चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥ १३ ॥ cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhy akartāram avyayam Synonyms cātuḥ-varṇyam — the four divisions of human society; mayā … Read More
What is pure love? Srila Rupa Gosvami defines pure devotional service as the tendency to be fully engaged in Krishna consciousness, serving Radha Krishna with love and devotion. Nothing else is present in the mind and … Read More
Purva-raga and the first meeting of Radha Krishna in Sanket Our Acaryas divide Sri Krishna’s transcendental pastimes into four phases, called Kaumara, Pauganda, Kaisora and Yauvana. The first, Kaumara, goes from His appearance day to the … Read More
Karma Yoga, the science of action Summary of a more elaborate answer: Karma (action) is a fundamental part of our existence and Karma yoga is a branch of Bhakti Yoga. The spiritual soul is active by … Read More
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् । मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ ११ ॥ ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ Synonyms ye — all who; yathā … Read More
Gurvastaka is not a song for Prabhupada? The main issues are: Is the Gurvastakam (the samsara davanala song) intended for Srila Prabhupada? Is it only for him? Could disciples of other gurus meditate on their own … Read More
Why do terrible things happen in Vrndavana? Someone asked me to make some consideration about violence in holy places. How come horrible things happen in a place that should be like a paradise? In particular, why … Read More
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः । त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥ ९ ॥ janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti … Read More
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः । बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ॥ १० ॥ vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhā man-mayā mām upāśritāḥ bahavo jñāna-tapasā pūtā mad-bhāvam āgatāḥ Synonyms vīta — freed from; rāga — attachment; bhaya — fear; krodhāḥ — and … Read More
Why 16 rounds and not another number? Question Manonatha Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisances. What is the significance of the number 16? Why are we instructed to chant 16 rounds of Japamala and not some … Read More
Jumping to Raganuga The following is a quote from Thakura Bhaktivinoda: “When a devotee following the path of vaidhi-bhakti abandons his various material desires and executes bhajana according to the instructions of the scriptures, the spiritual … Read More
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् । प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ॥ ६ ॥ ajo ’pi sann avyayātmā bhūtānām īśvaro ’pi san prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā Synonyms ajaḥ — unborn; api — although; san — … Read More
Is not it enough just to serve without having complete knowledge? Hare Krishna Maharaja. Regarding the following text of Prakrita Rasa Sata Dusini. So.. Is not it enough just to serve without having complete knowledge? Could … Read More
Candravali: where is Kamsa? Candravali’s mood is very deep. Sometimes if Krsna meets with another gopi and then meets with Candravali and there are signs on his body that He has met with somebody else, it … Read More
Why would Krsna not give mercy to someone struggling in bhakti-yoga? Question I don’t mean anything extravagant, but at least whatever is enough to feel happy with the process and hopeful about pleasing Krsna. Answer Krishna … Read More
