants engage in the Lord’s devotional service.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণকৃপাদি-হেতু হৈতে সবার উদয় ।
কৃষ্ণগুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা তাঁহারে ভজয় ॥ ২০৫ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-kṛpādi-hetu haite sabāra udaya
kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā tāṅhāre bhajaya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-kṛpā-ādi-hetu — the reason of Kṛṣṇa’s mercy; haite — from; sabāra udaya — anyone becomes a devotee; kṛṣṇa-guṇa-ākṛṣṭa hañā — being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa; tāṅhāre — Him; bhajaya — worship.

Translation

“Everyone is eligible to receive Kṛṣṇa’s mercy — including Vyāsadeva, the four Kumāras, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, lowborn creatures, trees, plants and beasts. By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy they are elevated and engaged in His service.

Purport

This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32), wherein the Lord says:

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśrityaye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim

“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] — can attain the supreme destination.”

Everyone is eligible to become Kṛṣṇa’s devotee. One simply has to be trained according to the approved process. It is the work of Kṛṣṇa’s confidential devotees to turn everyone into a Kṛṣṇa bhakta. If the confidential devotees do not take up the task of elevating everyone to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then who will do it? Those who claim to be devotees but do not engage in Kṛṣṇa’s service to elevate all living creatures to Kṛṣṇa consciousness are to be considered kaniṣṭha-adhikārīs (people in the lowest stage of devotional service). When one rises to the second platform of devotional service, his business is to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. Those who are active in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should not remain in the neophyte stage but should rise to the platform of preachers, the second platform of devotional service. Devotional service is so enchanting that even the first-class devotees (uttama-adhikārīs) also come down to the second platform to preach and render service to the Lord for the benefit of the whole world.

Bengali

ধন্যেয়মদ্য ধরণী তৃণ-বীরুধস্ত্বৎ-
পাদস্পৃশো দ্রুমলতাঃ করজাভিমৃষ্টাঃ ।
নদ্যোঽদ্রয়ঃ খগমৃগাঃ সদয়াবলোকৈ-
র্গোপ্যোঽন্তরেণ ভুজয়োরপি যৎস্পৃহা শ্রীঃ ॥ ২০৬ ॥

Text

dhanyeyam adya dharaṇī tṛṇa-vīrudhas tvat-
pāda-spṛśo druma-latāḥ karajābhimṛṣṭāḥ
nadyo ’drayaḥ khaga-mṛgāḥ sadayāvalokair
gopyo ’ntareṇa bhujayor api yat-spṛhā śrīḥ

Synonyms

dhanyā — glorified; iyam — this; adya — today; dharaṇī — the surface of the globe; tṛṇa-vīrudhaḥ — the grass and herbs; tvat — Your; pāda-spṛśaḥ — from the touch of the lotus feet; druma-latāḥ — the creepers and trees; karaja-abhimṛṣṭāḥ — touched by Your fingernails; nadyaḥ — the rivers; adrayaḥ — the hills; khaga-mṛgāḥ — the birds and forest animals; sadaya-avalokaiḥ — because of Your merciful glances; gopyaḥ — the gopīs, the damsels of Vraja; antareṇa — by the region between; bhujayoḥ — Your two arms; api — also; yat — for which; spṛhā — desirous; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune.

Translation

“ ‘This land of Vṛndāvana [Vrajabhūmi] is glorified today because Your lotus feet have touched her earth and grass, Your fingernails have touched her trees and creepers, and Your merciful eyes have glanced upon her rivers, hills, birds and beasts. The gopīs have been embraced by Your arms, and even the goddess of fortune desires this. Now all of these are glorified.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.15.8) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa to Śrī Balarāma.

Bengali

গা গোপকৈরনুবনং নয়তোরুদার-
বেণুস্বনৈঃ কলপদৈস্তনুভৃৎসু সখ্যঃ ।
অস্পন্দনং গতিমতাং পুলকস্তরূণাং
নির্যোগপাশকৃতলক্ষণয়োর্বিচিত্রম্ ॥ ২০৭ ॥

Text

gā gopakair anu-vanaṁ nayator udāra-
veṇu-svanaiḥ kala-padais tanu-bhṛtsu sakhyaḥ
aspandanaṁ gatimatāṁ pulakas tarūṇāṁ
niryoga-pāśa-kṛta-lakṣaṇayor vicitram

Synonyms

gāḥ — the cows; gopakaiḥ — with the cowherd boys; anu-vanam — to each forest; nayatoḥ — leading; udāra — very liberal; veṇu-svanaiḥ — by the vibrations of the flutes; kala-padaiḥ — having sweet tones; tanu-bhṛtsu — among the living entities; sakhyaḥ — O friends; aspandanam — the lack of movement; gati-matām — of those living entities that can move; pulakaḥ — the ecstatic jubilation; tarūṇām — of the otherwise nonmoving trees; niryoga-pāśa — the ropes for binding the rear legs of the cows; kṛta-lakṣaṇayoḥ — of those two (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma), who are characterized by; vicitram — wonderful.

Translation

“ ‘My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are passing through the forest leading Their cows with Their cowherd boyfriends. They both carry ropes with which, at the time of milking, They bind the rear legs of the cows. When They play on Their flutes, all moving living entities are stunned, and nonmoving living entities experience ecstatic jubilation by Their sweet music. All these things are certainly very wonderful.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.21.19). As Kṛṣṇa wandered in the forest with Baladeva and the two of Them wonderfully played Their flutes, all the gopīs became very much attracted. Thus they praised the Lord’s activities, describing how He was enthusing all the plants, birds, hills, water — everything.

Bengali

বনলতাস্তরব আত্মনি বিষ্ণুং
ব্যঞ্জয়ন্ত্য ইব পুষ্পফলাঢ্যাঃ ।
প্রণতভারবিটপা মধুধারাঃ
প্রেমহৃষ্টতনবো ববৃষুঃ স্ম ॥ ২০৮ ॥

Text

vana-latās tarava ātmani viṣṇuṁ
vyañjayantya iva puṣpa-phalāḍhyāḥ
praṇata-bhāra-viṭapā madhu-dhārāḥ
prema-hṛṣṭa-tanavo vavṛṣuḥ sma

Synonyms

vana-latāḥ — the herbs and plants; taravaḥ — the trees; ātmani — in the Supreme Soul; viṣṇum — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vyañjayantyaḥ — manifesting; iva — like; puṣpa-phala-āḍhyāḥ — filled with luxuriant fruits and flowers; praṇata-bhāra — bowed down because of loads; viṭapāḥ — the trees; madhu-dhārāḥ — showers of honey; prema-hṛṣṭa — inspired by love of Godhead; tanavaḥ — whose bodies; vavṛṣuḥ — constantly rained; sma — certainly.

Translation

“ ‘The plants, creepers and trees were full of fruits and flowers due to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, being so full, they were bowing down. They were inspired by such deep love for Kṛṣṇa that they were constantly pouring showers of honey. In this way the gopīs saw all the forests of Vṛndāvana.’

Purport

This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.35.9). For an explanation, see Madhya-līlā 8.276.

Bengali

কিরাতহূনান্ধ্র-পুলিন্দপুক্কশা
আভীরশুম্ভা যবনাঃ খসাদয়ঃ ।
যেঽন্যে চ পাপা যদুপাশ্রয়াশ্রয়াঃ
শুধ্যন্তি তস্মৈ প্রভবিষ্ণবে নমঃ ॥ ২০৯ ॥

Text

kirāta-hūnāndhra-pulinda-pukkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khaśādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-upāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Synonyms

kirāta — the aborigines named Kirātas; hūna — the Hūnas; āndhra — Āndhras; pulinda — Pulindas; pukkaśāḥ — Pukkaśas; ābhīra — Ābhīras; śumbhāḥ — Śumbhas; yavanāḥ — persons who do not follow the Vedic injunctions and who eat cow’s flesh; khaśa-ādayaḥ — Khaśas and others; ye — those who; anye — similar others; ca — also; pāpāḥ — sinful persons; yat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upāśraya — of the devotees; āśrayāḥ — taking shelter; śudhyanti — become purified; tasmai — unto Him, Lord Viṣṇu, because of whom they become purified; prabhaviṣṇave — to Lord Viṣṇu, the most powerful; namaḥ — respectful obeisances.

Translation

“ ‘Kirātas, Hūnas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pukkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khaśa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.’

Bengali

আগে ‘তের’ অর্থ করিলুঁ, আর ‘ছয়’ এই ।
ঊনবিংশতি অর্থ হইল মিলি’ এই দুই ॥ ২১০ ॥

Text

āge ‘tera’ artha kariluṅ, āra ‘chaya’ ei
ūnaviṁśati artha ha-ila mili’ ei dui

Synonyms

āge — previously; tera — thirteen; artha — meanings; kariluṅ — I have done; āra — another; chaya — six; ei — this; ūnaviṁśati — altogether nineteen; artha — meanings; ha-ila — there were; mili’ — including; ei dui — these two.

Translation

“I have already spoken about thirteen meanings [of the ātmārāma verse]. Now there are six more. Combined, these make nineteen.

Purport

The six further meanings of the verse are based on the following meanings of the word ātmārāma: (1) mental speculators (vide verse 165), (2) those engaged in different types of endeavor (vide verse 168), (3) those who are patient and sober (vide verse 174), (4) those who are intelligent and learned scholars (vide verse 187), (5) those who are intelligent but illiterate and foolish (vide verse 187), and (6) those who are conscious of their eternal servitorship to Kṛṣṇa (vide verse 201).

Bengali

এই উনিশ অর্থ করিলু, আগে শুন আর ।
‘আত্মা’-শব্দে ‘দেহ’ কহে, — চারি অর্থ তার ॥ ২১১ ॥

Text

ei ūniśa artha karilu, āge śuna āra
‘ātma’-śabde ‘deha’ kahe, — cāri artha tāra

Synonyms

ei — these; ūniśa — nineteen; artha — meanings; karilu — I have done; āge — ahead; śuna — hear; āra — more; ātma-śabde — by the word ātma; deha — the body; kahe — is understood; cāri artha — four meanings; tāra — of that.

Translation

“I have already explained nineteen different meanings. Now please hear further meanings. The word ‘ātma’ also refers to the body, and this can be taken in four ways.

Purport

The four divisions of meanings of the word deha (“body”) are (1) aupādika-brahma-deha, the material body considered as Brahman with designations (vide verse 212), (2) karma-niṣṭha yājñikera karma-deha, the body engaged in ritualistic ceremonies of the Vedic injunctions (vide verse 214), (3) tapo-deha, the body engaged in austerities and penances (vide verse 216), and (4) sarva-kāma-deha, the body engaged for the satisfaction of all kinds of material desires (vide verse 218).

Bengali

দেহারামী দেহে ভজে ‘দেহোপাধি ব্রহ্ম’ ।
সৎসঙ্গে সেহ করে কৃষ্ণের ভজন ॥ ২১২ ॥

Text

dehārāmī dehe bhaje ‘dehopādhi brahma’
sat-saṅge seha kare kṛṣṇera bhajana

Synonyms

dehārāmī — a person who has accepted the body as the self and is interested only in sense gratification; dehe — in the body; bhaje — worships; deha-upādhi brahma — Brahman having the body as a designation; sat-saṅge — in the association of devotees; seha — such a person; kare — does; kṛṣṇera bhajana — service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“One in the bodily conception worships his own body as Brahman, but when he comes in contact with a devotee, he gives up this mistaken idea and engages himself in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

উদরমুপাসতে য ঋষিবর্ত্মসু কূর্পদৃশঃ
পরিসরপদ্ধতিং হৃদয়মারুণয়ো দহরম্ ।
তত উদ্‌গাদনন্ত তব ধাম শিরঃ পরমং
পুনরিহ যৎ সমেত্য ন পতন্তি কৃতান্তমুখে ॥ ২১৩ ॥

Text

udaram upāsate ya ṛṣi-vartmasu kūrpa-dṛśaḥ
parisara-paddhatiṁ hṛdayam āruṇayo daharam
tata udagād ananta tava dhāma śiraḥ paramaṁ
punar iha yat sametya na patanti kṛtānta-mukhe

Synonyms

udaram — the abdomen; upāsate — worship; ye — those who; ṛṣi-vartmasu — on the path marked out by the great saintly persons; kūrpa-dṛśaḥ — whose vision is grossly situated in the bodily conception of life; parisara-paddhatim — from which the system of the arteries comes; hṛdayam — the heart; āruṇayaḥ — saintly persons headed by Āruṇa Ṛṣi; daharam — the sky within the heart, the subtle conception of the Supersoul within the heart; tataḥ — from that; udagāt — went up; ananta — O unlimited one; tava — Your; dhāma — place; śiraḥ — the top of the head; paramam — supreme; punaḥ — again; iha — in this material world; yat — which; sametya — having achieved; na — not; patanti — fall down; kṛta-anta-mukhe — in the repetition of birth and death.

Translation

“ ‘Those who follow the path of great, saintly mystic yogīs take to the yogic gymnastic process and begin worshiping from the abdomen, where it is said that Brahman is located. Such people are called śārkarākṣa, which means that they are situated in the gross bodily conception. There are also followers of the ṛṣi known as Āruṇa. Following his path, they observe the activities of the arteries. Thus they gradually rise to the heart, where subtle Brahman, Paramātmā, is situated. They then worship Him. O unlimited Ananta! Better than these persons are the mystic yogīs who worship You from the top of their heads. Beginning with the abdomen and proceeding through the heart, they reach the top of the head and pass through the brahma-randhra, the hole at the top of the skull. Thus these yogīs attain the perfectional platform and do not enter the cycle of birth and death again.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.18).

Bengali

দেহারামী কর্মনিষ্ঠ — যাজ্ঞিকাদি জন ।
সৎসঙ্গে ‘কর্ম’ ত্যজি’ করয় ভজন ॥ ২১৪ ॥

Text

dehārāmī karma-niṣṭha — yājñikādi jana
sat-saṅge ‘karma’ tyaji’ karaya bhajana

Synonyms

dehārāmī — those in the bodily concept of life; karma-niṣṭha — attracted to fruitive activities; yājñika-ādi jana — persons who perform ritualistic ceremonies for a better standard of life; sat-saṅge — in contact with devotees; karma tyaji’ — giving up such fruitive activities; karaya bhajana — engage in the devotional service of the Lord.

Translation

“Those who are in the bodily conception mainly engage in fruitive activity. Those who perform yajñas and ritualistic ceremonies are also considered in the same category. However, when such persons come in contact with the pure devotee, they give up their fruitive activity and fully engage in the service of the Lord.

Bengali

কর্মণ্যস্মিন্ননাশ্বাসে ধূমধূম্রাত্মনাং ভবান্ ।
আপায়য়তি গোবিন্দপাদপদ্মাসবং মধু ॥ ২১৫ ॥

Text

karmaṇy asminn anāśvāse
dhūma-dhūmrātmanāṁ bhavān
āpāyayati govinda-
pāda-padmāsavaṁ madhu

Synonyms

karmaṇi — in fruitive activity; asmin — in this; anāśvāse — although not positive in result; dhūma-dhūmra-ātmanām — whose bodies are simply becoming blackish because of smoke; bhavān — you; āpāyayati — give a chance to drink; govinda-pāda-padma-āsavam — the nectarean beverage flowing from the lotus feet of Govinda; madhu — sweet.

Translation

“ ‘We have just begun performing this fruitive activity, a sacrificial fire, but due to the many imperfections in our action, we are not certain of its result. Our bodies have become black from the smoke, but we are factually pleased by the nectar of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, which you are distributing.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.12) was spoken to Sūta Gosvāmī at the meeting of great sages at Naimiṣāraṇya. The great sages were headed by Śaunaka, and Sūta Gosvāmī was speaking of the glorious activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at that meeting. At that time, all the ṛṣis assembled there neglected to complete the ritualistic ceremonies because there was no positive assurance of the results. All the performers were coated with black ash due to the large amount of smoke coming from the fire.

Bengali

‘তপস্বী’ প্রভৃতি যত দেহারামী হয় ।
সাধুসঙ্গে তপ ছাড়ি’ শ্রীকৃষ্ণ ভজয় ॥ ২১৬ ॥

Text

‘tapasvī’ prabhṛti yata dehārāmī haya
sādhu-saṅge tapa chāḍi’ śrī-kṛṣṇa bhajaya

Synonyms

tapasvī — persons who undergo severe penances; prabhṛti — and so on; yata — all; dehārāmī haya — are within the category of the bodily concept of life; sādhu-saṅge — in the association of devotees; tapa chāḍi’ — giving up all such processes of penance and austerity; śrī-kṛṣṇa bhajaya — engage themselves in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The tapasvīs, those who undergo severe austerities and penances to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, are also in the same category. When such persons come in contact with a devotee, they give up all those practices and engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service.

Bengali

যৎপাদসেবাভিরুচিস্তপস্বিনা-
মশেষজন্মোপচিতং মলং ধিয়ঃ ।
সদ্যঃ ক্ষিণোত্যন্বহমেধতী সতী
যথা পদাঙ্গুষ্ঠবিনিঃসৃতা সরিৎ ॥ ২১৭ ॥

Text

yat-pāda-sevābhirucis tapasvinām
aśeṣa-janmopacitaṁ malaṁ dhiyaḥ
sadyaḥ kṣiṇoty anv-aham edhatī satī
yathā padāṅguṣṭha-viniḥsṛtā sarit

Synonyms

yat-pāda-sevā-abhiruciḥ — the taste for serving the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; tapasvinām — of persons undergoing severe penances; aśeṣa — unlimited; janma-upacitam — contracted from life after life; malam — dirt; dhiyaḥ — of the intelligence; sadyaḥ — immediately; kṣiṇoti — vanquishes; anu-aham — every day; edhatī — increasing; satī — being in the mode of goodness; yathā — as; pada-aṅguṣṭha-viniḥsṛtā — emanating from the toe of the Lord; sarit — the river Ganges.

Translation

“ ‘The taste for loving service is like the water of the river Ganges, which flows from the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Every day that taste diminishes the results of sinful activities acquired over a period of many births by those who perform austerities.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.21.31).

Bengali

দেহারামী, সর্বকাম — সব আত্মারাম ।
কৃষ্ণকৃপায় কৃষ্ণ ভজে ছাড়ি’ সব কাম ॥ ২১৮ ॥

Text

dehārāmī, sarva-kāma — saba ātmārāma
kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya kṛṣṇa bhaje chāḍi’ saba kāma

Synonyms

dehārāmī — persons who are in the bodily concept of life; sarva-kāma — full of all material desires; saba — all; ātmārāma — enjoying self-satisfaction; kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya — by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa bhaje — become engaged in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa; chāḍi’ saba kāma — giving up all sorts of material desires.

Translation

“As long as one labors under the bodily conception, he must fulfill volumes and volumes of material desires. Thus a person is called ātmārāma. When such an ātmārāma is favored by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his so-called self-satisfaction and engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Bengali

স্থানাভিলাষী তপসি স্থিতোঽহং
ত্বাং প্রাপ্তবান্ দেবমুনীন্দ্রগুহ্যম্ ।
কাচং বিচিন্বন্নপি দিব্যরত্নং
স্বামিন্ কৃতার্থোঽস্মি বরং ন যাচে ॥ ২১৯ ॥

Text

sthānābhilāṣī tapasi sthito ’haṁ
tvāṁ prāptavān deva-munīndra-guhyam
kācaṁ vicinvann api divya-ratnaṁ
svāmin kṛtārtho ’smi varaṁ na yāce

Synonyms

sthāna-abhilāṣī — desiring a very high position in the material world; tapasi — in severe austerities and penances; sthitaḥ — situated; aham — I; tvām — You; prāptavān — have obtained; deva-muni-indra-guhyam — difficult to achieve even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings; kācam — a piece of glass; vicinvan — searching for; api — although; divya-ratnam — a transcendental gem; svāmin — O my Lord; kṛta-arthaḥ asmi — I am fully satisfied; varam — any benediction; na yāce — I do not ask.

Translation

“[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja 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).

Bengali

এই চারি অর্থ সহ হইল ‘তেইশ’ অর্থ ।
আর তিন অর্থ শুন পরম সমর্থ ॥ ২২০ ॥

Text

ei cāri artha saha ha-ila ‘teiśa’ artha
āra tina artha śuna parama samartha

Synonyms

ei — these; cāri — four; artha — meanings; saha — with; ha-ila — there were; teiśa artha — twenty-three different varieties of imports; āra tina artha — another three imports; śuna — hear; parama samartha — very strong.

Translation

“In addition to the nineteen meanings of the verse mentioned previously, there are these four further meanings when the word ‘ātmārāma’ is taken to mean ‘those laboring under the bodily conception.’ This brings the total to twenty-three. Now hear of another three meanings, which are very suitable.

Purport

The three further meanings of the verse are understood when (1) the word ca is taken to mean “in due course,” (2) the word ca is taken to mean eva and the word api to mean “censure,” and (3) the word nirgrantha is taken to mean “one who is very poor, without money.”

Bengali

চ-শব্দে ‘সমুচ্চয়ে,’ আর অর্থ কয় ।
‘আত্মারামাশ্চ মুনয়শ্চ’ কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ॥ ২২১ ॥

Text

ca-śabde ‘samuccaye’, āra artha kaya
‘ātmārāmāś ca munayaś ca’ kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Synonyms

ca-śabde — by the word ca; samuccaye — in aggregation; āra — another; artha — import; kaya — is meant; ātmārāmāḥ ca munayaḥ ca — all the ātmārāmas and munis; kṛṣṇere bhajaya — worship Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“As mentioned above, the word ‘ca’ can be used to mean ‘aggregate.’ According to this meaning, all the ātmārāmas and munis engage in Kṛṣṇa’s service. Besides ‘aggregate,’ there is another meaning of the word ‘ca.’

Bengali

‘নির্গ্রন্থাঃ’ হঞা ইহাঁ ‘অপি’ — নির্ধারণে ।
‘রামশ্চ কৃষ্ণশ্চ’ যথা বিহরয়ে বনে ॥ ২২২ ॥

Text

‘nirgranthāḥ’ hañā ihāṅ ‘api’ — nirdhāraṇe
‘rāmaś ca kṛṣṇaś ca’ yathā viharaye vane

Synonyms

nirgranthāḥ hañā — being liberated saintly persons; ihāṅ — here; api — the word api; nirdhāraṇe — in the sense of certainty; rāmaḥ ca kṛṣṇaḥ ca — both Rāma and Kṛṣṇa; yathā — as; viharaye — enjoy walking; vane — in the forest.

