Chapter 22

The Process of Devotional Service

In this Twenty-second Chapter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu describes the process of devotional service. In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness of mental speculation and mystic yoga. In all circumstances the living entity is recommended to accept the path of devotional service as personally explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The speculative method of the so-called jnanis is considered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and mystic yoga. One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of Krsna consciousness. In this way one's life will be successful. If one takes to Krsna consciousness fully, even though he may sometimes be agitated due to having previously practiced mental speculation and yogic mysticism, he will be saved by Lord Krsna Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the blessings of a pure devotee (sa mahatma sudurlabhah). A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one's dormant Krsna consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate with pure devotees. If one has firm faith in the words of a great soul, pure devotional service will awaken.

In this chapter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has differentiated between a pure devotee and others. He also describes the characteristics of a pure devotee. A devotee's most formidable enemy is association with women in an enjoying spirit. Association with nondevotees is also condemned because it is also a formidable enemy on the path of devotional service. One has to fully surrender unto the lotus feet of Krsna and give up attraction for women and nondevotees.

The six symptoms of fully surrendered souls are also described in this chapter. Devotional service has been divided into two categories-regulative devotional service and spontaneous love. There are sixty-four items listed in regulative devotional service, and out of these sixty-four the last five are considered very important. By practicing even one of the nine processes of devotional service, one can become successful. Speculative knowledge and mystic yoga can never help one in devotional service. Pious activity, nonviolence, sense control and regulation are not separate from devotional service in its pure form. If one engages in devotional service, all good qualities follow. One does not have to cultivate them separately. Spontaneous devotional service arises when one follows a pure devotee who is awakened to spontaneous love of God. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has described the symptoms of devotees who are already situated in spontaneous love of God. He has also described the devotees who are trying to follow in the footsteps of the pure devotees

TEXT 1

TEXT

vande sri-krsna-caitanya-

devam tam karunarnavam

kalav apy ati-gudheyam

bhaktir yena prakasita

SYNONYMS

vande--I offer my respectful obeisances; sri-krsna-caitanya-devam--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tam--unto Him; karuna-arnavam--who is an ocean of mercy; kalau--in this Age of Kali; api--even; ati--very; gudha--confidential; iyam--this; bhaktih--devotional service; yena--by whom; prakasita--manifested.

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is an ocean of transcendental mercy, and although the subject matter of bhakti-yoga is very confidential, He has nonetheless manifested it so niceIy, even in this Age of Kali, the age of quarrel.

TEXT 2

TEXT

jaya jaya sri-krsna-caitanya nityananda

jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya--all glories; sri-krsna-caitanya nityananda--to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu; jaya--all glories; advaita-candra--to Advaita Prabhu; jaya--all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda--to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! All glories to all the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

TEXT 3

TEXT

eita kahilun sambandha-tattvera vicara

veda-sastre upadese, krsna----eka sara

SYNONYMS

eita--thus; kahilun--I have described; sambandha-tattvera vicara--consideration of one's relationship with Krsna; veda-sastre--all Vedic literature; upadese--instructs; krsna--Lord Krsna; eka sara--the only essential point.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I have described one's relation with Krsna in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Krsna is the center of all activities.

TEXT 4

TEXT

ebe kahi, suna, abhidheya-laksana

yaha haite pai----krsna, krsna-prema-dhana

SYNONYMS

ebe--now; kahi--I shall explain; suna--please hear; abhidheya-laksana--one's prime business (devotional service); yaha haite--from which; pai--one can get; krsna--Lord Krsna; krsna-prema-dhana--and the wealth of transcendental love for Him.

TRANSLATION

"Now I shall speak about the characteristics of devotional service, by which one can attain the shelter of Krsna and His loving transcendental service.

TEXT 5

TEXT

krsna-bhakti----abhidheya, sarva-sastre kaya

ataeva muni-gana kariyache niscaya

SYNONYMS

krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Lord Krsna; abhidheya--the real activity of life; sarva-sastre--all Vedic literatures; kaya--say; ataeva--therefore; muni-gana--all saintly persons; kariyache--have made; niscaya--ascertainment.

TRANSLATION

"A human being's activities should be centered only about devotional service to Lord Krsna. That is the verdict of all Vedic literatures, and all saintly people have ascertained this.

