Chapter 2 – Vaiñëava tattva
Oh Vaiñëava! Your mercy is the essence of
my existence
Definition of a Vaiñëava
2.1
gåhéta-viñëu-dékñäko
viñëu-püjä-paro naraù
vaiñëavo ‘bhihito ‘bhijïair
itaro ‘smäd avaiñëavaù
Hari-bhakti-viläsa 1.55 / JD Ch. 8
gåhéta-viñëu—accepted into a Viñëu mantra; dékñäko—by
initiation; viñëu-püjäparaù—
engaged in the worship of Çré Viñëu; naraù—a
person; vaiñëavaù abhihitaù—
is called a Vaiñëava; abhijïaiù—by
the wise; itaraù asmäd—other than him;
avaiñëavaù—not a Vaiñëava.
Learned scholars have determined that a
Vaiñëava is one who is initiated into a
Viñëu mantra in accordance with the
regulations of çästra, and who is engaged in the
worship of Çré Viñëu. All others are known
as non-Vaiñëavas.
Definition of sädhaka – A practitioner of
devotional service
2.2
utpanna-ratayaù samyaì nairvighnyam anupägatäù
kåñëa-säkñät-kåtau yogyäù sädhakäù parikértitäù
BRS 2.1.276 / BRSB p.22
One in whose heart rati (bhäva) toward
Çré Kåñëa has already manifested, who has
become qualified to perceive the direct
manifestation of the Lord, but who has not
yet obtained
complete freedom from all obstacles, is called a sädhaka-bhakta.
Vaiñëava-aparädha
2.3
hanti nindati vai dveñöi / vaiñëavän näbhinandati
krudhyate yäti no harñaà / darçane patanäni ñaö
HBV 10.312/BRSB p. 68/JD Ch. 9
To beat a Vaiñëava, to slander him, to
bear malice or envy against him, to fail to
welcome or please him, to become angry
with him, and to not feel pleasure upon seeing
him – by these six types of vaiñëava-aparädha,
one falls down to a degraded position.
The definition of aparädha (offences)
2.4
apagata-rädho yasmät iti aparädhaù
apagata—disappear; rädho—affection; yasmät—on
account of which; iti—thus;
aparädhaù—offence.
Any act or emotion which hinders the flow
of love and affection; any activity
which causes Kåñëa to withdraw his
affection and protection; any activity performed
with an envious mood.
A pure devotee is identical with Kåñëa,
who resides in his heart
2.5
éçvara-svarüpa-bhakta täìra adhiñöhäna
bhaktera hådaye kåñëera satata viçräma
CC Ädi 1.61
éçvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svarüpa—identical
with; bhakta—the
pure devotee; täìra—His; adhiñöhäna—abode;
bhaktera—of the devotee; hådaye—in
the heart; kåñëera—of Lord Kåñëa; satata—always;
viçräma—the resting place.
A pure devotee constantly engaged in the
loving service of Kåñëa is identical with
the Lord, who is always seated in his
heart (Identical in the sense of being very dear to
Kåñëa and having the same mood, not in
being non-distinct from Kåñëa).
Kåñëa is controlled by the love of His
bhaktas and sits only within their hearts
2.6
ahaà bhakta-parädhéno
hy asvatantra iva dvija
sädhubhir grasta-hådayo
bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaù
SB 9.4.63
[çré-bhagavän uväca—Çré Bhagavän said,] aham—I; bhakta-parädhénaù—am
dependent on the will of My devotees; hi—indeed;
asvatantraù—am not
independent; iva—exactly like that;
dvija—O brähmaëa; sädhubhiù—by pure
devotees, completely free from all
material desires; grasta-hådayaù—My heart is
captivated; bhaktaiù—because they
are devotees; bhakta-jana-priyaù—I am
dependent not only on My devotee but also
on My devotee’s devotee (the devotee’s
devotee is extremely dear to Me).
[Çré Bhagavän said to the brähmaëa (Durväsä
Muni)]: “I am completely under the
control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not
at all independent. Because My devotees
are completely devoid of material desires,
I sit only within the cores of their hearts.
What to speak of My devotee, even those
who are devotees of My devotee are very
dear to Me.”
Kåñëa says, “pure devotees are My very
heart”
2.7
sädhavo hådayaà mahyaà
sädhünäà hådayaà tv aham
mad-anyat te na jänanti
nähaà tebhyo manäg api
SB 9.4.68/CC Ädi 1.62
sädhavaù—the pure devotees; hådayam—in the core of the
heart; mahyam—of Me;
sädhünäm—of the pure devotees also; hådayam—in the core of
the heart; tu—
indeed; aham—I am; mat-anyat—anything
else but me; te—they; na—not;
jänanti—know; na—not; aham—I; tebhyaù—than
them; manäk api—even by a
little fraction.