Translation

“The word ‘nirgranthāḥ’ can be used as an adjective, and ‘api’ can be used in the sense of certainty. For instance, rāmaś ca kṛṣṇaś ca means that both Rāma and Kṛṣṇa enjoy walking in the forest.

Purport

Because it is said that both Rāma and Kṛṣṇa enjoy wandering in the forest, it is understood that both of Them are enjoying Their tour within the forest.

Bengali

চ-শব্দে ‘অন্বাচয়ে’ অর্থ কহে আর ।
‘বটো, ভিক্ষামট, গাঞ্চানয়’ যৈছে প্রকার ॥ ২২৩ ॥

Text

ca-śabde ‘anvācaye’ artha kahe āra
‘baṭo, bhikṣām aṭa, gāṁ cānaya’ yaiche prakāra

Synonyms

ca-śabde — by the word ca; anvācaye — in presenting an action of secondary importance; artha — meaning; kahe — says; āra — another; baṭo — O brahmacārī; bhikṣām aṭa — just bring some alms; gām ca ānaya — also, at the same time, bring the cows; yaiche prakāra — in this way.

Translation

“The word ‘ca’ can also present a secondary thing to be done at the same time. This way of understanding the word ‘ca’ is called anvācaye. An example is ‘O brahmacārī, go out to collect alms and at the same time bring in the cows.’

Bengali

কৃষ্ণমননে মুনি কৃষ্ণে সর্বদা ভজয় ।
‘আত্মারামা অপি’ ভজে, — গৌণ অর্থ কয় ॥ ২২৪ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-manane muni kṛṣṇe sarvadā bhajaya
‘ātmārāmā api’ bhaje, — gauṇa artha kaya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-manane — in meditating on Kṛṣṇa; muni — saintly persons; kṛṣṇe — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; sarvadā — always; bhajaya — perform devotional service; ātmārāmāḥ api — also those who are ātmārāmas; bhaje — engage themselves in devotional service; gauṇa artha kaya — this is also another, secondary import.

Translation

“Saintly persons who are always meditating upon Kṛṣṇa are engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. The ātmārāmas are also engaged in the Lord’s service. That is the indirect import.

Purport

The anvācaye meaning of the word ca indicates that between the two words compounded by the word ca, one is given more importance and the other is considered subordinate. For example, “O brahmacārī, please go out and collect alms and at the same time bring in the cows.” In this statement, the collection of alms is of first importance, and the second business of collecting the cows is subordinate. Similarly, one who always meditates upon Kṛṣṇa is mainly a devotee of Kṛṣṇa engaged in His devotional service. Other ātmārāmas are subordinate in devotional service.

Bengali

‘চ’ এবার্থে — ‘মুনয়ঃ এব’ কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ।
“আত্মারামা অপি” — ‘অপি’ ‘গর্হা’-অর্থ কয় ॥ ২২৫ ॥

Text

‘ca’ evārthe — ‘munayaḥ eva’ kṛṣṇere bhajaya
“ātmārāmā api” — ‘api’ ‘garhā’-artha kaya

Synonyms

ca — the word ca; eva-arthe — in the sense of eva; munayaḥ eva — just the saintly persons; kṛṣṇere bhajaya — engage themselves in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ātmārāmāḥ api — also in this combination, ātmārāmā api; api — the word api; garhā-artha kaya — in the sense of censure.

Translation

“The word ‘ca’ can also be used to indicate the certainty that only saintly persons are engaged in rendering devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. In the combination ‘ātmārāmā api,’ ‘api’ is used in the sense of censure.

Bengali

‘নির্গ্রন্থ হঞা’ — এই দুঁহার ‘বিশেষণ’ ।
আর অর্থ শুন, যৈছে সাধুর সঙ্গম ॥ ২২৬ ॥

Text

‘nirgrantha hañā’ — ei duṅhāra ‘viśeṣaṇa’
āra artha śuna, yaiche sādhura saṅgama

Synonyms

nirgrantha hañā — becoming nirgrantha; ei — this; duṅhāra — of both; viśeṣaṇa — the adjective; āra artha — another import; śuna — please hear; yaiche — in which; sādhura saṅgama — there is association with devotees.

Translation

“The word ‘nirgrantha’ can be taken as an adjective modifying ‘muni’ and ‘ātmārāma.’ There is another meaning, which you may hear from Me, indicating association with a devotee. Now I shall explain how it is that through the association of devotees, even a nirgrantha can become a devotee.

Bengali

নির্গ্রন্থ-শব্দে কহে তবে ‘ব্যাধ’, ‘নির্ধন’ ।
সাধুসঙ্গে সেহ করে শ্রীকৃষ্ণ-ভজন ॥ ২২৭ ॥

Text

nirgrantha-śabde kahe tabe ‘vyādha’, ‘nirdhana’
sādhu-saṅge seha kare śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajana

Synonyms

nirgrantha-śabde — by the word nirgrantha; kahe — is said; tabe — therefore; vyādha — a hunter; nirdhana — without any riches; sādhu-saṅge — by the association of a saintly person; seha — he also; kare — engages himself; śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajana — in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The word ‘nirgrantha,’ when combined with ‘api’ used in the sense of certainty, indicates a person who is a hunter by profession or who is very poor. Nonetheless, when such a person associates with a great saint like Nārada, he engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.

Bengali

‘কৃষ্ণারামাশ্চ’ এব — হয় কৃষ্ণ-মনন ।
ব্যাধ হঞা হয় পূজ্য ভাগবতোত্তম ॥ ২২৮ ॥

Text

‘kṛṣṇārāmāś ca’ eva — haya kṛṣṇa-manana
vyādha hañā haya pūjya bhāgavatottama

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-ārāmāḥ ca — one who takes pleasure in Kṛṣṇa; eva — certainly; haya — there is; kṛṣṇa-manana — meditation on Kṛṣṇa; vyādha hañā — being a hunter; haya — is; pūjya — worshipable; bhāgavata-uttama — the best of the devotees.

Translation

“The words ‘kṛṣṇārāmaś ca’ refer to one who takes pleasure in thinking of Kṛṣṇa. Even though such a person may be a hunter, he is still worshipable and is the best of devotees.

Bengali

এক ভক্ত-ব্যাধের কথা শুন সাবধানে ।
যাহা হৈতে হয় সৎসঙ্গ-মহিমার জ্ঞানে ॥ ২২৯ ॥

Text

eka bhakta-vyādhera kathā śuna sāvadhāne
yāhā haite haya sat-saṅga-mahimāra jñāne

Synonyms

eka bhakta-vyādhera — one devotee who was a hunter; kathā — narration; śuna — please hear; sāvadhāne — with attention; yāhā haite — from which; haya — there is; sat-saṅga-mahimāra jñāne — knowledge of the greatness of association with a great devotee.

Translation

“I shall now narrate the story of how a hunter became a great devotee by the association of such an exalted personality as Nārada Muni. From this story, one can understand the greatness of association with pure devotees.

Bengali

এক দিন শ্রীনারদ দেখি’ নারায়ণ ।
ত্রিবেণী-স্নানে প্রয়াগ করিলা গমন ॥ ২৩০ ॥

Text

eka dina śrī-nārada dekhi’ nārāyaṇa
triveṇī-snāne prayāga karilā gamana

Synonyms

eka dina — one day; śrī-nārada — the great saintly person Nārada; dekhi’ nārāyaṇa — after visiting Lord Nārāyaṇa; tri-veṇī-snāne — to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamunā and Sarasvatī rivers; prayāga — to Prayāga; karilā gamana — went.

Translation

“Once upon a time the great saint Nārada, after visiting Lord Nārāyaṇa in the Vaikuṇṭhas, went to Prayāga to bathe at the confluence of three rivers — the Ganges, Yamunā and Sarasvatī.

Purport

The great saint Nārada is so liberated that he can go to the Vaikuṇṭha planets to see Nārāyaṇa and then immediately come to this planet in the material world and go to Prayāga to bathe in the confluence of three rivers. The word tri-veṇī refers to a confluence of three rivers. This confluence is still visited by many hundreds of thousands of people who go there to bathe, especially during the Māgha-melā, which occurs during the month of January. A liberated person who has no material body can go anywhere and everywhere; therefore a living entity is called sarva-ga, which indicates that he can go anywhere and everywhere. Presently scientists are trying to go to other planets, but due to their material bodies, they are not free to move at will. However, when one is situated in his original spiritual body, he can move anywhere and everywhere without difficulty. Within this material world there is a planet called Siddhaloka, whose inhabitants can go from one planet to another without the aid of a machine or space rocket. In the material world every planet has a specific advantage (vibhūti-bhinna). In the spiritual world, however, all the planets and their inhabitants are composed of spiritual energy. Because there are no material impediments, it is said that everything in the spiritual world is one.

Bengali

বনপথে দেখে মৃগ আছে ভূমে পড়ি’ ।
বাণ-বিদ্ধ ভগ্নপাদ করে ধড়্ফড়ি ॥ ২৩১ ॥

Text

vana-pathe dekhe mṛga āche bhūme paḍi’
bāṇa-viddha bhagna-pāda kare dhaḍ-phaḍi

Synonyms

vana-pathe — on the forest path; dekhe — saw; mṛga — deer; āche — there was; bhūme paḍi’ — lying on the ground; bāṇa-viddha — pierced by an arrow; bhagna-pāda — broken legs; kare dhaḍ-phaḍi — twisting with pain.

Translation

“Nārada Muni saw that a deer was lying on the path through the forest and that it was pierced by an arrow. It had broken legs and was twisting due to much pain.

Bengali

আর কতদূরে এক দেখেন শূকর ।
তৈছে বিদ্ধ ভগ্নপাদ করে ধড়্ফড় ॥ ২৩২ ॥

Text

āra kata-dūre eka dekhena śūkara
taiche viddha bhagna-pāda kare dhaḍ-phaḍa

Synonyms

āra kata-dūre — still farther along; eka — one; dekhena — sees; śūkara — a boar; taiche — similarly; viddha — pierced; bhagna-pāda — broken legs; kare dhaḍ-phaḍa — twists in pain.

Translation

“Farther ahead, Nārada Muni saw a boar pierced by an arrow. Its legs were also broken, and it was twisting in pain.

Bengali

ঐছে এক শশক দেখে আর কতদূরে ।
জীবের দুঃখ দেখি’ নারদ ব্যাকুল-অন্তরে ॥ ২৩৩ ॥

Text

aiche eka śaśaka dekhe āra kata-dūre
jīvera duḥkha dekhi’ nārada vyākula-antare

Synonyms

aiche — similarly; eka śaśaka — one rabbit; dekhe — he sees; āra kata-dūre — still farther ahead; jīvera — of the living entity; duḥkha dekhi’ — seeing such horrible miseries; nārada — the great saintly person; vyākula-antare — very much pained within himself.

Translation

“When he went farther, he saw a rabbit that was also suffering. Nārada Muni was greatly pained at heart to see living entities suffer so.

Bengali

কতদূরে দেখে ব্যাধ বৃক্ষে ওঁত হঞা ।
মৃগ মারিবারে আছে বাণ যুড়িয়া ॥ ২৩৪ ॥

Text

kata-dūre dekhe vyādha vṛkṣe oṅta hañā
mṛga māribāre āche bāṇa yuḍiyā

Synonyms

kata-dūre — somewhat farther; dekhe — Nārada Muni saw; vyādha — the hunter; vṛkṣe oṅta hañā — hiding behind a tree; mṛga māribāre — to kill the animals; āche — was there; bāṇa yuḍiyā — with arrows in the hand.

Translation

“When Nārada Muni advanced farther, he saw a hunter behind a tree. This hunter was holding arrows, and he was ready to kill more animals.

Bengali

শ্যামবর্ণ রক্তনেত্র মহাভয়ঙ্কর ।
ধনুর্বাণ হস্তে, — যেন যম দণ্ডধর ॥ ২৩৫ ॥

Text

śyāma-varṇa rakta-netra mahā-bhayaṅkara
dhanur-bāṇa haste, — yena yama daṇḍa-dhara

Synonyms

śyāma-varṇa — blackish color; rakta-netra — reddish eyes; mahābhayaṅkara — very fearful bodily features; dhanur-bāṇa haste — with arrows and bow in hand; yena yama daṇḍa-dhara — exactly like the superintendent of death, Yamarāja.

Translation

“The hunter’s body was blackish. He had reddish eyes, and he appeared fierce. It was as if the superintendent of death, Yamarāja, were standing there with a bow and arrows in his hands.

Bengali

পথ ছাড়ি’ নারদ তার নিকটে চলিল ।
নারদে দেখি’ মৃগ সব পলাঞা গেল ॥ ২৩৬ ॥

Text

patha chāḍi’ nārada tāra nikaṭe calila
nārade dekhi’ mṛga saba palāñā gela

Synonyms

patha chāḍi’ — leaving aside the path; nārada — the saintly person Nārada; tāra nikaṭe — near him; calila — went; nārade dekhi’ — seeing Nārada; mṛga — the animals; saba — all; palāñā gela — left, running away.

Translation

“When Nārada Muni left the forest path and went to the hunter, all the animals immediately saw him and fled.

Bengali

ক্রুদ্ধ হঞা ব্যাধ তাঁরে গালি দিতে চায় ।
নারদ-প্রভাবে মুখে গালি নাহি আয় ॥ ২৩৭ ॥

Text

kruddha hañā vyādha tāṅre gāli dite cāya
nārada-prabhāve mukhe gāli nāhi āya

Synonyms

kruddha hañā — being very angry; vyādha — the hunter; tāṅre — him; gāli dite cāya — wanted to abuse; nārada-prabhāve — by the influence of Nārada; mukhe — in the mouth; gāli — abusive language; nāhi āya — did not come.

Translation

“When all the animals fled, the hunter wanted to chastise Nārada with abusive language, but due to Nārada’s presence, he could not utter anything abusive.

Bengali

“গোসাঞি, প্রয়াণ-পথ ছাড়ি’ কেনে আইলা ।
তোমা দেখি’ মোর লক্ষ্য মৃগ পলাইলা ॥” ২৩৮ ॥

Text

“gosāñi, prayāṇa-patha chāḍi’ kene āilā
tomā dekhi’ mora lakṣya mṛga palāilā”

Synonyms

gosāñi — O great saintly person; prayāṇa-patha chāḍi’ — leaving aside the general path; kene — why; āilā — have you come; tomā dekhi’ — seeing you; mora lakṣya — my targets; mṛga — the animals; palāilā — fled.

Translation

“The hunter addressed Nārada Muni: ‘O gosvāmī! O great saintly person! Why have you left the general path through the forest to come to me? Simply by seeing you, all the animals I was hunting have now fled.’

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — “পথ ভুলি’ আইলাঙ পুছিতে ।
মনে এক সংশয় হয়, তাহা খণ্ডাইতে ॥ ২৩৯ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — “patha bhuli’ āilāṅa puchite
mane eka saṁśaya haya, tāhā khaṇḍāite

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni replied; patha bhuli’ — leaving the general path; āilāṅa — I have come; puchite — to inquire from you; mane — in my mind; eka — one; saṁśaya haya — there is a doubt; tāhā — that; khaṇḍāite — to cause to break.

Translation

“Nārada Muni replied, ‘Leaving the path, I have come to you to settle a doubt that is in my mind.

Bengali

পথে যে শূকর-মৃগ, জানি তোমার হয় ।”
ব্যাধ কহে, — “যেই কহ, সেই ত’ নিশ্চয়” ॥ ২৪০ ॥

Text

pathe ye śūkara-mṛga, jāni tomāra haya”
vyādha kahe, — “yei kaha, sei ta’ niścaya”

Synonyms

pathe — on the path; ye — those; śūkara-mṛga — boars and other animals; jāni — I can understand; tomāra haya — all belong to you; vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; yei kaha — whatever you are saying; sei ta’ niścaya — it is a fact.

Translation

“ ‘I was wondering whether all the boars and other animals that are half-killed belong to you.’

Purport

“The hunter replied, ‘Yes, what you are saying is so.’

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — “যদি জীবে মার’ তুমি বাণ ।
অর্ধ-মারা কর কেনে, না লও পরাণ ?” ২৪১ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — “yadi jīve māra’ tumi bāṇa
ardha-mārā kara kene, nā lao parāṇa?”

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; yadi — if; jīve — in the animals; māra’ — pierce; tumi — you; bāṇa — your arrows; ardha-mārā kara — you half-kill; kene — why; lao parāṇa — don’t you take their lives completely.

Translation

“Nārada Muni then inquired, ‘Why did you not kill the animals completely? Why did you half-kill them by piercing their bodies with arrows?’

Bengali

ব্যাধ কহে, — “শুন, গোসাঞি, ‘মৃগারি’ মোর নাম ।
পিতার শিক্ষাতে আমি করি ঐছে কাম ॥ ২৪২ ॥

Text

vyādha kahe, — “śuna, gosāñi, ‘mṛgāri’ mora nāma
pitāra śikṣāte āmi kari aiche kāma

Synonyms

vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; śuna — please hear; gosāñi — O great saintly person; mṛga-ari — the enemy of the animals; mora nāma — my name; pitāra śikṣāte — by the teaching of my father; āmi — I; kari — do; aiche kāma — such acts.

Translation

“The hunter replied, ‘My dear saintly person, my name is Mṛgāri, enemy of animals. My father taught me to kill them in that way.

Bengali

অর্ধ-মারা জীব যদি ধড়্ফড় করে ।
তবে ত’ আনন্দ মোর বাড়য়ে অন্তরে ॥” ২৪৩ ॥

Text

ardha-mārā jīva yadi dhaḍ-phaḍa kare
tabe ta’ ānanda mora bāḍaye antare”

Synonyms

ardha-mārā jīva — half-killed living beings; yadi — if; dhaḍ-phaḍa kare — twist and turn because of suffering; tabe — then; ta’ — certainly; ānanda — pleasure; mora — my; bāḍaye antare — increases within.

Translation

“ ‘When I see half-killed animals suffer, I feel great pleasure.’

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — ‘একবস্তু মাগি তোমার স্থানে’ ।
ব্যাধ কহে, — “মৃগাদি লহ, যেই তোমার মনে ॥ ২৪৪ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — ‘eka-vastu māgi tomāra sthāne’
vyādha kahe, — “mṛgādi laha, yei tomāra mane

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; eka-vastu māgi — I wish to beg one thing; tomāra sthāne — from you; vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; mṛga-ādi laha — take some of the hunted animals; yei tomāra mane — whatever you like.

Translation

“Nārada Muni then told the hunter, ‘I have one thing to beg of you.’

Purport

“The hunter replied, ‘You may take whatever animals or anything else you would like.

Bengali

মৃগছাল চাহ যদি, আইস মোর ঘরে ।
যেই চাহ তাহা দিব মৃগব্যাঘ্রাম্বরে ॥” ২৪৫ ॥

Text

mṛga-chāla cāha yadi, āisa mora ghare
yei cāha tāhā diba mṛga-vyāghrāmbare”

Synonyms

mṛga-chāla — deerskin; cāha yadi — if you want; āisa mora ghare — come to my place; yei cāha — whatever you want; tāhā — that; diba — I shall give; mṛga-vyāghra-ambare — whether a deerskin or a tiger skin.

Translation

“ ‘I have many skins, if you would like them. I shall give you either a deerskin or a tiger skin.’

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — “ইহা আমি কিছু নাহি চাহি ।
আর একদান আমি মাগি তোমা-ঠাঞি ॥ ২৪৬ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — “ihā āmi kichu nāhi cāhi
āra eka-dāna āmi māgi tomā-ṭhāñi

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; ihā — this; āmi kichu nāhi cāhi — I don’t want any; āra — another; eka-dāna — one charity; āmi — I; māgi — beg; tomā-ṭhāñi — from you.

Translation

“Nārada Muni said, ‘I do not want any of the skins. I am asking only one thing from you in charity.

Bengali

কালি হৈতে তুমি যেই মৃগাদি মারিবা ।
প্রথমেই মারিবা, অর্ধ-মারা না করিবা ॥” ২৪৭ ॥

Text

kāli haite tumi yei mṛgādi māribā
prathamei māribā, ardha-mārā nā karibā”

Synonyms

kāli haite — from tomorrow; tumi — you; yei — whatever; mṛga-ādi — animals; māribā — you will kill; prathamei māribā — kill them in the beginning; ardha-mārā — half-killing; karibā — do not do.

Translation

“ ‘I beg you that from this day on you will kill animals completely and not leave them half-dead.’

Bengali

ব্যাধ কহে, — “কিবা দান মাগিলা আমারে ।
অর্ধ মারিলে কিবা হয়, তাহা কহ মোরে ॥” ২৪৮ ॥

Text

vyādha kahe, — “kibā dāna māgilā āmāre
ardha mārile kibā haya, tāhā kaha more”

Synonyms

vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; kibā dāna — what kind of charity; māgilā āmāre — have you begged from me; ardha mārile — in half-killing; kibā — what; haya — there is; tāhā — that; kaha more — kindly explain to me.

Translation

“The hunter replied, ‘My dear sir, what are you asking of me? What is wrong with the animals’ lying there half-killed? Will you please explain this to me?’

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — “অর্ধ মারিলে জীব পায় ব্যথা ।
জীবে দুঃখ দিতেছ, তোমার হইবে ঐছে অবস্থা ॥ ২৪৯ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — “ardha mārile jīva pāya vyathā
jīve duḥkha ditecha, tomāra ha-ibe aiche avasthā

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni replied; ardha mārile — by half-killing the animals; jīva pāya vyathā — the living beings suffer too much pain; jīve duḥkha ditecha — you are giving troubles to the living beings; tomāra — your; ha-ibe — there will be; aiche avasthā — the same suffering in retaliation.

Translation

“Nārada Muni replied, ‘If you leave the animals half-dead, you are purposefully giving them pain. Therefore you will have to suffer in retaliation.’