TEXT 6

TEXT

srutir mata prsta disati bhavad-aradhana-vidhim

yatha matur vani smrtir api tatha vakti bhagini

puranadya ye va sahaja-nivahas te tad-anuga

atah satyam jnatam murahara bhavan eva saranam

SYNONYMS

srutih--Vedic knowledge; mata--like a mother who is affectionate to her children; prsta--when questioned; disati--she directs; bhavat--of You; aradhana--worship; vidhim--the process; yatha--just as; matuh vani--the instructions of the mother; smrtih--smrti-sastras, which explain the Vedic literatures; api--also; tatha--similarly; vakti--express; bhagini--like a sister; purana-adyah--headed by the Puranas; ye--which; va--or; sahaja-nivahah--like brothers; te--all of them; tat--of the mother; anugah--followers; atah--therefore; satyam--the truth; jnatam--known; mura-hara--O killer of the demon Mura; bhavan--Your Lordship; eva--only; saranam--the shelter.

TRANSLATION

" 'When the mother Vedas [sruti] is questioned as to whom to worship, she says that You are the only Lord and worshipable object. Similarly, the corollaries of the sruti-sastras, the smrti-sastras, give the same instructions, just like sisters. The Puranas, which are like brothers, follow in the footsteps of their mother. O enemy of the demon Mura, the conclusion is that You are the only shelter. Now I have understood this in truth.'

PURPORT

This quotation from the Vedic literature was spoken by great sages.

TEXT 7

TEXT

advaya-jnana-tattva krsna----svayam bhagavan

'svarupa-sakti' rupe tanra haya avasthana

SYNONYMS

advaya-jnana--of nondual knowledge; tattva--the principle; krsna--Lord Krsna; svayam bhagavan--Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svarupa--personal expansions; sakti--of potencies; rupe--in the form; tanra--His; haya--there is; avasthana--existence.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna is the nondual Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is one, He maintains different personal expansions and energies for His pastimes.

PURPORT

The Lord has many potencies, and He is nondifferent from all these potencies. Because the potencies and the potent cannot be separated, they are identical. Krsna is described as the source of all potencies, and He is also identified with the external potency, the material energy. Krsna also has internal potencies, or spiritual potencies, which are always engaged in His personal service. His internal potency is different from His external potency. Krsna's internal potency and Krsna Himself, who is the potent, are always identical.

TEXT 8

TEXT

svamsa-vibhinnamsa-rupe hana vistara

ananta vaikuntha-brahmande karena vihara

SYNONYMS

sva-amsa--of personal expansions; vibhinna-amsa--of separated expansions; rupe--in the forms; hana--becoming; vistara--expanded; ananta--unlimited; vaikuntha--in the spiritual planets known as Vaikunthas; brahmande--in the material universes; karena vihara--performs His pastimes.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna expands Himself in many forms. Some of them are personal expansions, and some are separate expansions. Thus He performs pastimes in both the spiritual and material worlds. The spiritual worlds are the Vaikuntha planets, and the material universes are brahmandas, gigantic globes governed by Lord Brahma.

TEXT 9

TEXT

svamsa-vistara----catur-vyuha, avatara-gana

vibhinnamsa jiva----tanra saktite ganana

SYNONYMS

sva-amsa-vistara--the expansion of His personal forms; catuh-vyuha--His quadruple form; avatara-gana--the incarnations; vibhinna-amsa--His separated forms; jiva--the living entities; tanra--His; saktite--in the category of potency; ganana--calculating.

TRANSLATION

"Expansions of His personal self-like the quadruple manifestations of Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Vasudeva-descend as incarnations from Vaikuntha to this material world. The separated expansions are living entities. Although they are expansions of Krsna, they are counted among His different potencies.

PURPORT

The personal expansions are known as visnu-tattva, and the separated expansions are known as jiva-tattva. Although the jivas (living entities) are part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are still counted among His multi-potencies. This is fully described in Bhagavad-gita:

apareyam itas tv anyam

prakrtim viddhi me param

jiva-bhutam maha-baho

yayedam dharyate jagat

"Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which consists of all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe." (Bg. 7.5)

Although the living entities are Krsna's parts and parcels, they are prakrti, not purusa. Sometimes prakrti (a living entity) attempts to imitate the activities of the purusa. Due to a poor fund of knowledge, living entities conditioned in this material world claim to be God. They are thus illusioned. A living entity cannot be on the level of a visnu-tattva, or the Personality of Godhead, at any stage; therefore it is ludicrous for a living entity to claim to be God. Advanced spiritualists would never accept such a thing. Such claims are made to cheat ordinary, foolish people. The Krsna consciousness movement declares war against such bogus incarnations. The bogus propaganda put out by people claiming to be God has killed God consciousness all over the world. Members of the Krsna consciousness movement must be very alert to defy these rascals who are presently misleading the whole world. One such rascal, known as Paundraka, appeared before Lord Krsna, and the Lord immediately killed him. Of course, those who are Krsna's servants cannot kill such imitation gods, but they should try their best to defeat them through the evidence of sastra, authentic knowledge received through the disciplic succession.

