SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA: CHAPTER NINE

Proper Renunciation

eka-dina jijnasilena gosani sanatana
"'yukta vairagya' kare bale prabhu karuna varnana [1]

eka-dina–One day, sanatana gosani–Sanatan Goswami jijnasilena–asked, "kare bale–"What is 'yukta vairagya'–proper renunciation? prabhu–O Lord, varnana karuna–please explain [it]. [1]

One day, Sanatan Goswami asked, "What is proper renunciation? O Lord, please explain it.

mayavadi bale, 'saba kaka-vistha-sama
visaya janile nyasi haya sarvottama' [2]

mayavadi–Illusionists bale–say, 'nyasi janile–'If a sannyasi considers saba visaya–everything material kaka-vistha-sama–to be equal to crow's stool, [then] haya–they are sarvottama'–the best of all.' [2]

"Mayavadis say, 'If a sannyasi considers everything material to be crow's stool, then they are the best of men.'

vaisnavera ki kartavya janite ichchha kari
krpa kari' ajna kara ajna sire dhari" [3]

ichchha kari–I want janite–to know ki–what [are] kartavya–the duties vaisnavera–of a Vaisnava. krpa kari'–Mercifully ajna kara–instruct [me]. dhari–I hold [your] ajna"–instructions sire–on [my] head." [3]

"I want to know the duties of a Vaisnava. Please instruct me, so I can hold Your instructions on my head."

prabhu bale, "vairagya haya dui ta prakara
'phalgu'-'yukta' bhede ami sikhainu bara bara [4]

prabhu–The Lord bale–said, "haya–"There are dui ta–two prakara–types vairagya–of renunciation: 'phalgu'-'yukta'–false and proper. ami–I sikhainu–have taught bhede–the difference bara bara–many times. [4]

The Lord said, "There are two types of renunciation: false and proper. I have taught the difference between them many times.

karmi jnani yabe kare nirveda asraya
tara chitte phalgu-vairagya paya dustasaya [5]

yabe–When karmi–materialists [and] jnani–speculators nirveda asraya kare–resort to apathy, paya–they develop dustasaya–the wickedness phalgu-vairagya–of false renunciation tara chitte–within their minds. [5]

"When materialists and speculators resort to apathy (towards the world), the wickedness of false renunciation arises in their minds.

samsarete tuchchha-buddhi asiya takhana
jada-viparita dharme kare pravartana [6]

takhana–Then, samsarete tuchchha-buddhi–the mentality that the world is trifling asiya–comes [to them, and] pravartana kare–they start jada-viparita dharme–to oppose material nature. [6]

"They develop the mentality that samsara is trifling and begin to oppose material nature.

krsna-seva sadhu-seva atma-rasasvada
jada-viparita dharme paya nitanta avasada [7]

krsna-seva–Service to Krishna [and] sadhu-seva–service to the sadhus [are] atma-rasasvada–relishable to the soul. jada-viparita dharme–By opposing material nature, paya–you become nitanta–completely avasada–disheartened. [7]

"Service to Krishna and the sadhus is relishable to the soul. By simply opposing material nature, you end up completely disheartened.

phalgu-vairagira mana sada suska rasa-hina
nama-rupa-guna-lila na haya samichina [8]

mana–The mind phalgu-vairagira–of a false renunciant [is] sada–always suska–dry [and] rasa-hina–dissatisfied. haya–It is na–not samichina–fit nama-rupa-guna-lila–for [the Lord's] Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes. [8]

"The mind of a false renunciant is always dry and dissatisfied. It is unfit for the Lord's Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes.

yukta-vairagira bhakti haya ta' sulabha
krsna-bhakti-puta visaya tara ghate saba [9]

yukta-vairagira ta' sulabha haya–A proper renunciant easily attains bhakti–devotion: tara saba visaya ghate–everything they do [is] krsna-bhakti-puta–purified by devotion to Krishna. [9]

"A proper renunciant easily attains devotion: everything they do is purified by devotion to Krishna.

prakrtira jada-dharma tara chitta chhade anayase
chit-asraye maje sighra aprakrta bhakti-rase [10]

tara–Their chitta–heart anayase–easily chhade–gives up jada-dharma–the dull nature prakrtira–of matter, [and] chit-asraye–in shelter of spirit, sighra–quickly maje–revels aprakrta bhakti-rase–in the joy of supramundane devotion. [10]

"Their heart easily gives up the dull nature of matter and, sheltered in spirit, quickly begins to relish the joy of supramundane devotion.

bhakti-yoge sri-krsnera prasannata paya
'na me bhaktah pranasyati', pratijna janaya [11]

paya–They attain prasannata–the favour sri-krsnera–of Sri Krishna bhakti-yoge–through the practice of devotion, [and then] janaya–proclaim [Krishna's] pratijna–promise (Bg: 9.31): 'me–'My bhaktah–devotee pranasyati na'–is never vanquished.' [11]

"They attain the favour of Sri Krishna through the practice of devotion and then proclaim Krishna's promise: 'Na Me bhaktah pranasyati: My devotee is never vanquished.' [See 19.41–42]

prasanna ha-iya krsna yare krpa kare
sei jana dhanya ei samsara-bhitare [12]

sei jana yare–Those whom krsna–Krishna prasanna ha-iya–is pleased [with and] krpa kare–blesses [are] dhanya–fortunate ei samsara-bhitare–within this world. [12]

"Those whom Krishna is pleased with and blesses are truly fortunate within this world.

golokera parama bhava tara chitte sphure
gokule goloka paya maya pade dure [13]

parama bhava–The supreme mood golokera–of Goloka sphure–appears tara chitte–in their hearts, paya–they attain goloka–Goloka gokule–in Gokula (on earth), [and] maya–Maya dure pade–falls away [from them]. [13]