“The pure devotee is always within the
core of My heart, and I am always in the
heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do
not know anything else but Me, and I do
not recognize anyone besides them as mine.“
The Vaiñëavas see Kåñëa’s abode and can
reveal it to you
2.8
oà tad viñëoù paramaà padaà / sadä paçyanti sürayo
divéva cakñur ätatam / tad vipräso vipanyavo
jägåvämsaù samindhate / viñëor yat paramaà padam
Åg Veda 1.22.20-21/Biog p. 447
oà—invocation; tad—that; viñëoù—of Lord Viñëu; paramam—the
supreme;
padam—abode; sadä—always; paçyanti—they see; sürayaù—the
devotees; divi iva—as
in the sky; cakñuù—the eye; ätatam—spread;
tad—that; vipräsaù—the brähmaëas;
vipanyavaù—the praiseworthy; jägåvämsaù—spiritually
awake; samindhate—they
reveal; viñëoù—of
Viñëu; yat—whose; paramam—supreme; padam—abode.
The divine and learned Vaiñëavas always
have the darçana of the supreme abode
of Viñëu by their apräkåta (spiritual)
vision. Just as the sun’s rays in the sky are
extended to the mundane vision, so in the
same way the pure devotees always see the
supreme abode of Lord Viñëu. Because those
highly praiseworthy and spiritually
awake devotees are able to see the
spiritual world, they are also able to reveal that
supreme abode of Lord Viñëu to others.
The pure devotees are holy places
personified
2.9
bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs / tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho
térthé-kurvanti térthäni / sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåtä
SB 1.13.10/CC Ädi 1.63
bhavat—your good self; vidhäù—like; bhägavatäù—devotees;
tértha—the holy places
of pilgrimage; bhütäù—converted
into; svayam—personally; vibho—O powerful one;
térthé-kurvanti—make into a holy place of pilgrimage; térthäni—the
holy places; svaantaù-
sthena—having been situated in the heart; gadä-bhåtä—Çré
Bhagavän.
“My lord, devotees like your good self are
verily holy places personified. Because you
carry Çré Bhagavän within your heart, you
turn all places into places of pilgrimage.”
(Yudhiñöhira to Vidura)
The mahä-bhägavata sees Kåñëa everywhere
2.10
sthävara-jaìgama dekhe, nä dekhe tära mürti
sarvatra haya nija iñöa-deva-sphürti
CC Mad 8.274
sthävara-jaìgama—movable and inert; dekhe—he sees; nä—not;
dekhe—sees;
tära—its; mürti—form; sarvatra—everywhere; haya—there
is; nija—his own; iñöadeva—
worshipable Lord; sphürti—manifestation.
The mahä-bhägavata, the advanced
devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and
immobile, but he does not exactly see
their forms. Rather, everywhere he
immediately sees manifest the form of of
His worshipable Lord.
One who sees Kåñëa everywhere can never
lose Him
2.11
yo mäà paçyati sarvatra / sarvaà ca mayi paçyati
tasyähaà na praëaçyämi / sa ca me na praëaçyati
BG 6.30
yaù—whoever; mäm—Me; paçyati—sees;
sarvatra—everywhere; sarvam—
everything; ca—and; mayi—in
Me; paçyati—sees; tasya—for him; aham—I; na—
not; praëaçyämi—am lost; saù—he;
ca—also; me—to Me; na—nor; praëaçyati—is
lost.
For one who sees Me everywhere and sees
everything in Me, I am never lost, nor
is he ever lost to Me.
The only real dharma is that established
by Vaiñëavas and Vaiñëava çästra
2.12
ei kali-käle ära nähi kona dharma
vaiñëava, vaiñëava-çästra, ei kahe marma
CC Mad 9.362
ei kali-käle—in this age of Kali; ära—other; nähi
kona—there is not any; dharma—
religious principle; vaiñëava—devotee;
vaiñëava-çästra—devotional literature; ei
kahe marma—this is the purport.
In this age of Kali there are no genuine
spiritual principles other than those
established by Vaiñëava devotees and the
Vaiñëava scriptures. This is the sum and
substance of everything.
