Issue No.

260 r Indir Ekda 24 September 2011 Circulation 4,950

Follow the Goswamis
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Various Stages of Progress
Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakura
Who is a Sadhu?
Various Commentaries on Bhagavad-Gt! ".#$
FOLLOW THE GOSWAMS
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
We Gauya Vaiavas we follow the instruction that Narottam Das Thakur says speaks about in his son!
r"pa#rahun$tha#pa%e haibe $kuti
kabe h$ma bu&habo 'r yuala#priti
(uala#priti! the con&ual love between )a%ha an% *rishna! it is not to be un%erstoo% by a thir%#class man+
That is not possible+ ,f one thinks *rishna is or%inary human bein! )a%harani as an or%inary irl! then it is not
possible+ -ne has to un%erstan% *rishna an% )a%harani throuh the bhakti literature of these Goswamis+
Therefore Narottama Das Thakur says! r"pa#rahun$tha#pa%e haibe $kuti+ .aerness+ /When shall , try to
un%erstan% yuala#priti! the con&ual love of )a%ha#*rishna! throuh the literature of )upa an% )ahunath01
)"pa#)ahun$tha means+++ There are si2 Goswamis 3 4eins from )"pa Gosv$m! en%s with )ahun$tha+
5rila )upa Goswami! 5rila 5anatan Goswami! 5rila )ahunath 4hatta Goswami! 5rila 6iva Goswami! 5rila
Gopal 4hatta Goswami an% 5rila )ahunath Das Goswami+ There are two )ahunathas 3 one 4hatt
)ahunath! an% one Das )ahunatha+ 5o Narottam Das Thakur says! r"pa#rahun$tha#pa%e haibe $kuti kabe
h$ma bu&habo 3 to un%erstan% )a%ha#*rishna an% their love affairs! one has to un%erstan% throuh the
literature iven by )upa Goswami+ 6ust like it is iven in this 4hakti#ras$m7ta#sin%hu! Nectar of Devotion+
89ecture! :; December <=>:?
)upa Goswami! 5anatan Goswami! especially 6iva Goswami wrote hun%re%s of books+ N$n$#'$stra#
vic$raaika#nipuau sa%#%harma#sa@sth$pakau lok$n$@ hita#k$riau! they wrote! they wrote these books for the
benefit of the whole worl%+ 9ok$n$@ hita#k$riau! they %i% not write these books only for the Ain%us or for the
persons people who are livin in ,n%ia or in Vrin%avan+ N$n$#'$stra#vic$raaika#nipuau! they were very! very
e2pert+ (ouBll fin% in the 4hakti#ras$m7ta#sin%hu! wherever 5rila )upa Goswami has state% somethin!
imme%iately he has iven reference from the '$stras+ Ae %i% not manufacture anythin which is aainst the
'$stras+ We have to become a r"p$nua! r"p$nua vaiava+ 5o in or%er to see Go%! in or%er to serve Go%! we
have to follow what 5rila Narottam Das Thakur has sai%!
r"pa#rahun$tha#pa%e haibe $kuti
kabe h$ma bhu&haba se yuala#priti
)"pa#rahun$tha#pa%e haibe $kuti+ Cnless one becomes very! very much eaer to follow the path of 5rila
)upa Goswami an% 5rila 5anatan Goswami! he cannot un%erstan% what the love affairs of )a%ha an% *rishna
are+ Without followin the principles of )upa Goswami! if we want to un%erstan% what is )a%ha an% *rishna!
then we shall un%erstan% a boy! or%inary boysD an% irlsD affairs+ That is not )a%ha#*rishna+ Therefore in the
'$stra it is sai%! ataE 'r#k7a#n$m$%i na bhave% r$hyam in%riyaiE FGc+ Ha%hya <>+<I;J+ Do not try to
un%erstan% )a%ha an% *rishna with these blunt eyes an% sensesK try to un%erstan% throuh the instructions of
5rila )upa Goswami an% 5rila 5anatan Goswami+ 89ecture! <L -ctober <=>:?