TEXT 10

TEXT

sei vibhinnamsa jiva----dui ta' prakara

eka----'nitya-mukta', eka----'nitya-samsara'

SYNONYMS

sei vibhinna-amsa--that separated part and parcel of Krsna; jiva--the living entity; dui ta' prakara--two categories; eka--one; nitya-mukta--eternally liberated; eka--one; nitya-samsara--perpetually conditioned.

TRANSLATION

"The living entities [jivas] are divided into two categories. Some are eternally liberated, and others are eternally conditioned.

TEXT 11

TEXT

'nitya-mukta'----nitya krsna-carane unmukha

'krsna-parisada' nama, bhunje seva-sukha

SYNONYMS

nitya-mukta--eternally liberated; nitya--always; krsna-carane--the lotus feet of Lord Krsna; unmukha--turned toward; krsna-parisada--associates of Lord Krsna; nama--known as; bhunje--enjoy; seva-sukha--the happiness of service.

TRANSLATION

"Those who are eternally liberated are always awake to Krsna consciousness, and they render transcendental loving service at the feet of Lord Krsna. They are to be considered eternal associates of Krsna, and they are eternally enjoying the transcendental bliss of serving Krsna.

TEXT 12

TEXT

'nitya-bandha'----krsna haite nitya-bahirmukha

'nitya-samsara', bhunje narakadi duhkha

SYNONYMS

nitya-bandha--perpetually conditioned; krsna haite--from Krsna; nitya--eternally; bahih-mukha--averse; nitya-samsara--perpetually conditioned in the material world; bhunje--enjoy; naraka-adi duhkha--the tribulations of hellish conditions of life.

TRANSLATION

"Apart from the ever-liberated devotees, there are the conditioned souls who always turn away from the service of the Lord. They are perpetually conditioned in this material world and are subjected to the material tribulations brought about by different bodily forms in hellish conditions.

TEXT 13

TEXT

sei dose maya-pisaci danda kare tare

adhyatmikadi tapa-traya tare jari, mare

SYNONYMS

sei dose--because of this fault; maya-pisaci--the witch known as the external energy; danda kare--gives punishment; tare--unto him; adhyatmika-adi--beginning with those pertaining to the body and mind; tapa-traya--the threefold miseries; tare--him; jari'--burning; mare--gives pain.

TRANSLATION

"Due to his being opposed to Krsna consciousness, the conditioned soul is punished by the witch of the external energy, maya. He is thus ready to suffer the threefold miseries-miseries brought about by the body and mind, the inimical behavior of other living entities and natural disturbances caused by the demigods.

TEXTS 14-15

TEXT

kama-krodhera dasa hana tara lathi khaya

bhramite bhramite yadi sadhu-vaidya paya

tanra upadesa-mantre pisaci palaya

krsna-bhakti paya, tabe krsna-nikata yaya

SYNONYMS

kama--of lusty desires; krodhera--and of anger; dasa--the servant; hana--becoming; tara--by them; lathi khaya--is kicked; bhramite bhramite--wandering and wandering; yadi--if; sadhu--a devotee; vaidya--physician; paya--he gets; tanra--his; upadesa-mantre--by instruction and hymns; pisaci--the witch (the external energy); palaya--flees; krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Krsna; paya--obtains; tabe--in this way; krsna-nikata yaya--he goes to Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"In this way the conditioned soul becomes the servant of lusty desires, and when these are not fulfilled, he becomes a servant of anger and continues to be kicked by the external energy, maya. Wandering and wandering throughout the universe, he may by chance get the association of a devotee physician, whose instructions and hymns make the witch of external energy flee. The conditioned soul thus gets into touch with the devotional service of Lord Krsna, and in this way he can approach nearer and nearer to the Lord.

PURPORT

An explanation of verses 8 through 15 is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. The Lord is spread throughout the creation in His quadruple expansions and incarnations. Krsna is fully represented with all potencies in each and every personal extension, but the living entities, although separated expansions, are also considered one of the Lord's energies. The living entities are divided into two categories-the eternally liberated and eternally conditioned. Those who are ever-liberated never come in contact with maya, the external energy. The ever-conditioned are always under the clutches of the external energy. This is described in Bhagavad-gita:

daivi hy esa guna-mayi

mama maya duratyaya

"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome." (Bg. 7.14)