Even the learned cannot understand the
words and actions of pure devotees
2.13
yäìra citte kåñëa-premä karaye udaya
täìra väkya, kriyä, mudrä vijïeha nä bujhaya
CC Mad 23.39
yäìra citte—in whose heart; kåñëa-premä—love
of Kåñëa; karaye udaya—awakens;
täìra—his; väkya—words; kriyä—activities; mudrä—symptoms;
vijïeha—even a
learned scholar; nä bujhaya—does
not understand.
Even the most learned man cannot
understand the words, activities and
symptoms of the pure devotee in whose
heart kåñëa-prema has awakened.
Non-devotees cannot perceive the Vaiñëava’s
transcendental qualities
2.14
dekhiyä nä dekhe yata abhaktera gaëa
ulüke nä dekhe yena süryera kiraëa
CC Ädi 3.86
dekhiyä—seeing; nä dekhe—they do not see; yata—all; abhaktera—of
nondevotees;
gaëa—crowds; ulüke—the owl; nä dekhe—does not
see; yena—just as; süryera—of
the sun; kiraëa—rays.
Non-devotees cannot perceive the Vaiñëava’s
transcendental qualities, just as an
owl cannot see the rays of the sun, even
though it has eyes.
Harder than a thunderbolt, softer than a
rose
2.15
vajräd api kaöhoräëi / mådüni kusumäd api
lokottaräëäà cetäàsi / ko nu vijïätum éçvaraù
CC Mad 7.73
vajrät api—than a thunderbolt; kaöhoräëi—harder;
mådüni—softer; kusumät api—
than a flower; loka-uttaräëäm—persons
above the human platform of behavior;
cetäàsi—the hearts; kaù—who; nu—but; vijïätum—to
understand; éçvaraù—able.
Who can comprehend the heart of exalted,
transcendental personalities, whose
natures are harder than thunderbolts and
more tender than lotus flowers?
Three powerful substances of the pure
devotee
2.16
bhakta-pada-dhüli ära bhakta-pada-jala
bhakta-bhukta-avaçeña—ei tina mahä-bala
ei tina—sevä haite kåñëa-premä haya
punaù punaù sarva-çästre phukäriyä kaya
CC Antya 16.60-61/BRSB p.68/MS 7 pt
bhakta-pada-dhüli—the dust of the lotus feet of a devotee; ära—and;
bhakta-padajala—
the water that washed the feet of a
devotee; bhakta-bhukta-avaçeña—and the
remnants of food eaten by a devotee; tina—three;
mahä-bala—very powerful. ei
tina-sevä—rendering service to these
three; haite—from; kåñëa-prema—ecstatic
love for Kåñëa; haya—there is; punaù
punaù—again and again; sarva-çästre—all the
revealed scriptures; phu-käriyä kaya—declare
loudly.
The dust of the lotus feet of devotees,
the water that washes their feet, and their
mahä-mahä prasädam remnants [both hari-kathä and prasädam]
– these three are
very powerful. By serving these three, one
attains Kåñëa prema. This has been
proclaimed in all the çästras again
and again.
Vaiñëava-sevä and näma-saìkértana bestow
Çré Kåñëa caraëa
2.17
prabhu kahe—“vaiñëava-sevä, näma-saìkértana
dui kara, çéghra päbe çré-kåñëa-caraëa”
CC Mad 16.70
prabhu kahe—the Lord replied; vaiñëava-sevä—service
to the Vaiñëavas; näma
saìkértana—chanting the holy name of the Lord; dui
kara—you perform these two
things; çéghra—very soon; päbe—you
will get; çré-kåñëa-caraëa—shelter at the lotus
feet of the Lord, Çré Kåñëa.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu replied, “You
should engage yourself in the service of
the servants of Kåñëa and always chant the
holy name of Kåñëa. If you do these two
things, you will very soon attain shelter
at Kåñëa’s lotus feet.”
One-pointed devotees are fearless
2.18
näräyaëa-paräù sarve / na kutaçcana bibhyati
svargäpavarga-narakeñv / api tulyärtha-darçinaù
SB 6.17.28
näräyaëa-paräù—pure devotees, who are interested only in
the service of Näräyaëa,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarve—all;
na—not; kutaçcana—anywhere;
bibhyati—are afraid; svarga—in the higher planetary systems;
apavarga—in
liberation; narakeñu—and in hell; api—even;
tulya—equal; artha—value;
darçinaù—who see.
Devotees solely engaged in the devotional
service of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Näräyaëa, never fear any
condition of life. For them the heavenly planets,
liberation and the hellish planets are all
the same, for such devotees are interested
only in the service of the Lord.