We shoul% follow Ghaitanya Hahaprabhu! the si2 Goswamis! an% ra%ually! let us learn what is %evotional
service! an% how to e2ecute it+ .verythin is very nicely e2plaine% in the 4hakti#ras$m7ta#sin%hu which we
have presente% herewith as /The Nectar of Devotion! the Gomplete 5cience for the 4hakti#yoa+1 5o first of
all! we shoul% take a%vantae of these ranthas! an% then ra%ually make proress+ Narottam Das Thakur
therefore says!
r"pa#rahun$tha#pa%e haibe $kuti
kabe h$ma bu&habo 'r yuala#priti
Without un%erstan%in )upa an% )ahunath! or without oin throuh the literatures iven by )upa#
)ahunath! if we &umpinly! an% all of a su%%en! try to become a %evotee of )a%ha *rishna! it is not possible+
-f course! our aim is to become %evotees of )a%ha#*rishna! but how to become that! we must stu%y throuh
these books! especially 4hakti#ras$m7ta#sin%hu+ 89ecture! :I -ctober <=>:? M
FO!"TEE# STAGES OF P"OG"ESS
Sri%a Vishwanath Chakravarti &hakura
sat$@ k7p$ mahat#sev$ 'ra%%h$ uru#pa%$'rayaE
bha&aneu sp7h$ bhaktir anarth$paamas tataE
niNh$ rucir ath$sakt ratiE prem$tha %ar'anam
harer m$%hury$nubhava ity arth$E syu' catur%a'e
Ot the %awn of oneDs spiritual life! one receives the mercy of the reat %evotees+ -ne then enaes in the
service of such %evotees+ This lea%s to %evelopment of faith in the %evotional process! after which one attains
the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona#fi%e spiritual master+ -ne then starts the process of bha&ana! or
a%vancement! after which one e2periences a sincere hankerin for %evotional service+ This is followe% by
anartha#niv7tti! or removal of unwante% %esires from oneDs heart+ This lea%s to awakenin of the staes of
niNh$! or stea%y %evotional service! followe% by ruci! or enuine taste in such service! followe% by $sakti! or
attachment to the 9or%+ Ofter this! one e2periences rati! or intimacy an% then %evelops prema! or fully
blossome% love for the 9or%+ -ne can then have %ar'ana! or %irect perception of the 9or%! an% an e2perience of
m$%hurya! or comprehensive sweetness of the 9or%+ These are the fourteen staes of a%vancement in true love+
M
3 Prom the 5$r$rtha#Dar'in commentary on Qrma% 4h$avatam <+:+:<+ 5anskrit taken from Gau%iya
Grantha Han%ir 8httpRSSwww+ranthaman%ira+com?+ Translate% by Aari Tarsha% Das+
WHO S A SA$H!?
Various Commentaries on Bhagavad-Gita ".#$
85rila 5ri%har 5wami?!
api ca ma%#bhakter ev$yam avitarkya@ prabh$va iti %ar'ayann $ha api ce% iti+ atyanta@ %ur$c$roDpi naro ya%yap
ap7thaktvena p7tha#%evat$pi v$su%eva eveti bu%%hy$ %evat$ntara#bhaktim akurvan m$m eva parame'vara@
bha&ate tarhi s$%huE 'reNha eva sa mantavyaE+ yatoDsau samya#vyavasitaE parame'vara#bha&anenaiva
k7t$rtho bhaviy$mti 'obhanam a%hyavas$ya@ k7tav$n+
4y usin the wor%s Uapi cetD 8even if?! the 9or% points out! /6ust see the inconceivable influence an% power
of my %evotional service+ .ven if an e2tremely abominable wretch pin pointe%ly worships me 3 The 5upreme
9or%! an% %oes not offer separate worship to the %emio%s! consi%erin them to be my parts an% parcels! then
such a personality shoul% be consi%ere% as the foremost s$%hu+ 5uch a person is sai% to be samya#vyavasita!
or a properly situate% person! since he is fi2e% in the resolve that 3 /, will achieve complete fulfillment an%
satisfaction simply by one pointe% %evotional service to the 5upreme 9or%+11
85rila Vishwanath Ghakravarti Thakura?
