Madhya22.83

TEXT 83

krsna-bhakti-janma-mula haya ’sadhu-sanga’

krsna-prema janme, tenho punah mukhya anga

SYNONYMS

krsna-bhakti—of devotional service to Krsna; janma-mula—the root cause; haya—is; sadhu-sanga—association with advanced devotees; krsna-prema—love of Krsna; janme—awakens; tenho—that same association with devotees; punah—again; mukhya anga—the chief principle.

TRANSLATION

"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.

Madhya22.84

TEXT 84

bhavapavargo bhramato yada bhavej

janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samagamah

sat-sangamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau

paravarese tvayi jayate ratih

SYNONYMS

bhava-apavargah—liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramatah—wandering; yada—when; bhavet—should be; janasya—of a person; tarhi—at that time; acyuta—O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samagamah—association with devotees; sat-sangamah—association with the devotees; yarhi—when; tada—at that time; eva—only; sat-gatau—the highest goal of life; paravarese—the Lord of the universe; tvayi—to You; jayate—appears; ratih—attraction.

TRANSLATION

" ’O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the supreme devotees and the Lord of the universe.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.51.53).

Madhya22.85

TEXT 85

ata atyantikam ksemam

prcchamo bhavato ’naghah

samsare ’smin ksanardho ’pi

sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam

SYNONYMS

atah—therefore (due to the rareness of seeing pure devotees of the Lord); atyantikam—supreme; ksemam—auspiciousness; prcchamah—we are asking; atyantikam—supreme; ksemam—auspiciousness; prcchamah—we are asking; bhavatah—you; anaghah—O sinless ones; samsare—in the material world; asmin—this; ksana-ardhah—lasting half a moment; api—even; sat-sangah—association with devotees; sevadhih—a treasure; nrnam—for human society.

TRANSLATION

" ’O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.30).

Madhya22.86

TEXT 86

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah

taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani

sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

SYNONYMS

satam—of the devotees; prasangat—by the intimate association; mama—of Me; virya-samvidah—talks full of spiritual potency; bhavanti—appear; hrt—to the heart; karna—and to the ears; rasa-ayanah—a source of sweetness; kathah—talks; tat—of them; josanat—from proper cultivation; asu—quickly; apavarga—of liberation; vartmani—on the path; sraddha—faith; ratih—attraction; bhaktih—love; anukramisyati—will follow one after another.

TRANSLATION

" ’The spiritually powerful message of Godhead can be properly discussed only in a society of devotees, and it is greatly pleasing to hear in that association. If one hears from devotees, the way of transcendental experience quickly opens, and gradually one attains firm faith that in due course develops into attraction and devotion.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.87

TEXT 87

asat-sanga-tyaga,--ei vaisnava-acara

’stri-sangi’--eka asadhu, ’krsnabhakta’ ara

SYNONYMS

asat-sanga-tyaga—rejection of the association of nondevotees; ei—this; vaisnava-acara—the behavior of a Vaisnava; stri-sangi—who associates with women for sense gratification; eka—one; asadhu—unsaintly person; krsna-abhakta—one who is not a devotee of Lord Krsna; ara—another.

TRANSLATION

"A Vaisnava should always avoid the association of ordinary people. Common people are very much materially attached, especially to women. Vaisnavas should also avoid the company of those who are not devotees of Lord Krsna.

Madhya22.88-90

TEXTS 88-90

satyam saucam daya maunam

buddhir hrih srir yasah ksama

samo damo bhagas ceti

yat-sangad yati sanksayam

tesv asantesu mudhesu

khanditatmasv asadhusu

sangam na kuryac chocyesu

yosit-krida-mrgesu ca

na tathasya bhaven moho

bandhas canya-prasangatah

yosit-sangad yatha pumso

yatha tat-sangi-sangatah

SYNONYMS

satyam—truthfulness; saucam—cleanliness; daya—mercy; maunam—silence; buddhih—intelligence; hrih—modesty; srih—beauty; yasah—fame; ksama—forgiveness; samah—controlling the mind; damah—controlling the senses; bhagah—opulence; ca—and; iti—thus; yat—of whom; sangat—by the association; yati—goes to; sanksayam—complete destruction; tesu—among them; asantesu—who are restless; mudhesu—among the fools; khandita-atmasu—whose self-realization is spoiled; asadhusu—not saintly; sangam—association; na—not; kuryat—should do; socyesu—who are full of lamentation; yosit—of women; krida-mrgesu—who are like toy animals; ca—also; na—not; tatha—so much; asya—of him; bhavet—there may be; mohah—illusion; bandhah—binding; ca—and; anya—other types; prasangatah—from association; yosit-sangat—by association with women; yatha—as; pumsah—of the man; yatha—as well as; tat-sangi-sangatah—by association with persons attached to women.