The nitya-baddhas are always conditioned by the external energy, and the nitya-muktas never come in contact with the external energy. Sometimes an ever-liberated personal associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into this universe just as the Lord descends. Although working for the liberation of conditioned souls, the messenger of the Supreme Lord remains untouched by the material energy. Generally ever-liberated personalities live in the spiritual world as associates of Lord Krsna, and they are known as krsna-parisada, associates of the Lord. Their only business is enjoying Lord Krsna's company, and even though such eternally liberated persons come within this material world to serve the Lord's purpose, they enjoy Lord Krsna's company without stoppage. The ever-liberated person who works on Krsna's behalf enjoys Lord Krsna's company through his engagement. The ever-conditioned soul, provoked by lusty desires to enjoy the material world, is subjected to transmigrate from one body to another. Sometimes he is elevated to higher planetary systems, and sometimes he is degraded to hellish planets and subjected to the tribulations of the external energy.

Due to being conditioned by the external energy, the conditioned soul within this material world gets two kinds of bodies-a gross material body and a subtle body composed of mind, intelligence and ego. Due to the gross and subtle bodies, he is subjected to the threefold miseries (adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika), miseries arising from the body and mind, other living entities, and natural disturbances caused by demigods from higher planetary systems. The conditioned soul subjected to the threefold material miseries is ceaselessly kicked by maya, and this is his disease. If by chance he meets a saintly person who works on Krsna's behalf to deliver conditioned souls, and if he agrees to abide by his order, he can gradually approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.

TEXT 16

TEXT

kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas

tesam jata mayi na karuna na trapa nopasantih

utsrjyaitan atha yadu-pate sampratam labdha-buddhis

tvam ayatah saranam abhayam mam niyunksvatma-dasye

SYNONYMS

kama-adinam--of my masters such as lust, anger, greed, illusion and envy; kati--how many; na--not; katidha--in how many ways; palitah--obeyed; durnidesah--undesirable orders; tesam--of them; jata--generated; mayi--unto me; na--not; karuna--mercy; na--not; trapa--shame; na--not; upasantih--desire to cease; utsrjya--giving up; etan--all these; atha--herewith; yadu-pate--O best of the Yadu dynasty; sampratam--now; labdha-buddhih--having awakened intelligence; tvam--You; ayatah--approached; saranam--who are the shelter; abhayam--fearless; mam--me; niyunksva--please engage; atma-dasye--in Your personal service.

TRANSLATION

" 'O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered them so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.'

PURPORT

This verse is also quoted in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (3.2.35). When we chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra we are saying, "Hare! O energy of the Lord! O my Lord Krsna!" In this way we are simply addressing the Lord and His spiritual potency represented as Radha-Krsna, Sita-Rama, or Laksmi-Narayana. The devotee always prays to the Lord and His internal energy (consort) so that he may engage in Their transcendental loving service. When the conditioned soul attains his real spiritual energy and fully surrenders unto the Lord's lotus feet, he tries to engage in the Lord's service. This is the real constitutional position of the living entity.

TEXT 17

TEXT

krsna-bhakti haya abhidheya-pradhana

bhakti-mukha-niriksaka karma-yoga-jnana

SYNONYMS

krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Lord Krsna; haya--is; abhidheya-pradhana--the chief function of the living entity; bhakti-mukha--of the face of devotional service; niriksaka--observers; karma-yoga-jnana--fruitive activities, mystic yoga and speculative knowledge.

TRANSLATION

"Devotional service to Krsna is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul-karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti-but all are dependent on bhakti.

TEXT 18

TEXT

ei saba sadhanera ati tuccha bala

krsna-bhakti vina taha dite nare phala

SYNONYMS

ei saba--all these; sadhanera--of methods of spiritual activities; ati--very; tuccha--insignificant; bala--strength; krsna-bhakti--devotional service to Lord Krsna; vina--without; taha--all these; dite--to deliver; nare--are not able; phala--the desired result.

TRANSLATION

"But for devotional service, all other methods for spiritual self-realization are weak and insignificant. Unless one comes to the devotional service of Lord Krsna, jnana and yoga cannot give the desired results.

PURPORT

In Vedic scriptures, stress is sometimes given to fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system. Although people are inclined to practice these processes, they cannot attain the desired results without being touched by krsna-bhakti, devotional service. In other words, the real desired result is to invoke dormant love for Krsna. Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) states:

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhoksaje

ahaituky apratihata

yayatma suprasidati

Karma, jnana and yoga cannot actually awaken love of Godhead. One has to take to the Lord's devotional service, and the more one is inclined to devotional service, the more he loses interest in other so-called achievements. Dhruva Maharaja went to practice mystic yoga to see the Lord personally face to face, but when he developed an interest in devotional service, he saw that he was not being benefited by karma, jnana and yoga.