sva#bhaktev $saktir mama sv$bh$viky eva bhavati! s$ %ur$c$reDpi bhakte n$pay$ti+ tam apy utk7Nam eva
karomty $ha api ce% iti + su%ur$c$raE para#hi@s$ para#%$ra#para#%ravy$%i#rahaa#par$yaeDpi m$@ bha&ate
cet! k%7#bha&anav$n ity ata $ha! ananya#bh$k mattoDnya#%evat$ntaram+ ma%#bhakter anyat karma#
&V$n$%ikam! mat#k$man$toDny$@ r$&y$%i#k$man$@ na bha&ate! sa s$%huE+ nanv et$%7'e ka%$c$re %7Ne sati!
katha@ s$%hutvam0 tatr$ha! mantavyo mananyaE+ s$%hutvenaiva sa &Veya iti y$vat+ mantavyam iti vi%hi#
v$kyam anyath$ pratyav$yaE sy$t+ atra ma%#$&Vaiva pram$am iti bh$vaE+ nanu tv$@ bha&ate ity eta%#a@'ena
s$%huE para#%$r$%i#raha$@'en$s$%hu' ca sa mantavyas tatr$ha eveti+ sarve$py a@'ena s$%hur eva
mantavyaE+ ka%$pi tasy$s$%hutva@ na %raNavyam iti bh$vaE+ samya vyavasita@ ni'cayo yasya saE+
%ustya&ena sva#p$pena naraka@ tirya#yonir v$ y$mi aik$ntika@ 'r#k7a#bha&ana@ tu naiva &ih$s$mti sa
'obhanam a%hyavas$ya@ k7tav$n ity arthaE+
The 9or% says! /Hy lovin attachment towar%s my %evotee is certainly my inherent nature+ ,t %oesnDt leave
me even in the case of a %evotee a%%icte% to sinful life! for , elevate such %evotees in spiritual life too+ ,f a
wicke% person a%%icte% to committin violence on others! or to stealin others wives or property worships me
in a way that is one pointe% an% free from worship of other %emio%s! an% if such worship is also free from
%esires for the processes of karma an% &V$na or any similar e2traneous %esires! then such a person is a s$%hu+1
O Wuestion may be aske% here! /Aavin seen his sinful behavior! how can he be calle% a s$%hu01
The 9or% says! /Ae shoul% be calle% so because of the abovementione% saintly Wualities that he possesses+
Cn%erstan% this as a compulsory in&unction from me+ 4reakin this in&unction will be contrary to your spiritual
life+ ,t is an in&unction in the form of my or%er+1
Onother Wuestion! /Does it mean that such a person is a partial %evotee 8when he acts rihteously? an% a
partial non#%evotee 8when he acts sinfully by stealin otherDs wives! property etc+?01
The 9or% replies! /NoX 5uch a person shoul% still be consi%ere% a %evotee in his entirety+ ,t means that no
one shoul% see any %efects in such a person+ -ne shoul% see that he is a person firmly fi2e% in his resolve+
5uch a person is fi2e% in the lorious conclusion that! /4y my sinful %esires! , may attain hell or lower species
of life! but , shall never ive up this path of k7a#bha&ana+11
85rila 4ala%eva Vi%yabhushan?
