Madhya22.140

TEXT 140

kāma tyaji’ kṛṣṇa bhaje śāstra-ājñā māni’

deva-ṛṣi-pitrādikera kabhu nahe ṛṇī

SYNONYMS

kāma—material desires; tyaji’-giving up; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaje—worships; śāstra-ājñā—the direction of the revealed scripture; māni’-accepting; deva—demigods; ṛṣi—great sages; pitṛ-ādikera—of the forefathers and so on; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; ṛṇī—a debtor.

TRANSLATION

"If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa, as enjoined in revealed scriptures, he is never indebted to demigods, sages or forefathers.

PURPORT

After birth, every man is indebted in so many ways. He is indebted to the demigods for their supplying necessities like air, light and water. When one takes advantage of Vedic literatures, one becomes indebted to great sages like Vyāsadeva, Nārada, Devala and Asita. When one takes birth in a particular family, he becomes indebted to his forefathers. We are even indebted to common living entities like cows, from whom we take milk. Because we accept service from so many animals, we become indebted. However, if one is completely engaged in the Lord’s devotional service, he is absolved of all debts. This is confirmed in the following verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41).

Madhya22.141

TEXT 141

devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṝṇāṁ

na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan

sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ

gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam

SYNONYMS

deva—of the demigods; ṛṣi—of the sages; bhūta—of ordinary living entities; āpta—of friends and relatives; nṛṇām—of ordinary men; pitṝṇām—of the forefathers; na—not; kiṅkaraḥ—the servant; na—nor; ayam—this one; ṛṇī—debtor; ca—also; rājan—O King; sarva-ātmanā—with his whole being; yaḥ—a person who; śaraṇam—shelter; śaraṇyam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who affords shelter to all; gataḥ—approached; mukundam—Mukunda; parihṛtya—giving up; kartam—duties.

TRANSLATION

" ’One who has given up all material duties and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, who gives shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one’s forefathers who have passed away.’

PURPORT

It is said:

adhyāpanaṁ brahma-yajñaḥ
pitṛ-yajñas tu tarpaṇam
homo daivo balir bhauto
nṛ-yajño ’tithi-pūjanam

“By performing oblations with ghee, the demigods are satisfied. By studying the Vedas, brahma-yajña is performed, and by this the great sages are satisfied. Offering libations of water before one’s forefathers is called pitṛ-yajña. By offering tribute, bhūta-yajña is performed. By properly receiving guests, nṛ-yajña is performed.” There are five yajñas and five kinds of indebtedness-indebtedness to the demigods, great sages, forefathers, living entities and common men. Therefore one has to perform five kinds of yajñas, but when one takes to saṅkīrtana-yajña (the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra) one doesn’t have to perform any other yajña. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Nārada Muni made a statement about the systematic performance of bhāgavata-dharma in connection with statements previously made by the nine Yogendras before Mahārāja Nimi. The sage Karabhājana Ṛṣi explained the four incarnations of the four yugas, and at the end, in this verse (text 141), he explained the position of Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee and how he is absolved of all debts.

Madhya22.142

TEXT 142

vidhi-dharma chāḍi’ bhaje kṛṣṇera caraṇa

niṣiddha pāpācāre tāra kabhu nahe mana

SYNONYMS

vidhi-dharma chāḍi’-giving up all regulative principles of the varṇa and āśrama institution; bhaje—worships; kṛṣṇera caraṇa—the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; niṣiddha—forbidden; pāpa-ācāre—in sinful activities; tāra—his; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; mana—the mind.

TRANSLATION

"Although the pure devotee does not follow all the regulative principles of varṇāśrama, he worships the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he naturally has no tendency to commit sin.

PURPORT

The varṇāśrama institution is planned in such a way that one will not commit sinful activities. Material existence continues due to sinful activity. When one acts sinfully in this life, he gets a suitable body for the next life. When one again acts sinfully, he takes on another material body. In this way one is continuously under the influence of material nature.

puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi
bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

Madhya22.143

TEXT 143

ajñāne vā haya yadi ’pāpa’ upasthita

kṛṣṇa tāṅre śuddha kare, nā karāya prāyaścitta

SYNONYMS

ajñāne—by ignorance; vā—or; haya—there are; yadi—if; pāpa—sinful activities; upasthita—present; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāṅre—him (the devotee); śuddha kare—purifies; nā karāya—does not cause; prāyaścitta—atonement.