TEXT 19

TEXT

naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam

na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam

kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare

na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam

SYNONYMS

naiskarmyam--which does not produce enjoyment of the resultant action; api--although; acyuta-bhava--of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; varjitam--devoid; na--not; sobhate--looks beautiful; jnanam--speculative knowledge; alam--exceedingly; niranjanam--which is without material contamination; kutah--how much less; punah--again; sasvat--always (at the time of practicing and at the time of achieving the goal); abhadram--inauspicious; isvare--to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; na--not; ca--also; arpitam--dedicated; karma--activities; yat--which; api--although; akaranam--causeless.

TRANSLATION

" 'When pure knowledge is beyond all material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme PersonaIity of Godhead [Krsna], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities-which are naturally painful from the beginning and transient by nature-if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord? How can they be very attractive?'

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12). Even after writing many Vedic literatures, Vyasadeva felt very morose. Therefore his spiritual master, Naradadeva, told him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Up to that time, Srila Vyasadeva had written the karma-kanda and jnana-kanda sections of the Vedas, but he had not written about upasana-kanda, or bhakti. Thus his spiritual master, Narada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Vyasadeva began writing Srimad-Bhagavatam.

TEXT 20

TEXT

tapasvino dana-para yasasvino

manasvino mantra-vidah sumangalah

ksemam na vindanti vina yad-arpanam

tasmai subhadra-sravase namo namah

SYNONYMS

tapasvinah--those engaged in severe austerities and penances; dana-parah--those engaged in giving his possessions as charity; yasasvinah--those famous in society; manasvinah--experts in mental speculation or meditation; mantra-vidah--experts in reciting the Vedic hymns; su-mangalah--very auspicious; ksemam--real, eternal auspiciousness; na--never; vindanti--obtain; vina--without; yat-arpanam--dedicating unto whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); tasmai--unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead; su-bhadra sravase--whose glory is very auspicious; namah namah--I offer my repeated respectful obeisances.

TRANSLATION

" 'Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity, those who are engaged in meditation and mental speculation, and even those who are very expert in reciting the Vedic mantras, are not able to obtain any auspicious results, although they are engaged in auspicious activities, if they do not dedicate their activities to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I therefore repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose glories are always auspicious.'

PURPORT

This is also a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.17).

TEXT 21

TEXT

kevala jnana'mukti' dite nare bhakti vine

krsnonmukhe sei mukti haya vina jnane

SYNONYMS

kevala--only; jnana--speculative knowledge; mukti--liberation; dite--to deliver; nare--is not able; bhakti vine--without devotional service; krsna-unmukhe--if one is attached to the service of Lord Krsna; sei mukti--that liberation; haya--appears; vina--without; jnane--knowledge.

TRANSLATION

"Speculative knowledge alone, without devotional service, is not able to give liberation. On the other hand, even without knowledge one can obtain liberation if one engages in the Lord's devotional service.

PURPORT

One cannot attain liberation simply by speculative knowledge. Even though one may be able to distinguish between Brahman and matter, one's liberation will be hampered if one is misled into thinking that the living entity is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, one falls down again onto the material platform because considering oneself the Supreme Person, the Supreme Absolute Truth, is offensive. When such a person comes in contact with a pure devotee, he can actually become liberated from material bondage and engage in the Lord's service. A prayer by Bilvamangala Thakura is relevant here:

bhaktis tvayi sthiratara bhagavan yadi syad

daivena nah phalati divya-kisora-murtih

muktih svayam mukulitanjali sevate 'sman

dharmartha-kama-gatayah samaya-pratiksah

"O my Lord, if one engages in Your pure devotional service with determination, You become visible in Your original transcendental youthful form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As far as liberation is concerned, she stands before the devotee with folded hands waiting to render service. Religion, economic development and sense gratification are all automatically attained without separate endeavor."

TEXT 22

TEXT

sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho

klisyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye

tesam asau klesala eva sisyate

nanyad yatha sthula-tusavaghatinam

SYNONYMS

sreyah-srtim--the auspicious path of liberation; bhaktim--devotional service; udasya--giving up; te--of You; vibho--O my Lord; klisyanti--accept increased difficulties; ye--all those persons who; kevala--only; bodha-labdhaye--for obtaining knowledge; tesam--for them; asau--that; klesalah--trouble; eva--only; sisyate--remains; na--not; anyat--anything else; yatha--as much as; sthula--bulky; tusa--husks of rice; avaghatinam--of those beating.

TRANSLATION

" 'My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His endeavors are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. One's labor becomes fruitless.'

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4).