All the good qualities of Kåñëa and the
demigods are manifested in one who
has unflinching faith in Kåñëa
2.19
yasyästi bhaktir bhagavaty akiïcanä
sarvair guëais tatra samäsate suräù
haräv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guëä
manorathenäsati dhävato bahiù
SB 5.18.12/CC Ädi 8.58, Mad 22.76/BR 4.20
yasya—of whom; asti—there
is; bhaktiù—devotional service; bhagavati—unto Çré
Bhagavän; akiïcanä—without material
desires; sarvaiù—all; guëaiù—with good
qualities; tatra—there; samäsate—live;
suräù—the demigods; harau—unto the Lord;
abhaktasya—of the nondevotee; kutaù—where; mahat-guëäù—the
high qualities;
manaù-rathena—by mental concoction; asati—to
temporary material happiness;
dhävataù—running; bahiù—externally.
In one who has unflinching devotional
faith in Kåñëa, all the good qualities of
Kåñëa and the demigods are consistantly
manifest. However, he who has no devotion
to Çré Bhagavän has no good qualifications
because he is engaged by mental
concoction in
material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord.
The pure devotee selflessly preaches out
of compassion
2.20
mahad-vicalanaà nèëäà / gåhiëäà déna-cetasäm
niùçreyasäya bhagavan / kalpate nänyathä kvacit
SB 10.8.4/CC Mad 8.40
mahat-vicalanam—the wandering of saintly persons; nèëäm—of
human beings;
gåhiëäm—who are householders; déna-cetasäm—low-minded; niùçreyasäya—for
the
ultimate benefit; bhagavan—O my
Lord; na anyathä—not any other purpose;
kalpate—one imagines; kvacit—at any time.
My dear Lord, sometimes great saintly
persons go to the homes of householders,
although these householders are generally
low-minded. When a saintly person visits
their homes, one can understand that it is
for no other purpose than to benefit the
householders.
Practice what you preach
2.21
äpane äcare keha, nä kare pracära
pracära karena keha, nä karena äcära
‘äcära’, ‘pracära’—nämera karaha ‘dui’ kärya
tumi—sarva-guru, tumi jagatera ärya
CC Antya 4.102-3
äpane—personally; äcare—behaves; keha—someone; nä
kare pracära—does not do
preaching work; pracära karena—does
preaching work; keha—someone; nä karena
äcära—does not behave strictly according to the principles; äcära
pracära—
behaving well and preaching; nämera—of
the holy name; karaha—you do; dui—two;
kärya—works; tumi—you; sarva-guru—everyone’s
spiritual master; tumi—you;
jagatera ärya—the most advanced devotee within this
world.
(Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé said to Çréla
Haridäsa Öhäkura:) “A person may observe
proper conduct but not preach, and another
person may preach but not practice.
You simultaneously perform both duties in
relation to the holy name by your
personal behavior and by your preaching.
Therefore you are the spiritual master of
the entire world, for you are the most
advanced devotee in the world.”
Vaiñëavas who know Kåñëa in truth are very
rare
2.22
bahünäà janmanäm ante / jïänavän mäà prapadyate
väsudevaù sarvam iti / sa mahätmä su-durlabhaù
BG 7.19
bahünäm—many; janmanäm—repeated births and deaths; ante—after;
jïäna-vän—
one who is in full knowledge; mäm—unto
Me; prapadyate—surrenders; väsudevaù—
the Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa; sarvam—everything;
iti—thus; saù—that; mahäätmä—
great soul; su-durlabhaù—very rare
to see.
After many births and deaths, he who is
actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me,
knowing Me to be the cause of all causes
and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.
2.23
manuñyäëäà sahasreñu / kaçcid yatati siddhaye
yatatäm api siddhänäà / kaçcin mäà vetti tattvataù
BG 7.3
manuñyäëäm—of men; sahasreñu—out of many
thousands; kaçcit—someone;
yatati—endeavors; siddhaye—for perfection; yatatäm—of
those so endeavoring;
api—indeed; siddhänäm—of those who have achieved perfection; kaçcit—someone;
mäm—Me; vetti—does know; tattvataù—in fact.
Out of many thousands among men, one may
endeavor for perfection, and of
those who have achieved perfection, hardly
one (a sädhu) knows Me in truth.
A pure devotee is extremely rare
2.24
muktänäm api siddhänäà / näräyaëa-paräyaëaù
sudurlabhaù praçäntätmä / koöiñv api mahä-mune
SB 6.14.5/CC Mad 19.150/JD Ch. 7&17
muktänäm—of persons liberated or freed from the bondage of
ignorance; api—even;
siddhänäm—of persons who have achieved perfection; näräyaëa—Çré
Näräyaëa;
paräyaëaù—the devotee; su-durlabhaù—very
rare; praçänta-ätmä—completely
satisfied, desireless; koöiñu—among
many millions; api—certainly; mahä-mune—O
great sage.