Purport

This is an authoritative statement given by the greatest authority, Nārada Muni. If one gives another living entity unnecessary pain, one will certainly be punished by the laws of nature with a similar pain. Although the hunter Mṛgāri was uncivilized, he still had to suffer the results of his sinful activities. However, if a civilized man kills animals regularly in a slaughterhouse to maintain his so-called civilization, using scientific methods and machines to kill animals, one cannot even estimate the suffering awaiting him. So-called civilized people consider themselves very advanced in education, but they do not know about the stringent laws of nature. According to nature’s law, it is a life for a life. We can hardly imagine the sufferings of one who maintains a slaughterhouse. He endures suffering not only in this life, but in his next life also. It is said that a hunter, murderer or killer is advised not to live and not to die. If he lives, he accumulates even more sins, which bring about more suffering in a future life. He is advised not to die because his dying means that he immediately begins to endure more suffering. Therefore he is advised not to live and not to die.

As followers of the Vedic principles, we accept the statements of Nārada Muni in this regard. It is our duty to see that no one suffers due to sinful activities. Foolish rascals are described in the Bhagavad-gītā as māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ, which indicates that although they are superficially educated, māyā has taken their real knowledge away. Such people are presently leading human society. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam they are described as andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ. These rascals are themselves blind, and yet they are leading others who are blind. When people follow such leaders, they suffer unlimited pains in the future. Despite so-called advancement, all this is happening. Who is safe? Who is happy? Who is without anxiety?

Bengali

ব্যাধ তুমি, জীব মার — ‘অল্প’ অপরাধ তোমার ।
কদর্থনা দিয়া মার’ — এ পাপ ‘অপার’ ॥ ২৫০ ॥

Text

vyādha tumi, jīva māra — ‘alpa’ aparādha tomāra
kadarthanā diyā māra’ — e pāpa ‘apāra’

Synonyms

vyādha tumi — you are a hunter; jīva māra — your occupation is to kill animals; alpa — slight; aparādha — offense; tomāra — your; kadarthanā diyā — unnecessarily giving them pain; māra’ — when you kill; e pāpa apāra — this sinful activity is unlimited.

Translation

“Nārada Muni continued, ‘My dear hunter, your business is killing animals. That is a slight offense on your part. But when you consciously give them unnecessary pain by leaving them half-dead, you incur very great sins.’

Purport

This is another good instruction to animal-killers. There are always animal-killers and animal-eaters in human society because less civilized people are accustomed to eating meat. In the Vedic civilization, meat-eaters are advised to kill an animal for the goddess Kālī or a similar demigod. This is in order not to give the animal unnecessary pain, as slaughterhouses do. In the bali-dāna sacrifice to a demigod, it is recommended to cut the throat of an animal with one slice. This should be done on a dark-moon night, and the painful noises expressed by the animal at the time of being slaughtered are not to be heard by anyone. There are also many other restrictions. Slaughter is allowed only once a month, and the killer of the animal has to suffer similar pains in his next life. At the present moment, so-called civilized men do not sacrifice animals to a deity in a religious or ritualistic way. They openly kill animals daily by the thousands for no purpose other than the satisfaction of the tongue. Because of this the entire world is suffering in so many ways. Politicians are unnecessarily declaring war, and according to the stringent laws of material nature, massacres are taking place between nations.

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāniguṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Bg. 3.27) The laws of prakṛti (nature) are very stringent. No one should think that he has the freedom to kill animals and not suffer the consequences. One cannot be safe by doing this. Nārada Muni herein says that animal-killing is offensive, especially when animals are given unnecessary pain. Meat-eaters and animal-killers are advised not to purchase meat from the slaughterhouse. They can worship Kālī once a month, kill some unimportant animal and eat it. Even by following this method, one is still an offender.

Bengali

কদর্থিয়া তুমি যত মারিলা জীবেরে ।
তারা তৈছে তোমা মারিবে জন্ম-জন্মান্তরে ॥” ২৫১ ॥

Text

kadarthiyā tumi yata mārilā jīvere
tārā taiche tomā māribe janma-janmāntare”

Synonyms

kadarthiyā — giving unnecessary pains; tumi — you; yata — all; mārilā — killed; jīvere — the living entities; tārā — all of them; taiche — similarly; tomā — you; māribe — will kill; janma-janma-antare — life after life.

Translation

“Nārada Muni continued, ‘All the animals that you have killed and given unnecessary pain will kill you one after the other in your next life and in life after life.’

Purport

This is another authoritative statement made by the great sage Nārada. Those who kill animals and give them unnecessary pain — as people do in slaughterhouses — will be killed in a similar way in the next life and in many lives to come. One can never be excused from such an offense. If one kills many thousands of animals in a professional way so that other people can purchase the meat to eat, one must be ready to be killed in a similar way in his next life and in life after life. There are many rascals who violate their own religious principles. According to Judeo-Christian scriptures, it is clearly said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Nonetheless, giving all kinds of excuses, even the heads of religions indulge in killing animals while trying to pass as saintly persons. This mockery and hypocrisy in human society bring about unlimited calamities; therefore occasionally there are great wars. Masses of such people go out onto battlefields and kill themselves. Presently they have discovered the atomic bomb, which is simply waiting to be used for wholesale destruction. If people want to be saved from the killing business life after life, they must take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and cease sinful activity. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness recommends that everyone abandon meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. When one gives up these sinful activities, he can understand Kṛṣṇa and take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We therefore request everyone to abandon sinful activity and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. In this way people can save themselves from repeated birth and death and from being killed like the animals in slaughterhouses.

Bengali

নারদ-সঙ্গে ব্যাধের মন পরসন্ন হইল ।
তাঁর বাক্য শুনি’ মনে ভয় উপজিল ॥ ২৫২ ॥

Text

nārada-saṅge vyādhera mana parasanna ha-ila
tāṅra vākya śuni’ mane bhaya upajila

Synonyms

nārada-saṅge — in the association of the great sage Nārada Muni; vyādhera — of the hunter; mana — the mind; parasanna ha-ila — became cleansed and satisfied; tāṅra — his; vākya — words; śuni’ — hearing; mane — in the mind; bhaya upajila — some fear arose.

Translation

“In this way, through the association of the great sage Nārada Muni, the hunter was a little convinced of his sinful activity. He therefore became somewhat afraid due to his offenses.

Purport

This is the effect of associating with a pure devotee. Our preachers who are preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world should follow in the footsteps of Nārada Muni and become purified by following the four principles and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. This will make them fit to become Vaiṣṇavas. Then, when they speak to sinful people about the teachings of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, people will be affected and take the instructions. We receive instructions in devotional service through the disciplic succession. Nārada Muni is our original guru because he is the spiritual master of Vyāsadeva. Vyāsadeva is the spiritual master of our disciplic succession; therefore we should follow in the footsteps of Nārada Muni and become pure Vaiṣṇavas. A pure Vaiṣṇava is one who has no ulterior motive. He has totally dedicated himself to the service of the Lord. He does not have material desires, and he is not interested in so-called learning and philanthropic work. The so-called learned scholars and philanthropists are actually karmīs and jñānīs, and some are actually misers engaged in sinful activity. All are condemned because they are not devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Everyone has a chance to become purified by associating with this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and strictly following the rules and regulations. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from all contamination, especially contamination brought about by the killing of animals. Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself requests:

sarva-dharmān parityajyamām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66)

We should take this instruction from Kṛṣṇa and follow in the footsteps of Nārada Muni in the disciplic succession. If we simply surrender unto Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and take this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement seriously, we can be freed from the karma incurred by sin. If we are intelligent enough, we shall engage in the loving service of the Lord. Then our lives will be successful, and we shall not have to suffer like the hunter life after life. By killing animals, not only will we be bereft of the human form but we will have to take an animal form and somehow or other be killed by the same type of animal we have killed. This is the law of nature. The Sanskrit word māṁsa means “meat.” It is said, māṁ saḥ khadati iti māṁsaḥ. That is, “I am now eating the flesh of an animal who will some day in the future be eating my flesh.”

Bengali

ব্যাধ কহে, — “বাল্য হৈতে এই আমার কর্ম ।
কেমনে তরিমু মুঞি পামর অধম ? ২৫৩ ॥

Text

vyādha kahe, — “bālya haite ei āmāra karma
kemane tarimu muñi pāmara adhama?

Synonyms

vyādha kahe — the hunter said; bālya haite — from the very beginning of my childhood; ei āmāra karma — I have been taught this business (half-killing animals); kemane — how; tarimu — shall become free from these sinful activities; muñi — I; pāmara adhama — sinful and misled.

Translation

“The hunter then admitted that he was convinced of his sinful activity, and he said, ‘I have been taught this business from my very childhood. Now I am wondering how I can become freed from these unlimited volumes of sinful activity.’

Purport

This kind of admission is very beneficial as long as one does not again commit sin. Cheating and hypocrisy are not tolerated by higher authorities. If one understands what sin is, he should give it up with sincerity and regret and surrender unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His agent, the pure devotee. In this way, one can be freed from the reactions of sin and make progress in devotional service. However, if one continues committing sins after making some atonement, he will not be saved. In the śāstras, such atonement is compared to an elephant’s bathing. An elephant takes a very good bath and cleanses its body very nicely, but as soon as it comes out of the water, it picks up some dust on the shore and throws it all over its body. Atonement may be carried out very nicely, but it will not help a person if he continues committing sins. Therefore the hunter first admitted his sinful activity before the saintly person Nārada and then asked how he could be saved.

Bengali

এই পাপ যায় মোর, কেমন উপায়ে ?
নিস্তার করহ মোরে, পড়োঁ তোমার পায়ে ॥” ২৫৪ ॥

Text

ei pāpa yāya mora, kemana upāye?
nistāra karaha more, paḍoṅ tomāra pāye”

Synonyms

ei — this; pāpa yāya mora — sinful reactions of my life can be washed off; kemana upāye — by what means; nistāra karaha more — kindly deliver me; paḍoṅ — I fall down; tomāra pāye — at your lotus feet.

Translation

“The hunter continued, ‘My dear sir, please tell me how I can be relieved from the reactions of my sinful life. Now I fully surrender unto you and fall down at your lotus feet. Please deliver me from sinful reactions.’

Purport

By the grace of Nārada Muni, the hunter came to his good senses and immediately surrendered unto the saint’s lotus feet. This is the process. By associating with a saintly person, one is able to understand the reactions of his sinful life. When one voluntarily surrenders to a saintly person who is a representative of Kṛṣṇa and follows his instructions, one can become freed from sinful reactions. Kṛṣṇa demands the surrender of a sinful man, and Kṛṣṇa’s representative gives the same instructions. The representative of Kṛṣṇa never tells his disciple, “Surrender unto me.” Rather he says, “Surrender unto Kṛṣṇa.” If the disciple accepts this principle and surrenders himself through the representative of Kṛṣṇa, his life is saved.

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — ‘যদি ধর আমার বচন ।
তবে সে করিতে পারি তোমার মোচন ॥’ ২৫৫ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — ‘yadi dhara āmāra vacana
tabe se karite pāri tomāra mocana’

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni replied; yadi dhara — if you accept; āmāra vacana — my instruction; tabe — then; se — this; karite pāri — I can do; tomāra — your; mocana — liberation.

Translation

“Nārada Muni assured the hunter, ‘If you listen to my instructions, I shall find the way you can be liberated.’

Purport

Gaurāṅgera bhakta-gaṇe jane jane śakti dhare. The purport of this song is that the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are very powerful, and each and every one of them can deliver the whole world. What, then, to speak of Nārada Muni? If one follows the instructions of Nārada Muni, one can be delivered from any number of sinful reactions. This is the process. One must follow the instructions of a spiritual master; then one will certainly be delivered from all sinful reactions. This is the secret of success. Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau. If one has unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, the result is tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ: all the conclusions of the revealed scriptures will be open to such a person. A pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa can make the same demands that Nārada Muni is making. He says, “If you follow my instructions, I shall take responsibility for your liberation.” A pure devotee like Nārada can give assurance to any sinful man because by the grace of the Lord such a devotee is empowered to deliver any sinful person if that person follows the principles set forth.

Bengali

ব্যাধ কহে, — ‘যেই কহ, সেই ত’ করিব’ ।
নারদ কহে, — ‘ধনুক ভাঙ্গ, তবে সে কহিব’ ॥ ২৫৬ ॥

Text

vyādha kahe, — ‘yei kaha, sei ta’ kariba’
nārada kahe, — ‘dhanuka bhāṅga, tabe se kahiba’

Synonyms

vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; yei kaha — whatever you say; sei ta’ kariba — that I shall do; nārada kahe — Nārada Muni replied; dhanuka bhāṅga — break your bow; tabe — then; se kahiba — I shall speak to you.

Translation

“The hunter then said, ‘My dear sir, whatever you say I shall do.’

Purport

“Nārada immediately ordered him, ‘First of all, break your bow. Then I shall tell you what is to be done.’

This is the process of initiation. The disciple must vow that he will no longer commit sinful activity — namely illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. He promises to execute the order of the spiritual master. Then the spiritual master takes care of him and elevates him to spiritual emancipation.

Bengali

ব্যাধ কহে, — ‘ধনুক ভাঙ্গিলে বর্তিব কেমনে ?’
নারদ কহে, — ‘আমি অন্ন দিব প্রতিদিনে ॥’ ২৫৭ ॥

Text

vyādha kahe, — ‘dhanuka bhāṅgile vartiba kemane?’
nārada kahe, — ‘āmi anna diba prati-dine’

Synonyms

vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; dhanuka bhāṅgile — if I break my bow; vartiba kemane — what will be the source of my maintenance; nārada kahe — Nārada Muni replied; āmi — I; anna — food; diba — shall supply; prati-dine — every day.

Translation

“The hunter replied, ‘If I break my bow, how shall I maintain myself?’

Purport

“Nārada Muni replied, ‘Do not worry. I shall supply all your food every day.’

The source of our income is not actually the source of our maintenance. Every living being — from the great Brahmā down to an insignificant ant — is being maintained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān. The one Supreme Being, Kṛṣṇa, maintains everyone. Our so-called source of income is our own choice only. If I wish to be a hunter, it will appear that hunting is the source of my maintenance. If I become a brāhmaṇa and completely depend on Kṛṣṇa, I do not conduct a business, but nonetheless my maintenance is supplied by Kṛṣṇa. The hunter was disturbed about breaking his bow because he was worried about his income. Nārada Muni assured the hunter because he knew that the hunter was not being maintained by the bow but by Kṛṣṇa. Being the agent of Kṛṣṇa, Nārada Muni knew very well that the hunter would not suffer by breaking the bow. There was no doubt that Kṛṣṇa would supply him food.

Bengali

ধনুক ভাঙ্গি’ ব্যাধ তাঁর চরণে পড়িল ।
তারে উঠাঞা নারদ উপদেশ কৈল ॥ ২৫৮ ॥

Text

dhanuka bhāṅgi’ vyādha tāṅra caraṇe paḍila
tāre uṭhāñā nārada upadeśa kaila

Synonyms

dhanuka bhāṅgi’ — breaking the bow; vyādha — the hunter; tāṅra — his (Nārada Muni’s); caraṇe — at the lotus feet; paḍila — surrendered; tāre — him; uṭhāñā — raising; nārada — the great saint Nārada Muni; upadeśa kaila — gave instruction.

Translation

“Being thus assured by the great sage Nārada Muni, the hunter broke his bow, immediately fell down at the saint’s lotus feet and fully surrendered. After this, Nārada Muni raised him with his hand and gave him instructions for spiritual advancement.

Purport

This is the process of initiation. The disciple must surrender to the spiritual master, the representative of Kṛṣṇa. The spiritual master, being in the disciplic succession stemming from Nārada Muni, is in the same category with Nārada Muni. A person can be relieved from his sinful activity if he surrenders to the lotus feet of a person who actually represents Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni gave instructions to the hunter after the hunter surrendered.

Bengali

“ঘরে গিয়া ব্রাহ্মণে দেহ’ যত আছে ধন ।
এক এক বস্ত্র পরি’ বাহির হও দুইজন ॥ ২৫৯ ॥

Text

“ghare giyā brāhmaṇe deha’ yata āche dhana
eka eka vastra pari’ bāhira hao dui-jana

Synonyms

ghare giyā — returning home; brāhmaṇe — to the brāhmaṇas, the most intelligent men in spiritual understanding; deha’ — give; yata — whatever; āche — you have; dhana — riches; eka eka — each of you; vastra pari’ — just one cloth; bāhira hao — leave home; dui-jana — both of you.

Translation

“Nārada Muni then advised the hunter, ‘Return home and distribute whatever riches you have to the pure brāhmaṇas who know the Absolute Truth. After you have distributed all your riches to the brāhmaṇas, you and your wife should leave home, each of you taking only one cloth to wear.’

Purport

This is the process of renunciation at the stage of vānaprastha. After enjoying householder life for some time, the husband and wife must leave home and distribute their riches to brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. One can keep his wife as an assistant in the vānaprastha stage. The idea is that the wife will assist the husband in spiritual advancement. Therefore Nārada Muni advised the hunter to adopt the vānaprastha stage and leave home. It is not that a gṛhastha should live at home until he dies. Vānaprastha is preliminary to sannyāsa. In the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there are many young couples engaged in the Lord’s service. Eventually they are supposed to take vānaprastha, and after the vānaprastha stage the husband may take sannyāsa in order to preach. The wife may then remain alone and serve the Deity or engage in other activities within the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Bengali

নদী-তীরে একখানি কুটীর করিয়া ।
তার আগে একপিণ্ডি তুলসী রোপিয়া ॥ ২৬০ ॥

Text

nadī-tīre eka-khāni kuṭīra kariyā
tāra āge eka-piṇḍi tulasī ropiyā

Synonyms

nadī-tīre — on the bank of the river; eka-khāni — just one; kuṭīra — a cottage; kariyā — constructing; tāra āge — just in front of the cottage; eka-piṇḍi — one raised platform; tulasī — a tulasī plant; ropiyā — growing.

Translation

“Nārada Muni continued, ‘Leave your home and go to the river. There you should construct a small cottage, and in front of the cottage you should grow a tulasī plant on a raised platform.

Bengali

তুলসী-পরিক্রমা কর, তুলসী-সেবন ।
নিরন্তর কৃষ্ণনাম করিহ কীর্তন ॥ ২৬১ ॥

Text

tulasī-parikramā kara, tulasī-sevana
nirantara kṛṣṇa-nāma kariha kīrtana

Synonyms

tulasī-parikramā kara — circumambulate the tulasī plant; tulasī-sevana — just supply water to the root of Tulasī-devī; nirantara — continuously; kṛṣṇa-nāma — the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; kariha — just perform; kīrtana — chanting.

Translation

“ ‘After planting the tulasī tree before your house, you should daily circumambulate that tulasī plant, serve her by giving her water and other things, and continuously chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.’

Purport

This is the beginning of spiritual life. After leaving householder life, one may go to a holy place, such as the bank of the Ganges or Yamunā, and erect a small cottage. A small cottage can be constructed without any expenditure. Four logs serving as pillars can be secured by any man from the forest. The roof can be covered with leaves, and one can cleanse the inside. Thus one can live very peacefully. In any condition, any man can live in a small cottage, plant a tulasī tree, water it in the morning, offer it prayers, and continuously chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Thus one can make vigorous spiritual advancement. This is not at all difficult. One simply has to follow the instructions of the spiritual master strictly. Then everything will be successful in due course of time. As far as eating is concerned, there is no problem. If Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, supplies everyone with eatables, why should He not supply His devotee? Sometimes a devotee will not even bother to construct a cottage. He will simply go to live in a mountain cave. One may live in a cave, in a cottage beside a river, in a palace or in a big city like New York or London. In any case, a devotee can follow the instructions of his spiritual master and engage in devotional service by watering the tulasī plant and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Taking the advice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and our spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, one can go to any part of the world and instruct people to become devotees of the Lord by following the regulative principles, worshiping the tulasī plant and continuously chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Bengali

আমি তোমায় বহু অন্ন পাঠাইমু দিনে ।
সেই অন্ন লবে, যত খাও দুইজনে ॥” ২৬২ ॥

Text

āmi tomāya bahu anna pāṭhāimu dine
sei anna labe, yata khāo dui-jane”

Synonyms

āmi — I; tomāya — for you; bahu — much; anna — food; pāṭhāimu — shall send; dine — every day; sei — that; anna — food; labe — you shall take; yata — whatever; khāo — you can eat; dui-jane — both of you.

Translation

“Nārada Muni continued, ‘Every day I shall send sufficient food to you both. You can take as much food as you want.’

Purport

When a person takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, there is no need to care for material necessities. Kṛṣṇa says, yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham: “I personally carry all necessities to My devotees.” Why should one be anxious about the necessities of life? The principle should be that one should not want more than what is absolutely necessary. Nārada Muni advises the hunter to accept only what is absolutely necessary for him and his wife. The devotee should always be alert to consume only those things that he absolutely requires and not create unnecessary needs.

Bengali

তবে সেই মৃগাদি তিনে নারদ সুস্থ কৈল ।
সুস্থ হঞা মৃগাদি তিনে ধাঞা পলাইল ॥ ২৬৩ ॥

Text

tabe sei mṛgādi tine nārada sustha kaila
sustha hañā mṛgādi tine dhāñā palāila

Synonyms

tabe — thereafter; sei — those; mṛga-ādi — animals, beginning with the deer; tine — three; nārada — the sage Nārada; sustha kaila — brought to their senses; sustha hañā — coming to consciousness; mṛga-ādi — the pierced animals; tine — three; dhāñā palāila — very swiftly fled away from that place.

Translation

“The three animals that were half-killed were then brought to their consciousness by the sage Nārada. Indeed, the animals got up and swiftly fled.

Bengali

দেখিয়া ব্যাধের মনে হৈল চমৎকার ।
ঘরে গেল ব্যাধ, গুরুকে করি’ নমস্কার ॥ ২৬৪ ॥

Text

dekhiyā vyādhera mane haila camatkāra
ghare gela vyādha, guruke kari’ namaskāra

Synonyms

dekhiyā — seeing; vyādhera — of the hunter; mane — in the mind; haila — there was; camatkāra — wonder; ghare — home; gela — went; vyādha — the hunter; guruke — to the spiritual master; kari’ namaskāra — offering obeisances.

Translation

“When the hunter saw the half-killed animals flee, he was certainly struck with wonder. He then offered his respectful obeisances to the sage Nārada and returned home.

Bengali

যথা-স্থানে নারদ গেলা, ব্যাধ ঘরে আইল ।
নারদের উপদেশে সকল করিল ॥ ২৬৫ ॥

Text

yathā-sthāne nārada gelā, vyādha ghare āila
nāradera upadeśe sakala karila

Synonyms

yathā-sthāne — to the proper destination; nārada — sage Nārada; gelā — went; vyādha — the hunter; ghare āila — came back to his house; nāradera upadeśe — under the instruction of the sage Nārada; sakala karila — he executed everything.