TRANSLATION

"If, however, a devotee accidentally becomes involved in a sinful activity, Kṛṣṇa purifies him. He does not have to undergo the regulative form of atonement.

PURPORT

Kṛṣṇa purifies from within as caitya-guru, the spiritual master within the heart. This is described in the following verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.42).

Madhya22.144

TEXT 144

svapāda-mūlaṁ bhajataḥ priyasya

tyaktānya-bhāvasya hariḥ pareśaḥ

vikarma yac cotpatitaṁ kathañcit

dhunoti sarvaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ

SYNONYMS

sva-pāda-mūlam—the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the devotees; bhajataḥ—who is engaged in worshiping; priyasya—who is very dear to Kṛṣṇa; tyakta—given up; anya—for others; bhāvasya—of one whose disposition or inclination; hariḥ—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; para-īśaḥ—the Supreme Lord; vikarma—sinful activities; yat—whatever; ca—and; utpatitam—occurred; kathañcit—somehow; dhunoti—removes; sarvam—everything; hṛdi—in the heart; sanniviṣṭaḥ—entered.

TRANSLATION

" ’One who has given up everything and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If he is involved in some sinful activity by accident, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated within everyone’s heart, removes his sins without difficulty.’

Madhya22.145

TEXT 145

jñāna-vairāgyādi--bhaktira kabhu nahe ’aṅga’

ahiṁsā-yama-niyamādi bule kṛṣṇa-bhakta-saṅga

SYNONYMS

jñāna—the path of knowledge; vairāgya-ādi—the path of renunciation and so on; bhaktira—of devotional service; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; aṅga—a part; ahiṁsā—nonviolence; yama—controlling the senses and the mind; niyama-ādi—restrictions and so on; bule—roam; kṛṣṇa-bhakta-saṅga—in the association of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

"The path of speculative knowledge and renunciation is not very essential for devotional service. Indeed, good qualities such as nonviolence and mind and sense control automatically accompany a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

PURPORT

Sometimes a neophyte devotee or ordinary person thinks highly of speculative knowledge, austerity, penances and renunciation, thinking them the only path for advancement in devotional service. Actually this is not a fact. The path of knowledge, mystic yoga and renunciation has nothing to do with the pure soul. When one is temporarily in the material world, such processes may help a little, but they are not necessary for a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. In the material world, such activities end in material enjoyment or merging into the effulgence of the Supreme. They have nothing to do with the eternal loving service of the Lord. If one abandons speculative knowledge and simply engages in devotional service, he has attained his perfection. The devotee has no need for speculative knowledge, pious activity or mystic yoga. All these are automatically present when one renders the Lord transcendental loving service.

Madhya22.146

TEXT 146

tasmān mad-bhakti-yuktasya

yogino vai mad-ātmanaḥ

na jñānaṁ na ca vairāgyaṁ

prāyaḥ śreyo bhaved iha

SYNONYMS

tasmāt—therefore; mat-bhakti—in My devotional service; yuktasya—of one who is engaged; yoginaḥ—the first-class yogī or mystic; vai—certainly; mat-ātmanaḥ—whose mind is always engaged in Me; na—not; jñānam—speculative knowledge; na—not; ca—also; vairāgyam—dry renunciation; prāyaḥ—for the most part; śreyaḥ—beneficial; bhavet—would be; iha—in this world.

TRANSLATION

" ’For one who is fully engaged in My devotional service, whose mind is fixed on Me in bhakti-yoga, the path of speculative knowledge and dry renunciation is not very beneficial.’

PURPORT

The path of devotional service is always independent of other activity. The path of speculative knowledge or mystic yoga may be a little beneficial in the beginning, but it cannot be considered part of devotional service. This verse (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.20.31) was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa when He was speaking to Uddhava before His departure from this material world. These are important instructions given directly by Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Uddhava asked the Lord about the two kinds of instructions given in the Vedas. One instruction is called pravṛtti-mārga, and the other is called nivṛtti-mārga. These are directions for enjoying the material world according to regulative principles and then giving up the material world for higher spiritual understanding. Sometimes one does not know whether to practice speculative knowledge or mystic yoga for advancement in spiritual knowledge. Kṛṣṇa explains to Uddhava that the mechanical process of speculative knowledge and yoga is not necessary for advancing in devotional service. Devotional service is completely spiritual; it has nothing to do with material things. It is awakened by hearing and chanting in the association of devotees. Because devotional service is always transcendental, it has nothing to do with material activity.

