Tag Archive for: Sastra

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Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata 003

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Srimad Bhagavatam is known as the “king of all spiritual books” (Grantha Raja) for good reason. Within this divinely immaculate, tri-guna-free, spiritual sastra, the amalapurana, one will find all the sweet, majestic and beautiful truths about the sadhana and sadhya (daily practices and final goal) of GaudiyaVaisnavism.

In the most wonderful sastra, Sri CaitanyaCaritamrita, Sri Krishna DasaKaviraja has mercifully summarized the teachings of CaitanyaMahaprabhu and the six Goswamis of Vrindavana. To prove these truths, he cites key Bhagavata verses throughout his treatise, which the Goswamis themselves have also discussed in their voluminous works.

To highlight its importance for all devotees of Sri Caitanyadeva and Radha-GovindaYugala, the same Bhagavatam verse is quoted once, twice or even four times in the Sri CaitanyaCaritamrta.

With the grace of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, the “Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata” series will focus on these Bhagavatam verses which clearly reveal the absolute truth about Sri Krishna, Sri Radha, Sri Guru, the Vaisnavas, Bhakti Sadhana, Sri Harinama and Krishna Prema.

* BEAUTIFUL TRUTHS OF THE SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM

By citing key verses and selected commentaries, this post discusses the identify, power and uniquely supreme position of the SrimadBhagavatam, the crown jewel of all transcendental tomes. Sincere sadhakas should learn and reflect upon these verses.

Absorbing, and implementing these truths will strengthen your faith, expand your joy, and double your enthusiasm to love, serve and respect all the humble servants of Sri SriRadha and Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam Maha Purana ki jai!

Why Bhagavata Is the Best Scripture?

dharmaḥ -projjhita-kaitavo ’tra, paramo -nirmatsarāṇāṁ -satāṁ
vedyaṁ –vāstavam- atra- vastu, śivadaṁ -tāpa-trayon-mūlanam
śrīmad-bhāgavate- mahā-muni, kṛte -kiṁ -vā –parair- īśvaraḥ
sadyo- hṛdyava-rudhyate ’tra, kṛtibhiḥ- śuśrū-ṣubhis- tat-kṣaṇāt

“Bhagavan Sri Krishna becomes immediately captured in the heart of anyone who hears the Srimad Bhagavatam. This does not happen with other spiritual books. The Bhāgavatam alone, manifested by the Sri Krishna Himself, presents the true and permanent objective of human life which can be understood by unselfish persons.

“The Srimad Bhagavatam bestows auspiciousness everywhere and frees one from the miseries of material existence. Only the Bhagavata teaches the process of attaining that highest objective of life which is completely devoid of all material goals and liberation.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.2; Caitanya Caritamrita. 1.1.191, 2.24.100, 2.25.149)

Sri VisvanathaCakravartipadatika:

By illustrating what is beneficial and unbeneficial for the jīva, the Bhagavata gives bliss to all the listeners and enables everyone to fully achieve the highest objective of human life. Simply by hearing/reading the Bhagavata, Sri Krishna (īśvaraḥ), the shelter of everything, is immediately captured (avarudhyate) in one’s heart.

Even without faith, as soon as one hears Bhagavata, Sri Krishna enters the heart. Besides that, Sri Krishna becomes very happy and filled with prema when one hears the Bhagavata. Repetition of the Sanskrit word atra (line 1 & 3) stresses that this benefit is not attained by any other scripture or other spiritual practice (kiṁ –vā- paraiḥ).

What happens when one understands the teachings of the Bhagavata? It gives the topmost auspiciousness (śivadam) by making one an eternal premibhakta of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, and liberating one from the material world. Sri VisvanathaCakravartipadaki jai! Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai!

Bhagavata is the Rasa Nectar Essence of Vedanta

sarva-vedānta-sāraṁ -hi, śrīmad-bhāgavatam- iṣyate
tad-rasāmṛta-tṛptasyā, nānyatra- syād- ratiḥ- kvacit

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is accepted as the essence of all Vedanta. One who experiences satisfaction from tasting the nectar sweet rasas of the Bhagavata is never attracted to any other literature.

(Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.15/ Caitanya Caritamrita 2.25.146)

Sri JivaGoswami tika: Bhāgavatam is the form of pure rasa, the fruit on the desire tree situated in Goloka Vrndavana. (Krama Sandarbha 1.1.4-4)

Ten Subjects Make the Bhagavata a MahaPurana

atra- sargo- visargaś- ca, sthānaṁ –poṣaṇam-ūtayaḥ
manvantare-śānukathā, nirodho –muktir- āśrayaḥ

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes ten subjects:

(1) Sarga: Creation.

(2) Visarga: Secondary creation.

(3) Sthāna: Proctection.

(4) Poṣaṇa: Mercy of Bhagavan Visnu/Krishna

(5) Ūti: Material activity.

(6) Manvantara: Conduct of the Manus.

(7) Iśānukathā: Lilas of Bhagavan’s various descents.

(8) Nirodha: Destruction of the universe.

(9) Mukti: Liberation.

(10) Āśraya: Shelter of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

Comment: Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the one and only ultimate shelter of everything. The topics of Bhagavan Sri Krishna are primary, giving shelter to all others. (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.10.1.2/Caitanya Caritamrita Ādi 2.91)

jayati jana-nivāso, devakī-janma-vādo
yadu-vara-pariṣat- svair, dorbhir- asyann -adharmam
sthira-cara-vṛjina-ghnaḥ, su-smita-śrī-mukhena
vraja-pura-vanitānāṁ, vardhayan- kāma-devam

“Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the ultimate resort of all living entities. Sri Krishna is known as Devakinandana and Yasodananda. Sri Krishna is the guide of the Yadu dynasty. With His powerful arms, Sri Krishna destroys all impious men and everything that is inauspicious. Sri Krishna’s blissful smiling face always increases the amorous desires of the Vrajagopis. May Sri Krishna be happy and completely glorious.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.90.48/Caitanya Caritamrita Mad 13.79)

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika:

If someone says, ‘Alas! Alas! What misfortune that Krishna did not continue to manifest His intimate pastimes down to the present time.’ To console such persons, Suka Muni composed this beautiful verse to conclude Krishna’s lilas.

The phrase jana-nivasa means that Syamasundara Sri Krishna and all His intimate associates in nara-lila are living right now on the earth planet. The word jayati, “Krishna is eternally victorious”, is in present tense, which means that Sri Krishna is eternally present in the divine dhama of Vrndavana; in His divine names; and in the recitation of His glories.

The phrase kāma-devam means that Krishna is the brilliantly effulgent transcendental embodiment of spiritual desire and amorous love. With His blissful smiling face Sri Krishna forever increases the divine amorous desires (vardhayan- kāma-devam) of the damsels of Vraja and the cultured ladies of Mathurā and Dvārakā, who are completely attracted to Krishna.

Thus, with this verse, Suka Muni establishes that all of Krishna’s lilas described in the Tenth Canto i.e. Vraja, Mathurā and Dvārakā are all eternal!

Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai! Seeing Krishna lilas with prema locana ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata 002

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Srimad Bhagavatam is called the “king of all spiritual books” (Grantha Raja) for good reason. Within this tri-guna-free, immaculate and divine spiritual sastra, the amala purana, one will find all the sweet, majestic and beautiful truths about the sadhana and sadhya (daily practices and perfection) of Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

In his most merciful and wonderful sastra, Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja summarizes all the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Goswamis of Vrindavana. Throughout the book he cites key Bhagavatam verses to prove these truths, which the Goswamis themselves also discuss in their works.

To highlight its importance for all devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Radha-Govinda Yugala, the same Bhagavatam verse is quoted once, twice or even four times in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.

With the grace of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, the “Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata” series will focus on these Bhagavatam verses that reveal the absolute truth about Sri Krishna, Sri Radha, Sri Guru, Vaisnavas, Bhakti Sadhana, Sri Harinama and Krishna Prema.