Translation

“After all this, Nārada Muni went to his destination. After the hunter returned home, he exactly followed the instructions of his spiritual master, Nārada.

Purport

For spiritual advancement one must have a bona fide spiritual master and follow his instructions in order to be assured of advancement.

Bengali

গ্রামে ধ্বনি হৈল, ব্যাধ ‘বৈষ্ণব’ হইল ।
গ্রামের লোক সব অন্ন আনিতে লাগিল ॥ ২৬৬ ॥

Text

grāme dhvani haila, — vyādha ‘vaiṣṇava’ ha-ila
grāmera loka saba anna ānite lāgila

Synonyms

grāme — in the village; dhvani haila — there was news; vyādha — the hunter; vaiṣṇava ha-ila — has become a Vaiṣṇava, a lover and servitor of Lord Viṣṇu; grāmera loka — the villagers; saba — all kinds of; anna — food; ānite lāgila — began to bring.

Translation

“The news that the hunter had become a Vaiṣṇava spread all over the village. Indeed, all the villagers brought alms and presented them to the Vaiṣṇava who had formerly been a hunter.

Purport

It is the duty of the public to present a gift to a saintly person, Vaiṣṇava or brāhmaṇa when going to see him. Every Vaiṣṇava is dependent on Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is ready to supply all of life’s necessities, provided a Vaiṣṇava follows the principles set forth by the spiritual master. There are certainly many householders in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. They join the movement and live in the society’s centers, but if they take advantage of this opportunity and do not work but live at the expense of the movement, eating prasādam and simply sleeping, they place themselves in a very dangerous position. It is therefore advised that gṛhasthas should not live in the temple. They must live outside the temple and maintain themselves. Of course, if the gṛhasthas are fully engaged in the Lord’s service according to the directions of the authorities, there is no harm in their living in a temple. In any case, a temple should not be a place to eat and sleep. A temple manager should be very careful about these things.

Bengali

একদিন অন্ন আনে দশ-বিশ জনে ।
দিনে তত লয়, যত খায় দুই জনে ॥ ২৬৭ ॥

Text

eka-dina anna āne daśa-biśa jane
dine tata laya, yata khāya dui jane

Synonyms

eka-dina — in one day; anna — food; āne — brought; daśa-biśa jane — enough for ten to twenty men; dine — in a day; tata laya — would accept only as much; yata — as; khāya dui jane — the two of them required to eat.

Translation

“In one day enough food was brought for ten or twenty people, but the hunter and his wife would accept only as much as they could eat.

Bengali

একদিন নারদ কহে, — “শুনহ, পর্বতে ।
আমার এক শিষ্য আছে, চলহ দেখিতে ॥” ॥ ২৬৮ ॥

Text

eka-dina nārada kahe, — “śunaha, parvate
āmāra eka śiṣya āche, calaha dekhite”

Synonyms

eka-dina — one day; nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; śunaha — please hear; parvate — my dear Parvata; āmāra — my; eka — one; śiṣya — disciple; āche — there is; calaha dekhite — let us go see.

Translation

“One day, while speaking to his friend Parvata Muni, Nārada Muni requested him to go with him to see his disciple the hunter.

Bengali

তবে দুই ঋষি আইলা সেই ব্যাধ-স্থানে ।
দূর হৈতে ব্যাধ পাইল গুরুর দরশনে ॥ ২৬৯ ॥

Text

tabe dui ṛṣi āilā sei vyādha-sthāne
dūra haite vyādha pāila gurura daraśane

Synonyms

tabe — thereafter; dui ṛṣi — two saintly persons; āilā — came; sei vyādha-sthāne — to the place of that hunter; dūra haite — from a distant place; vyādha — the hunter; pāila — got; gurura daraśane — vision of his spiritual master.

Translation

“As the saintly sages approached the hunter’s place, the hunter could see them from a distance.

Bengali

আস্তে-ব্যস্তে ধাঞা আসে, পথ নাহি পায় ।
পথের পিপীলিকা ইতি-উতি ধরে পায় ॥ ২৭০ ॥

Text

āste-vyaste dhāñā āse, patha nāhi pāya
pathera pipīlikā iti-uti dhare pāya

Synonyms

āste-vyaste — with great alacrity; dhāñā — running; āse — came; patha nāhi pāya — does not get the path; pathera — on the path; pipīlikā — ants; iti-uti — here and there; dhare pāya — touch the foot.

Translation

“With great alacrity the hunter began to run toward his spiritual master, but he could not fall down and offer obeisances because ants were running hither and thither around his feet.

Bengali

দণ্ডবৎ-স্থানে পিপীলিকারে দেখিয়া ।
বস্ত্রে স্থান ঝাড়ি’ পড়ে দণ্ডবৎ হঞা ॥ ২৭১ ॥

Text

daṇḍavat-sthāne pipīlikāre dekhiyā
vastre sthāna jhāḍi’ paḍe daṇḍavat hañā

Synonyms

daṇḍavat-sthāne — in the place where he wanted to offer his obeisances; pipīlikāre dekhiyā — seeing the ants; vastre — by the cloth; sthāna jhāḍi’ — cleansing the place; paḍe daṇḍa-vat hañā — falls down flat like a rod.

Translation

“Seeing the ants, the hunter whisked them away with a piece of cloth. After thus clearing the ants from the ground, he fell down flat to offer his obeisances.

Purport

The word daṇḍa means “rod,” and vat means “like.” To offer obeisances to the spiritual master, one must fall flat exactly as a rod falls on the ground. This is the meaning of the word daṇḍavat.

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — “ব্যাধ, এই না হয় আশ্চর্য ।
হরিভক্ত্যে হিংসা-শূন্য হয় সাধুবর্য ॥ ২৭২ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — “vyādha, ei nā haya āścarya
hari-bhaktye hiṁsā-śūnya haya sādhu-varya

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; vyādha — my dear hunter; ei haya āścarya — this is not wonderful for you; hari-bhaktye — by advancement in devotional service; hiṁsā-śūnya haya — one becomes nonviolent and nonenvious; sādhu-varya — thus one becomes the best of honest gentlemen.

Translation

“Nārada Muni said, ‘My dear hunter, such behavior is not at all astonishing. A man in devotional service is automatically nonviolent. He is the best of gentlemen.

Purport

In this verse the word sādhu-varya means “the best of gentlemen.” At the present moment there are many so-called gentlemen who are expert in killing animals and birds. Nonetheless, these so-called gentlemen profess a type of religion that strictly prohibits killing. According to Nārada Muni and Vedic culture, animal-killers are not even gentlemen, to say nothing of being religious men. A religious person, a devotee of the Lord, must be nonviolent. Such is the nature of a religious person. It is contradictory to be violent and at the same time call oneself a religious person. Such hypocrisy is not approved by Nārada Muni and the disciplic succession.

Bengali

এতে ন হ্যদ্ভুতা ব্যাধ তবাহিংসাদয়ো গুণাঃ ।
হরিভক্তৌ প্রবৃত্তা যে ন তে স্যুঃ পরতাপিনঃ ॥ ২৭৩ ॥

Text

ete na hy adbhutā vyādha
tavāhiṁsādayo guṇāḥ
hari-bhaktau pravṛttā ye
na te syuḥ para-tāpinaḥ

Synonyms

ete — all these; na — not; hi — certainly; adbhutāḥ — wonderful; vyādha — O hunter; tava — your; ahiṁsā-ādayaḥ — nonviolence and others; guṇāḥ — qualities; hari-bhaktau — in devotional service; pravṛttāḥ — engaged; ye — those who; na — not; te — they; syuḥ — are; para-tāpinaḥ — envious of other living entities.

Translation

“ ‘O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those engaged in the Lord’s devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others because of envy.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Skanda Purāṇa.

Bengali

তবে সেই ব্যাধ দোঁহারে অঙ্গনে আনিল ।
কুশাসন আনি’ দোঁহারে ভক্ত্যে বসাইল ॥ ২৭৪ ॥

Text

tabe sei vyādha doṅhāre aṅgane ānila
kuśāsana āni’ doṅhāre bhaktye vasāila

Synonyms

tabe — thereafter; sei — that; vyādha — hunter; doṅhāre — both Nārada Muni and Parvata; aṅgane ānila — brought into the courtyard of his house; kuśa-āsana āni’ — bringing straw mats for sitting; doṅhāre — both of them; bhaktye — with great devotion; vasāila — made to sit down.

Translation

“The hunter then received the two great sages in the courtyard of his house. He spread out a straw mat for them to sit upon, and with great devotion he begged them to sit down.

Bengali

জল আনি’ ভক্ত্যে দোঁহার পাদ প্রক্ষালিল ।
সেই জল স্ত্রী-পুরুষে পিয়া শিরে লইল ॥ ২৭৫ ॥

Text

jala āni’ bhaktye doṅhāra pāda prakṣālila
sei jala strī-puruṣe piyā śire la-ila

Synonyms

jala āni’ — bringing water; bhaktye — with great devotion; doṅhāra — of both of them; pāda prakṣālila — washed the feet; sei jala — that water; strī-puruṣe — husband and wife; piyā — drinking; śire la-ila — put on their heads.

Translation

“He then fetched water and washed the sages’ feet with great devotion. Then both husband and wife drank that water and sprinkled it on their heads.

Purport

This is the process one should follow when receiving the spiritual master or someone on the level of the spiritual master. When the spiritual master comes to the residence of his disciples, the disciples should follow in the footsteps of the former hunter. It doesn’t matter what one was before initiation. After initiation, one must learn the etiquette mentioned herein.

Bengali

কম্প-পুলকাশ্রু হৈল কৃষ্ণনাম গাঞা ।
ঊর্ধ্ববাহু নৃত্য করে বস্ত্র উড়াঞা ॥ ২৭৬ ॥

Text

kampa-pulakāśru haila kṛṣṇa-nāma gāñā
ūrdhva bāhu nṛtya kare vastra uḍāñā

Synonyms

kampa — trembling; pulaka-aśru — tears and jubilation; haila — there were; kṛṣṇa-nāma gāñā — chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra; ūrdhva bāhu — raising the arms; nṛtya kare — began to dance; vastra uḍāñā — waving his garments up and down.

Translation

“When the hunter chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra before his spiritual master, his body trembled and tears welled up in his eyes. Filled with ecstatic love, he raised his hands and began to dance, waving his garments up and down.

Bengali

দেখিয়া ব্যাধের প্রেম পর্বত-মহামুনি ।
নারদেরে কহে, — তুমি হও স্পর্শমণি ॥ ২৭৭ ॥

Text

dekhiyā vyādhera prema parvata-mahāmuni
nāradere kahe, — tumi hao sparśa-maṇi

Synonyms

dekhiyā — seeing; vyādhera — of the hunter; prema — the ecstatic love; parvata-mahā-muni — the great sage Parvata Muni; nāradere kahe — spoke to Nārada Muni; tumi hao sparśa-maṇi — you are certainly a touchstone.

Translation

“When Parvata Muni saw the ecstatic loving symptoms of the hunter, he told Nārada, ‘Certainly you are a touchstone.’

Purport

When a touchstone touches iron, it turns the iron to gold. Parvata Muni called Nārada Muni a touchstone because by his touch the hunter, who was the lowest among men, became an elevated and perfect Vaiṣṇava. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that the position of a Vaiṣṇava can be tested by seeing how good a touchstone he is — that is, by seeing how many Vaiṣṇavas he has made during his life. A Vaiṣṇava should be a touchstone so that he can convert others to Vaiṣṇavism by his preaching, even though people may be fallen like the hunter. There are many so-called advanced devotees who sit in a secluded place for their personal benefit. They do not go out to preach and convert others into Vaiṣṇavas, and therefore they certainly cannot be called sparśa-maṇi, advanced devotees. Kaniṣṭha-adhikārī devotees cannot turn others into Vaiṣṇavas, but a madhyama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava can do so by preaching. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised His followers to increase the numbers of Vaiṣṇavas.

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa

(Cc. Madhya 7.128)

It is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s wish that everyone should become a Vaiṣṇava and guru. Following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa. The Bhagavad-gītā is Kṛṣṇa’s instructions; therefore the duty of every Vaiṣṇava is to travel and preach the Bhagavad-gītā, either in his country or a foreign country. This is the test of sparśa-maṇi, following in the footsteps of Nārada Muni.

Bengali

“অহো ধন্যোঽসি দেবর্ষে কৃপয়া যস্য তৎক্ষণাৎ ।
নীচোঽপ্যুৎপুলকো লেভে লুব্ধকো রতিমচ্যুতে ॥” ২৭৮ ॥

Text

“aho dhanyo ’si devarṣe
kṛpayā yasya tat-kṣaṇāt
nīco ’py utpulako lebhe
lubdhako ratim acyute”

Synonyms

aho — oh; dhanyaḥ — glorified; asi — you are; deva-ṛṣe — O sage among the demigods; kṛpayā — by the mercy; yasya — of whom; tat-kṣaṇāt — immediately; nīcaḥ api — even though one is the lowest of men; utpulakaḥ — becoming agitated in ecstatic love; lebhe — gets; lubdhakaḥ — a hunter; ratim — attraction; acyute — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

“Parvata Muni continued, ‘My dear friend Nārada Muni, you are glorified as the sage among the demigods. By your mercy, even a lowborn person like this hunter can immediately become attached to Lord Kṛṣṇa.’

Purport

A pure Vaiṣṇava believes in the statements of the śāstras. This verse is quoted from the Vedic literature, the Skanda Purāṇa.

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — ‘বৈষ্ণব, তোমার অন্ন কিছু আয় ?’
ব্যাধ কহে, “যারে পাঠাও, সেই দিয়া যায় ॥ ২৭৯ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — ‘vaiṣṇava, tomāra anna kichu āya?’
vyādha kahe, “yāre pāṭhāo, sei diyā yāya

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; vaiṣṇava — O Vaiṣṇava; tomāra — your; anna — food; kichu āya — does any come; vyādha kahe — the hunter replied; yāre pāṭhāo — whoever you send; sei — that person; diyā — giving something; yāya — goes.

Translation

“Nārada Muni then asked the hunter, ‘My dear Vaiṣṇava, do you have some income for your maintenance?’

Purport

“The hunter replied, ‘My dear spiritual master, whoever you send gives me something when he comes to see me.’

This confirms the statement in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.22) to the effect that the Lord carries all necessities to His Vaiṣṇava devotee. Nārada Muni asked the former hunter how he was being maintained, and he replied that everyone who came to see him brought him something for his maintenance. Kṛṣṇa, who is situated in everyone’s heart, says, “I personally carry all necessities to a Vaiṣṇava.” He can order anyone to execute this. Everyone is ready to give something to a Vaiṣṇava, and if a Vaiṣṇava is completely engaged in devotional service, he need not be anxious for his maintenance.

Bengali

এত অন্ন না পাঠাও, কিছু কার্য নাই ।
সবে দুইজনার যোগ্য ভক্ষ্যমাত্র চাই ॥” ২৮০ ॥

Text

eta anna nā pāṭhāo, kichu kārya nāi
sabe dui-janāra yogya bhakṣya-mātra cāi”

Synonyms

eta anna — so much food; pāṭhāo — you do not need to send; kichu kārya nāi — there is no such need; sabe — only; dui-janāra — for two persons; yogya — requisite; bhakṣya-mātra — eatables; cāi — we want.

Translation

“The former hunter said, ‘Please do not send so much grain. Only send what is sufficient for two people, no more.’

Purport

The former hunter only wanted enough for two people to eat, no more. It is not necessary for a Vaiṣṇava to keep a stock of food for the next day. He should receive only sufficient grain to last one day. The next day, he must again depend on the Lord’s mercy. This is the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When His personal servant Govinda sometimes kept a stock of harītakī (myrobalan), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chastised him, saying, “Why did you keep a stock for the next day?” Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and others were begging daily from door to door for their sustenance, and they never attempted to stock their āśrama with food for the next day. We should not materially calculate, thinking, “It is better to stock food for a week. Why give the Lord trouble by having Him bring food daily?” One should be convinced that the Lord will provide daily. There is no need to stock food for the next day.

Bengali

নারদ কহে, — ‘ঐছে রহ, তুমি ভাগ্যবান্’ ।
এত বলি’ দুইজন হইলা অন্তর্ধান ॥ ২৮১ ॥

Text

nārada kahe, — ‘aiche raha, tumi bhāgyavān’
eta bali’ dui-jana ha-ilā antardhāna

Synonyms

nārada kahe — Nārada Muni said; aiche raha — live like that; tumi bhāgyavān — certainly you are very fortunate; eta bali’ — saying this; dui-jana — both Nārada Muni and Parvata Muni; ha-ilā antardhāna — disappeared.

Translation

“Nārada Muni approved his not wanting more than a daily supply of food, and he blessed him, saying, ‘You are fortunate.’ Nārada Muni and Parvata Muni then disappeared from that place.

Bengali

এই ত’ কহিলুঁ তোমায় ব্যাধের আখ্যান ।
যা শুনিলে হয় সাধুসঙ্গ-প্রভাব-জ্ঞান ॥ ২৮২ ॥

Text

ei ta’ kahiluṅ tomāya vyādhera ākhyāna
yā śunile haya sādhu-saṅga-prabhāva-jñāna

Synonyms

ei ta’ kahiluṅ — thus I have narrated; tomāya — unto you; vyādhera ākhyāna — the story of the hunter; śunile — hearing which; haya — there is; sādhu-saṅga — of the association of devotees; prabhāva — of the influence; jñāna — knowledge.

Translation

“Thus I have narrated the incident of the hunter. By hearing this narration, one can understand the influence of association with devotees.

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to stress that even a hunter, the lowest of men, could become a topmost Vaiṣṇava simply by associating with Nārada Muni or a devotee in his bona fide disciplic succession.

Bengali

এই আর তিন অর্থ গণনাতে পাইল ।
এই দুই অর্থ মিলি’ ‘ছাব্বিশ’ অর্থ হৈল ॥ ২৮৩ ॥

Text

ei āra tina artha gaṇanāte pāila
ei dui artha mili’ ‘chābbiśa’ artha haila

Synonyms

ei — this example; āra — another; tina artha — three imports; gaṇanāte — in calculating; pāila — we have obtained; ei dui artha mili’ — by adding these two imports; chābbiśa — twenty-six; artha — imports; haila — there have been.

Translation

“In this way we have found three more meanings [of the ātmārāma verse]. Combine these with the other meanings, and the total number of meanings adds up to twenty-six in all.

Bengali

আর অর্থ শুন, যাহা — অর্থের ভাণ্ডার ।
স্থূলে ‘দুই’ অর্থ, সূক্ষ্মে ‘বত্রিশ’ প্রকার ॥ ২৮৪ ॥

Text

āra artha śuna, yāhā — arthera bhāṇḍāra
sthūle ‘dui’ artha, sūkṣme ‘batriśa’ prakāra

Synonyms

āra — another; artha — import; śuna — hear; yāhā — which; arthera bhāṇḍāra — storehouse of knowledge; sthūle — grossly; dui artha — two meanings; sūkṣme — by a subtle import; batriśa — thirty-two; prakāra — varieties.

Translation

“There is yet another meaning, which is full of a variety of imports. Actually there are two gross meanings and thirty-two subtle meanings.

Purport

The two gross meanings refer to regulative devotional service and spontaneous devotional service. There are also thirty-two subtle meanings. Under the heading of regulative devotional service, there are sixteen meanings based on understanding the word ātmārāma to mean (1) a servant of the Lord as His personal associate, (2) a personal friend, (3) personal parents or similar superiors, (4) a personal beloved, (5) a servant elevated by spiritual cultivation, (6) a friend by spiritual cultivation, (7) parents and superior devotees by cultivation of devotional service, (8) a beloved wife or female friend by cultivation of devotional service, (9) a mature devotee as a servant, (10) a mature devotee as a friend, (11) a mature devotee as a parent and superior, (12) a mature devotee as a wife and beloved, (13) an immature devotee as a servant, (14) an immature devotee as a friend, (15) an immature devotee as a father or superior, and (16) an immature devotee as a beloved. Similarly, under the heading of spontaneous devotion there are also sixteen various associates. Therefore the total number of devotees under the headings of regulated devotees and spontaneous devotees is thirty-two.

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে কহে — সর্ববিধ ভগবান্ ।
এক ‘স্বয়ং ভগবান্’, আর ‘ভগবান্’-আখ্যান ॥ ২৮৫ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde kahe — sarva-vidha bhagavān
eka ‘svayaṁ bhagavān’, āra ‘bhagavān’-ākhyāna

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; kahe — it is said; sarva-vidha bhagavān — all types of Personalities of Godhead; eka — one; svayam bhagavān — the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa; āra — another; bhagavān-ākhyāna — the Personality of Godhead by an expansive designation.

Translation

“The word ‘ātmā’ refers to all the different Personalities of Godhead. One of them is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Kṛṣṇa, and the others are different incarnations or expansions of Kṛṣṇa.

Purport

The word ātmā also includes all kinds of personalities known as Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This means that Kṛṣṇa has unlimited expansions. This is described in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.46):

dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya
dīpāyate vivṛta-hetu-samāna-dharmā
yas tādṛg eva hi ca viṣṇutayā vibhāti
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

The expansions of Kṛṣṇa are thus compared to candles that have been lit from an original candle. All the secondary candles are equally powerful, but the original candle is that from which all the others have been lit. Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is expanded as Balarāma, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and Vāsudeva. In this way there are innumerable incarnations and expansions who are also called Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Regarding the variety of personalities known as Bhagavān, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that the Personality of Godhead known as Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that His expansions are also called the Personality of Godhead. In other words, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the origin of all other Personalities of Godhead. Speculative philosophers and mystic yogīs also meditate upon the form of Kṛṣṇa, but this form is not the form of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a Bhagavān is but a partial representation of the Lord’s full potency. Nonetheless, He also has to be understood to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To clarify this matter, one should simply understand that Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja in Vṛndāvana, the friend of the cowherd boys and lover of the gopīs, is actually the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is attained by spontaneous love. Although His expansions are also called the Supreme Personality of Godhead, They are attained only by the execution of regulative devotional service.