Madhya22.147

TEXT 147

ete na hy adbhutā vyādha

tavāhiṁsādayo guṇāḥ

hari-bhaktau pravṛttā ye

na te syuḥ paratāpinaḥ

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; paratāpinaḥ—envious of other living entities.

TRANSLATION

" ’O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those who are 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.

Madhya22.148

TEXT 148

vaidhī-bhakti-sādhanera kahiluṅ vivaraṇa

rāgānugā-bhaktira lakṣaṇa śuna, sanātana

SYNONYMS

vaidhī-bhakti—of devotional service according to the regulative principles; sādhanera—of the execution; kahiluṅ—I have made; vivaraṇa—description; rāgānugā-bhaktira—of spontaneous devotional service; lakṣaṇa—the symptoms; śuna—please hear; sanātana—O Sanātana.

TRANSLATION

"My dear Sanātana, I have now in detail described devotional service according to the regulative principles. Now hear from Me about spontaneous devotional service and its characteristics.

Madhya22.149

TEXT 149

rāgātmikā-bhakti--’mukhyā’ vraja-vāsi-jane

tāra anugata bhaktira ’rāgānugā’-nāme

SYNONYMS

rāgātmikā-bhakti—spontaneous devotional service; mukhyā—preeminent; vraja-vāsi-jane—in the inhabitants of Vraja, or Vṛndāvana; tāra—that; anugata—following; bhaktira—of devotional service; rāgānugā-nāme—named rāgānugā or following after spontaneous devotional service.

TRANSLATION

"The original inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are attached to Kṛṣṇa spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called rāgātmikā bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, his devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti.

PURPORT

In his Bhakti-sandarbha, Jīva Gosvāmī states:

tad evaṁ tat-tad-abhimāna-lakṣaṇa-bhāva-viśeṣveṇa svābhāvika-rāgasya vaiśiṣṭye sati tat-tad-rāga-prayuktā śravaṇa-kīrtana-smaraṇa-pāda-sevana-vandanātma-nivedana-prāyā bhaktis teṣāṁ rāgātmikā bhaktir ity ucyate…. tatas tadīyaṁ rāgaṁ rucyānugacchantī sā rāgānugā.

When a pure devotee follows the footsteps of a devotee in Vṛndāvana, he develops rāgānugā bhakti.

Madhya22.150

TEXT 150

iṣṭe svārasikī rāgaḥ

paramāviṣṭatā bhavet

tanmayī yā bhaved bhaktiḥ

sātra rāgātmikoditā

SYNONYMS

iṣṭe—unto the desired object of life; svārasikī—appropriate for one’s own original aptitude of love; rāgaḥ—attachment; parama-āviṣṭatā—absorption in the service of the Lord; bhavet—is; tat-mayī—consisting of that transcendental attachment; yā—which; bhavet—is; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; sā—that; atra—here; rāgātmikā-uditā—called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.

TRANSLATION

" ’When one becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his natural inclination to love is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord. That is called transcendental attachment, and devotional service according to that attachment is called rāgātmikā, or spontaneous devotional service.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.272).

Madhya22.151

TEXT 151

iṣṭe ’gāḍha-tṛṣṇā’--rāgera svarūpa-lakṣaṇa

iṣṭe ’āviṣṭatā’--ei taṭastha-lakṣaṇa

SYNONYMS

iṣṭe—in the desired object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gāḍha-tṛṣṇā—deep attachment; rāgera—of spontaneous love; svarūpa-lakṣaṇa—the primary symptom; iṣṭe—unto the Supreme; āviṣṭatā—absorption; ei—this; taṭastha-lakṣaṇa—the marginal symptom.

TRANSLATION

"The primary characteristic of spontaneous love is deep attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Absorption in Him is a marginal characteristic.

Madhya22.152

TEXT 152

rāgamayī-bhaktira haya ’rāgātmikā’ nāma

ta-hā śuni’ lubdha haya kona bhāgyavān

SYNONYMS

rāga-mayī—consisting of attachment; bhaktira—of devotional service; haya—is; rāgātmikā—spontaneous love; nāma—the name; tāhā śuni’-hearing this; lubdha—covetous; haya—becomes; kona bhāgyavān—some fortunate person.

TRANSLATION

"Thus devotional service which consists of rāga [deep attachment] is called rāgātmikā, spontaneous loving service. If a devotee covets such a position, he is considered to be most fortunate.

