The need to take refuge at the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani is described in the Sri Sva-sankalpa-prakasa-stotra of the Stavavali with these words: anaradhya radha-padambhoja renum anasritya vrndatavim tat padankam asambhasya-tad bhava-gambhira cittan kutah syama-sindho … Read More
The six symptoms of abandonment, according to Vaisnava-tantra, are: anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam raksisyatiti visvaso goptrtve varanam tatha atma-niksepa-karpanye sad-vidha saranagatih The six divisions of surrender are: accepting the things favorable to devotional service, rejecting the … Read More
Such a devotee prays for Krishna’s mercy as described in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.8): tat te ‘nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam hrd-vag vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak My dear Lord, he who sincerely … Read More
The glories of hearing the holy name from the mouth of a sadhu are described in Srimad Bhagavatam (4.20.24): na kamayate natha tad apy aham kvacin na yatra yusmac-caranambujasavah mahattamantar-hrdayan mukha-cyuto vidhatsva karnayutam esa me varah … Read More
As we progress, let us offer prayers like those of Prahlada Maharaja in Srimad Bhagavatam (7.9.39): naitan manas tava kathasu vikuntha-natha sampriyate durita-dustam asadhu tivram kamaturam harsa-soka-bhayaisanartam tasmin katham tava gatim vimrsami dinah Dear Lord of … Read More
Caturtha-yama Sadhana Midday Bhajana Under the pretext of preaching, simply to increase one’s number of followers, one must not initiate unskilled disciples. It is written in Srimad Bhagavatam (7.13.8): na sisyan anubadhnita granthan naivabhyased bahun na … Read More
Sincere humility is described in Krishna-karnamrta (30): nibaddha-murddhanjalir esa yace nirandhra-dainyonnati-mukta-kantham daya-nidhe deva bhavat kataksam daksinyalesena sakrn nisinca This rascal weeps with folded hands and, without hesitation, offers you these prayers sincerely. I pray in a … Read More
The efforts of one who is steadfast in the performance of bhajana are described in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa: evam ekantinam prayah kirtanam smaranam prabhoh kurvatah parama-pritya krtyamanyan na rocyate bhavena kenacit prestha sri-murter anghri sevane … Read More
You must be careful about the quality of the company. Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (2.13) explains the reasons: yasya yat sangatih pumso manivat syat sa tad gunah svakularddhyai tato dhiman svayuthany eva samsrayet Just as the qualities of an … Read More
A. In Srimad Bhagavatam (3.25.25) it is written: satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati (36) Talking about the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Lord in the company … Read More
According to Srimad Bhagavatam (11.21.2), the practice of chanting the holy name must be done in this way: sve sve ‘dhikare ya nistha sa gunah parikirtitah viparyayas tu dosah syad ubhayor esa niscayah (33) Stability … Read More
Krishna’s energy known as maya-sakti is simultaneously one and different from Krishna. Maya-sakti arises from internal energy (cit-sakti) but is different from it. The maya-sakti, the shadow of internal energy, works through the three influences of … Read More
False renunciation is prohibited. In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is written: prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate When someone is anxious to achieve liberation and renounces things related to the Supreme Personality of God as material, … Read More
The ten offenses during the chanting of the holy name should be canceled. These are described in the Padma Purana, Svarga-khanda: satam ninda namnah paramam aparadham vitanute yatah khyatim yatam katham u sahate tad-vigarham Insulting the … Read More
It is forbidden to offend the sadhus. It is offensive to see a Vaisnava according to material conceptions. The Upadesamrta says (6): drstaih svabhava-janitair vapusas ca dosair na prakrtatvam iha bhakta-janasya pasyet gangambhasam na khalu budbuda-phena-pankair … Read More
Dvitiya-yama Sadhana Bhajana in the morning According to the Skanda Purana, Krishna has invested the holy names with all His powers: dana-vrata-tapas-tirtha-yatradinam ca yah sthitah saktayo devamahatam sarva-papa-harah subhah rajasuyasvamedhanam jnanasyadhyatma-vastunah akrsya harina sarvah sthapitah svesu … Read More
The Bhagavat-nama-kaumudi quotes the Puranas as follows: naktam diva ca gatabhir jita-nidra eko nirvinna iksitapatho mita-bhuk prasantah yady acyute bhagavati sva-mano na sajjen- namani tad rati karani pathed vilajjah If your mind is not fixed on … Read More
In Hari-bhakti-vilasa it is written: tulasi kastha ghatitair manibhir japamalika sarvakarmani sarvesam ipsitartha-phala-prada gopucchasadrsi karya yad va sarpakrtih subha tarjanya na sprsat sutram kampayen na vidhunayet angustha-parva-madhya-stham parivarttam samacaret na sprset vama-hastena kara-bhrastam na karayet bhuktau … Read More
The Vedas describe the truth concerning the holy name with these words from the Rig-vedas: om ity etad brahmin nedistam nama yasmad uccaryamana eva samsara-bhayat tarayati tasmad-ucyate tara iti om asya jananto nama cid-viviktan mahaste … Read More
The chanting of the holy name spreads the moonlight that makes the transcendental lotus of good wishes blossom. In the Prabhasa Khanda it is written: madhura-madhuram etan mangalam mangalanam sakala-nigama-valli-sat-phalam cit-svarupam sakrdapi parigitam sraddhaya helaya va … Read More