Bengali

তাঁতে রমে যেই, সেই সব — ‘আত্মারাম’ ।
‘বিধিভক্ত’, ‘রাগভক্ত’, — দুইবিধ নাম ॥ ২৮৬ ॥

Text

tāṅte rame yei, sei saba — ‘ātmārāma’
‘vidhi-bhakta’, ‘rāga-bhakta’, — dui-vidha nāma

Synonyms

tāṅte — in all those Supreme Personalities of Godhead; rame — takes pleasure in devotional service; yei — those persons who; sei saba — all of them; ātmārāma — are also known as ātmārāma; vidhi-bhakta — devotees following the regulative principles; rāga-bhakta — devotees following spontaneous love; dui-vidha nāma — two different varieties.

Translation

“One who always engages in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called ātmārāma. There are two types of ātmārāmas. One is an ātmārāma engaged in regulative devotional service, and the other is an ātmārāma engaged in spontaneous devotional service.

Bengali

দুইবিধ ভক্ত হয় চারি চারি প্রকার ।
পারিষদ, সাধনসিদ্ধ, সাধকগণ আর ॥ ২৮৭ ॥

Text

dui-vidha bhakta haya cāri cāri prakāra
pāriṣada, sādhana-siddha, sādhaka-gaṇa āra

Synonyms

dui-vidha bhakta — these two varieties of ātmārāma devotees; haya — are; cāri cāri prakāra — each of four different categories; pāriṣada — personal associate; sādhana-siddha — liberated to the position of associates by perfection in devotional service; sādhaka-gaṇa āra — and devotees already engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.

Translation

“Both the ātmārāmas engaged in regulative devotional service and those engaged in spontaneous devotional service are further categorized into four groups. There are the eternal associates, the associates who have become perfect by devotional service, and those who are practicing devotional service and are called sādhakas, of whom there are two varieties.

Bengali

জাত-অজাত-রতিভেদে সাধক দুই ভেদ ।
বিধি-রাগ-মার্গে চারি চারি — অষ্ট ভেদ ॥ ২৮৮ ॥

Text

jāta-ajāta-rati-bhede sādhaka dui bheda
vidhi-rāga-mārge cāri cāri — aṣṭa bheda

Synonyms

jāta-ajāta-rati-bhede — by distinction of mature love and immature love; sādhaka dui bheda — those practicing devotional service are of two varieties; vidhi — regulative devotion; rāga — spontaneous devotion; mārge — on both the paths; cāri cāri — there are four different varieties; aṣṭa bheda — a total of eight kinds.

Translation

“Those who are practicing devotional service are either mature or immature. Therefore the sādhakas are of two types. Since the devotees execute either regulative devotional service or spontaneous devotional service and there are four groups within these two divisions, altogether there are eight varieties.

Bengali

বিধিভক্ত্যে নিত্যসিদ্ধ পারিষদ — ‘দাস’ ।
‘সখা’ ‘গুরু’, ‘কান্তাগণ’, — চারিবিধ প্রকাশ ॥ ২৮৯ ॥

Text

vidhi-bhaktye nitya-siddha pāriṣada — ‘dāsa’
‘sakhā’ ‘guru’, ‘kāntā-gaṇa’, — cāri-vidha prakāśa

Synonyms

vidhi-bhaktye — by regulative devotional service; nitya-siddha pāriṣada — eternally perfect associate; dāsa — the servant; sakhā guru kāntā-gaṇa — friends, superiors and beloved damsels; cāri-vidha prakāśa — they are manifested in four varieties.

Translation

“By executing regulative devotional service, one is elevated to the platform of an eternally perfect associate, such as a servant, friend, superior or beloved woman. Each of these is of four varieties.

Bengali

সাধনসিদ্ধ — দাস, সখা, গুরু, কান্তাগণ ।
জাতরতি সাধকভক্ত — চারিবিধ জন ॥ ২৯০ ॥

Text

sādhana-siddha — dāsa, sakhā, guru, kānta-gaṇa
jāta-rati sādhaka-bhakta — cāri-vidha jana

Synonyms

sādhana-siddha — those who have perfected themselves by devotional service; dāsa — servants; sakhā — friends; guru — superiors; kāntā-gaṇa — beloved damsels; jāta-rati sādhaka-bhakta — devotees who have become mature by devotional service; cāri-vidha jana — they are also of four varieties.

Translation

“Among those who have perfected themselves by devotional service, there are servants, friends, superiors and beloved damsels. Similarly, there are four types of mature devotees.

Bengali

অজাতরতি সাধকভক্ত, — এ চারি প্রকার ।
বিধিমার্গে ভক্তে ষোড়শ ভেদ প্রচার ॥ ২৯১ ॥

Text

ajāta-rati sādhaka-bhakta, — e cāri prakāra
vidhi-mārge bhakte ṣoḍaśa bheda pracāra

Synonyms

ajāta-rati sādhaka-bhakta — immature devotees engaged in devotional service; e cāri prakāra — there are also the same four varieties; vidhi-mārge — on the path of regulative devotional service; bhakte — devotees; ṣoḍaśa bheda pracāra — there are sixteen varieties.

Translation

“Within the category of regulative devotional service, there are also immature devotees. These are also of four varieties. Thus in regulative devotional service there are altogether sixteen varieties.

Bengali

রাগমার্গে ঐছে ভক্তে ষোড়শ বিভেদ ।
দুই মার্গে আত্মারামের বত্রিশ বিভেদ ॥ ২৯২ ॥

Text

rāga-mārge aiche bhakte ṣoḍaśa vibheda
dui mārge ātmārāmera batriśa vibheda

Synonyms

rāga-mārge — on the path of spontaneous loving service; aiche — in the same way; bhakte — all the devotees; ṣoḍaśa vibheda — divided into sixteen varieties; dui mārge — on the two paths, namely regulative devotional service and spontaneous devotional service; ātmārāmera — of persons enjoying with the Supreme Self; batriśa vibheda — there are thirty-two varieties of devotees.

Translation

“On the path of spontaneous devotional service, there are also sixteen categories of devotees. Thus there are thirty-two types of ātmārāmas enjoying the Supreme Lord on these two paths.

Bengali

‘মুনি’, ‘নির্গ্রন্থ’, ‘চ’ ‘অপি’, — চারি শব্দের অর্থ ।
যাহাঁ যেই লাগে, তাহা করিয়ে সমর্থ ॥ ২৯৩ ॥

Text

‘muni’, ‘nirgrantha’, ‘ca’ ‘api’, — cāri śabdera artha
yāhāṅ yei lāge, tāhā kariye samartha

Synonyms

muni — muni; nirgrantha — nirgrantha; ca — ca; api — api; cāri śabdera artha — the meanings of these four words; yāhāṅ — wherever; yei lāge — they apply; tāhā kariye samartha — make them sound.

Translation

“When these thirty-two types of devotees are qualified with the words ‘muni,’ ‘nirgrantha,’ ‘ca’ and ‘api,’ the meanings can be increased in different ways and very soundly elaborated upon.

Bengali

বত্রিশে ছাব্বিশে মিলি’ অষ্টপঞ্চাশ ।
আর এক ভেদ শুন অর্থের প্রকাশ ॥ ২৯৪ ॥

Text

batriśe chābbiśe mili, aṣṭa-pañcāśa
āra eka bheda śuna arthera prakāśa

Synonyms

batriśe — these thirty-two varieties; chābbiśe — the formerly described twenty-six varieties; mili’ — added together; aṣṭa-pañcāśa — they become fifty-eight; āra — another; eka — one; bheda — different; śuna — please hear; arthera prakāśa — manifestation of import.

Translation

“When we add the twenty-six types of devotees to these thirty-two, they altogether number fifty-eight. You may now hear from Me of further manifestations of meanings.

Bengali

ইতরেতর ‘চ’ দিয়া সমাস করিয়ে ।
‘আটান্ন’বার আত্মারাম নাম লইয়ে ॥ ২৯৫ ॥

Text

itaretara ‘ca’ diyā samāsa kariye
‘āṭānna’-bāra ātmārāma nāma la-iye

Synonyms

itaretara — in different varieties; ca — the word ca; diyā — adding; samāsa kariye — make a compound word; āṭānna-bāra — fifty-eight times; ātmārāma — the ātmārāma devotees; nāma la-iye — I take their different names.

Translation

“In this way, as I add the word ‘ca’ to one word after another, I make a compound. Thus the different names of ātmārāmas can be taken fifty-eight times.

Bengali

‘আত্মারামাশ্চ আত্মারামাশ্চ’ আটান্নবার ।
শেষে সব লোপ করি’ রাখি একবার ॥ ২৯৬ ॥

Text

‘ātmārāmāś ca ātmārāmāś ca’ āṭānna-bāra
śeṣe saba lopa kari’ rākhi eka-bāra

Synonyms

ātmārāmāḥ ca ātmārāmāḥ ca — repeating ātmārāmāḥ; āṭānna-bāra — fifty-eight times; śeṣe — at the end; saba lopa kari’ — rejecting all; rākhi — we keep; eka-bāra — only one.

Translation

“In this way, one can repeat the word ‘ātmārāmāḥ’ with ‘ca’ for each of the fifty-eight meanings. By following the rule previously stated and rejecting all but the last, we retain that which represents all the meanings.

Bengali

সরূপাণামেকশেষ একবিভক্তৌ,
উক্তার্থানামপ্রয়োগ ইতি ॥ ২৯৭ ॥

Text

sarūpāṇām eka-śeṣa eka-vibhaktau,
uktārthānām aprayoga iti

Synonyms

sa-rūpāṇām — of words of the same form; eka-śeṣaḥ — only the last; eka-vibhaktau — in the same case; ukta-arthānām — of the previously spoken meanings; aprayogaḥ — nonapplication; iti — thus.

Translation

“ ‘Of words having the same form and case termination, the last one is the only one retained.’

Purport

This is a quotation from Pāṇini’s sūtras (1.2.64).

Bengali

আটান্ন চ-কারের সব লোপ হয় ।
এক আত্মারাম-শব্দে আটান্ন অর্থ কয় ॥ ২৯৮ ॥

Text

āṭānna ca-kārera saba lopa haya
eka ātmārāma-śabde āṭānna artha kaya

Synonyms

āṭānna — fifty-eight; ca-kārera — of the additions of the word ca; saba lopa haya — all of them are rejected; eka — one; ātmārāma — ātmārāma; śabde — by the word; āṭānna artha kaya — fifty-eight imports are automatically derived.

Translation

“When all the ca-kāras, or additions of the word ‘ca,’ are taken away, fifty-eight different meanings can still be understood by the one word ‘ātmārāma.’

Bengali

অশ্বত্থবৃক্ষাশ্চ বটবৃক্ষাশ্চ
কপিত্থবৃক্ষাশ্চ আম্রবৃক্ষাশ্চ বৃক্ষাঃ ॥ ২৯৯ ॥

Text

aśvattha-vṛkṣāś ca baṭa-vṛkṣāś ca kapittha-
vṛkṣāś ca āmra-vṛkṣāś ca vṛkṣāḥ

Synonyms

aśvattha-vṛkṣāḥ — banyan trees; ca — and; baṭa-vṛkṣāḥ — fig trees; ca — and; kapittha-vṛkṣāḥ — a type of tree named kapittha; ca — and; āmra-vṛkṣāḥ — mango trees; ca — and; vṛkṣāḥ — all indicated by the word “trees.”

Translation

“ ‘By the plural word ‘vṛkṣāḥ’ [‘trees’], all trees, such as banyan trees, fig trees, kapittha trees and mango trees, are indicated.’

Bengali

“অস্মিন্ বনে বৃক্ষাঃ ফলন্তি” যৈছে হয় ।
তৈছে সব আত্মারাম কৃষ্ণে ভক্তি করয় ॥ ৩০০ ॥

Text

“asmin vane vṛkṣāḥ phalanti” yaiche haya
taiche saba ātmārāma kṛṣṇe bhakti karaya

Synonyms

asmin vane — in this forest; vṛkṣāḥ phalanti — different varieties of trees bear fruit; yaiche haya — just as in this sentence; taiche — similarly; saba — all; ātmārāma — self-realized souls; kṛṣṇe bhakti karaya — engage themselves in loving devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The ātmārāma verse is like the sentence ‘In this forest many different trees bear fruit.’ All ātmārāmas render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

‘আত্মারামাশ্চ’ সমুচ্চয়ে কহিয়ে চ-কার ।
‘মুনয়শ্চ’ ভক্তি করে, — এই অর্থ তার ॥ ৩০১ ॥

Text

‘ātmārāmāś ca’ samuccaye kahiye ca-kāra
‘munayaś ca’ bhakti kare, — ei artha tāra

Synonyms

ātmārāmāḥ ca — similarly the word ātmārāmāḥ with the word ca added; samuccaye — in aggregation; kahiye — means; ca-kāra — the word ca; munayaḥ ca — the word munayaḥ with the word ca added; bhakti kare — all of them engage in devotional service; ei artha tāra — this is the perfect meaning of the verse.

Translation

“After uttering the word ‘ātmārāmāḥ’ fifty-eight times and taking ‘ca’ in a sense of aggregation, one may add the word ‘munayaḥ.’ That will mean that great sages also render devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way there are fifty-nine meanings.

Bengali

‘নির্গ্রন্থা এব’ হঞা, ‘অপি’ — নির্ধারণে ।
এই ‘ঊনষষ্টি’ প্রকার অর্থ করিলুঁ ব্যাখ্যানে ॥ ৩০২ ॥

Text

‘nirgranthā eva’ hañā, ‘api’ — nirdhāraṇe
ei ‘ūnaṣaṣṭi’ prakāra artha kariluṅ vyākhyāne

Synonyms

nirgranthāḥ — the word nirgranthāḥ; eva — also the word eva; hañā — becoming; api — the word api; nirdhāraṇe — in fixation; ei ūnaṣaṣṭi prakāra artha — in this way fifty-nine imports; kariluṅ vyākhyāne — I have described.

Translation

“Then taking the word ‘nirgranthāḥ’ and considering ‘api’ in the sense of sustenance, I have tried to explain a fifty-ninth meaning of the verse.

Bengali

সর্বসমুচ্চয়ে আর এক অর্থ হয় ।
‘আত্মারামাশ্চ মুনয়শ্চ নির্গ্রন্থাশ্চ’ ভজয় ॥ ৩০৩ ॥

Text

sarva-samuccaye āra eka artha haya
‘ātmārāmāś ca munayaś ca nirgranthāś ca’ bhajaya

Synonyms

sarva-samuccaye — taking all of them together; āra — another; eka — one; artha — import; haya — there is; ātmārāmāḥ ca munayaḥ ca nirgranthāḥ ca bhajaya — the ātmārāmas, great sages and nirgranthas (the learned and the fools) are all eligible to engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Translation

“Taking all the words together, there is another meaning. Whether one is an ātmārāma, a great sage or a nirgrantha, everyone must engage in the service of the Lord.

Purport

The word sarva-samuccaye is significant here. It includes all classes of men — ātmārāmas, munis and nirgranthas. Everyone must engage in the service of the Lord. Taking the word api in the sense of ascertainment, there are, all together, sixty different meanings.

Bengali

‘অপি’-শব্দ — অবধারণে, সেহ চারি বার ।
চারিশব্দ-সঙ্গে এবের করিবে উচ্চার ॥ ৩০৪ ॥

Text

‘api’-śabda — avadhāraṇe, seha cāri bāra
cāri-śabda-saṅge evera karibe uccāra

Synonyms

api-śabda — the word api; avadhāraṇe — in the matter of ascertaining; seha cāri bāra — those four times; cāri-śabda — four words; saṅge — with; evera — of the word eva; karibe — one can do; uccāra — pronouncing.

Translation

“The word ‘api’ is then used in the sense of ascertainment, and then the word ‘eva’ can be uttered four times with four words.

Bengali

“উরুক্রমে এব ভক্তিমেব
অহৈতুকীমেব কুর্বন্ত্যেব” ॥ ৩০৫ ॥

Text

“urukrame eva bhaktim eva ahaitukīm eva kurvanty eva”

Synonyms

urukrame — unto the most powerful; eva — only; bhaktim — devotional service; eva — only; ahaitukīm — without motives; eva — only; kurvanti — they perform; eva — only.

Translation

“The words ‘urukrama,’ ‘bhakti,’ ‘ahaitukī’ and ‘kurvanti’ are added to the word ‘eva’ again and again. Thus another meaning is explained.

Bengali

এই ত’ কহিলুঁ শ্লোকের ‘ষষ্টি’ সংখ্যক অর্থ ।
আর এক অর্থ শুন প্রমাণে সমর্থ ॥ ৩০৬ ॥

Text

ei ta’ kahiluṅ ślokera ‘ṣaṣṭi’ saṅkhyaka artha
āra eka artha śuna pramāṇe samartha

Synonyms

ei ta’ — thus; kahiluṅ — I have explained; ślokera — of the verse; ṣaṣṭi — sixty; saṅkhyaka — numbering; artha — imports; āra — another; eka — one; artha — import; śuna — please hear; pramāṇe samartha — quite fit for giving evidence.

Translation

“Now I have given sixty different meanings of the verse, and yet there is another meaning which is also very strongly evident.

Bengali

‘আত্মা’-শব্দে কহে ‘ক্ষেত্রজ্ঞ জীব’-লক্ষণ ।
ব্ৰহ্মাদি কীটপর্যন্ত — তাঁর শক্তিতে গণন ॥ ৩০৭ ॥

Text

‘ātmā’-śabde kahe ‘kṣetrajña jīva’-lakṣaṇa
brahmādi kīṭa-paryanta — tāṅra śaktite gaṇana

Synonyms

ātmā-śabde — by the word ātmā; kahe — it is said; kṣetra-jña jīva — the living entity who knows about his body; lakṣaṇa — symptom; brahmā-ādi — beginning from Lord Brahmā; kīṭa-paryanta — down to the insignificant ant; tāṅra — His; śaktite — as the marginal potency; gaṇana — counting.

Translation

“The word ‘ātmā’ also refers to the living entity who knows about his body. That is another symptom. From Lord Brahmā down to the insignificant ant, everyone is counted as the marginal potency of the Lord.

Bengali

বিষ্ণুশক্তিঃ পরা প্রোক্তা ক্ষেত্রজ্ঞাখ্যা তথাপরা ।
অবিদ্যা-কর্ম-সংজ্ঞান্যা তৃতীয়া শক্তিরিষ্যতে ॥ ৩০৮ ॥

Text

viṣṇu-śaktiḥ parā proktā
kṣetrajñākhyā tathā parā
avidyā-karma-saṁjñānyā
tṛtīyā śaktir iṣyate

Synonyms

viṣṇu-śaktiḥ — the potency of Lord Viṣṇu; parā — spiritual; proktā — it is said; kṣetra-jña-ākhyā — the potency known as kṣetrajña; tathā — as well as; parā — spiritual; avidyā — ignorance; karma — fruitive activities; saṁjñā — known as; anyā — other; tṛtīyā — third; śaktiḥ — potency; iṣyate — known thus.

Translation

“ ‘The potency of Lord Viṣṇu is summarized in three categories — namely the spiritual potency, the living entities and ignorance. The spiritual potency is full of knowledge; the living entities, although belonging to the spiritual potency, are subject to bewilderment; and the third energy, which is full of ignorance, is always visible in fruitive activities.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. For an explanation, see Ādi-līlā 7.119.

Bengali

“ক্ষেত্রজ্ঞ আত্মা পুরুষঃ
প্রধানং প্রকৃতিঃ স্ত্রিয়াম্‌ ॥” ৩০৯ ॥

Text

“kṣetrajña ātmā puruṣaḥ
pradhānaṁ prakṛtiḥ striyām”

Synonyms

kṣetra-jñaḥ — the word kṣetrajña; ātmā — the living entity; puruṣaḥ — the enjoyer; pradhānam — the chief; prakṛtiḥ — the material nature; striyām — in the feminine gender.

Translation

“ ‘The word ‘kṣetrajña’ refers to the living entity, the enjoyer, the chief and material nature.’

Purport

This is a quotation from the Svarga-varga (7) of the Amara-kośa dictionary.

Bengali

ভ্রমিতে ভ্রমিতে যদি সাধুসঙ্গ পায় ।
সব ত্যজি’ তবে তিঁহো কৃষ্ণেরে ভজয় ॥ ৩১০ ॥

Text

bhramite bhramite yadi sādhu-saṅga pāya
saba tyaji’ tabe tiṅho kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Synonyms

bhramite bhramite — wandering in different forms in different manners; yadi — if; sādhu-saṅga pāya — one obtains the association of devotees; saba tyaji’ — giving up everything; tabe — then; tiṅho — he; kṛṣṇere bhajaya — engages himself in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“The living entities are wandering in different species of life on different planets, but if by chance they get the association of a pure devotee [sādhu], they give up all other engagements and engage in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

ষাটি অর্থ কহিলুঁ, সব — কৃষ্ণের ভজনে ।
সেই অর্থ হয় এই সব উদাহরণে ॥ ৩১১ ॥

Text

ṣāṭi artha kahiluṅ, saba — kṛṣṇera bhajane
sei artha haya ei saba udāharaṇe

Synonyms

ṣāṭi — sixty; artha — imports; kahiluṅ — I explained; saba — all; kṛṣṇera bhajane — aiming at rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa; sei artha haya — that is the only meaning; ei saba — all these; udāharaṇe — examples.

Translation

“I have thus explained sixty different meanings, and all of them aim at the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After giving so many examples, that is the only meaning.

Bengali

‘একষষ্টি’ অর্থ এবে স্ফুরিল তোমা-সঙ্গে ।
তোমার ভক্তিবশে উঠে অর্থের তরঙ্গে ॥ ৩১২ ॥

Text

‘eka-ṣaṣṭi’ artha ebe sphurila tomā-saṅge
tomāra bhakti-vaśe uṭhe arthera taraṅge

Synonyms

eka-ṣaṣṭi — sixty-one; artha — imports; ebe — now; sphurila — has awakened; tomā-saṅge — because of your association; tomāra — your; bhakti-vaśe — by dint of devotional service; uṭhe — there arises; arthera — of imports; taraṅge — waves.

Translation

“Now, due to your association, another meaning has awakened. It is due to your devotional service that these waves of meaning are arising.

Purport

The word ātmā refers to the living entity. From Lord Brahmā down to an insignificant ant, everyone is considered a living entity. Living entities are considered part of the Lord’s marginal potency. All of them are kṣetra-jña, knowers of the body. When they become nirgrantha, or free, saintly persons, they engage in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. That is the sixty-first meaning of the verse.

