CHAPTER FOURTEEN Devotional Qualifications Some scholars recommend that knowledge and renunciation are important factors for elevating oneself to devotional service. But actually that is not a fact. Actually, the cultivation of knowledge or renunciation, which are … Read More
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Five Potent Forms of Devotional Service Rūpa Gosvāmī has stated that five kinds of devotional activities – namely, residing in Mathurā, worshiping the Deity of the Lord, reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, serving a devotee and chanting … Read More
LIVING IN MATHURĀ In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement about the importance of living at holy places like Mathurā or Dvārakā. It is stated there, “To travel to different places of pilgrimage means to … Read More
CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD The importance of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is very strongly stressed in the Second Canto, first … Read More
ASSOCIATING WITH ADVANCED DEVOTEES The importance of discussing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the society of pure devotees was explained by Śaunaka Muni during the meeting at Naimiṣāraṇya, in the presence of Sūta Gosvāmī. Sūta Gosvāmī confirmed that if … Read More
RECITATION OF ŚRĪMAD-BHĀGAVATAM AMONG DEVOTEES Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the desire tree of Vedic wisdom. Veda itself means “the aggregate of knowledge.” And whatever knowledge is required for human society is perfectly presented in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There are different … Read More
OBSERVING FESTIVALS CELEBRATING THE LORD’S ACTIVITIES In the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa there is a statement about observing different ceremonies celebrating the Lord’s appearance (birthday) and other transcendental activities. It is said, “My Lord Janārdana [Kṛṣṇa], please let … Read More
PERFORMING DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IN KĀRTTIKA One of the most important of these ceremonial functions is called Ūrja-vrata. Ūrja-vrata is observed in the month of Kārttika (October-November); especially in Vṛndāvana, there is a specific program for temple … Read More
ŚB 1.2.30 स एवेदं ससर्जाग्रे भगवानात्ममायया । सदसद्रूपया चासौ गुणमयागुणो विभु: ॥ ३० ॥ sa evedaṁ sasarjāgre bhagavān ātma-māyayā sad-asad-rūpayā cāsau guṇamayāguṇo vibhuḥ Synonyms saḥ — that; eva — certainly; idam — this; sasarja — created; … Read More
ŚB 1.2.15 यदनुध्यासिना युक्ता: कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम् । छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को न कुर्यात्कथारतिम् ॥ १५ ॥ yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ karma-granthi-nibandhanam chindanti kovidās tasya ko na kuryāt kathā-ratim Synonyms yat — which; anudhyā — remembrance; asinā — sword; yuktāḥ — … Read More
ŚB 1.2.16 शुश्रूषो: श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचि: । स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्रा: पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १६ ॥ śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt Synonyms śuśrūṣoḥ — one who is engaged in hearing; śraddadhānasya — with care and attention; vāsudeva — … Read More
ŚB 1.2.12 तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया । पश्यन्त्यात्मनि चात्मानं भक्त्या श्रुतगृहीतया ॥ १२ ॥ tac chraddadhānā munayo jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā paśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁ bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā Synonyms tat — that; śraddadhānāḥ — seriously inquisitive; munayaḥ — sages; jñāna — knowledge; … Read More
ŚB 1.2.4 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ ४ ॥ nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayam udīrayet Synonyms nārāyaṇam — the Personality of Godhead; namaḥ–kṛtya — … Read More
ŚB 1.2.5 मुनय: साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भिर्लोकमङ्गलम् । यत्कृत: कृष्णसम्प्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ५ ॥ munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo ’haṁ bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam yat kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśno yenātmā suprasīdati Synonyms munayaḥ — O sages; sādhu — this is relevant; pṛṣṭaḥ … Read More
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते । प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते ॥ ६५ ॥ prasāde sarva-duḥkhānāṁ hānir asyopajāyate prasanna-cetaso hy āśu buddhiḥ paryavatiṣṭhate Synonyms prasāde — on achievement of the causeless mercy of the Lord; sarva — … Read More
रागद्वेषविमुक्तैस्तु विषयनिन्द्रियैश्चरन् । आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति ॥ ६४ ॥ rāga-dveṣa-vimuktais tu viṣayān indriyaiś caran ātma-vaśyair vidheyātmā prasādam adhigacchati Synonyms rāga — attachment; dveṣa — and detachment; vimuktaiḥ — by one who has become free from; tu — … Read More
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते । सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥ ६२ ॥ dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate Synonyms dhyāyataḥ — while contemplating; viṣayān — sense objects; puṁsaḥ — of a person; … Read More
श्रीभगवानुवाच प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् । आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥ ५५ ॥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān ātmany evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadocyate Synonyms śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; … Read More
यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति । तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च ॥ ५२ ॥ yadā te moha-kalilaṁ buddhir vyatitariṣyati tadā gantāsi nirvedaṁ śrotavyasya śrutasya ca Synonyms yadā — when; te — your; moha — of … Read More
