(3/4) Be Headstrong

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Sri Govardhan Parikrama Adhivas
27 October 2019, Govardhan, part 3
Translated from Bengali

Having walked to so many different places in your life, you now feel pain in your legs, so you cannot do the Tulasi parikrama, the dham-parikrama – you worry, 'How will I walk? My legs will pain... How will I manage?' Actually, when you do parikrama, you do it by paying obeisances. Some devotees do the parikrama of Govardhan the whole day and night. Those who are serving during this niyom-seva month finish the whole parikrama by ten o'clock and then start it again. They come back by eight o'clock, take some rest, and then again start the parikrama at four o'clock.

Even when Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu had become very old, he did not stop doing Govardhan parikrama, 'By hook or by crook, I have to do this parikrama.' He circumambulated Sri Govardhan every day. When he became very old, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu told him, 'Prabhu, you cannot walk – do not go.' He gave Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu a Govardhan-sila, saying, 'You can now do the parikrama as many times as you want.'

It is very rare to find a sadhu in this world. Srila Guru Maharaj said that in this Age of Kali, many people will come wearing tilaks, neckbeads and dressed as sadhus – entering sadhus' circle, they will disturb them. I also feel sad when I see that virtually everybody is sick in this world. People are so attached to the material world and enjoyment. If only they could do at least some little service to the Lord! If only they could feel at least some attraction to the service of the Lord! They are so attached to their wives, children, relatives, friends, wealth, property – they are not interested in serving the Lord... That is why Srila Guru Maharaj told me in his last moments, 'Thousands of people have taken the mantra from me, but how many of them have actually become real disciples?'

You have come to this holy abode now – please practise Krishna consciousness. Do the parikrama nicely. And when you go back to your homes, do not slacken your practise, then your coming here would be fruitful. Coming to Vrindavan brings so much benefit! But you must remember:

প্রভু ! তব পদযুগে মোর নিবেদন ।
নাহি মাগি দেহ-সুখ, বিদ্যা, ধন, জন ॥
নাহি মাগি স্বর্গ, আর মোক্ষ নাহি মাগি ।
না করি প্রার্থনা কোন বিভূতির লাগি’ ॥

prabhu tava pada-yuge mora nivedana
nahi magi deha-sukha, vidya, dhana, jana
nahi magi svarga ara moksa nahi magi
na kari prarthana kona vibhutira lagi

'O Lord, I am appealing at Your holy lotus feet – I do not pray for bodily pleasure, learning, wealth, or followers. I do not pray for heaven, I do not pray for liberation, and I do not pray for any supernatural powers.'

(Gitavali, Sri Siksastakam Giti, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

This is Mahaprabhu's teachings:

ন ধনং ন জনং ন সুন্দরীং কবিতাং বা জগদীশ কাময়ে ।
মম জন্মনি জন্মনীশ্বরে ভবতাদ্ভক্তিরহৈতুকী ত্বয়ি ॥

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

'I do not want wealth, I do not want followers, I do not want beautiful women, I do not want to be a poet. I only want causeless devotion to Your lotus feet. Give me that kind of devotion to Your lotus feet so that I could serve You life after life.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 3.20.29)

ধন জন আর কবিতা সুন্দরী
বলিব না চাহি দেহ-সুখকরী ।
জন্মে জন্মে দাও ওহে গৌরহরি
অহৈতুকী ভক্তি চরণে তোমার ॥

dhana jana ara, kavita-sundari,
baliba na chahi deha-sukha-kari
janme janme dao, ohe gaurahari!
ahaituki bhakti charane tomara

'When will I say that I do not want any wealth, followers, poetic gift or any other bodily happiness? O Gaura Hari! Birth after birth, please give me unconditional devotion to Your holy feet!'

(Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

'O Lord, I am appealing at Your holy lotus feet – I do not pray for bodily pleasure, learning, wealth, or followers. I do not pray for heaven, I do not pray for liberation, and I do not pray for any supernatural powers.'

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Parikrama Is Not a Walk
2) He Is Not a Sham
3) Be Headstrong
4) Govardhan: Sevya and Sevak