TRANSLATION

" ’By association with worldly people, one becomes devoid of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, spiritual intelligence, shyness, austerity, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of the senses, fortune and all opportunities. One should not at any time associate with a coarse fool who is bereft of the knowledge of self-realization and who is no more than a toy animal in the hands of a woman. The illusion and bondage that accrue to a man from attachment to any other object are not as complete as that resulting from association with a woman or with men too attached to women.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.91

TEXT 91

varam huta-vaha-jvala-

panjarantar-vyavasthitih

na sauri-cinta-vimukha-

jana-samvasa-vaisasam

SYNONYMS

varam—better; huta-vaha—of fire; jvala—in the flames; panjara-antah—inside a cage; vyavasthitih—abiding; na—not; sauri-cinta—of Krsna consciousness, or thought of Krsna; vimukha—bereft; jana—of persons; samvasa—of the association; vaisasam—the calamity.

TRANSLATION

" ’It is better to accept the miseries of being encaged within bars and surrounded by burning flames than to associate with those bereft of Krsna consciousness. Such association is a very great hardship.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Katyayana-samhita.

Madhya22.92

TEXT 92

ma draksih ksina-punyan kvacid api

bhagavad-bhakti-hinan manusyan

SYNONYMS

ma—do not; draksih—see; ksina-punyan—who are bereft of all piety; kvacit api—at any time; bhagavat-bhakti-hinan—who are bereft of Krsna consciousness and devotional service; manusyan—persons.

TRANSLATION

" One should not even see those who are bereft of devotional service in Krsna consciousness and who are therefore devoid of pious activities.

Madhya22.93

TEXT 93

eta saba chadi’ ara varnasrama-dharma

akincana hana laya krsnaika-sarana

SYNONYMS

eta saba—all these; chadi’-giving up; ara—and; varna-asrama-dharma—the regulative principle of four varnas and four asramas; akincana—without any attachment for anything material; hana—becoming; laya—he takes; krsna-eka-sarana—exclusive shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

"Without hesitation, one should take the exclusive shelter of Lord Krsna with full confidence, giving up bad association and even neglecting the regulative principles of the four varnas and four asramas. That is to say, one should abandon all material attachment.

Madhya22.94

TEXT 94

sarva-dharman parityajya

mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

moksayisyami ma sucah

SYNONYMS

sarva-dharman—all kinds of occupational duties; parityajya—giving up; mam ekam—unto Me only; saranam—as shelter; vraja—go; aham—I; tvam—unto you; sarva-papebhyah—from all the reactions of sinful life; moksayisyami—will give liberation; ma—don’t; sucah—worry.

TRANSLATION

" ’After giving up all kinds of religious and occupational duties, if you come to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and take shelter, I shall give you protection from all of life’s sinful reactions. Do not worry.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.95

TEXT 95

bhakta-vatsala, krtajna, samartha, vadanya

hena krsna chadi’ pandita nahi bhaje anya

SYNONYMS

bhakta-vatsala—very kind to the devotees; krta-jna—grateful; samartha—full of all abilities; vadanya—magnanimous; hena—such; krsna—Lord Krsna; chadi’-giving up; pandita—a learned man; nahi—does not; bhaje—worship; anya—anyone else.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Krsna is very kind to His devotees. He is always very grateful and magnanimous, and He possesses all abilities. A learned man does not give up Krsna to worship anyone else.

PURPORT

An intelligent person gives up the company of those who are attached to women and bereft of Krsna consciousness. One should be free from all kinds of material attachment and should take full shelter under the lotus feet of Krsna. Krsna is very kind to His devotees. He is always grateful, and He never forgets the service of a devotee. He is also completely opulent and all-powerful. Why, then, should one take shelter of a demigod and leave Lord Krsna’s shelter? If one worships a demigod and leaves Krsna, he must be considered the lowest fool.