O great sage, out of many millions of
materially liberated people who are free from
ignorance, and out of many millions of siddhas
who have nearly attained perfection,
there is hardly one pure devotee of
Näräyaëa. Only such a devotee is actually
completely satisfied and peaceful.
The sädhus are oblivious to material
miseries
2.25
mad-äçrayäù kathä måñöäù / çåëvanti kathayanti ca
tapanti vividhäs täpä / naitän mad-gata-cetasaù
SB 3.25.23
mat-äçrayäù—about Me; kathäù—stories; måñöäù—delightful;
çåëvanti—they hear;
kathayanti—they chant; ca—and; tapanti—inflict
suffering; vividhäù—various;
täpäù—the material miseries; na—do not; etän—unto
them; mat-gata—fixed on
Me; cetasaù—their thoughts.
Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing
about Me, the sädhus do not suffer
from material miseries because they are
always filled with thoughts of My pastimes
and activities.
A Vaiñëava can purify the entire world
2.26
vipräd dvi-ñaò-guëa-yutäd aravinda-näbhapädäravinda-
vimukhät çvapacaà variñöham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitärthapräëaà
punäti sa kulaà na tu bhürimänaù
SB 7.9.10/CC Mad 20.59, Antya 4.69/JD
Ch.3&6
viprät—than a brähmaëa; dvi-ñaö-guëa-yutät—qualified with
twelve brahminical
qualities; aravinda-näbha—Lord
Viñëu, who has a lotus growing from His navel;
päda-aravinda—to the lotus feet of the Lord; vimukhät—indifferent
to bhakti; çvapacam—
one born in a low family, or a dog-eater; variñöham—more
glorious; manye—
I consider; tat-arpita—surrendered
unto the lotus feet of the Lord; manaù—his
mind; vacana—words; éhita—every
endeavor; artha—wealth; präëam—and life;
punäti—purifies; saù—he (the devotee); kulam—his
family; na—not; tu—but;
bhürimänaù—one who falsely thinks himself to be in a
prestigious position.
A bhakta who has taken birth in a
family of dog-eaters, but who has dedicated his
mind, words, activities and wealth to the
lotus feet of Çré Kåñëa, is superior to a
brähmaëa endowed with all twelve brahminical
qualities, but who has no bhakti for
Çré Kåñëa. Such a bhakta, although
of lowly birth, can purify himself and his whole
family, whereas the brähmaëa who is
filled with pride due to his superior social
position cannot even purify himself.
A Vaiñëava is the embodiment of perfection
2.27
akñëoù phalaà tvädåça-darçanaà hi
tanoù phalaà tvädåça-gätra-saìgaù
jihvä-phalaà tvädåça-kértanaà hi
su-durlabhä bhägavatä hi loke
Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 13.2/ CC Mad 20.61
akñëoù—of the eyes; phalam—the perfect result of the
action; tvädåça—a person
like you; darçanam—to see; hi—certainly;
tanoù—of the body; phalam—the
perfection of activities; tvädåça—of
a person like you; gätra-saìgaù—touching the
body; jihvä-phalam—the perfection
of the tongue; tvädåça—a person like you;
kértanam—glorifying; hi—certainly; su-durlabhäù—very
rare; bhägavatäù—pure
devotees of the Lord; hi—certainly;
loke—in this world.
O Vaiñëava! To see you is the perfection
of the eyes. To touch your lotus feet is
the perfection of the body. To glorify
your divine qualities is the perfection of the
tongue, for it is very rare to find a pure
devotee within this world.
Service rendered by the madhyama devotee
to the three kinds of Vaiñëavas
2.28
kåñëeti yasya giri taà manasädriyeta
dékñästi cet praëatibhiç ca bhajantam éçam
çuçrüñayä bhajana-vijïam ananyam anyanindädi-
çünya-hådam épsita-saìga-labdhyä
Çré Upadeçämåta 5/BR 2.37
kåñëa—Kåñëa; iti—thus (appears); yasya—in whose; giri—speech;
tam—that
person (a neophyte devotee); manasä—within
the mind; ädriyeta—one should
respect; dékñä—accepted initiation
from a qualified Guru; asti—he
has; cet—if;
praëatibhiù—by offering obeisances; ca—also; bhajantam—an
intermediate devotee;
éçam—unto Bhagavän; çuçrüñayä—with all types of service
(such as offering
daëòavat-praëäma, making relevant inquiry and rendering
service); bhajanavijïam—
a self-realised, expert mahä-bhägavata
Vaiñëava who performs bhajana of
Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa’s eightfold daily
pastimes; ananyam—who is an exclusive devotee
of Çré Kåñëa; anya-nindädi-çünya-hådam—and
whose heart, due to his undeviating
absorption in Kåñëa, is free from faults
such as the tendency to criticize others; épsitasaìga—
the association for which one hankers; labdhyä—having
obtained.
