CHAPTER SIXTEEN Spontaneous Devotion Further Described RELATIONSHIP In the attitude of the denizens of Vṛndāvana, such as Nanda Mahārāja and mother Yaśodā, is to be found the ideal transcendental concept of being the father and mother … Read More
SENSUAL ATTRACTION This extreme desire to serve the Lord is manifest in the transcendental land of Vraja. And it is specifically manifested among the gopīs. The gopīs’ love for Kṛṣṇa is so elevated that for our … Read More
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Spontaneous Devotional Service Examples of spontaneous devotional service can easily be seen in Kṛṣṇa’s direct associates in Vṛndāvana. The spontaneous dealings of the residents of Vṛndāvana in relationship with Kṛṣṇa are called rāgānugā. These … Read More
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Spontaneous Devotional Service Examples of spontaneous devotional service can easily be seen in Kṛṣṇa’s direct associates in Vṛndāvana. The spontaneous dealings of the residents of Vṛndāvana in relationship with Kṛṣṇa are called rāgānugā. These … Read More
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Devotional Qualifications Some scholars recommend that knowledge and renunciation are important factors for elevating oneself to devotional service. But actually that is not a fact. Actually, the cultivation of knowledge or renunciation, which are … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Five Potent Forms of Devotional Service Rūpa Gosvāmī has stated that five kinds of devotional activities – namely, residing in Mathurā, worshiping the Deity of the Lord, reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, serving a devotee and chanting … Read More
LIVING IN MATHURĀ In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement about the importance of living at holy places like Mathurā or Dvārakā. It is stated there, “To travel to different places of pilgrimage means to … Read More
CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD The importance of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is very strongly stressed in the Second Canto, first … Read More
ASSOCIATING WITH ADVANCED DEVOTEES The importance of discussing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the society of pure devotees was explained by Śaunaka Muni during the meeting at Naimiṣāraṇya, in the presence of Sūta Gosvāmī. Sūta Gosvāmī confirmed that if … Read More
RECITATION OF ŚRĪMAD-BHĀGAVATAM AMONG DEVOTEES Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the desire tree of Vedic wisdom. Veda itself means “the aggregate of knowledge.” And whatever knowledge is required for human society is perfectly presented in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There are different … Read More
OBSERVING FESTIVALS CELEBRATING THE LORD’S ACTIVITIES In the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa there is a statement about observing different ceremonies celebrating the Lord’s appearance (birthday) and other transcendental activities. It is said, “My Lord Janārdana [Kṛṣṇa], please let … Read More
PERFORMING DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IN KĀRTTIKA One of the most important of these ceremonial functions is called Ūrja-vrata. Ūrja-vrata is observed in the month of Kārttika (October-November); especially in Vṛndāvana, there is a specific program for temple … Read More
ŚB 1.2.30 स एवेदं ससर्जाग्रे भगवानात्ममायया । सदसद्रूपया चासौ गुणमयागुणो विभु: ॥ ३० ॥ sa evedaṁ sasarjāgre bhagavān ātma-māyayā sad-asad-rūpayā cāsau guṇamayāguṇo vibhuḥ Synonyms saḥ — that; eva — certainly; idam — this; sasarja — created; … Read More
ŚB 1.2.15 यदनुध्यासिना युक्ता: कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम् । छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को न कुर्यात्कथारतिम् ॥ १५ ॥ yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ karma-granthi-nibandhanam chindanti kovidās tasya ko na kuryāt kathā-ratim Synonyms yat — which; anudhyā — remembrance; asinā — sword; yuktāḥ — … Read More
ŚB 1.2.16 शुश्रूषो: श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचि: । स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्रा: पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १६ ॥ śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt Synonyms śuśrūṣoḥ — one who is engaged in hearing; śraddadhānasya — with care and attention; vāsudeva — … Read More
ŚB 1.2.12 तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया । पश्यन्त्यात्मनि चात्मानं भक्त्या श्रुतगृहीतया ॥ १२ ॥ tac chraddadhānā munayo jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā paśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁ bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā Synonyms tat — that; śraddadhānāḥ — seriously inquisitive; munayaḥ — sages; jñāna — knowledge; … Read More
ŚB 1.2.4 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ ४ ॥ nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayam udīrayet Synonyms nārāyaṇam — the Personality of Godhead; namaḥ–kṛtya — … Read More
ŚB 1.2.5 मुनय: साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भिर्लोकमङ्गलम् । यत्कृत: कृष्णसम्प्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ५ ॥ munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo ’haṁ bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam yat kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśno yenātmā suprasīdati Synonyms munayaḥ — O sages; sādhu — this is relevant; pṛṣṭaḥ … Read More
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते । प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते ॥ ६५ ॥ prasāde sarva-duḥkhānāṁ hānir asyopajāyate prasanna-cetaso hy āśu buddhiḥ paryavatiṣṭhate Synonyms prasāde — on achievement of the causeless mercy of the Lord; sarva — … Read More