TEXT 23

TEXT

daivi hy esa guna-mayi

mama maya duratyaya

mam eva ye prapadyante

mayam etam taranti te

SYNONYMS

daivi--belonging to the Supreme Lord; hi--certainly; esa--this; guna-mayi--made of the three modes; mama--My; maya--external energy; duratyaya--very difficult to surpass; mam--unto Me; eva--certainly; ye--those who; prapadyante--surrender fully; mayam--illusory energy; etam--this; taranti--cross over; te--they.

TRANSLATION

" 'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (7.14).

TEXT 24

TEXT

'krsna-nitya-dasa'----jiva taha bhuli' gela

ei dose maya tara galaya bandhila

SYNONYMS

krsna-nitya-dasa--eternal servant of Krsna; jiva--the living entity; taha--that; bhuli'--forgetting; gela--went; ei dose--for this fault; maya--the material energy; tara--his; galaya--on the neck; bandhila--has bound.

TRANSLATION

"The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of maya because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Krsna.

TEXT 25

TEXT

tate krsna bhaje, kare gurura sevana

maya-jala chute, paya krsnera carana

SYNONYMS

tate--therefore; krsna bhaje--if one worships Lord Krsna; kare--performs; gurura sevana--service to his spiritual master; maya-jala chute--gets free from the binding net of maya; paya--gets; krsnera carana--shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of maya and become eligible for shelter at Krsna's lotus feet.

PURPORT

It is a fact that every living entity is eternally a servant of Krsna. This is forgotten due to the influence of maya, which induces one to believe in material happiness. Being illusioned by maya, one thinks that material happiness is the only desirable object. This material consciousness is like a chain around the neck of the conditioned soul. As long as he is bound to that conception, he cannot get out of maya's clutches. However, if by Krsna's mercy he gets in touch with a bona fide spiritual master, abides by his order and serves him, engaging other conditioned souls in the Lord's service, he then attains liberation and Lord Sri Krsna's shelter.

TEXT 26

TEXT

cari varnasrami yadi krsna nahi bhaje

svakarma karite se raurave padi' maje

SYNONYMS

cari varna-asrami--followers of the four social and spiritual orders of life; yadi--if; krsna--Lord Krsna; nahi--not; bhaje--serve; sva-karma karite--performing his duty in life; se--that person; raurave--in a hellish condition; padi'--falling down; maje--becomes immersed.

TRANSLATION

"The followers of the varnasrama institution accept the regulative principles of the four social orders [brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra] and four spiritual orders [brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa]. However, if one carries out the regulative principles of these orders but does not render transcendental service to Krsna, he falls into the hellish condition of material life.

PURPORT

One may be a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, or one may perfectly follow the spiritual principles of brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa, but ultimately one falls down into a hellish condition unless one becomes a devotee. Without developing one's dormant Krsna consciousness, one cannot be factually elevated. The regulative principles of varnasrama-dharma in themselves are insufficient for attainment of the highest perfection. That is confirmed in the following two quotations from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.2-3).

TEXT 27

TEXT

mukha-bahuru-padebhyah

purusasyasramaih saha

catvaro jajnire varna

gunair vipradayah prthak

SYNONYMS

mukha--the mouth; bahu--the arms; uru--the waist; padebhyah--from the legs; purusasya--of the Supreme Person; asramaih--the different spiritual orders; saha--with; catvarah--the four; jajnire--appeared; varnah--social orders; gunaih--with particular qualifications; vipra-adayah--brahmanas and so on; prthak--separately.

TRANSLATION

" 'From the mouth of Brahma, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the ksatriyas have come, from his waist the vaisyas have come, and from his legs the sudras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa] combine to make human society complete.

TEXT 28

TEXT

ya esam purusam saksad-

atma-prabhavam isvaram

na bhajanty avajananti

sthanad bhrastah patanty adhah

SYNONYMS

ye--anyone who; esam--of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; purusam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; saksat--directly; atma-prabhavam--the source of everyone; isvaram--the supreme controller; na--not; bhajanti--worship; avajananti--or who neglect; sthanat--from their proper place; bhrastah--being fallen; patanti--fall; adhah--downward into hellish conditions.

TRANSLATION

" 'If one simply maintains an official position in the four varnas and asramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Visnu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a heIlish condition.'

TEXT 29

TEXT

jnani jivan-mukta-dasa painu kari, mane

vastutah buddhi 'suddha' nahe krsna-bhakti vine

SYNONYMS

jnani--the speculative philosophers; jivan-mukta-dasa--the stage of liberation even while in this body; painu--I have gotten; kari'--taking; mane--considers; vastutah--factually; buddhi--intelligence; suddha--purified; nahe--not; krsna-bhakti vine--without devotional service to Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"There are many philosophical speculators [jnanis] belonging to the Mayavada school who consider themselves liberated and call themselves Narayana. However, their intelligence is not purified unless they engage in Krsna's devotional service.