Madhya22.96

TEXT 96

kah panditas tvad-aparam saranam samiyad

bhakta-priyad rta-girah suhrdah krtajnat

sarvan dadati suhrdo bhajato ’bhikaman

atmanam apy upacayapacayau na yasya

SYNONYMS

kah—what; panditah—learned man; tvat-aparam—other than Your Lordship; saranam—shelter; samiyat—would take; bhakta-priyat—who are affectionate to Your devotees; rta-girah—who are truthful to the devotees; suhrdah—who are the friend of the devotees; krta-jnat—who are grateful to the devotees; sarvan—all; dadati—gives; suhrdah—to Your well-wishers; bhajatah—who worship You by devotional service; abhikaman—desires; atmanam—Yourself; api—even; upacaya—increase; apacayau—and diminution; na—not; yasya—of whom.

TRANSLATION

" ’My dear Lord, You are very affectionate to Your devotees. You are also a truthful and grateful friend. Where is that learned man who would give You up and surrender to someone else? You fulfill all the desires of Your devotees, so much so that sometimes You even give Yourself to them. Still, You neither increase nor decrease by such activity.’

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.48.26).

Madhya22.97

TEXT 97

vijna-janera haya yadi krsna-guna-jnana

anya tyaji’, bhaje, tate uddhava--pramana

SYNONYMS

vijna-janera—of an experienced person; haya—there is; yadi—if; krsna-guna-jnana—knowledge of Krsna’s transcendental qualities; anya—others; tyaji’-giving up; bhaje—he engages in devotional service; tate—in that connection; uddhava—Uddhava; pramana—the evidence.

TRANSLATION

"Whenever an experienced person develops real knowledge of Krsna and His transcendental qualities, he naturally gives up all other engagements and renders service to the Lord. Uddhava gives evidence concerning this.

Madhya22.98

TEXT 98

aho baki yam stana-kala-kutam

jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi

lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam tato ’nyam

kam va dayalum saranam vrajema

SYNONYMS

aho—how wonderful; baki—Putana, the sister of Bakasura; yam—whom; stana—on the two breasts; kala-kutam—the deadly poison; jighamsaya—with a desire to kill; apayayat—forced to drink; api—although; asadhvi—dangerously inimical to Krsna; lebhe—achieved; gatim—the destination; dhatri—for a nurse; ucitam—suitable; tatah—than Him; anyam—other; kam—to whom; va—or; dayalum—the most merciful; saranam—shelter; vrajema—shall take.

TRANSLATION

" ’Oh, how wonderful it is! Putana, the sister of Bakasura, wanted to kill Krsna by smearing deadly poison on her breasts and having Krsna take it. Nonetheless, Lord Krsna accepted her as His mother, and thus she attained the destination befitting Krsna’s mother. Of whom should I take shelter but Krsna, who is most merciful?’

PURPORT

Madhya22.99

TEXT 99

saranagatera, akincanera--eka-i laksana

tara madhye pravesaye ’atma-samarpana’

SYNONYMS

saranagatera—of a person who has fully taken shelter of Krsna; akincanera—of a person who is free of all material desires; eka-i laksana—the symptoms are one and the same; tara madhye—of them all; pravesaye—enters; atma-samarpana—full surrender.

TRANSLATION

"There are two kinds of devotees-those who are fully satiated and free from all material desires and those who are fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord. Their qualities are one and the same, but those who are fully surrendered to Krsna’s lotus feet are qualified with another transcendental quality-atma-samarpana, full surrender without reservation.

Madhya22.100

TEXT 100

anukulyasya sankalpah

pratikulyasya varjanam

raksisyatiti visvaso

goptrtve varanam tatha

atma-niksepa-karpanye

sad-vidha saranagatih

SYNONYMS

anukulyasya—of anything that assists devotional service to the Lord; sankalpah—acceptance; pratikulyasya—of anything that hinders devotional service; varjanam—complete rejection; raksisyati—He will protect; iti—thus; visvasah—strong conviction; goptrtve—in being the guardian, like the father or husband, master or maintainer; varanam—acceptance; tatha—as well as; atma-niksepa—full self-surrender; karpanye—humility; sat-vidha—sixfold; sarana-agatih—process of surrender.

TRANSLATION

" ’The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of those things favorable to devotional service, the rejection of unfavorable things, the conviction that Krsna will give protection, the acceptance of the Lord as one’s guardian or master, full self-surrender and humility.

