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 word rahasyam in this verse has been explained by the acaryas in several ways. Sridhar Svami states that it means bhakti. Jiva Gosvami argues that rahasyam refers to prema-bhakti. The latter explains that after being … 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
One can only get rid of all bad habits by chanting the holy name of Krishna. Thus, good luck awakens and love for Krishna begins to flow. While practicing Astanga Yoga, fear is always present. … Read More
It is written in the Visnu-rahasya: yad abhyarcya harim bhaktya krte kratu-satair api phalam prapnoty avikalam kalau govinda-kirtanat Whatever fruit is obtainable in Satya-yuga, worshiping Sri Hari with devotion by performing hundreds of sacrifices, in Kali-yuga … Read More
If you want to achieve perfection, carefully follow the sequence indicated by the Siksastaka. By observing the activities of the sadhus one can acquire a pure intellect. The attainment of siddha-deha, attained with constant bhajana, easily … Read More
By performing the practices of devotional service according to the teachings of the Siksastaka, Krishna’s pastimes gradually manifest in the heart of the devotee. In his commentary on the Siksastaka, the Sammodana-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura … Read More
It is written in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ‘tha bhajana-kriya tato ‘nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah Pious activities such as serving unknowingly or … Read More
All anarthas, however, turn away with the performance of nama-sankirtana. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.14): apannah samsrtim ghoram yan-nama vivaso grnan tatah sadyo vimucyeta yad bibheti svayam bhayam Beings entangled in the terrible web of deaths and … Read More
The six obstacles to advancement in Bhakti are mentioned in the second verse: atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah jana-sangas ca laulyam ca sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati Devotional service is ruined when one gets too entangled in the … Read More
The favorable circumstances for bhakti are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.36): etavad eva jijnasyam tattva-jijnasunatmanah anvaya-vyatirekabhyam yat syat sarvatra sarvada He who seeks to know the Absolute Truth, the Divine and Supreme Person, must on every occasion, … Read More
tavad bhayam dravina-deha suhrin-nimittam sokah sprha paribhavo vipulas ca lobhah tavan mamety asad-avagraha arti-mulam yavan na te ‘nghrim abhayam pravrnita lokah Oh my Lord, the inhabitants of this world are beset with all sorts of … Read More
The humility of the devotee is described by Sanatana Gosvami in the next verse, quoted by Srila Rupa Gosvami in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. One who has reached the level of rati (bhava) and with steadfast faith … Read More