Madhya22.153

TEXT 153

lobhe vraja-vāsīra bhāve kare anugati

śāstra-yukti nāhi māne--rāgānugāra prakṛti

SYNONYMS

lobhe-in such covetousness; vraja-vāsīra bhāve-in the moods of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, Vraja; kare anugati-follows; śāstra-yukti-injunctions or reasonings of the śāstras; nāhi māne-does not abide by; rāgānugāra-of spontaneous love; prakṛti-the nature.

TRANSLATION

"If one follows in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana out of such transcendental covetousness, he does not care for the injunctions or reasonings of śāstra. That is the way of spontaneous love.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that a devotee is attracted by the service of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-namely the cowherd men, Mahārāja Nanda, mother Yaśodā, Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs, and the cows and calves. An advanced devotee is attracted by the service rendered by an eternal servitor of the Lord. This attraction is called spontaneous attraction. Technically it is called svarūpa-upalabdhi. This stage is not achieved in the beginning. In the beginning one has to render service strictly according to the regulative principles set forth by the revealed scriptures and spiritual master. By continuously rendering service through the process of vaidhī bhakti, one’s natural inclination is gradually awakened. That is called spontaneous attraction, or rāgānugā bhakti.

An advanced devotee situated on the platform of spontaneity is already very expert in śāstric instruction, logic and argument. When he comes to the point of eternal love for Kṛṣṇa, no one can deviate him from that position, neither by argument nor by śāstric evidence. An advanced devotee has realized his eternal relationship with the Lord, and consequently he does not accept the logic and arguments of others. Such an advanced devotee has nothing to do with the sahajiyās, who manufacture their own way and commit sins by indulging in illicit sex, intoxication and gambling, if not meat-eating. Sometimes the sahajiyās imitate advanced devotees and live in their own whimsical way, avoiding the principles set down in the revealed scriptures. Unless one follows the six Gosvāmīs-Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Raghunātha dāsa-one cannot be a bona fide spontaneous lover of Kṛṣṇa. In this connection, Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says: rūpa-raghunātha-pade haibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhaba se yugala pirīti. The sahajiyās’ understanding of the love affairs between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is not bona fide because they do not follow the principles laid down by the six Gosvāmīs. Their illicit connection and their imitation of the dress of Rūpa Gosvāmī as well as their avoidance of the prescribed methods of revealed scriptures will lead them to the lowest regions of hell. These imitative sahajiyās are cheated and unfortunate. They are not equal to advanced devotees (paramahaṁsas). Debauchees and paramahaṁsas are not on the same level.

Madhya22.154

TEXT 154

virājantīm abhivyaktāṁ

vraja-vāsi-janādiṣu

rāgātmikām anusṛtā

yā sā rāgānugocyate

SYNONYMS

virājantīm—shining intensely; abhivyaktām—fully expressed; vraja-vāsi-jana-ādiṣu—among the eternal inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; rāgātmikā—devotional service consisting of spontaneous love; anusṛtā—following; yā—which; sā—that; rāgānugā—devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous love; ucyate—is said.

TRANSLATION

" ’Devotional service in spontaneous love is vividly expressed and manifested by the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti, or devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.270).

Madhya22.155

TEXT 155

tat-tad-bhā’ vādi-mādhurye

śrute dhīr yad apekṣate

nātra śāstraṁ na yuktiṁ ca

tal lobhotpatti-lakṣaṇam

SYNONYMS

tat-tat—respective; bhāva-ādi-mādhurye—the sweetness of the loving moods (namely śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vātsalya-rasa and mādhurya-rasa) of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; śrute—when heard; dhīḥ—the intelligence; yat—which; apekṣate—depends on; na—not; atra—here; śāstram—revealed scriptures; na—not; yuktim—logic and argument; ca—also; tat—that; lobha—of covetousness to follow in the footsteps; utpatti-lakṣaṇam—the symptom of awakening.

TRANSLATION

" ’When an advanced realized devotee hears about the affairs of the devotees of Vṛndāvana-in the mellows of śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya-he becomes inclined in that way, and his intelligence becomes attracted. Indeed, he begins to covet that particular type of devotion. When such covetousness is awakened, one’s intelligence no longer depends on the instruction of śāstra, revealed scripture, logic or argument.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.292).