TEXT 30

TEXT

ye 'nye 'ravindaksa vimukta-maninas

tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah

aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah

patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah

SYNONYMS

ye--all those who; anye--others (nondevotees); aravinda-aksa--O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-maninah--who consider themselves liberated; tvayi--unto You; asta-bhavat--without devotion; avisuddha-buddhayah--whose intelligence is not purified; aruhya--having ascended; krcchrena--by severe austerities and penances; param padam--to the supreme position; tatah--from there; patanti--fall; adhah--down; anadrta--without respecting; yusmat--Your; anghrayah--lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

" 'O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.'

PURPORT

This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32).

TEXT 31

TEXT

krsna----surya-sama; maya haya andhakara

yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara

SYNONYMS

krsna--Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; surya-sama--like the sun planet; maya--the illusory energy; haya--is; andhakara--darkness; yahan krsna--wherever there is Krsna; tahan--there; nahi--not; mayara--of maya, or the darkness of illusion; adhikara--the jurisdiction.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna is compared to sunshine, and maya is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Krsna consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.

PURPORT

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.34) it is stated:

rte 'rtham yat pratiyeta

na pratiyeta catmani

tad vidyad atmano mayam

yathabhaso yatha tamah

Wherever there is light, there cannot be darkness. When a living entity becomes Krsna conscious, he is immediately relieved of all material lusty desires. Lusty desires and greed are associated with rajas and tamas, darkness and passion. When one becomes Krsna conscious, the modes of darkness and passion immediately vanish, and the remaining mode, sattva-guna (goodness), remains. When one is situated in the mode of goodness, he can make spiritual advancement and understand things clearly. This position is not possible for everyone. When a person is Krsna conscious, he continuously hears about Krsna, thinks about Him, worships Him and serves Him as a devotee. If he remains in Krsna consciousness in this way, the darkness of maya certainly will not be able to touch him.

TEXT 32

TEXT

vilajjamanaya yasya

sthatum iksa-pathe 'muya

vimohita vikatthante

mamaham iti durdhiyah

SYNONYMS

vilajjamanaya--being ashamed; yasya--of whom; sthatum--to remain; iksa-pathe--in the line of sight; amuya--by that (maya); vimohitah--bewildered; vikatthante--boast; mama--my; aham--I; iti--thus; durdhiyah--having poor intelligence.

TRANSLATION

" 'The external illusory energy of Krsna, known as maya, is always ashamed to stand in front of Krsna, just as darkness is ashamed to remain before the sunshine. However, that maya bewilders unfortunate people who have no intelligence. Thus they simply boast that this material world is theirs and that they are its enjoyers.'

PURPORT

The entire world is bewildered because people are thinking, "This is my land," "America is mine," "India is mine." Not knowing the real value of life, people think that the material body and the land where it is produced are all in all. This is the basic principle behind nationalism, socialism and communism. Such thinking, which simply bewilders the living being, is nothing but rascalism. It is due to the darkness of maya, but as soon as one becomes Krsna conscious, he is immediately relieved from such misconceptions. This verse is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.5.13). There is also another appropriate verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.47):

sasvat prasantam abhayam pratibodha-matram

suddham samam sad-asatah paramatma-tattvam

sabdo na yatra puru-karakavan kriyartho

maya paraity abhimukhe ca vilajjamana

tad vai padam bhagavatah paramasya pumso

brahmeti yad vidur ajasra-sukham visokam

"What is realized as the Absolute Brahman is full of unlimited bliss without grief. That is certainly the ultimate phase of the supreme enjoyer, the Personality of Godhead. He is eternally void of all disturbances, fearless, completely conscious as opposed to matter, uncontaminated and without distinctions. He is the principal, primeval cause of all causes and effects, in whom there is no sacrifice for fruitive activities and in whom the illusory energy does not stand."

This verse was spoken by Lord Brahma when he was questioned by the great sage Narada. Narada was surprised to see the creator of the universe meditating, for he was doubting whether there was someone greater than Lord Brahma. While answering the great sage Narada, Lord Brahma described the position of maya and the bewildered living entities. This verse was spoken in that connection.

TEXT 33

TEXT

'krsna, tomara hana' yadi bale eka-bara

maya-bandha haite krsna tare kare para

SYNONYMS

krsna--O my Lord Krsna; tomara hana--I am Yours; yadi--if; bale--someone says; eka-bara--once; maya-bandha haite--from the bondage of conditional life; krsna--Lord Krsna; tare--him; kare para--releases.