One who takes kåñëa-näma just once
by calling out “O Kåñëa!” is a neophyte devotee
(kaniñöha-adhikäré). One should
consider him to be his family member and silently
respect him. One who, fully understanding
the principle of dikñä, has accepted
initiation from a qualified Guru and
performs bhajana of Bhagavän in accordance with
the Vaiñëava conventions is an
intermediate devotee ( madhyama-adhikäré). One
should respect such a devotee who is
endowed with the correct understanding of reality
and illusion by offering praëäma unto
him and so forth. One who is conversant with the
science of bhajana as described in
the Çrémad-Bhägavatam and other Vaiñëava
scriptures and who performs exclusive bhajana
of Çré Kåñëa is a mahä-bhägavata
devotee. Due to his undeviating absorption
in Çré Kåñëa, the pure heart of such a
devotee is free from faults such as the
tendency to criticize others. He is expert in
bhajana, meaning that he mentally renders service (mänasa-sevä)
to Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa’s
pastimes which take place during the eight
segments of the day (añöa-kaléya-lélä).
Knowing him to be a topmost devotee whose
heart is established in the particular mood
of service to Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa for which
one aspires and who is affectionately disposed
towards oneself, one should honour him by
offering daëòavat-praëäma (praëipäta),
making relevant
inquiry (paripraçna) and rendering service (sevä) with great
love.
It is forbidden to judge a Vaiñëava from a
material viewpoint:
2.29
dåñöaiù svabhäva-janitair vapuñaç ca doñair
na präkåtatvam iha bhakta-janasya paçyet
gaìgämbhasäà na khalu budbuda-phena-paìkair
brahma-dravatvam apagacchati néra-dharmaiù
Çré Upadeçämåta 6/BR 2.20
dåñöaiù präkåtatvam—seeing with material vision; svabhäva-janitaiù—due
to the
defects stemming from his nature; vapuñaù—of
the body; ca—and; doñaiù—due to
the faults; iha—in this world; bhakta-janasya—the
pure devotee; na paçyet—one
should not see; gaìgä-ambhasäm—of
the water of the Ganges; na khalu
apagacchati—is never lost; budbuda-phena-paìkaiù—by
the presence of bubbles,
foam and mud; brahma-dravatvam—
(just as) the nature of liquified transcendence;
néra-dharmaiù—which exist simply due to the nature of
water.
Devotees situated in this material world
should not be viewed with material
vision; in other words, one should not
consider them to be ordinary conditioned
souls. The imperfections visible in their
natures, such as birth in a low caste,
harshness, lethargy and so forth, and the
imperfections visible in their bodies such
as ugly features, disease, deformities and
so forth, are precisely like the appearance of
bubbles, foam and mud in the Gangä.
Despite such apparent pollution in the water
of the Gaìgä, she retains her nature as
liquified transcendence. Similarly, the selfrealised
Vaiñëavas always exist on the
transcendental plane and one should not
attribute material defects to them.
A devotee who has firm faith, even if
committing sins, should be considered
a sädhu (and will be quickly relieved of
his faults by Kåñëa)
2.30
api cet su-duräcäro / bhajate mäm ananya-bhäk
sädhur eva sa mantavyaù / samyag vyavasito hi saù
kñipraà bhavati dharmätmä / çaçvac-chäntià nigacchati
kaunteya pratijänéhi / na me bhaktaù praëaçyati
BG 9.30-31/Upad. 6 pt/ JD ch.6
api—even; cet—if; su-duräcäraù—one committing the most
abominable sins;
bhajate—is engaged in devotional service; mäm—unto Me; ananya-bhäk—without
deviation; sädhuù—a saint; eva—certainly;
saù—he; mantavyaù—is to be considered;
samyak—completely; vyavasitaù—situated in determination; hi—certainly;
saù—
he;//kñipram—very soon; bhavati—becomes;
dharma-ätmä—righteous; çaçvatçäntim—
lasting peace; nigacchati—attains; kaunteya—O
son of Kunté; pratijänéhi—
declare; na—never; me—My; bhaktaù—devotee;
praëaçyati—perishes.