Madhya22.156-157

TEXTS 156-157

bāhya, antara,--ihāra dui ta’ sādhana

’bāhye’ sādhaka-dehe kare śravaṇa-kīrtana

’mane’ nija-siddha-deha kariyā bhāvana

rātri-dine kare vraje kṛṣṇera sevana

SYNONYMS

bāhya—externally; antara—internally; ihāra—of this spontaneous love of Godhead; dui—two; ta’-indeed; sādhana—such processes of execution; bāhye—externally; sādhaka-dehe—with the body of an advanced devotee; kare—does; śravaṇa-kīrtana—hearing and chanting; mane—the mind; nija—own; siddha-deha—eternal body or self-realized position; kariyā bhāvana—thinking of; rātri-dine—night and day; kare—executes; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sevana—service.

TRANSLATION

"There are two processes by which one may execute this rāgānugā bhakti-external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the śāstric injunctions, especially hearing and chanting. However, within his mind, in his original purified self-realized position, he serves Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana in his particular way. He serves Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours, all day and night.

Madhya22.158

TEXT 158

sevā sādhaka-rūpeṇa

siddha-rūpeṇa cātra hi

tad-bhāva-lipsunā kāryā

vraja-lokānusārataḥ

SYNONYMS

sevā—service; sādhaka-rūpeṇa—with the external body as a devotee practicing regulative devotional service; siddha-rūpeṇa—with a body suitable for eternal, self-realized service; ca—also; atra—in this connection; hi—certainly; tat—of that; bhāva—the mood; lipsunā—desiring to obtain; kāryā—to be executed; vraja-loka—of the particular servant of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana; anusārataḥ—by following in the footsteps.

TRANSLATION

" ’The advanced devotee who is inclined to spontaneous loving service should follow the activities of a particular associate of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. He should execute service externally as a regulative devotee as well as internally from his self-realized position. Thus he should perform devotional service both externally and internally.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.295).

Madhya22.159

TEXT 159

nijābhīṣṭa kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha pācheta’ lāgiyā

nirantara sevā kare antarmanā hañā

SYNONYMS

nija-abhīṣṭa—one’s own choice; kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha—the servitor of Kṛṣṇa; pācheta’ lāgiyā—following; nirantara—twenty-four hours a day; sevā—service; kare—executes; antarmanā—within the mind; hañā—being.

TRANSLATION

"Actually the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are very dear to Kṛṣṇa. If one wants to engage in spontaneous loving service, he must follow the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and constantly engage in devotional service within his mind.

Madhya22.160

TEXT 160

kṛṣṇaṁ smaran janaṁ cāsya

preṣṭhaṁ nija-samīhitam

tat-tat-kathā-rataś cāsau

kuryād vāsaṁ vraje sadā

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇam—Lord Kṛṣṇa; smaran—thinking of; janam—a devotee; ca—and; asya—of His; preṣṭham—very dear; nija-samīhitam—chosen by oneself; tat-tat-kathā—to those respective topics; rataḥ—attached; ca—and; asau—that; kuryāt—should do; vāsam—living; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; sadā—always.

TRANSLATION

" ’The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself, and one should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship to Kṛṣṇa, and one should live in Vṛndāvana. However, if one is physically unable to go to Vṛndāvana, he should mentally live there.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.294).

Madhya22.161

TEXT 161

dāsa-sakhā-pitrādi-preyasīra gaṇa

rāga-mārge nija-nija-bhāvera gaṇana

SYNONYMS

dāsa—servants; sakhā—friends; pitṛ-ādi—parents; preyasīra gaṇa—conjugal lovers; rāga-mārge—on the path of spontaneous loving service; nija-nija—of one’s own choice; bhāvera—of the ecstasy; gaṇana—counting.

TRANSLATION

"Kṛṣṇa has many types of devotees-some are servants, some are friends, some are parents, and some are conjugal lovers. Those who are situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are considered to be on the path of spontaneous loving service.

Madhya22.162

TEXT 162

na karhicin mat-parāḥ śānta-rūpe

naṅkṣyanti no me ’nimiṣo leḍhi hetiḥ

yeṣām ahaṁ priya ātmā sutaś ca

sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam

SYNONYMS

na—not; karhicit—at any time; mat-parāḥ—devotees of Me; śānta-rūpe—O mother, the symbol of peacefulness; naṅkṣyanti—will perish; no—nor; me—My; animiṣaḥ—time; leḍhi—licks up (destroys); hetiḥ—weapon; yeṣām—of whom; aham—I; priyaḥ—dear; ātmā—the Supersoul; sutaḥ—the son; ca—and; sakhā—friend; guruḥ—spiritual master; suhṛdaḥ—well-wisher; daivam—the Deity; iṣṭam—chosen.