* THE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH OF THE VAISNAVAS

The first post in this series discussed Guru tattva. Now we will present the key Srimad Bhagavatam verses describing the identity of Krishna’s devotees, associating with them and serving these compassionate and tangible mercy forms of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

All sincere sadhakas should learn and reflect upon these verses. Absorbing, understanding and implementing these truths will strengthen your faith, expand your joy, and double your enthusiasm to love, serve and respect all the humble servants of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Devotees Live in Damodara’s Heart

sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api

Sri Krishna says, “O Sage Durvasa! Saintly devotees are always in the core of My heart. And I am always in their hearts. They know nothing but Me, and I know nothing but them.” (Srimad Bhagavatam  9.4.68/Caitanya Caritamrita 1.1.62)

Krishna Devotees Are Walking Holy Places

bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās tīrtha-bhūtāḥ svayaṁ vibho
tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā

When Vidura returned from his tirtha-yatra, Maharaja Yudhisthira said, “O Vibho! Devotees like yourself are the embodiments of all holy places. Because you carry Bhagavan Sri Krishna within your heart, you turn all places into holy tirthas.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.10/Caitanya Caritamrita 1.1.63)

Six Ornaments of a Devotee

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ

“Devotees are adorned with the six good qualities of being tolerant, merciful, friendly to all beings, without enemies, peaceful, and straightforward.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.21/Caitanya Caritamrita 2.22.81)

Serving Saints Gives Liberation

mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam
mahāntas te sama-cittāḥ praśāntā vimanyavaḥ suhṛdaḥ sādhavo ye

“Serving saintly devotees opens the door of liberation. Whereas, association with men connected with women opens the door to hellish life. The saintly are very peaceful, pride-less, kind to all and well-behaved.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5. 2/Caitanya Caritamrita 2.22.82)

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada says sadhavah means “those who do not see fault in others.

Unique Rarity of Krishna Bhaktas

muktānām api siddhānāṁ nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ
sudurlabhaḥ praśāntātmā koṭiṣv api mahā-mune

“Among all the perfect ones, the blissful devotee of Narayana/Sri Krishna is very rare—one in a million.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.14.5/Caitanya Caritamrita 2.19.150)

Sri Krishna Saves His Devotees

sva-pāda-mūlam bhajataḥ priyasya tyaktānya-bhāvasya hariḥ pareśaḥ
vikarma yac cotpatitaṁ kathañcid dhunoti sarvaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ

“One who gives up all other engagements to surrender to the lotus feet of Sri Hari is very dear to Bhagavan. Indeed, if such a dedicated soul accidentally commits a sin, Antaryami Sri Krishna within one’s heart, immediately removes the sinful reaction.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.42/Caitanya Caritamrita 2.22.144)

Srila Prabhupada tika: Although a beloved child may accidentally commit an abominable activity, the loving father forgives the child, taking into consideration the actual good intentions of the child.

Although the devotee does not ask Sri Krishna to free him the future suffering from his sins, Sri Krishna, by His own sweet will, frees the devotee from the reactions to accidental fall downs.

This causeless mercy of Sri Krishna upon His devotee is His param- aisvaryam, or supreme opulence. Gradually the faithful devotee becomes pure and free from sins just by thinking of and serving Govinda’s lotus feet. Thus Krishna bhaktas are never actually defeated in life.

All Nama Chanters Are Great

aho bata śva-paco ’to garīyān yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam
tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te

“O, how astonishing and worshipable are even dog-eaters if they chant Krishna nama! They have already performed all kinds of austerities and yajnas, cultivated good saintly virtues, bathed in all tirthas, and studied all Vedas”. (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.33.7/Caitanya Caritamrita 2.11.192)

Sripada Vallabhacarya tika (Sri Subodhini): Devahuti says, “By birth, class or conduct a chandala cannot compare with a Brahmin. However, the chandala is greater if he is chanting Krishna’s Divine Names. A complacent satisfied Brahmin performs actions for his own benefit. He may not chant Krishna’s names due to pride, ego or his status in society! In this way, he does not become a Krishna bhakta.

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika: The outcaste who chants even incompletely just one name of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the best. He is a guru, and fully qualified to teach the mantra and the holy name to others i.e. diksa-guru. Amara-kosha says anūcura (line 2 of the verse above) means “a teacher, a person proficient in recitation of the Vedas with its angas.”

In prior lives the chandalas must have performed all types of yajnas and tapas, so now they no longer need to perform them nor will they do so in the future.

Srimad Bhagavatam Maha Purana ki jai! Hari Kathamrta ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!