If even the most ill-behaved person
engages with determination in exclusive
devotional service unto Me, he is worthy
of being considered a saintly person
(sädhu) due to his intelligence
being fixed on Me in devotion. He quickly becomes
purified and attains relief from the
bondage of both sins and pious activities. O son
of Kunti! Attest that My devotee will
never fail to attain perfection.
For one who is faithful, there is no
danger of falling down, even if he runs
with closed eyes (i.e. commit sins despite
having knowledge of çästra)
2.31
yän ästhäya naro räjan / na pramädyeta karhicit
dhävan nimélya vä netre / na skhalen na pated iha
SB 11.2.35
yän—which (means); ästhäya—accepting with firm faith; naraù—a
man; räjan—
O King; na pramädyeta—is not
bewildered; karhicit—ever; dhävan—running;
nimélya—closing; vä—or; netre—his eyes; na
skhalet—will not trip; na patet—will
not fall; iha—on this path.
O King, one who accepts this process of bhakti
with strong faith in Guru and
Kåñëa, will never blunder on his path.
Even while running with eyes closed, he will
never trip or fall (even if he commits
sins, he will be protected).
For one who does not have faith, spiritual
life is as dangerous as a razor’s edge
2.32
uttiñöhata jägrata
präpya varän nibodhata
kñurasya dhärä niçitä duratyayä
durgaà pathas tat kavayo vadanti
Kaöha Upaniñad 1.3.14
Get up! Wake up! Take advantage of this
rare human form of life. The path of
spiritual realization is very difficult;
it is sharp like a razor’s edge. That is the
opinion of learned transcendentalists.
Even if a sädhaka falls down initially, he
is better than a dharmika non-devotee
2.33
tyaktvä sva-dharmaà caraëämbujaà harer
bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva väbhadram abhüd amuñya kià
ko värtha äpto ’bhajatäà sva-dharmataù
SB 1.5.17
tyaktvä—having forsaken; sva-dharmam—one’s own occupational
engagement;
caraëa-ambujam—the lotus feet; hareù—of Hari; bhajan—in
the course of
devotional service; apakvaù—immature;
atha—for the matter of; patet—falls down;
tataù—from that place; yadi—if; yatra—whereupon; kva—what
sort of; vä—or;
abhadram—unfavorable; abhüt—shall happen; amuñya—of
him; kim—; kaù vä
arthaù—what benefit; äptaù—obtained; abhajatäm—of
the nondevotee; svadharmataù—
being engaged properly in one’s dharma.
One who has forsaken his material
occupations to engage in the devotional
service of the Lord may sometimes fall
down while in an immature stage, yet there is
no danger of his being unsuccessful. On
the other hand, a non-devotee, though fully
following his dharma, does not gain
anything.
Powerful devotees (like Çéva or Brahmä)
are not affected by seeming fall-downs
2.34
dharma-vyatikramo dåñöa / éçvaräëäà ca sähasam
tejéyasäà na doñäya / vahneù sarva-bhujo yathä
SB 10.33.29
çré-çukaù uväca—Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé said; dharma-vyatikramaù—the
transgression of religious or moral
principles; dåñöaù—seen; éçvaräëäm—of powerful
controllers; ca—even; sähasam—due
to audacity; tejéyasäm—who are spiritually
potent; na—does not; doñäya—(lead)
to any fault; vahneù—of fire; sarva-bhujaù—
all-devouring; yathä—as.
Çukadeva Gosvämé said: The status of
powerful controllers is not harmed by any
apparently audacious transgression of
morality we may see in them, for they are just
like fire, which devours everything fed
into it and remains unpolluted.
~ Three levels of devotees – uttama, madhyama and kaniñöha ~
2.35
çraddhavän jana haya bhakti-adhikäré
‘uttama,’ ‘madhyama,’ ‘kaniñöha,’ çraddhä-anusäré.
CC Mad 22.64
çraddhävän jana—a person with faith; haya—is; bhakti-adhikäré—eligible
for
discharging transcendental loving service
to the Lord; uttama—first class;
madhyama—intermediate; kaniñöha—the lowest class; çraddhä-anusäré—according
to the proportion of faith.
A faithful devotee is a truly eligible
candidate for the loving service of the Lord.
According to one’s faith, one is
classified as a topmost devotee, an intermediate
devotee, or an inferior devotee.