TRANSLATION

" ’My dear mother, Devahūti! O emblem of peace! My weapon, the disc of time, never vanquishes those for whom I am very dear, for whom I am the Supersoul, the son, friend, spiritual master, well-wisher, worshipable Deity and desired goal. Since the devotees are always attached to Me, they are never vanquished by the agents of time.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.163

TEXT 163

pati-putra-suhṛd-bhrātṛ-

pitṛvan mitravad dharim

ye dhyāyanti sadodyuktās

tebhyo ’pīha namo namaḥ

SYNONYMS

pati—a husband; putra—a son; suhṛt—a friend; bhrātṛ—a brother; pitṛ—a father; vat—like; mitra—an intimate friend; vat—like; harim—on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ye—all those who; dhyāyanti—meditate; sadā—always; udyuktāḥ—full of eagerness; tebhyaḥ—unto them; api—also; iha—here; namaḥ namaḥ—repeated respectful obeisances.

TRANSLATION

" ’Let me offer my respectful obeisances again and again to those who always eagerly meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a husband, son, friend, brother, father or intimate friend.’

PURPORT

This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.308).

Madhya22.164

TEXT 164

ei mata kare yebā rāgānugā-bhakti

kṛṣṇera caraṇe tāṅra upajaya ’prīti’

SYNONYMS

ei mata—in this way; kare—executes; yebā—anyone who; rāgānugā-bhakti—spontaneous devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇera caraṇe—to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; tāṅra—his; upajaya—awakens; prīti—affection.

TRANSLATION

"If one engages in spontaneous loving service to the Lord, his affection at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa gradually increases.

Madhya22.165

TEXT 165

prīty-aṅkure ’rati’, ’bhāva’--haya dui nāma

yāhā haite vaśa hana śrī-bhagavān

SYNONYMS

prīti-aṅkure—in the seed of affection; rati—attachment; bhāva—emotion; haya—there are; dui nāma—two names; yāhā haite—from which; vaśa—controlled; hana—is; śrī-bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

"In the seed of affection, there is attachment which goes by two names, rati and bhāva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead comes under the control of such attachment.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments on this verse. Externally a devotee performs all the items of devotional service-śravaṇa and kīrtana-in nine different ways, and within his mind he always thinks of his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana. If one engages himself in the service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in this way, he can transcend the regulative principles enjoined in the śāstras and, through his spiritual master, fully engage in rendering spontaneous love to Kṛṣṇa. In this way, he attains affection at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa actually comes under the control of such spontaneous feelings, and ultimately one can attain association with the Lord.

Madhya22.166

TEXT 166

yāhā haite pāi kṛṣṇera prema-sevana

eita’ kahiluṅ ’abhidheya’-vivaraṇa

SYNONYMS

yāhā haite—from which; pāi—I can get; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prema-sevana—affectionate service; eita’-this; kahiluṅ—I have done; abhidheya-vivaraṇa—description of the means (devotional service) in detail.

TRANSLATION

"That by which one can attain loving service to the Lord I have described in detail as the execution of devotional service called abhidheya.

Madhya22.167

TEXT 167

abhidheya, sādhana-bhakti ebe kahiluṅ sanātana

saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ, vistāra nā yāya varṇana

SYNONYMS

abhidheya—the means of obtaining the desired object; sādhana-bhakti—devotional service performed by means of the body and senses; ebe—now; kahiluṅ—I have described; sanātana—My dear Sanātana; saṅkṣepe—in short; kahiluṅ—I have described; vistāra—expansion; nā yāya—is not possible; varṇana—describing.

TRANSLATION

“My dear Sanātana, I have briefly described the process of devotional service in practice, which is the means for obtaining love of Kṛṣṇa. It cannot be described broadly.”

Madhya22.168

TEXT 168

abhidheya sādhana-bhakti śune yei jana

acirāt pāya sei kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana

SYNONYMS

abhidheya—necessary duty; sādhana-bhakti—devotional service in practice; śune—hears; yei jana—anyone who; acirāt—very soon; pāya—gets; sei—that person; kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana—the treasure of love of Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

Whoever hears the process of practical devotional service very soon attains shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in love and affection.

Madhya22.169

TEXT 169

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.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Twenty-second Chapter, describing the execution of devotional service.

THIS WEB PAGE URL: http://causelessmercy.com/Madhya22.5.htm