Bengali

অহং বেদ্মি শুকো বেত্তি ব্যাসো বেত্তি ন বেত্তি বা ।
ভক্ত্যা ভাগবতং গ্রাহ্যং ন বুদ্ধ্যা ন চ টিকয়া ॥ ৩১৩ ॥

Text

ahaṁ vedmi śuko vetti
vyāso vetti na vetti vā
bhaktyā bhāgavataṁ grāhyaṁ
na buddhyā na ca ṭīkayā

Synonyms

aham — I (Lord Śiva); vedmi — know; śukaḥ — Śukadeva Gosvāmī; vetti — knows; vyāsaḥ — Vyāsadeva; vetti — knows; na vetti — or may not know; bhaktyā — by devotional service (executed in nine different processes); bhāgavatam — the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (called the Paramahaṁsa-saṁhitā, the text or treatise readable by the topmost transcendentalists); grāhyam — to be accepted; na — not; buddhyā — by so-called intelligence or experimental knowledge; na — nor; ca — also; ṭīkayā — by imaginary commentary.

Translation

“[Lord Śiva said:] ‘I may know; Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, may know; and Vyāsadeva may know or may not know Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. On the whole, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the spotless Purāṇa, can be learned only through devotional service, not by material intelligence, speculative methods or imaginary commentaries.’ ”

Purport

Devotional service includes nine processes, beginning with hearing, chanting and remembering the activities of Lord Viṣṇu. Only one who has taken to devotional service can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the spotless Purāṇa for a transcendentalist (paramahaṁsa). So-called commentaries are useless for this purpose. According to the Vedic injunction, yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau. All Vedic literatures maintain that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has to be learned from the person bhāgavata, and to understand it one has to engage in pure devotional service. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam cannot be understood by so-called erudite scholars or grammarians. One who has developed pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness and has served the pure devotee, the spiritual master, can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Others cannot.

Bengali

অর্থ শুনি’ সনাতন বিস্মিত হঞা ।
স্তুতি করে মহাপ্রভুর চরণে ধরিয়া ॥ ৩১৪ ॥

Text

artha śuni’ sanātana vismita hañā
stuti kare mahāprabhura caraṇe dhariyā

Synonyms

artha śuni’ — by hearing the meanings (of the ātmārāma verse); sanātana — Sanātana Gosvāmī; vismita hañā — becoming struck with wonder; stuti kare — offers prayers; mahāprabhura — of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; caraṇe dhariyā — touching the lotus feet.

Translation

After hearing all the explanations of all the different meanings of the ātmārāma verse, Sanātana Gosvāmī was struck with wonder. He fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to offer prayers.

Bengali

“সাক্ষাৎ ঈশ্বর তুমি ব্রজেন্দ্রনন্দন ।
তোমার নিশ্বাসে সর্ববেদ-প্রবর্তন ॥ ৩১৫ ॥

Text

“sākṣāt īśvara tumi vrajendra-nandana
tomāra niśvāse sarva-veda-pravartana

Synonyms

sākṣāt īśvara tumi — You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vrajendra-nandana — the son of Mahārāja Nanda; tomāra niśvāse — by Your breathing; sarva-veda — all Vedic literatures; pravartana — are vibrated.

Translation

Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My dear Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda. All the Vedic literatures are vibrated through Your breathing.

Bengali

তুমি — বক্তা ভাগবতের, তুমি জান অর্থ ।
তোমা বিনা অন্য জানিতে নাহিক সমর্থ ॥” ৩১৬ ॥

Text

tumi — vaktā bhāgavatera, tumi jāna artha
tomā vinā anya jānite nāhika samartha”

Synonyms

tumi — Your Lordship; vaktā — the speaker; bhāgavatera — of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; tumi — You; jāna — know; artha — the import; tomā vinā — except for You; anya — anyone else; jānite — to know; nāhika — is not; samartha — able.

Translation

“My dear Lord, You are the original speaker of the Bhāgavatam. You therefore know its real import. But for You, no one can understand the confidential meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.”

Purport

Following this statement by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, we have written our introduction to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (First Canto, pages 1-41).

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — “কেনে কর আমার স্তবন ।
ভাগবতের স্বরূপ কেনে না কর বিচারণ ? ৩১৭ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — “kene kara āmāra stavana
bhāgavatera svarūpa kene nā kara vicāraṇa?

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; kene kara — why do you do; āmāra stavana — My personal glorification; bhāgavatera svarūpa — the real form of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; kene — why; kara — you do not do; vicāraṇa — consideration.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Why are you glorifying Me personally? You should understand the transcendental position of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Why don’t you consider this important point?

Bengali

কৃষ্ণ-তুল্য ভাগবত — বিভু, সর্বাশ্রয় ।
প্ৰতি-শ্লোকে প্ৰতি-অক্ষরে নানা অর্থ কয় ॥ ৩১৮ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-tulya bhāgavata — vibhu, sarvāśraya
prati-śloke prati-akṣare nānā artha kaya

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-tulya bhāgavataŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam is identical with Kṛṣṇa; vibhu — the supreme; sarva-āśraya — the origin of everything, or that which controls everything; prati-śloke — in every verse; prati-akṣare — in every syllable; nānā artha kaya — there are varieties of imports.

Translation

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is as great as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord and shelter of everything. In each and every verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and in each and every syllable, there are various meanings.

Bengali

প্ৰশ্নোত্তরে ভাগবতে করিয়াছে নির্ধার ।
যাঁহার শ্রবণে লোকে লাগে চমৎকার ॥ ৩১৯ ॥

Text

praśnottare bhāgavate kariyāche nirdhāra
yāṅhāra śravaṇe loke lāge camatkāra

Synonyms

praśna-uttare — in the form of questions and answers; bhāgavate — in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; kariyāche — has made; nirdhāra — conclusion; yāṅhāra śravaṇe — hearing which; loke — in all people; lāge — there is; camatkāra — wonderful astonishment.

Translation

“The form of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is given in questions and answers. Thus the conclusion is established. By hearing these questions and answers, one is highly astonished.

Bengali

ব্রূহি যোগেশ্বরে কৃষ্ণে ব্রহ্মণ্যে ধর্মবর্মণি ।
স্বাং কাষ্ঠামধুনোপেতে ধর্মঃ কং শরণং গতঃ ॥ ৩২০ ॥

Text

brūhi yogeśvare kṛṣṇe
brahmaṇye dharma-varmaṇi
svāṁ kāṣṭhām adhunopete
dharmaḥ kaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

Synonyms

brūhi — kindly explain; yoga-īśvare — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all mystic power; kṛṣṇe — Lord Kṛṣṇa; brahmaṇye — the protector of brahminical culture; dharma-varmaṇi — the strong arms of religious principles; svām — His own; kāṣṭhām — to the personal abode; adhunā — at present; upete — having returned; dharmaḥ — the religious principles; kam — unto what; śaraṇam — shelter; gataḥ — have gone.

Translation

“ ‘Now that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us by whom religious principles are presently protected.’

Purport

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.23) was a question raised by all the sages, who were headed by Śaunaka. This question put before the great devotee Sūta Gosvāmī is the foremost of the six questions raised. The answer to this important question is given in the next verse, also from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.43).

Bengali

কৃষ্ণে স্বধামোপগতে ধর্মজ্ঞানাদিভিঃ সহ ।
কলৌ নষ্টদৃশামেষ পুরাণার্কোঽধুনোদিতঃ ॥ ৩২১ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate
dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha
kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa
purāṇārko ’dhunoditaḥ

Synonyms

kṛṣṇe — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sva-dhāma — to His personal abode; upagate — having returned; dharma-jñāna-ādibhiḥ saha — along with religious principles, transcendental knowledge, and so on; kalau — in this Age of Kali; naṣṭa-dṛśām — of persons who have lost their spiritual vision; eṣaḥ — this; purāṇa-arkaḥ — Purāṇa or Vedic literature that shines like the sun; adhunā — at the present moment; uditaḥ — has arisen.

Translation

“ ‘After Lord Kṛṣṇa departed for His abode along with religious principles and transcendental knowledge, this Purāṇa, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, has arisen like the sun in this Age of Kali to enlighten those who have no spiritual vision.’

Bengali

এই মত কহিলুঁ এক শ্লোকের ব্যাখ্যান ।
বাতুলের প্রলাপ করি’ কে করে প্রমাণ ? ৩২২ ॥

Text

ei mata kahiluṅ eka ślokera vyākhyāna
vātulera pralāpa kari’ ke kare pramāṇa?

Synonyms

ei mata — in this way; kahiluṅ — I have spoken; eka — one; ślokera — of a verse; vyākhyāna — the explanation; vātulera pralāpa — the talking of a madman; kari’ — doing; ke kare pramāṇa — who will accept this as evidential proof.

Translation

“In this way, like a madman, I have explained the meaning of just one verse. I do not know who will take this as evidence.

Bengali

আমা-হেন যেবা কেহ ‘বাতুল’ হয় ।
এইদৃষ্টে ভাগবতের অর্থ জানয় ॥” ৩২৩ ॥

Text

āmā-hena yebā keha ‘vātula’ haya
ei-dṛṣṭe bhāgavatera artha jānaya”

Synonyms

āmā-hena — exactly like Me; yebā — anyone who; keha — a person; vātula haya — becomes a madman; ei-dṛṣṭe — according to this process; bhāgavatera — of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; artha — import; jānaya — he can understand.

Translation

“If one becomes a madman like Me, he may also understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by this process.”

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu plainly explains that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam cannot be understood by those who are materially situated. In other words, one has to become a madman like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Apart from being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is an ācārya who exhibited love of God like a madman. According to His own written verse, yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa. He says that for Him, “a moment seems to last twelve years.” Cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam: “My tears are flowing like torrents of rain.” Śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvam: “I feel as if the entire universe were vacant.” Why? Govinda-viraheṇa me: “Due to My being separated from Govinda, Kṛṣṇa.”

One can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam only by following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who was mad for Kṛṣṇa. We cannot, of course, imitate Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is not possible. However, unless one is very serious about understanding Kṛṣṇa, he cannot understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the full narration of Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental activities. The first nine cantos explain who Kṛṣṇa is, and the Lord’s birth and activities are narrated in the Tenth Canto. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, janma karma ca me divyam. Kṛṣṇa’s appearance and disappearance are transcendental, not mundane. A person is eligible to return home, back to Godhead, if he perfectly understands Kṛṣṇa and His appearance and disappearance. This is verified by Kṛṣṇa Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna.

It is therefore concluded that one has to learn about Kṛṣṇa from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā, and one has to follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Those who do not follow Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cannot understand the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Bengali

পুনঃ সনাতন কহে যুড়ি’ দুই করে ।
“প্রভু আজ্ঞা দিলা ‘বৈষ্ণবস্মৃতি’ করিবারে ॥ ৩২৪ ॥

Text

punaḥ sanātana kahe yuḍi’ dui kare
“prabhu ājñā dilā ‘vaiṣṇava-smṛti’ karibāre

Synonyms

punaḥ — again; sanātana — Sanātana Gosvāmī; kahe — says; yuḍi’ dui kare — folding his two hands; prabhu ājñā dilā — Your Lordship has ordered me; vaiṣṇava-smṛti karibāre — to write a directory of Vaiṣṇava activities.

Translation

Folding his hands, Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaiṣṇavas.

Bengali

মুঞি — নীচ-জাতি, কিছু না জানোঁ আচার ।
মো-হৈতে কৈছে হয় স্মৃতি-পরচার ॥ ৩২৫ ॥

Text

muñi — nīca-jāti, kichu nā jānoṅ ācāra
mo-haite kaiche haya smṛti-paracāra

Synonyms

muñi — I; nīca-jāti — belong to a lower caste; kichu — anything; — not; jānoṅ — I know; ācāra — about proper behavior; mo-haite — from me; kaiche — how; haya — there is; smṛti-paracāra — propagation of the directions of Vaiṣṇava behavior.

Translation

“I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaiṣṇava activities?”

Purport

Actually Sanātana Gosvāmī belonged to a very respectable brāhmaṇa family. Nonetheless, he submitted himself as a fallen, lowborn person because he had served in the Muslim government. A brāhmaṇa is never supposed to engage in anyone’s service. Serving others for a livelihood (paricaryātmakaṁ karma) is the business of śūdras. The brāhmaṇa is always independent and busy studying śāstra and preaching śāstra to subordinate social members such as kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Sanātana Gosvāmī felt unfit to write Vaiṣṇava smṛti about the behavior of Vaiṣṇavas because he had fallen from the brahminical position. Thus Sanātana Gosvāmī clearly admits that the brahminical culture should be standardized. Presently in India, so-called brāhmaṇas are almost all engaged in some mundane service, and they do not understand the import of the Vedic śāstras. Nonetheless, they are passing themselves off as brāhmaṇas on the basis of birth. In this connection, Sanātana Gosvāmī declares that a brāhmaṇa cannot be engaged in anyone’s service if he wants to take a leading part in society. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Nārada Muni states that even if a brāhmaṇa is in a difficult position, he should not accept the occupation of a śūdra. This means that he should not be engaged in service for another, for this is the business of dogs. Under the circumstances, Sanātana Gosvāmī felt very low because he had accepted a position of service in the Muslim government. The conclusion is that no one should claim to be a brāhmaṇa simply by birthright while engaging in someone else’s service.

Bengali

সূত্র করি’ দিশা যদি করহ উপদেশ ।
আপনে করহ যদি হৃদয়ে প্রবেশ ॥ ৩২৬ ॥

Text

sūtra kari’ diśā yadi karaha upadeśa
āpane karaha yadi hṛdaye praveśa

Synonyms

sūtra kari’ — making a synopsis; diśā — direction; yadi — if; karaha upadeśa — You kindly instruct; āpane — personally; karaha — You do; yadi — if; hṛdaye praveśa — entering into me or manifesting in my heart.

Translation

Sanātana Gosvāmī then requested the Lord, “Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaiṣṇava behavior. Please manifest Yourself in my heart.

Purport

The writing of Vaiṣṇava literatures is not a function for ordinary men. Vaiṣṇava literatures are not mental concoctions. They are all authorized literatures meant to guide those who are going to be Vaiṣṇavas. Under these circumstances, an ordinary man cannot give his own opinion. His opinion must always correspond with the conclusion of the Vedas. Unless one is fully qualified in Vaiṣṇava behavior and authorized by superior authority (the Supreme Personality of Godhead), one cannot write Vaiṣṇava literatures or purports and commentaries on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā.

Bengali

তবে তার দিশা স্ফুরে মো-নীচের হৃদয় ।
ঈশ্বর তুমি, — যে করাহ, সেই সিদ্ধ হয় ॥” ৩২৭ ॥

Text

tabe tāra diśā sphure mo-nīcera hṛdaya
īśvara tumi, — ye karāha, sei siddha haya”

Synonyms

tabe — if You do so; tāra — of that; diśā — the process of writing; sphure — manifests; mo-nīcera — of someone lowborn like me; hṛdaya — in the heart; īśvara tumi — You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ye karāha — whatever You cause to do; sei siddha haya — that is perfectly done.

Translation

“If You would please manifest Yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do this because You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself, and whatever You direct is perfect.”

Bengali

প্রভু কহে, — “যে করিতে করিবা তুমি মন ।
কৃষ্ণ সেই সেই তোমা করাবে স্ফুরণ ॥ ৩২৮ ॥

Text

prabhu kahe, — “ye karite karibā tumi mana
kṛṣṇa sei sei tomā karābe sphuraṇa

Synonyms

prabhu kahe — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said; ye — whatever; karite — to do; karibā tumi mana — you want; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sei sei — that; tomā — to you; karābe sphuraṇa — will manifest.

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Whatever you want to do you will be able to do correctly by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s favor. He will manifest the real purport.

Purport

Sanātana Gosvāmī was a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. A pure devotee has no business other than serving Kṛṣṇa; consequently Kṛṣṇa is always ready to help him. This benediction was given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was authorized to write Vaiṣṇava smṛti. Sanātana Gosvāmī was a pure devotee of the Lord, and through the blessings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu he was able to write the book perfectly.

Bengali

তথাপি এই সূত্রের শুন দিগ্‌দরশন ।
সকারণ লিখি আদৌ গুরু-আশ্রয়ণ ॥ ৩২৯ ॥

Text

tathāpi ei sūtrera śuna dig-daraśana
sakāraṇa likhi ādau guru-āśrayaṇa

Synonyms

tathāpi — still; ei sūtrera — of the synopsis of this book; śuna — hear; dik-daraśana — an indication; sakāraṇa — the cause; likhi — we should write; ādau — in the beginning; guru-āśrayaṇa — accepting a bona fide spiritual master.

Translation

“Because you asked Me for a synopsis, please hear these few indications. In the beginning describe how one must take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master.

Bengali

গুরুলক্ষণ, শিষ্যলক্ষণ, দোঁহার পরীক্ষণ ।
সেব্য — ভগবান্, সর্বমন্ত্র-বিচারণ ॥ ৩৩০ ॥

Text

guru-lakṣaṇa, śiṣya-lakṣaṇa, doṅhāra parīkṣaṇa
sevya — bhagavān, sarva-mantra-vicāraṇa

Synonyms

guru-lakṣaṇa — the symptoms of a bona fide spiritual master; śiṣya-lakṣaṇa — the symptoms of a bona fide disciple; doṅhāra — of both; parīkṣaṇa — the testing; sevya-bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshipable; sarva-mantra-vicāraṇa — consideration of the different types of mantras.

Translation

“Your book should describe the characteristics of the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master’s position. Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple’s position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, should be described as the worshipable object, and you should describe the bīja-mantra for the worship of Kṛṣṇa, as well as that for Rāma and for other expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Purport

In the Padma Purāṇa, the characteristics of the guru, the bona fide spiritual master, have been described:

mahā-bhāgavata-śreṣṭhobrāhmaṇo vai gurur nṛṇām
sarveṣām eva lokānām
asau pūjyo yathā hariḥ
mahā-kula-prasūto ’pisarva-yajñeṣu dīkṣitaḥ
sahasra-śākhādhyāyī ca
na guruḥ syād avaiṣṇavaḥ

The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class. The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people. It is said, gurur nṛṇām. The word nṛṇām means “of all human beings.” The guru is not limited to a particular group. It is stated in the Upadeśāmṛta of Rūpa Gosvāmī that a guru is a gosvāmī, a controller of the senses and the mind. Such a guru can accept disciples from all over the world. Pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt. This is the test of the guru.

In India there are many so-called gurus, and they are limited to a certain district or a province. They do not even travel about India, yet they declare themselves to be jagad-guru, the guru of the whole world. Such cheating gurus should not be accepted. Anyone can see how the bona fide spiritual master accepts disciples from all over the world. The guru is a qualified brāhmaṇa; therefore he knows Brahman and Parabrahman. He thus devotes his life for the service of Parabrahman. The bona fide spiritual master who accepts disciples from all over the world is also worshiped all over the world because of his qualities. Lokānām asau pūjyo yathā hariḥ: the people of the world worship him just as they worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All these honors are offered to him because he strictly follows the brahminical principles and teaches these principles to his disciples. Such a person is called an ācārya because he knows the principles of devotional service, he behaves in that way himself, and he teaches his disciples to follow in his footsteps. Thus he is an ācārya or jagad-guru. Even though a person is born in a brahminical family and is very expert in performing sacrifices, he cannot be accepted as a guru if he is not a strict Vaiṣṇava. A guru is a brāhmaṇa by qualification, and he can turn others into brāhmaṇas according to the śāstric principles and brahminical qualifications. Brahmanism is not a question of heredity. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.11.35) Śrī Nārada Muni tells Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira what a brāhmaṇa is. He states that if brahminical qualifications are observed in kṣatriyas, vaiśyas or even śūdras, one should accept them as brāhmaṇas. In this regard, Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has commented: śamādibhir eva brāhmaṇādi-vyavahāro mukhyaḥ, na jāti-mātrādīty āha — yasyeti. yad yadi anyatra varṇāntare ’pi dṛśyeta, tad-varṇāntaraṁ tenaiva lakṣaṇa-nimittenaiva varṇena vinirdiśet, na tu jāti-nimittenety arthaḥ: “The most important criterion for deciding whether to deal with someone as a brāhmaṇa or as a member of another varṇa is the presence or absence of self-control and similar brahminical qualities. We should not judge primarily according to superficial characteristics like birth. This is stated in the verse beginning yasya [Bhāg. 7.11.35]. If the qualities of one varṇa are seen in someone born in another, he should be designated according to the varṇa of his qualities, not that of his birth.”

There is a similar statement made by Nīlakaṇṭha, a commentator on the Mahābhārata: śūdro ’pi śamādy-upeto brāhmaṇa eva brāhmaṇo ’pi kāmādy-upetaḥ śūdra eva. “Although one may be born in a śūdra family, if he is endowed with the brahminical qualities, beginning with śama [control of the mind], he is to be accepted as a brāhmaṇa. Although one may be born in a brāhmaṇa family, if he is endowed with the qualities beginning with kāma [lust], he is to be considered a śūdra.” No one should present himself as a brāhmaṇa simply on the basis of being born in a brahminical family. One must be qualified by the brahminical qualities mentioned in the śāstras, particularly the Bhagavad-gītā (18.42):

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁkṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness — these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.”

Unless one is qualified with all these attributes, he cannot be accepted as a brāhmaṇa. It is not a question of simply taking birth in a brāhmaṇa family. In this regard, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, although not born in brāhmaṇa families, are accepted as bona fide spiritual masters because they were brāhmaṇas by qualification. Personalities like Śrī Gaṅgā-nārāyaṇa, Rāmakṛṣṇa and many others, who were actually born in brāhmaṇa families, accepted Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī as their spiritual masters.

The mahā-bhāgavata is one who decorates his body with tilaka and whose name indicates him to be a servant of Kṛṣṇa by the word dāsa. He is also initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and is expert in worshiping the Deity, chanting mantras correctly, performing sacrifices, offering prayers to the Lord and performing saṅkīrtana. He knows how to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to respect a Vaiṣṇava. When one has attained the topmost position of mahā-bhāgavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru. However, if one is highly qualified but is not a Vaiṣṇava, he cannot be accepted as a guru. One cannot be a brāhmaṇa unless one is a Vaiṣṇava. If one is a Vaiṣṇava, he is already a brāhmaṇa. If a guru is completely qualified as a Vaiṣṇava, he must be accepted as a brāhmaṇa even if he is not born in a brāhmaṇa family. The caste system method of distinguishing a brāhmaṇa by birth is not acceptable when applied to a bona fide spiritual master. A spiritual master is a qualified brāhmaṇa and ācārya. If one is not a qualified brāhmaṇa, he is not expert in studying the Vedic literatures. Nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau. Every Vaiṣṇava is a spiritual master, and a spiritual master is automatically expert in brahminical behavior. He also understands the Vedic śāstras.

