Sri Sanmodana Bhasyam, Part 13

Sri Sanmodana Bhasyam, Part 13

 

BY: SUN STAFF

 

 

Jun 06, 2016 — CANADA (SUN) — A commentary on Lord Caitanya’s ‘Siksastakam’ by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, with a Bengali song for each verse that expands upon Mahaprabhu’s devotional moods (Sanskrit, 1886).

 

Lord Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, is the object of everyone’s devotion. Servitorship to Lord Krsna is inseparable from the identity or svarupa of the spirit soul.

 

Now that servant of Krsna has become apathetic to his service and is drowning in the terrible ocean of material existence, his only hope of survival is to get the Lord’s mercy. If Lord Krsna out of His fathomless compassion accepts the jiva, placing him as a pollen particle at His lotus feet, then his hidden identity and eternal proclivity will be remanifest. The word pada-dhuli (lotus-feet dust) used here further substantiates the jiva’s original identity as the infinitesimal part and parcel of Krsna, as stated in the scriptures.

 

The jiva may intensely desire to acquire a place at Krsna’s lotus feet, but the fact is that only when he becomes subservient to Krsna’s will and cultivates devotional service is he accepted by the Lord.

 

Until he is fully situated in his svarupa, a residue of anarthas cling to his heart; thus his ultimate perfection and goal remains hidden by these slight impurities. Sambandhajnana makes him eligible to chant the holy name purely and render loving devotional service by clearing these anarthas from his heart; this is called anarthanivrtti.

 

At this stage of development, the devotee as known as jatarati (born of rati or love). The difference between ‘ajatarati sadhaka’ (not born of rati) and jatarati devotee is all in the quality of chanting. One cannot be accepted as a jatarati devotee on the basis of pretense.

 

After anartha-nivrtti follows nairantarya, or undeviating steadiness in serving, then sveccha-purvika, voluntary meditation on Krsna’s pastimes by which one develops spontaneous attraction for them; and then svarasiki, the spontaneous revelation of Krsna’s pastimes even without one’s expectation. Only after these three stages comes the final perfection of prema.

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 6.11.24:

 

“O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship.”

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.29.38:

 

“Therefore, O vanquisher of all distress, please show us mercy. To approach Your lotus feet we abandoned our families and homes, and we have no desire other than to serve You. Our hearts are burning with intense desires generated by Your beautiful smiling glances. O jewel among men, please make us Your maidservants.”

 

Srila Rupa Goswami writes:

 

“If you have not worshipped the dust of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, or the land of Vraja that is marked with Her lotus feet, or did not serve the lotus feet of Her devotee who is grave because of meditating on Her, then how will you become attracted to that blackish ocean of nectar known as Syama or Krsna?”

 

In Bilap-kusum-anjali, sloka 8:

 

“O Radharani, beloved damsel of Vraja! I am exhausted from swimming in the tempestuous ocean of misery; I am but a derelict. Kindly pick me up on the infallible boat of Your causeless mercy. Guide me to the wonderful sanctuary of Your lotus feet.”

 

In Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi, sloka 259:

 

“Become totally absorbed in Krsna, whose crown is decorated with a peacock plume, and constantly sing His holy name and glories. Engross yourself in serving His lotus feet and continuously chant the mahamantra to invoke His pleasure. My only and intimate heartfelt desire is to become a slave to Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet. By Her causeless mercy I may attain spontaneous love for Her service.”

#Sri Sanmodana Bhasyam