PURPORT

One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics. (1) The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable for the rendering of transcendental loving service to the Lord. (2) He must reject everything unfavorable to the Lord’s service. This is also called renunciation. (3) A devotee must be firmly convinced that Krsna will give him protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith. This kind of faith is different from the faith of an impersonalist who wants to merge into the Brahman effulgence in order to benefit by cessation of repeated birth and death. A devotee wants to remain always in the Lord’s service. In this way, Krsna is merciful to His devotee and gives him all protection from the dangers found on the path of devotional service. (4) The devotee should accept Krsna as his supreme maintainer and master. He should not think that he is being protected by a demigod. He should depend only on Krsna, considering Him the only protector. The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no protector or maintainer other than Krsna. (5) Self-surrender means remembering that one’s activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thinks as Krsna desires. (6) The devotee is meek and humble. As stated in Bhagavad-gita:

sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham

Madhya22.101

TEXT 101

tavasmiti vadan vaca

tathaiva manasa vidan

tat-sthanam asritas tanva

modate saranagatah

SYNONYMS

tava—His; asmi—I am; iti—thus; vadan—saying; vaca—by words; tatha—so; eva—certainly; manasa—with the mind; vidan—knowing; tat-sthanam—His place; asritah—taken shelter of; tanva—by the body; modate—he enjoys; sarana-agatah—fully surrendered.

TRANSLATION

“ ’One whose body is fully surrendered takes shelter at the holy place where Krsna had His pastimes, and he prays to the Lord, ”My Lord, I am Yours." Understanding this with his mind, he enjoys spiritual bliss.

PURPORT

These last two verses appear in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (11.417,418).

Madhya22.102

TEXT 102

sarana lana kare krsne atma-samarpana

krsna tare kare tat-kale atma-sama

SYNONYMS

sarana lana—taking shelter; kare—does; krsne—unto Krsna; atma-samarpana—fully surrendering; krsna—Lord Krsna; tare—him; kare—makes; tat-kale—immediately; atma-sama—one of His confidential associates.

TRANSLATION

"When a devotee thus fully surrenders unto Krsna’s lotus feet, Krsna accepts him as one of His confidential associates.

Madhya22.103

TEXT 103

martyo yada tyakta-samasta-karma

niveditatma vicikirsito me

tadamrtatvam pratipadyamano

mayatma-bhuyaya ca kalpate vai

SYNONYMS

martyah—the living entity subjected to birth and death; yada—as soon as; tyakta—given up; samasta—all; karma—fruitive activities; nivedita-atma—a fully surrendered soul; vicikirsitah—desired to act; me—by Me; tada—at that time; amrtatvam—immortality; pratipadyamanah—attaining; maya—with Me; atma-bhuyaya—for becoming of a similar nature; ca—also; kalpate—is eligible; vai—certainly.

TRANSLATION

" ’The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions. In this way he becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss derived from exchanging loving mellows with Me.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.34). Krsna was advising His most confidential servant, Uddhava, about sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. These concern one’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the activities of that relationship, as well as the perfection of life. The Lord also described the characteristics of confidential devotees.

Madhya22.104

TEXT 104

ebe sadhana-bhakti-laksana suna, sanatana

yaha haite pai krsna-prema-maha-dhana

SYNONYMS

ebe—now; sadhana-bhakti—regulative principles for executing devotional service; laksana—the symptoms; suna—please hear; sanatana—My dear Sanatana; yaha haite—from which; pai—one can get; krsna-prema-maha-dhana—the most valuable treasure of love for Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"My dear Sanatana, please now hear about the regulative principles for the execution of devotional service. By this process, one can attain the highest perfection of love of Godhead, which is the most desirable treasure.

Madhya22.105

TEXT 105

krti-sadhya bhavet sadhya-

bhava sa sadhanabhidha

nitya-siddhasya bhavasya

prakatyam hrdi sadhyata

SYNONYMS

krti-sadhya—which is to be executed by the senses; bhavet—should be; sadhya-bhava—by which love of Godhead is acquired; sa—that; sadhana-abhidha—called sadhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice; nitya-siddhasya—which is eternally present; bhavasya—of love of Godhead; prakatyam—the awakening; hrdi—in the heart; sadhyata—potentiality.

TRANSLATION

" ’When transcendental devotional service by which love for Krsna is attained is executed by the senses, it is called sadhana-bhakti, or the regulative discharge of devotional service. Such devotion eternally exists within the heart of every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is the potentiality of devotional service in practice.’