Similarly, a disciple’s qualifications must be observed by the spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, the requirement is that one must be prepared to give up the four pillars of sinful life — illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. In Western countries especially, we first observe whether a potential disciple is prepared to follow the regulative principles. Then he is given the name of a Vaiṣṇava servant and initiated to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, at least sixteen rounds daily. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master or his representative for at least six months to a year. He is then recommended for a second initiation, during which a sacred thread is offered and the disciple is accepted as a bona fide brāhmaṇa. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura introduced the system of giving the sacred thread to a bona fide Vaiṣṇava, and we are following in his footsteps. The qualifications of a bona fide disciple are described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.10.6) as follows:

amānya-matsaro dakṣonirmamo dṛḍha-sauhṛdaḥ
asatvaro ’rtha-jijñāsur
anasūyur amogha-vāk

The disciple must have the following qualifications. He must give up interest in the material bodily conception. He must give up material lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy. He should be interested only in understanding the science of God, and he should be ready to consider all points in this matter. He should no longer think, “I am this body,” or, “This thing belongs to me.” One must love the spiritual master with unflinching faith, and one must be very steady and fixed. The bona fide disciple should be inquisitive to understand transcendental subject matter. He must not search out faults among good qualities, and he should no longer be interested in material topics. His only interest should be Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

As far as the mutual testing of the spiritual master and disciple is concerned, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that a bona fide disciple must be very inquisitive to understand the transcendental subject matter. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.3.21):

tasmād guruṁ prapadyetajijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam

“One who is inquisitive to understand the highest goal and benefit of life must approach a bona fide spiritual master and surrender unto him.” A serious disciple must be alert when selecting a bona fide spiritual master. He must be sure that the spiritual master can deliver all the transcendental necessities. The spiritual master must observe how inquisitive the disciple is and how eager he is to understand the transcendental subject matter. The spiritual master should study the disciple’s inquisitiveness for no less than six months or a year. A spiritual master should not be very anxious to accept a disciple because of his material opulences. Sometimes a big businessman or landlord may approach a spiritual master for initiation. Those who are materially interested are called viṣayīs (karmīs), which indicates that they are very fond of sense gratification. Such viṣayīs sometimes approach a famous guru and ask to become a disciple just as a matter of fashion. Sometimes viṣayīs pose as disciples of a reputed spiritual master just to cover their activities and advertise themselves as advanced in spiritual knowledge. In other words, they want to attain material success. A spiritual master must be very careful in this regard. Such business is going on all over the world. The spiritual master does not accept a materially opulent disciple just to advertise the fact that he has such a big disciple. He knows that by associating with such viṣayī disciples, he may fall down. One who accepts a viṣayī disciple is not a bona fide spiritual master. Even if he is, his position may be damaged due to association with an unscrupulous viṣayī. If a so-called spiritual master accepts a disciple for his personal benefit or for material gain, the relationship between the spiritual master and the disciple turns into a material affair, and the spiritual master becomes like a smārta-guru. There are many caste gosvāmīs who professionally create some disciples who do not care for them or their instructions. Such spiritual masters are satisfied simply to get some material benefits from their disciples. Such a relationship is condemned by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who calls such spiritual masters and disciples a society of cheaters and cheated. They are also called bāulas or prākṛta-sahajiyās. Their aim is to make the connection between the spiritual master and the disciple into a very cheap thing. They are not serious in wanting to understand spiritual life.

The words sevya bhagavān in this verse of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta are important. Bhagavān indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu. Lord Viṣṇu alone is worshipable. There is no need to worship demigods. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.20):

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥprapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā

“Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.”

It is also stated in the Skanda Purāṇa:

vāsudevaṁ parityajyayo ’nya-devam upāsate
sva-mātaraṁ parityajya
śva-pacīṁ vandate hi saḥ

“A person who worships the demigods and gives up Lord Vāsudeva is like a man who gives up the protection of his mother for the shelter of a witch.”

It is also stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.23):

ye ’py anya-devatā-bhaktāyajante śraddhayānvitāḥ
te ’pi mām eva kaunteya
yajanty avidhi-pūrvakam

“Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kuntī, but they do so in a wrong way.”

Demigods are also living entities and parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore in one sense one worships Kṛṣṇa when one worships the demigods, but not in the proper way. There is a proper method to water a tree: one should water the root. But if one waters the leaves and branches instead, he is simply wasting his time. If one worships the demigods to the exclusion of Lord Viṣṇu, his rewards will only be material. As confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.23):

anta-vat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁtad bhavaty alpa-medhasām
devān deva-yajo yānti
mad-bhaktā yānti mām api

“Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.”

Demigod worship is meant for unintelligent men because the benefits derived from demigod worship are all material, temporary and retractable. It is also stated in the Padma Purāṇa:

yas tu nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁbrahma-rudrādi-daivataiḥ
samatvenaiva vīkṣeta
sa pāṣaṇḍī bhaved dhruvam

“Whoever thinks Lord Viṣṇu and the demigods are on the same level is to be immediately considered a rogue as far as spiritual understanding is concerned.”

There are three modes of nature in the material world, but when one is situated spiritually, he is above the material modes, even though he lives in this material world. As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (14.26):

māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇabhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇān samatītyaitān
brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

“One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” In material consciousness, however, even one who is situated in the mode of goodness is susceptible to pollution by the modes of passion and ignorance. When the mode of goodness is mixed with the mode of passion, one worships the sun-god, Vivasvān. When the mode of goodness is mixed with the mode of ignorance, one worships Gaṇapati, or Gaṇeśa. When the mode of passion is mixed with the mode of ignorance, one worships Durgā, or Kālī, the external potency. When one is simply in the mode of ignorance, one becomes a devotee of Lord Śiva because Lord Śiva is the predominating deity of the mode of ignorance within this material world. However, when one is completely free from the influence of all the modes of material nature, one becomes a pure Vaiṣṇava on the devotional platform. As Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu:

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁjñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

“One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.”

The position of viśuddha-sattva is the position of uncontaminated goodness. On that platform one can then understand, ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayas tad-dhāma vṛndāvanam: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is to be worshiped along with His transcendental abode, Vṛndāvana.”

The word sarva-mantra-vicāraṇa in the present verse of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta means “considering all different types of mantras.” There are different kinds of mantras for different kinds of devotees. There is the mantra known as the dvādaśākṣara mantra, composed of twelve syllables, and there is the mantra composed of eighteen syllables. Similarly, there are the Nārasiṁha mantra, the Rāma mantra, the Gopāla mantra and so on. Each and every mantra has its own spiritual significance. The spiritual master has to select a mantra for his disciple according to the disciple’s ability to chant different mantras.

Bengali

মন্ত্র-অধিকারী, মন্ত্র-সিদ্ধ্যাদি-শোধন ।
দীক্ষা, প্রাতঃস্মৃতি-কৃত্য, শৌচ, আচমন ॥ ৩৩১ ॥

Text

mantra-adhikārī, mantra-siddhy-ādi-śodhana
dīkṣā, prātaḥ-smṛti-kṛtya, śauca, ācamana

Synonyms

mantra-adhikārī — qualification for receiving mantra initiation; mantra-siddhi-ādi — the perfection of the mantra and so on; śodhana — purification; dīkṣā — initiation; prātaḥ-smṛti-kṛtya — morning duties and remembrance of the Supreme Lord; śauca — cleanliness; ācamana — washing the mouth and other parts of the body.

Translation

“You should discuss the qualifications necessary for receiving a mantra, the perfection of the mantra, the purification of the mantra, initiation, morning duties, remembrance of the Supreme Lord, cleanliness and washing the mouth and other parts of the body.

Purport

The following injunction is given in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (1.194) regarding mantra-adhikārī, the qualification for receiving mantra initiation:

tāntrikeṣu ca mantreṣudīkṣāyāṁ yoṣitām api
sādhvīnām adhikāro ’sti
śūdrādīnāṁ ca sad-dhiyām

Śūdras and women who are chaste and sincerely interested in understanding the Absolute Truth are qualified to be initiated with the pāñcarātrika-mantras.” This is confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32):

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśrityaye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatiṁ

“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] — can attain the supreme destination.”

If one actually wants to serve Kṛṣṇa, it doesn’t matter whether one is a śūdra, vaiśya or even a woman. If one is sincerely eager to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra or dīkṣā-mantra, one is qualified to be initiated according to the pāñcarātrika process. However, according to Vedic principles, only a brāhmaṇa who is fully engaged in his occupational duties can be initiated. Śūdras and women are not admitted to a vaidika initiation. Unless one is fit according to the estimation of the spiritual master, one cannot accept a mantra from the pāñcarātrika-vidhi or the vaidika-vidhi. When one is fit to accept the mantra, one is initiated by the pāñcarātrika-vidhi or the vaidika-vidhi. In any case, the result is the same.

Regarding mantra-siddhy-ādi-śodhana, the efficacy of the mantra, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives sixteen divisions, which are confirmed in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (beginning with 1.204):

siddha-sādhya-susiddhāri-kramāj jñeyo vicakṣaṇaiḥ

These are (1) siddha, (2) sādhya, (3) susiddha and (4) ari. These four principles can be divided further: (1) siddha-siddha, (2) siddha-sādhya, (3) siddha-susiddha, (4) siddha-ari, (5) sādhya-siddha, (6) sādhya-sādhya, (7) sādhya-susiddha, (8) sādhya-ari, (9) susiddha-siddha, (10) susiddha-sādhya, (11) susiddha-susiddha, (12) susiddha-ari, (13) ari-siddha, (14) ari-sādhya, (15) ari-susiddha, and (16) ari-ari.

Those who are initiated with the eighteen-syllable mantra do not need to consider the above-mentioned sixteen divisions. As enjoined in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (1.215, 219, 220):

na cātra śātravā doṣānarṇasvādi-vicāraṇā
ṛkṣa-rāśi-vicāro vā
na kartavyo manau priye
nātra cintyo ’ri-śuddhyādirnāri-mitrādi-lakṣaṇam
siddha-sādhya-susiddhāri-rūpā nātra vicāraṇā

There is śodhana, or purification of the mantra, but there is no such consideration for the Kṛṣṇa mantra. Balitvāt kṛṣṇa-mantrāṇāṁ saṁskārāpekṣaṇaṁ na hi: “The Kṛṣṇa mantra is so strong that there is no question of śodhana.” (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 1.235)

As far as dīkṣā is concerned, one should consult Madhya-līlā 15.108. On the whole, when a person is initiated according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, he has already attained the position of a brāhmaṇa. This is enjoined in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.12):

yathā kāñcanatāṁ yātikāṁsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ
tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena
dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām

“As bell metal can be turned into gold when treated with mercury, a disciple initiated by a bona fide guru immediately attains the position of a brāhmaṇa.”

As far as the time of dīkṣā (initiation) is concerned, everything depends on the position of the guru. As soon as a bona fide guru is received by chance or by a program, one should immediately take the opportunity to receive initiation. In the book called Tattva-sāgara, it is stated:

durlabhe sad-gurūṇāṁ casakṛt-saṅga upasthite
tad-anujñā yadā labdhā
sa dīkṣāvasaro mahān
grāme vā yadi vāraṇyekṣetre vā divase niśi
āgacchati gurur daivād
yathā dīkṣā tad-ājñayā
yadaivecchā tadā dīkṣāguror ājñānurūpataḥ
na tīrthaṁ na vrataṁ hemo
na snānaṁ na japa-kriyā
dīkṣāyāḥ karaṇaṁ kintusvecchā-prāpte tu sad-gurau

“If by chance one gets a sad-guru, it doesn’t matter whether one is in the temple or the forest. If the sad-guru, the bona fide spiritual master, agrees, one can be initiated immediately, without waiting for a suitable time or place.”

Concerning prātaḥ-smṛti, remembrance of the Lord in the morning, in the early morning hours (known as brāhma-muhūrta) one should get up and immediately chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, or at least “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa.” In this way, one should remember Kṛṣṇa. Some ślokas or prayers should also be chanted. By chanting, one immediately becomes auspicious and transcendental to the infection of material qualities. Actually one has to chant and remember Lord Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours daily, or as much as possible:

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇurvismartavyo na jātucit
sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur
etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ

“Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles.” This is a quotation from the Padma Purāṇa, from the portion called Bṛhat-sahasra-nāma-stotra.

The word prātaḥ-kṛtya in the present verse of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta means that one should evacuate regularly in the morning and then cleanse himself by taking a bath. One has to gargle (ācamana) and brush his teeth (danta-dhāvana). He should do this either with twigs or a toothbrush — whatever is available. This will purify the mouth. Then one should take his bath. Actually householders and vānaprasthas should bathe two times a day (prātar-madhyāhnayoḥ snānaṁ vānaprastha-gṛhasthayoḥ). A sannyāsī should bathe three times daily, and a brahmacārī may take only one bath a day. Whenever one is not able to bathe in water, he can bathe by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. One also has to perform his sandhyādi-vandana — that is, one has to chant his Gāyatrī mantra three times daily — morning, noon and evening.

Bengali

দন্তধাবন, স্নান, সন্ধ্যাদি বন্দন ।
গুরুসেবা, ঊর্ধ্বপুণ্ড্রচক্রাদি-ধারণ ॥ ৩৩২ ॥

Text

danta-dhāvana, snāna, sandhyādi vandana
guru-sevā, ūrdhva-puṇḍra-cakrādi-dhāraṇa

Synonyms

danta-dhāvana — brushing the teeth; snāna — bath; sandhyā-ādi vandana — regular chanting of the mantras; guru-sevā — serving the spiritual master; ūrdhva-puṇḍra — wearing perpendicularly straight tilaka; cakra-ādi-dhāraṇa — stamping the body with different names and symbols of the Lord.

Translation

“You should describe how in the morning one should regularly brush his teeth, take his bath, offer prayers to the Lord and offer obeisances to the spiritual master. You should also describe how one should render service to the spiritual master and paint one’s body in twelve places with ūrdhva-puṇḍra [tilaka], as well as how one should stamp one’s body with the holy names of the Lord or the symbols of the Lord, such as the disc and club.

Bengali

গোপীচন্দন-মাল্য-ধৃতি, তুলসী-আহরণ ।
বস্ত্র-পীঠ-গৃহ-সংস্কার, কৃষ্ণ-প্রবোধন ॥ ৩৩৩ ॥

Text

gopīcandana-mālya-dhṛti, tulasī-āharaṇa
vastra-pīṭha-gṛha-saṁskāra, kṛṣṇa-prabodhana

Synonyms

gopī-candana — gopī-candana (available in Vṛndāvana and Dvārakā); mālya — beads on the neck; dhṛti — wearing regularly; tulasī-āharaṇa — collecting tulasī leaves; vastra — cloth; pīṭha — temple; gṛha — the house; saṁskāra — cleansing; kṛṣṇa-prabodhana — awakening the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

“After this, you should describe how one should decorate his body with gopīcandana, wear neck beads, collect tulasī leaves from the tulasī tree, cleanse his cloth and the altar, cleanse his own house or apartment and go to the temple and ring the bell just to draw the attention of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Bengali

পঞ্চ, ষোড়শ, পঞ্চাশৎ উপচারে অর্চন ।
পঞ্চকাল পূজা আরতি, কৃষ্ণের ভোজন-শয়ন ॥ ৩৩৪ ॥

Text

pañca, ṣoḍaśa, pañcāśat upacāre arcana
pañca-kāla pūjā ārati, kṛṣṇera bhojana-śayana

Synonyms

pañca — five; ṣoḍaśa — sixteen; pañcāśat — fifty; upacāre — with ingredients; arcana — offering worship; pañca-kāla — five times; pūjā — worshiping; ārati — offering ārati; kṛṣṇera bhojana-śayana — in this way offering eatables to Kṛṣṇa and laying Him down to rest.

Translation

“Also describe Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to Kṛṣṇa at least five times daily and in due time place Him on a bed. You should also describe the process for offering ārati and the worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen or fifty ingredients.

Purport

The five ingredients for Deity worship are (1) very good scents, (2) very good flowers, (3) incense, (4) a lamp and (5) something edible. As for ṣoḍaśopacāra, the sixteen ingredients, one should (1) provide a sitting place (āsana), (2) ask Kṛṣṇa to sit down, (3) offer arghya, (4) offer water to wash the legs, (5) wash the mouth, (6) offer madhu-parka, (7) offer water for washing the mouth, (8) bathe the Lord, (9) offer garments, (10) decorate the Lord’s body with ornaments, (11) offer sweet scents, (12) offer flowers with good fragrance, like the rose or campaka, (13) offer incense, (14) offer a lamp, (15) give good food, and (16) offer prayers.

In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (eleventh vilāsa, verses 127-140) there is a vivid description of what is required in Deity worship. There are sixty-four items mentioned. In the temple, worship should be so gorgeous that all sixty-four items should be available for the satisfaction of the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes it is impossible to get all sixty-four items; therefore we recommend that at least on the first day of installation all sixty-four items should be available. When the Lord is established, worship with all sixty-four items should continue as far as possible. The sixty-four items are as follows: (1) There must be a big bell hanging in front of the temple room so that whoever comes into the room can ring the bell. This item is called prabodhana, or offering oneself submissively to the Lord. This is the first item. (2) The visitor must chant “Jaya Śrī Rādhā-Govinda!” or “Jaya Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava!” when he rings the bell. In either case, the word jaya must be uttered. (3) One should immediately offer obeisances to the Lord, falling down like a stick. (4) There must be regular maṅgala-ārati in the temple during the early morning, an hour and a half before the sun rises. (5) There must be an āsana, a sitting place before the altar. This āsana is for the spiritual master. The disciple brings everything before the spiritual master, and the spiritual master offers everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (6) After maṅgala-ārati, the Deity is supposed to wash His teeth by using a twig; therefore a twig must be offered. (7) Water must be offered for washing the Deity’s feet. (8) Arghya should be offered. (9) Water for ācamana should be offered. (10) Madhu-parka, a small bowl containing madhu (honey, a little ghee, a little water, a little sugar, yogurt and milk) should be offered. This is called madhu-parka-ācamana. (11) One should place wooden slippers before the Lord. (12) One should massage the body of the Lord. (13) One should massage the body of the Lord with oil. (14) With a soft, wet sponge one should remove all the oil smeared over the Lord’s body. (15) One should bathe the Lord with water in which nicely scented flowers have been soaking for some time. (16) After bathing the body of the Lord with water, one should bathe Him with milk. (17) Then one should bathe Him with yogurt. (18) Then one should bathe Him with ghee. (19) Then one should bathe Him with honey. (20) Then one should bathe Him with water in which sugar has been dissolved. (21) Then one should wash the Deity with water and chant this mantra:

cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-
lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam
lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

(22) One should dry the entire body of the Lord with a towel. (23) A new dress should be put on the Lord’s body. (24) A sacred thread should be placed on His body. (25) Water should be offered for cleansing His mouth (ācamana). (26) Nicely scented oils like liquid sandalwood pulp should be smeared over the Lord’s body. (27) All kinds of ornaments and crowns should be placed on His body. (28) Then one should offer flower garlands and decorative flowers. (29) One should burn incense. (30) Lamps should be offered. (31) Precautions should always be taken so that demons and atheists cannot harm the body of the Lord. (32) Food offerings should be placed before the Lord. (33) Spices for chewing should be offered. (34) Betel nuts should be offered. (35) At the proper time, there should be arrangements so that the Lord may take rest in bed. (36) The Lord’s hair should be combed and decorated. (37) First-class garments should be offered. (38) A first-class helmet should be offered. (39) The garments should be scented. (40) There should be Kaustubha jewels and other ornaments offered. (41) A variety of flowers should be offered. (42) Another maṅgala-ārati should be offered. (43) A mirror should be offered. (44) The Lord should be carried on a nice palanquin to the altar. (45) The Lord should be seated on the throne. (46) Again water should be given for the washing of His feet. (47) Something again should be offered for eating. (48) Evening ārati should be offered. (49) The Lord should be fanned with a cāmara fan, and an umbrella should be placed over His head. (50) The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and approved songs should be sung. (51) Musical instruments should be played. (52) One should dance before the Deity. (53) One should circumambulate the Deity. (54) One should again offer obeisances. (55) One should offer different types of prayers and hymns at the Lord’s lotus feet. (56) One should touch the lotus feet of the Lord with one’s head. This may not be possible for everyone, but at least the pūjārī should do this. (57) The flowers offered on the previous day should touch one’s head. (58) One should take the remnants of the Lord’s food. (59) One should sit before the Lord and think that he is massaging the Lord’s legs. (60) One should decorate the Lord’s bed with flowers before the Lord takes His rest. (61) One should offer one’s hand to the Lord. (62) One should take the Deity to His bed. (63) One should wash the feet of the Lord and then sit Him on the bed. (64) One should place the Lord on the bed and then massage His feet.

Ārati should be offered to the Deities five times daily — early in the morning before sunrise, later in the morning, at noon, in the evening and at night. This means that there should be worship and a change of dress and flowers. As far as the eatables are concerned, all items should be first-class preparations. There should be first-class rice, dhal, fruit, sweet rice, vegetables and a variety of foods to be sucked, drunk and chewed. All the eatables offered to the Deities should be extraordinarily excellent. In Europe and America there is presently no monetary scarcity. People are not poor, and if they follow these principles of Deity worship, they will advance in spiritual life. As far as placing the Deity in the bed is concerned, if the Deity is large and heavy, it is not possible to move Him daily. It is better that a small Deity, which is also worshiped, be taken to the bed. This mantra should be chanted: āgaccha śayana-sthānaṁ priyābhiḥ saha keśava. “O Keśava, kindly come to Your bed along with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.” (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.40)

The Deity should be placed in bed with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and this should be indicated by bringing the wooden slippers from the altar to the bedside. When the Deity is laid down, His legs should be massaged. Before laying the Deity down, a pot of milk and sugar should be offered to Him. After taking this thick milk, the Deity should lie down and should be offered betel nuts and spices to chew.