mama 'u%%ha#bhakti#va'yat$#lakaaE svabh$vo %ustya&a eva+ ya% aha@ &uupsita#karmay api
bhakteDnura&ya@s tam utkaray$mti p"rv$rtha@ puann $ha api ce% iti+ ananya#bh$k &ana' cet
su%ur$c$roDtiviarhita#karm$pi san m$@ bha&ate mat#krtan$%ibhir m$@ sevate ta% api sa s$%hur eva
mantavyaE+ mattoDny$@ %evat$@ na bha&ty $'rayatti ma%#ekYnt m$m eva sv$mina@ parama#pumartha@ ca
&$nann ity arthaE+ ubhayath$ vartam$noDpi s$%hutvena sa p"&ya iti bo%hayitum eva#k$raE+ tasya tath$tve
manane mantavya iti sva#ni%e'a#r"po vi%hi' ca %ar'itaE+ itarath$ pratyav$y$% iti bh$vaE+ ubhayath$pi
vartam$nasya s$%hutvam evety atrokta@ hetu@ puann $ha samya iti+ ya% asau samya#vyavasito ma%#
ek$nta#niNh$#r"pa#'reNha#ni'cayav$n ity arthaE+ evam ukta@ n$rasi@he3
bhaavati ca har$v ananya#cet$
bh7'a malinoDpi vir$&ate manuyaE
na hi 'a'a#kalua#cchaviE ka%$cit
timira#par$bhavat$m upaiti can%raE +iti+
The 9or% says! /Hy nature of bein controlle% by pure %evotion is almost impossible to ive up for me+1 4y
usin the wor%s Uapi cetD! he in%icates that the %evotional service of even those %evotees enae% in sinful acts
attracts him+
Ae says! /,f my %evotee is enae% in e2tremely sinful acts! yet is one#pointe%ly %evote% to me by activities
such as performin krtana or sev$! then he shoul% be consi%ere% to be a s$%hu+ The reason for callin him
ananya#bhakta! or one#pointe% %evotee is that he %oes not worship or take shelter of any other o%s besi%es me!
an% un%erstan%s me only to be the supreme %estination an% the supreme master+ ,n any case! such a %evotee is
worshipable because of his saintly Wualities+ This shoul% be taken as my or%er! an% not followin it will lea% to
an opposite result in spiritual life+1
The reason for the 9or% callin the %evotee a s$%hu in any case is specifie% by him here! /5uch a %evotee is
properly situate% 8samya#vyavasita?! because he has ma%e the best resolve to be fi2e% only on me+1
,n the same conte2t! the N7simha#Tur$a also states!
/-ne who is possesse% of one#pointe% %evotional service towar%s the 9or% is e2alte% even thouh he may be
possesse% of serious contaminations! &ust as the moon is never to be consi%ere% as bein %efeate% by %arkness
%espite the presence of various spots on it 8that resemble a rabbit?+1
85ripa% O%i 5hankaracharya?!
api cet ya%y api su%ur$c$raE suNhu %ur$c$roDtva kutsit$c$roDpi bha&ate m$m ananya#bh$k ananya#bhaktiE
san! s$%hur eva samya#v7tta eva sa mantavyo &V$tavyaE+ samya yath$va% vyavasito hi saE! yasm$t s$%hu#
ni'cayaE saE
4y usin the wor%s Uapi cetD! the 9or% says! /.ven thouh someone is a sinful wretch of the worst %eree! if
he worships me with %evotion in a pin#pointe% way! then such a person shoul% be un%erstoo% to be a s$%hu+ Ae
is situate% properly! an% his resolution is fi2e%+1
85ri Ha%husu%an 5araswati?
ki@ ca ma%#bhakter ev$ya@ mahim$ yat sameDpi vaiamyam $p$%ayati '7u tan#mahim$nam api ce% iti+ yaE
ka'cit su%ur$c$roDpi ce% a&$mil$%ir iv$nanya#bh$k san m$@ bha&ate kuta'ci% bh$yo%ay$t sevate sa pr$
as$%hur api s$%hur eva mantavyaE+ hi yasm$t samya#vyavasitaE s$%hu#ni'cayav$n saE
4y usin the wor%s Uapi cetD! the 9or% says! /6ust listenX 5uch are the lories of my %evotional service! that it
harmoniZes all opposin situations+ .ven if an e2tremely sinful person! worships me in a one#pointe% way!
similar to the moo% of O&amila! or by some oo% fortune serves me! then such a person shoul% be consi%ere% as
a s$%hu! althouh he may have e2hibite% the behavior of an as$%hu+ Ae is certainly a sae fi2e% in proper
resolution+1 M
Translated b !ari "ars#ad $as %rom t#e Sans&rit a'ailable at
#ttp())***.+rant#amandira.com