Devotional Depth

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Tarakeshwar, 10 February 2021, part 8

মূকং করোতি বাচালং পঙ্গুং লঙ্ঘয়তে গিরিম্ ।
যৎকৃপা তমহং বন্দে শ্রীগুরুং দীনতারণম্ ॥

mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam

"The dumb can speak, the lame can climb a hill—all it takes is mercy from Gurudev."

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First, I am offering my full obeisance at the lotus feet of my Divine Master Om Vishnupad Jagad-guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj begging him for his causeless mercy, aspiring to serve him; after that, I am offering my full obeisance to all assembled guru-varga, godbrothers, to all the listeners, to all the motherly lady devotees, and all the devotees. I am offering my obeisance at your holy feet and praying for your mercy to this low soul.

Sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam, pada-sevanam—hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, self-submission, offering obeisance, and serving the Lord's lotus feet. Remember this. These the nine kinds of devotion. There are also five limbs of devotion:

সাধুসঙ্গ, নামকীর্ত্তন, ভাগবতশ্রবণ ।
মথুরাবাস, শ্রীমূর্ত্তির শ্রদ্ধায় সেবন ॥

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124)

সাধুসঙ্গে কৃষ্ণনামে—এই মাত্র চাই ।

সংসার জিনিতে আর কোন বস্তু নাই ॥

sadhu-sange krsna-nama—ei matra chai
samsara jinite ara kona vastu nai

I desire only to chant the Name of Krishna in the association of the sadhus. There is no other way to conquer samsara.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 6.13)

Srila Sanatan Goswami was told:

জীবে দয়া, নামে রুচি, বৈষ্ণব সেবা ।
ইহা বহি সনাতন নাহি আর ধর্ম্ম ॥

jive daya name ruchi vaisnava seva
iha bahi sanatana nahi ara dharma

"Be merciful to the souls, chant the Holy Name, and serve the Vaishnavs. Sanatan, besides this, there is no other religion."

Being kind to the souls means we must bring them to this path. We have become averse to Lord Krishna since time immemorial—we have forgotten the Lord. We forget that those who are our family are our relatives. Yet we take those who are averse to Lord Krishna, who have no knowledge of the self, as our relatives and call them our family. Therefore, it is said in the scriptures that "Krsna-bahirmukha jivera nahi Krsna smrti-jnana—souls that are averse to Krishna have no knowledge or remembrance of Krishna." That is why we must worship devotees. Why do we worship Tulasi? We offer Tulasi leaves with water... The Lord has given much importance to Tulasi Devi, Bhakti Devi, that is why devotees wear Tulasi neckbeads, they chant on Tulasi beads. You cannot make any rituals with Tulasi also. If we do not worship Tulasi, what will we attain?

ধূপ, দীপ, নৈবেদ্য, আরতি,
ফুলনা কিয়ে বরখা বরখানি ।

dhupa, dipa, naivedya, arati,
phulana kiye varakha varakhani

You shower mercy upon one who offers you incense, lamps, foods, worship, and flowers.

ছাপ্পান্ন ভোগ, ছত্রিশ ব্যঞ্জন,
বিনা তুলসী প্রভু এক নাহি মানি ॥

chhappanna bhoga, chhatrisa vyanjana,
vina tulasi prabhu eka nahi mani

The Lord does not accept even one of fifty-six grain offerings or thirty-six vegetable offerings without tulasi leaves.

We must serve Tulasi. You must keep Tulasi at home, and if somebody has not come to this path, you must explain it to them. Give water to Tulasi every day, offer obeisances to Tulasi. Always serve Tulasi.

যাঁকো দরশে পরশে অঘনাশ হোই
মহিমা বেদ পুরাণে বাখানি ॥

yako darase parase agha-nasa hoi
mahima veda purane vakhani

By seeing or touching you, all sins are destroyed. Your glories are sung in the Vedas and Puranas.

Those who just see or touch Tulasi, their sins are destroyed. We must serve our Guru, Vaishnavs, and the Lord with heart, soul, mind, body, extracting and smearing mellows of deep love from your heart. You must do it internally, with your heart—not in the external way, in the external world. You must serve internally.

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