Bengali

শ্রীমূর্তিলক্ষণ, আর শালগ্রামলক্ষণ ।
কৃষ্ণক্ষেত্র-যাত্রা, কৃষ্ণমূর্তি-দরশন ॥ ৩৩৫ ॥

Text

śrī-mūrti-lakṣaṇa, āra śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa
kṛṣṇa-kṣetra-yātrā, kṛṣṇa-mūrti-daraśana

Synonyms

śrī-mūrti-lakṣaṇa — characteristics of the Deity; āra — and; śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa — characteristics of the śālagrāma-śilā; kṛṣṇa-kṣetra-yātrā — visiting places like Vṛndāvana, Dvārakā and Mathurā; kṛṣṇa-mūrti-daraśana — visiting the Deity in the temple.

Translation

“The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed, as well as the characteristics of the śālagrāma-śilā. You should also discuss visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like Vṛndāvana, Mathurā and Dvārakā.

Bengali

নামমহিমা, নামাপরাধ দূরে বর্জন ।
বৈষ্ণবলক্ষণ, সেবাপরাধ-খণ্ডন ॥ ৩৩৬ ॥

Text

nāma-mahimā, nāmāparādha dūre varjana
vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa, sevāparādha-khaṇḍana

Synonyms

nāma-mahimā — the glories of the holy name; nāma-aparādha — offenses in chanting the holy name; dūre varjana — giving up very carefully; vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa — the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava; sevā-aparādha-khaṇḍana — rejecting offenses in worshiping the Deity.

Translation

“You should glorify the holy name and explain that one must carefully give up offenses when chanting the holy name. You should also describe the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava and explain that one must give up or nullify all kinds of sevā-aparādha, offenses in Deity worship.

Purport

The devotee should always be very careful not to commit the ten offenses when chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. If a devotee very strictly follows the methods of Deity worship, he will naturally and quickly become a pure Vaiṣṇava. A pure Vaiṣṇava has unflinching faith in the Lord, and he does not deviate at all. He is always engaged in perfect Deity worship.

One should also note the specific offenses against Deity worship. These are mentioned in the Skanda Purāṇa (Avantī-khaṇḍa), spoken by Vyāsadeva himself. One should liquidate all kinds of offenses.

The śālagrāma-śilā should be worshiped with tulasī where a sufficient quantity of tulasī leaves are available. Worship of śālagrāma-śilā should be introduced in all ISKCON temples. Śālagrāma-śilā is the form of the Lord’s mercy. To worship the Deity with the sixty-four items mentioned may be a difficult job, but the Lord has become so small that anyone in any temple can carefully handle Deity worship simply by performing the same activities with the śālagrāma-śilā.

There are thirty-two offenses to the Deity that should be avoided. (1) One should not enter the temple in a vehicle. Shoes and slippers should be removed before entering the temple. (2) One should offer obeisances as soon as he sees the Deity. (3) One should enter the temple after taking a bath. In other words, one should be very clean. (4) One should not offer obeisances to the Lord with one hand. (5) One should not circumambulate demigods before the Deities. (6) One should not spread his legs before the Deity. (7) One should not sit down before the Deity with his legs crossed, nor should one touch his legs with his hands. (8) One should not lie down before the Deity. (9) One should not eat before the Deity. (10) One should not speak lies before the Deity. (11) One should not speak very loudly before the Deity. (12) One should not talk nonsense before the Deity. (13) One should not cry before the Deity. (14) One should not deal with others before the Deity. (15) One should not utter harsh words before the Deity. (16) One should not cover himself with a blanket. (17) One should not talk enviously of others before the Deity. (18) One should not praise others before the Deity. (19) One should not use slang before the Deity. (20) One should not pass air before the Deity. (21) One should not neglect the sixty-four items of Deity worship. (22) One should not eat anything not offered to the Deity. (23) One should not neglect offering seasonal fruits as soon as they are available. (24) One should always offer fresh, untouched fruit to the Deity. (25) One should not sit with his back toward the Deity. (26) One should not offer obeisances to others before the Deity. (27) One should not sit near the Deity without taking the spiritual master’s permission. (28) One should not be proud to hear himself praised before the Deity. (29) One should not blaspheme the demigods. (30) One should not be unkind to others before the Deities. (31) One should observe all festivals in the temple. (32) One should not fight or quarrel before the Deity.

Bengali

শঙ্খ-জল-গন্ধ-পুষ্প-ধূপাদি-লক্ষণ ।
জপ, স্তুতি, পরিক্রমা, দণ্ডবৎ বন্দন ॥ ৩৩৭ ॥

Text

śaṅkha-jala-gandha-puṣpa-dhūpādi-lakṣaṇa
japa, stuti, parikramā, daṇḍavat vandana

Synonyms

śaṅkha — of a conchshell; jala — of water; gandha — of incense or scents; puṣpa — of flowers; dhūpa-ādi — of incense, and so on; lakṣaṇa — the characteristics; japa — murmuring; stuti — offering prayers; parikramā — circumambulation; daṇḍavat — offering obeisances; vandana — offering prayers.

Translation

“The items of worship, such as water, conchshell, flowers, incense and lamp, should be described. You should also mention chanting softly, offering prayers, circumambulating and offering obeisances. All these should be carefully described.

Purport

All these are mentioned in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa. The eighth vilāsa of that book should be consulted as far as possible.

Bengali

পুরশ্চরণ-বিধি, কৃষ্ণপ্রসাদ-ভোজন ।
অনিবেদিত-ত্যাগ, বৈষ্ণবনিন্দাদি-বর্জন ॥ ৩৩৮ ॥

Text

puraścaraṇa-vidhi, kṛṣṇa-prasāda-bhojana
anivedita-tyāga, vaiṣṇava-nindādi-varjana

Synonyms

puraścaraṇa-vidhi — ritualistic ceremonies; kṛṣṇa-prasāda-bhojana — eating the remnants of food offered to the Lord; anivedita-tyāga — not touching anything not offered to the Lord; vaiṣṇava-nindā-ādi-varjana — completely avoiding blaspheming a Vaiṣṇava.

Translation

“Other items you should describe are the method of performing puraścaraṇa, taking kṛṣṇa-prasādam, giving up unoffered food and not blaspheming the Lord’s devotees.

Purport

Regarding the vaiṣṇava-nindā, see Madhya-līlā 15.261.

Bengali

সাধুলক্ষণ, সাধুসঙ্গ, সাধুসেবন ।
অসৎসঙ্গ-ত্যাগ, শ্রীভাগবত-শ্রবণ ॥ ৩৩৯ ॥

Text

sādhu-lakṣaṇa, sādhu-saṅga, sādhu-sevana
asat-saṅga-tyāga, śrī-bhāgavata-śravaṇa

Synonyms

sādhu-lakṣaṇa — the symptoms of a devotee; sādhu-saṅga — association with devotees; sādhu-sevana — offering service to devotees; asat-saṅga-tyāga — giving up the company of nondevotees; śrī-bhāgavata-śravaṇa — regularly hearing the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Translation

“You should describe the symptoms of a devotee, how to associate with devotees, how to satisfy a devotee by rendering service, and how to give up the association of nondevotees. You should also explain the value of regularly hearing the recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Bengali

দিনকৃত্য, পক্ষকৃত্য, একাদশ্যাদি-বিবরণ ।
মাসকৃত্য, জন্মাষ্টম্যাদি-বিধি-বিচারণ ॥ ৩৪০ ॥

Text

dina-kṛtya, pakṣa-kṛtya, ekādaśy-ādi-vivaraṇa
māsa-kṛtya, janmāṣṭamyādi-vidhi-vicāraṇa

Synonyms

dina-kṛtya — daily duties; pakṣa-kṛtya — duties on the fortnights; ekādaśī-ādi-vivaraṇa — description of Ekādaśī and so on; māsa-kṛtya — duties every month; janmāṣṭamī-ādi — of performing Janmāṣṭamī and other ceremonies; vidhi — of the process; vicāraṇa — consideration.

Translation

“You should describe the ritualistic duties to be performed every day, and you should also describe the fortnightly duties — especially how to observe the fortnightly Ekādaśī fast. You should also describe the duties to be observed every month, and you should especially describe the observance of ceremonies like Janmāṣṭamī, Rāma-navamī and Nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī.

Bengali

একাদশী, জন্মাষ্টমী, বামনদ্বাদশী ।
শ্রীরামনবমী, আর নৃসিংহচতুর্দশী ॥ ৩৪১ ॥

Text

ekādaśī, janmāṣṭamī, vāmana-dvādaśī
śrī-rāma-navamī, āra nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī

Synonyms

ekādaśī — the eleventh day of the fortnight; janmāṣṭamī — the birthday ceremony of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vāmana-dvādaśī — the birthday or appearance day of Lord Vāmana; śrī-rāma-navamī — the birthday ceremony of Lord Rāmacandra; āra — and; nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī — the appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁha.

Translation

“Ekādaśī, Janmāṣṭamī, Vāmana-dvādaśī, Rāma-navamī and Nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī — all these should be described.

Bengali

এই সবে বিদ্ধা-ত্যাগ, অবিদ্ধা-করণ ।
অকরণে দোষ, কৈলে ভক্তির লম্ভন ॥ ৩৪২ ॥

Text

ei sabe viddhā-tyāga, aviddhā-karaṇa
akaraṇe doṣa, kaile bhaktira lambhana

Synonyms

ei sabe — all these things; viddhā-tyāga — to avoid viddha-ekādaśī or mixed Ekādaśī; aviddhā-karaṇa — performing the pure Ekādaśī; akaraṇe doṣa — the fault of not performing them; kaile — if done so; bhaktira lambhana — there will be discrepancies in devotional service.

Translation

“You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekādaśī and the performance of pure Ekādaśī. You should also describe the fault in not observing Ekādaśī. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.

Bengali

সর্বত্র প্রমাণ দিবে পুরাণ-বচন ।
শ্রীমূর্তি-বিষ্ণুমন্দিরকরণ-লক্ষণ ॥ ৩৪৩ ॥

Text

sarvatra pramāṇa dibe purāṇa-vacana
śrī-mūrti-viṣṇu-mandira-karaṇa-lakṣaṇa

Synonyms

sarvatra — everywhere; pramāṇa — evidence; dibe — you should give; purāṇa-vacana — quoting from the Purāṇas; śrī-mūrti — the Deity; viṣṇu-mandira — of the Viṣṇu temple; karaṇa-lakṣaṇa — the characteristics of constructing.

Translation

“Whatever you say about Vaiṣṇava behavior, the establishment of Vaiṣṇava temples and Deities, and everything else should be supported by evidence from the Purāṇas.

Bengali

‘সামান্য’ সদাচার, আর ‘বৈষ্ণব’-আচার ।
কর্তব্যাকর্তব্য সব ‘স্মার্ত’ ব্যবহার ॥ ৩৪৪ ॥

Text

‘sāmānya’ sad-ācāra, āra ‘vaiṣṇava’-ācāra
kartavyākartavya saba ‘smārta’ vyavahāra

Synonyms

sāmānya — general; sat-ācāra — good behavior; āra — and; vaiṣṇava — of devotees of Lord Viṣṇu; ācāra — etiquette; kartavya-akartavya — things which are to be done and which are not to be done; saba — all; smārta — connected with regulative principles; vyavahāra — business.

Translation

“You should give general and specific descriptions of the behavior and activities of a Vaiṣṇava. You should outline things that are to be done and things that are not to be done. All this should be described as regulations and etiquette.

Bengali

এই সংক্ষেপে সূত্র কহিলুঁ দিগ্‌দরশন ।
যবে তুমি লিখিবা, কৃষ্ণ করাবে স্ফুরণ ॥ ৩৪৫ ॥

Text

ei saṅkṣepe sūtra kahiluṅ dig-daraśana
yabe tumi likhibā, kṛṣṇa karābe sphuraṇa

Synonyms

ei — thus; saṅkṣepe — in brief; sūtra — codes; kahiluṅ — I have described; dik-daraśana — just a little direction; yabe — whenever; tumi — you; likhibā — will attempt to write; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa; karābe — will do; sphuraṇa — manifesting.

Translation

“I have thus given a synopsis of the Vaiṣṇava regulative principles. I have given this in brief just to give you a little direction. When you write on this subject, Kṛṣṇa will help you by spiritually awakening you.”

Purport

One cannot write on spiritual matters without being blessed by Kṛṣṇa and the disciplic succession of gurus. The blessings of the authorities are one’s power of attorney. One should not try to write anything about Vaiṣṇava behavior and activities without being authorized by superior authorities. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.2): evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ.

Bengali

এই ত’ কহিলু প্রভুর সনাতনে প্রসাদ ।
যাহার শ্রবণে চিত্তের খণ্ডে অবসাদ ॥ ৩৪৬ ॥

Text

ei ta’ kahilu prabhura sanātane prasāda
yāhāra śravaṇe cittera khaṇḍe avasāda

Synonyms

ei ta’ — in this way; kahilu — I have described; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; sanātane — unto Sanātana Gosvāmī; prasāda — mercy; yāhāra śravaṇe — hearing which; cittera — of the mind; khaṇḍe — disappears; avasāda — all moroseness.

Translation

Thus I have narrated Lord Caitanya’s mercy upon Sanātana Gosvāmī. When one hears these topics, one’s heart will be cleansed of all contamination.

Bengali

নিজ-গ্রন্থে কর্ণপূর বিস্তার করিয়া ।
সনাতনে প্রভুর প্রসাদ রাখিয়াছে লিখিয়া ॥ ৩৪৭ ॥

Text

nija-granthe karṇapūra vistāra kariyā
sanātane prabhura prasāda rākhiyāche likhiyā

Synonyms

nija-granthe — in his own book; karṇapūra — Kavi-karṇapūra; vistāra kariyā — vividly describing; sanātane — unto Sanātana Gosvāmī; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prasāda — the mercy; rākhiyāche — has kept; likhiyā — writing.

Translation

The authorized poet Kavi-karṇapūra has written a book named Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka. This book tells how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Sanātana Gosvāmī with His specific mercy.

Bengali

গৌড়েন্দ্রস্য সভা-বিভূষণমণিস্ত্যক্ত্বা য ঋদ্ধাং শ্রিয়ং
রূপস্যাগ্রজ এষ এব তরুণীং বৈরাগ্যলক্ষ্মীং দধে ।
অন্তর্ভক্তিরসেন পূর্ণহৃদয়ো বাহ্যেহ্বধূতাকৃতিঃ
শৈবালৈঃ পিহিতং মহা-সর ইব প্রীতিপ্রদস্তদ্বিদাম্ ॥ ৩৪৮ ॥

Text

gauḍendrasya sabhā-vibhūṣaṇa-maṇis tyaktvā ya ṛddhāṁ śriyaṁ
rūpasyāgraja eṣa eva taruṇīṁ vairāgya-lakṣmīṁ dadhe
antar-bhakti-rasena pūrṇa-hṛdayo bāhye ’vadhūtākṛtiḥ
śaivālaiḥ pihitaṁ mahā-sara iva prīti-pradas tad-vidām

Synonyms

gauḍa-indrasya — of the ruler of Gauḍa-deśa (Bengal); sabhā — of the parliament; vibhūṣaṇa — fundamental; maṇiḥ — the gem; tyaktvā — relinquishing; yaḥ — one who; ṛddhām — opulent; śriyam — kingly enjoyment; rūpasya agrajaḥ — the elder brother of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; eṣaḥ — this; eva — certainly; taruṇīm — youthful; vairāgya-lakṣmīm — the fortune of renunciation; dadhe — accepted; antaḥ-bhakti-rasena — by the mellows of inner love of Kṛṣṇa; pūrṇa-hṛdayaḥ — satisfied fully; bāhye — externally; avadhūta-ākṛtiḥ — the dress of a mendicant; śaivālaiḥ — by moss; pihitam — covered; mahā-saraḥ — a great lake or very deep lake; iva — like; prīti-pradaḥ — very pleasing; tat-vidām — to persons acquainted with the science of devotional service.

Translation

“Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, the elder brother of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, was a most important minister in the government of Hussain Shah, the ruler of Bengal, and he was considered a most brilliant gem in that assembly. He possessed all the opulences of a royal position, but he gave up everything just to accept the youthful goddess of renunciation. Although he externally appeared to be a mendicant who had renounced everything, he was filled with the pleasure of devotional service within his heart. Thus he can be compared to a deep lake covered with moss. He was the object of pleasure for all the devotees who knew the science of devotional service.

Purport

This and the following two verses are from Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka (9.34, 35, 38).

Bengali

তং সনাতনমুপাগতমক্ষ্ণো-
র্দৃষ্টমাত্রমতিমাত্রদয়ার্দ্রঃ ।
আলিলিঙ্গ পরিঘায়ত-দোর্ভ্যাং
সানুকম্পমথ চম্পক-গৌরঃ ॥ ৩৪৯ ॥

Text

taṁ sanātanam upāgatam akṣṇor
dṛṣṭa-mātram atimātra-dayārdraḥ
āliliṅga parighāyata-dorbhyāṁ
sānukampam atha campaka-gauraḥ

Synonyms

tam — unto him; sanātanam — Sanātana Gosvāmī; upāgatam — having arrived; akṣṇoḥ — with the eyes; dṛṣṭa-mātram — being only seen; ati-mātra — greatly; dayā-ārdraḥ — merciful; āliliṅga — embraced; parighāyata-dorbhyām — with His two arms; sa-anukampam — with great affection; atha — thus; campaka-gauraḥ — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who has a complexion the color of a campaka flower (golden).

Translation

“As soon as Sanātana Gosvāmī arrived in front of Lord Caitanya, the Lord, seeing him, became merciful to him. The Lord, who has the complexion of a golden campaka flower, opened His arms and embraced him while expressing great affection.”

Bengali

কালেন বৃন্দাবনকেলি-বার্তা
লুপ্তেতি তাং খ্যাপয়িতুং বিশিষ্য ।
কৃপামৃতেনাভিষিষেচ দেব-
স্তত্রৈব রূপঞ্চ সনাতনঞ্চ ॥ ৩৫০ ॥

Text

kālena vṛndāvana-keli-vārtā
lupteti tāṁ khyāpayituṁ viśiṣya
kṛpāmṛtenābhiṣiṣeca devas
tatraiva rūpaṁ ca sanātanaṁ ca

Synonyms

kālena — in the course of time; vṛndāvana-keli-vārtā — topics concerning the transcendental mellows of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana; luptā — almost lost; iti — thus; tām — all those; khyāpayitum — to enunciate; viśiṣya — making specific; kṛpā-amṛtena — with the nectar of mercy; abhiṣiṣeca — sprinkled; devaḥ — the Lord; tatra — there; eva — indeed; rūpam — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; ca — and; sanātanam — Sanātana Gosvāmī; ca — as well as.

Translation

“In the course of time, the transcendental news of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in Vṛndāvana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental pastimes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu empowered Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in Vṛndāvana.”

Bengali

এই ত’ কহিলুঁ সনাতনে প্রভুর প্রসাদ ।
যাহার শ্রবণে চিত্তের খণ্ডে অবসাদ ॥ ৩৫১ ॥

Text

ei ta’ kahiluṅ sanātane prabhura prasāda
yāhāra śravaṇe cittera khaṇḍe avasāda

Synonyms

ei ta’ — thus; kahiluṅ — I have explained; sanātane — unto Sanātana Gosvāmī; prabhura prasāda — the mercy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; yāhāra śravaṇe — hearing which; cittera — of the heart; khaṇḍe — disappears; avasāda — moroseness.

Translation

I have thus explained the mercy bestowed on Sanātana Gosvāmī by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If one hears this description, all moroseness in the heart will diminish.

Bengali

কৃষ্ণের স্বরূপগণের সকল হয় ‘জ্ঞান’ ।
বিধি-রাগ-মার্গে ‘সাধনভক্তি’র বিধান ॥ ৩৫২ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇera svarūpa-gaṇera sakala haya ‘jñāna’
vidhi-rāga-mārge ‘sādhana-bhakti’ra vidhāna

Synonyms

kṛṣṇera svarūpa-gaṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa in His various expansions; sakala — all; haya — there is; jñāna — knowledge; vidhi-rāga-mārge — in the process of devotional service under regulative principles or in spontaneous love; sādhana bhaktira vidhāna — the authorized means of executing devotional service.

Translation

By reading these instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī, one will become fully aware of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s various expansions and the process of devotional service according to the regulative principles and spontaneous love. Thus everything can be fully known.

Bengali

‘কৃষ্ণপ্রেম’, ‘ভক্তিরস’, ‘ভক্তির সিদ্ধান্ত’ ।
ইহার শ্রবণে ভক্ত জানেন সব অন্ত ॥ ৩৫৩ ॥

Text

‘kṛṣṇa-prema’, ‘bhakti-rasa’, ‘bhaktira siddhānta’
ihāra śravaṇe bhakta jānena saba anta

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-prema — love of Godhead; bhakti-rasa — the mellows of devotional service; bhaktira siddhānta — the conclusions of devotional service; ihāra śravaṇe — by hearing this chapter; bhakta — a devotee; jānena — knows; saba — all; anta — limits.

Translation

By reading these instructions, a pure devotee can understand love of Kṛṣṇa, the mellows of devotional service and the conclusion of devotional service. Everyone can understand all these things to their ultimate end by studying these instructions.

Bengali

শ্রীচৈতন্য-নিত্যানন্দ-অদ্বৈত-চরণ ।
যাঁর প্রাণধন, সেই পায় এই ধন ॥ ৩৫৪ ॥

Text

śrī-caitanya-nityānanda-advaita-caraṇa
yāṅra prāṇa-dhana, sei pāya ei dhana

Synonyms

śrī-caitanya-nityānanda-advaita-caraṇa — the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda and Advaita Prabhu; yāṅra prāṇa-dhana — whose life and soul; sei — such a person; pāya — gets; ei dhana — this treasure-house of devotional service.

Translation

The conclusion of these instructions can be known to one whose life and soul are the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu.

Bengali

শ্রীরূপ-রঘুনাথ-পদে যার আশ ।
চৈতন্যচরিতামৃত কহে কৃষ্ণদাস ॥ ৩৫৫ ॥

Text

śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa

Synonyms

śrī-rūpa — Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; raghunātha — Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī; pade — at the lotus feet; yāra — whose; āśa — expectation; caitanya-caritāmṛta — the book named Caitanya-caritāmṛta; kahe — describes; kṛṣṇadāsa — Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.

Translation

Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, chapter twenty-four, describing the ātmārāma verse and the Lord’s mercy upon Sanātana Gosvāmī.