PURPORT

This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.2). Because living entities are minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with sravana kirtana, hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to hear the Hare Krsna mantra chanted by a pure Vaisnava. One who hears the Hare Krsna mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Krsna consciousness. In this way one’s mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (ceto-darpana-marjanam). When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Krsna is awakened.

Madhya22.106

TEXT 106

sravanadi-kriya--tara ’svarupa’-laksana

’tatastha’-laksane upajaya prema-dhana

SYNONYMS

sravana-adi-kriya—the process of hearing, chanting and so forth; tara—of that; svarupa-laksana—symptoms of the nature; tatastha-laksane—marginal symptoms; upajaya—awakens; prema-dhana—love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

"The spiritual activities of hearing, chanting, remembering and so forth are the natural characteristics of devotional service. The marginal characteristic is that it awakens pure love for Krsna.

Madhya22.107

TEXT 107

nitya-siddha krsna-prema ’sadhya’ kabhu naya

sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

SYNONYMS

nitya-siddha—eternally proved; krsna-prema—love of Krsna; sadhya—to be gained; kabhu—at any time; naya—not; sravana-adi—by hearing, etc.; suddha—purified; citte—in the heart; karaye udaya—awakens.

TRANSLATION

"Pure love for Krsna is eternally established in the hearts of living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, the living entity naturally awakens.

Madhya22.108

TEXT 108

ei ta sadhana-bhakti--dui ta’ prakara

eka ’vaidhi bhakti’, ’raganuga-bhakti’ ara

SYNONYMS

ei ta—this; sadhana-bhakti—process of devotional service; dui ta’ prakara—two kinds; eka—one; vaidhi bhakti—the regulative devotional service; raganuga-bhakti—spontaneous devotional service; ara—and.

TRANSLATION

"There are two processes of practical devotional service. One is regulative devotional service, and the other is spontaneous devotional service.

Madhya22.109

TEXT 109

raga-hina jana bhaje sastrera ajnaya

’vaidhi bhakti’ bali’ tare sarva-sastre gaya

SYNONYMS

raga-hina—who are without spontaneous attachment to Krsna; jana—persons; bhaje—execute devotional service; sastrera ajnaya—according to the principles and regulations described in the revealed scriptures; vaidhi bhakti—regulative devotional service; bali’-calling; tare—that; sarva-sastre—all revealed scriptures; gaya—sing.

TRANSLATION

"Those who have not attained the platform of spontaneous attachment in devotional service render devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master according to the regulative principles mentioned in the revealed scriptures. According to the revealed scriptures, this kind of devotional service is called vaidhi bhakti.

PURPORT

In the beginning, one has to hear from a bona fide spiritual master. This is favorable for advancing in devotional service. According to this process, one hears, chants, remembers and engages in Deity worship, acting under the directions of the spiritual master. These are the essential primary activities of devotional service. Devotional service must not be executed for some material purpose. One should not even have a desire to merge into the Absolute Truth. One has to render such service out of love only. Ahaituki, apratihata. Devotional service must be without ulterior motives; then material conditions cannot check it. Gradually one can rise to the platform of spontaneous loving service. A child is sent to school by force to receive an education, but when he gets a little taste of education at an advanced age, he automatically participates and becomes a learned scholar. One cannot force a person to become a scholar, but sometimes force is used in the beginning. A child is forced to go to school and read and write according to the instructions of his teachers. Such is the difference between vaidhi bhakti and spontaneous bhakti. Dormant love for Krsna exists in everyone’s heart, and it simply has to be awakened by the regulative process of devotional service. One has to learn to use a typewriter by following the regulative principles of the typing book. One has to place his fingers on the keys in such a way and practice, but when one becomes adept, he can type swiftly and correctly without even looking at the keys. Similarly, one has to follow the rules and regulations of devotional service as they are set down by the spiritual master; then one can come to the point of spontaneous loving service. This love is already there within the heart of everyone (nitya-siddha krsna-prema).

Spontaneous service is not artificial. One simply has to come to that platform by rendering devotional service according to the regulative principles. Thus one has to practice hearing and chanting and follow the other regulative principles by washing the temple, cleansing oneself, rising early in the morning, attending mangala-arati and so on. If one does not come to the platform of spontaneous service in the beginning, he must adopt regulative service according to the instructions of the spiritual master. This regulative service is called vaidhi bhakti.