TRANSLATION

"One is immediateIy freed from the clutches of maya if he seriously and sincerely says, 'My dear Lord Krsna, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.'

TEXT 34

TEXT

sakrd eva prapanno yas

tavasmiti ca yacate

abhayam sarvada tasmai

dadamy etad vratam mama

SYNONYMS

sakrt--once only; eva--certainly; prapannah--surrendered; yah--anyone who; tava--Yours; asmi--I am; iti--thus; ca--also; yacate--prays; abhayam--fearlessness; sarvada--always; tasmai--unto him; dadami--I give; etat--this; vratam--vow; mama--My.

TRANSLATION

" 'It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying, "My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours," and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.'

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Ramayana.

TEXT 35

TEXT

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami 'subuddhi' yadi haya

gadha-bhakti-yoge tabe krsnere bhajaya

SYNONYMS

bhukti--of material enjoyment; mukti--of impersonal liberation; siddhi--of achieving mystic power; kami--desirous; su-buddhi--actually intelligent; yadi--if; haya--he is; gadha--deep; bhakti-yoge--by devotional service; tabe--then; krsnere bhajaya--worships Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Krsna consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Sri Krsna.

TEXT 36

TEXT

akamah sarva-kamo va

moksa-kama udara-dhih

tivrena bhakti-yogena

yajeta purusam param

SYNONYMS

akamah--a pure devotee with no desire for material enjoyment; sarva-kamah--one who has no end to his desires for material enjoyment; va--or; moksa-kamah--one who desires to merge into the existence of Brahman; udara-dhih--being very intelligent; tivrena--firm; bhakti-yogena--by devotional service; yajeta--should worship; purusam--the person; param--supreme.

TRANSLATION

" 'Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental Ioving service.'

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10).

TEXT 37

TEXT

anya-kami yadi kare krsnera bhajana

na magiteha krsna tare dena sva-carana

SYNONYMS

anya-kami--one who desires many other things; yadi--if; kare--he performs; krsnera bhajana--devotional service to Lord Krsna; na magiteha--although not asking; krsna--Lord Krsna; tare--to him; dena--gives; sva-carana--the shelter of His lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

"If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service, they will immediately attain shelter at Krsna's lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Krsna is therefore very merciful.

TEXT 38

TEXT

krsna kahe,----'ama bhaje, mage visaya-sukha

amrta chadi' visa mage,----ei bada murkha

SYNONYMS

krsna kahe--Krsna says; ama bhaje--he worships Me; mage--but requests; visaya-sukha--material happiness; amrta chadi'--giving up the nectar; visa mage--he begs for poison; ei bada murkha--he is a great fool.

TRANSLATION

"Krsna says, 'If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very foolish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.

TEXT 39

TEXT

ami----vijna, ei murkhe 'visaya' kene diba?

sva-caranamrta diya 'visaya' bhulaiba

SYNONYMS

ami--I; vijna--all-intelligent; ei murkhe--unto this foolish person; visaya--material enjoyment; kene diba--why should I give; sva-carana-amrta--the nectar of shelter at My lotus feet; diya--giving; visaya--the idea of material enjoyment; bhulaiba--I shall make him forget.

TRANSLATION

" 'Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.'

PURPORT

Those who are interested in material enjoyment are known as bhukti. One who is interested in merging into the effulgence of Brahman or perfecting the mystic yoga system is not a devotee at all. Devotees do not have such desires. However, if a karmi, jnani or yogi somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Krsna immediately awards him love of God and gives him shelter at His lotus feet, although he may have no idea how to develop love of Krsna. If a person wants material profit from devotional service, Krsna condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Krsna, being all-intelligent, engages him in His devotional service in such a way that he gradually forgets material opulence. The point is that we should not try to exchange loving service for material prosperity. If we are actually surrendered to the lotus feet of Krsna, our only desire should be to satisfy Krsna. That is pure Krsna consciousness. Surrender does not mean that we demand something from the Lord but that we completely depend on His mercy.

TEXT 40

TEXT

satyam disaty arthitam arthito nrnam

naivarthado yat punar arthita yatah

svayam vidhatte bhajatam anicchatam

iccha-pidhanam nija-pada-pallavam

SYNONYMS

satyam--it is true; disati--He awards; arthitam--that which is desired; arthitah--being requested; nrnam--by human beings; na--not; eva--certainly; artha-dah--giving desired things; yat--which; punah--again; arthita--request; yatah--from which; svayam--Himself; vidhatte--He gives; bhajatam--of those engaged in devotional service; anicchatam--even though not desiring; iccha-pidhanam