1) Uttama-adhikäré
2.36
sarva-bhüteñu yaù paçyed / bhagavad-bhävam ätmanaù
bhütäni bhagavaty ätmany / eña bhägavatottamaù
SB 11.2.45/ JD Ch. 7&8
eña—that person; yaù—who; paçyet—sees; ätmanaù—his
own; bhagavad-bhävam—
mood for Bhagavän; sarva-bhüteñu—within
all beings; bhütäni—and all beings
bhagavati ätmani—within Bhagavän; bhägavatottamaù—is
the uttama Bhägavata.
One who sees his own bhagavad-bhäva,
ecstatic mood of attraction towards Çré
Kåñëacandra, in the hearts of all jévas
(sarva-bhüteñu) and sees all beings within Çré
Kåñëacandra is an uttama-bhägavata.
(An uttama Vaiñëava perceives that all living
beings love Bhagavän with the same
particular feeling of transcendental love that he
himself cherishes towards his iñöadeva.
He also perceives that Bhagavän feels a
reciprocal attitude of love towards all
living beings. An uttama Vaiñëava has no
disposition other than this).
2.37
çästra-yuktye sunipuëa, dåòha-çraddhä yäìra
‘uttama-adhikäré’ sei täraye saàsära
CC Mad 22.65
çästra-yuktye—in argument and logic; su-nipuëa—very
expert; dåòha-çraddhä—firm
faith and confidence in Kåñëa; yäìra—whose;
uttama-adhikäré—the topmost
devotee; sei—he; täraye saàsära—can
deliver the whole world.
One who is expert in logic, argument, and
the revealed scriptures and who has
firm faith in Kåñëa is classified as a
topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world.
2) Madhyama-adhikäré
2.38
ésvare tad-adhéneñu / bäliçeñu dviñatsu ca
prema-maitré-kåpopekñä / yaù karoti sa madhyamaù
SB 11.2.46 / JD Ch. 8
madhyamaù—a middle-class devotee (is) saù—he; yaù—who;
karoti—has; prema—
ecstatic transcendental love ; ésvare—for
Bhagavän; maitré—friendship; tadadhéneñu—
for Bhagavän’s subordinates (the
devotees); kåpä—mercy ; bäliçeñu—to
the innocent; ca—and ; upekñä—neglect;
dviñatsu—to the envious.
A madhyama-bhägavata is one who has
love for Éçvara and His pure devotees, is
friendly towards His bhaktas, shows mercy
towards those who are ignorant of bhakti,
and neglects
those who are inimical to Éçvara or His bhaktas.
2.39
çästra-yukti nähi jäne dåòha, çraddhävän
‘madhyama-adhikäré’ sei mahä-bhägyavän
CC Madhya 22.67
çästra-yukti—logical arguments on the basis of the
revealed scripture; nähi—not;
jäne—knows; dåòha—firmly; çraddhävän—faithful; madhyama-adhikäré—secondclass
devotee; sei—he; mahä-bhägyavän—very
fortunate.
One who is not very expert in argument and
logic based on the revealed scriptures
but who has firm faith is considered a
second-class devotee. He also must be
considered most fortunate.
3) Kaniñöha-adhikäré
2.40
arcäyäm eva haraye püjäà yaù çraddhayehate
na tad-bhakteñu cänyeñu / sa bhaktaù präkåtaù småtaù
SB 11.2.47/ JD Ch 8&25
präkåtaù—a material; bhaktaù—devotee; eva—emphatically;
småtaù— considered
saù—he; yaù—who; éhate—endeavors;
çraddhayä—with faith; püjäm—offering
worship; haraye—unto Çré Hari; arcäyäm—in
the form of His Deity; ca—yet; na—
not; tad-bhakteñu—not to Çré Hari’s
devotees; anyeñu—and other beings.
A devotee who faithfully engages in the
worship of the Deity in the temple but does
not behave properly toward other devotees
or people in general is called a präkåtabhakta,
a materialistic devotee, and is considered
to be in the lowest position.
2.41
yähära komala çraddhä, se ‘kaniñöha’ jana
krame krame teìho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’
CC Mad 22.69
yähära—whose; komala çraddhä—soft faith; se—such a
person; kaniñöha jana—a
neophyte devotee; krame krame—by a
gradual progression; teìho—he; bhakta—
devotee; ha-ibe—will become; uttama—first
class.
One whose faith is soft and pliable is
called a neophyte, but by gradually following
the process he will rise to the platform
of a first-class devotee.
~ Thus ends the section Three levels of
devotees ~
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
Post a Comment