"The supreme mood of Goloka appears in their hearts, they attain Goloka in Gokula, and Maya falls away from them.

ore bhai suska-vairagya ebe dura kara
yukta-vairagya ani' sada hrdayete dhara [14]

ore–O bhai–brother, ebe–now dura kara–avoid suska–dry vairagya–renunciation. ani'–Bring yukta–proper vairagya–renunciation hrdayete–into [your] heart [and] dhara–hold [it there] sada–forever. [14]

"O brother, from now on, avoid dry renunciation. Bring proper renunciation into your heart and keep it there forever.

visaya chhadiya bhai kotha yabe bala
vane yabe, sekhane visaya-janjala [15]

bhai–Brother, bala–tell Me, chhadiya–after abandoning visaya–worldly affairs, kotha–where yabe–will you go? yabe–You will go vane–to the forest, [and] sekhane–there [you will find] visaya-janjala–worldly troubles. [15]

"Brother, tell Me, after abandoning worldly affairs, where will you go? You will go to the forest, and there also you will find worldly troubles.

peta tomara sange yabe, dehera raksane
kata letha habe taha bhebe dekha mane [16]

tomara–Your peta–belly yabe–will go sange–with [you;] bhebe mane dekha–think [about] kata–how much letha–difficulty habe–there will be dehera raksane–to maintain [your] body taha–there. [16]

"Your belly will go with you; think about how difficult it will be to maintain your body there.

akarane jivanera sighra habe ksaya
marile kemane ara maya karbe jaya [17]

akarane–Unecessarily, [your] jivanera ksaya habe–life will end sighra–quickly, ara–and marile–if you die, kemane–how jaya karbe–will you conquer maya–maya? [17]

"Unnecessarily, your life will end quickly, and if you die, how will you conquer maya?

yadio na mara tabu ha-ibe durbala
jnana-nasa ha-ile kotha jnanera sambala [18]

yadio–Even if mara na–you do not die, tabu–still durbala ha-ibe–you will become weak, [and] jnana-nasa ha-ile–if your knowledge is lost [as a result, then] kotha–where [is] sambala–the benefit jnanera–of that knowledge? [18]

"Even if you do not die, you will still become weak, and if you lose your knowledge as a result, what benefit will you get from it?

ghare basi' sada kala krsna-nama lana
yatha-yogya-visaya bhunja, anasakta hana [19]

basi'–Stay ghare–at home, [and] sada kala–at all times lana–chant krsna-nama–the Name of Krishna. yatha-yogya–As appropriate, visaya bhunja–interact with the world, hana–remaining anasakta–detached. [19]

"Stay at home and always chant the Name of Krishna. As appropriate, interact with the world, remaining detached.

"yatha-yogya" ei sabda dutira marmartha bujhe laha
kapatartha lana yena deharami na ha [20]

bujhe laha–Understand dutira–the two marmartha–purports ei sabda–of the phrase "yatha-yogya"–'as appropriate'. yena na–Do not lana–accept kapatartha–the false meaning [and] ha–become deharami–a sensualist. [20]

"Understand the two purports of the phrase 'as appropriate' so that you do not accept the false meaning and become a sensualist.

suddha-bhaktira anukula kara angikara
suddha-bhaktira pratikula kara asvikara [21]

angikara kara–Accept [everything] anukula–favourable suddha-bhaktira–to pure devotion, [and] asvikara kara–reject [everything] pratikula–unfavourable suddha-bhaktira–to pure devotion. [21]

"Accept everything favourable to pure devotion, and reject everything unfavourable to pure devotion.

marmartha chhadiya yeba sabda artha kare
rasera vase deharami kapata marga dhare [22]

yeba–Those who chhadiya–reject marmartha–this purport [and] artha kare–interpret sabda–the phrase [otherwise are] deharami–sensualists rasera vase–controlled by pleasures; [they] dhare–follow marga–the path kapata–of deceit. [22]

"Those who reject this purport and misinterpret the phrase are sensualists controlled by pleasures; they follow the path of deceit.

bhala khaya, bhala pare, kare bahu dhanarjana
yosit-sange rata hana phire ratra-dina
bhala sayya attalika khonje arvachina [23]

khaya–They eat bhala–fancy [food], pare–wear bhala–fancy [clothes, and] bahu dhanarjana kare–accumulate immense wealth. hana–Being rata–attached yosit-sange–to the company of women, arvachina–such fools phire–roam about ratra-dina–night and day [and] khonje–search attalika–for a mansion [with] bhala sayya–a fancy bed. [23]

"They eat fancy food, wear fancy clothes, and accumulate immense wealth. Attached to the company of women, such fools roam about night and day searching for a mansion with a fancy bed.

deha-yatrara upayogi nitanta prayojana
visaya svikara kari' kara dehera raksana [24]

[Instead of all this,] dehera raksana kara–maintain the body svikara kari'–by accepting visaya–things [that are] upayogi–suitable [and] nitanta–actually prayojana–necessary deha-yatrara–for the body's preservation. [24]

"Instead of all this, maintain the body by accepting things that are suitable and actually necessary for its preservation.

sattvika sevana kara asaba varjana
sarva-bhute daya kari' kara uchcha sankirtana [25]

sevana kara–Eat sattvika–things in the mode of goodness [and] varjana–reject asaba–intoxicants. daya kari'–Be kind sarva-bhuta–to all beings [and] uchcha sankirtana kara–chant loudly. [25]

"Eat food in the mode of goodness and reject intoxicants. Be kind to all beings and loudly chant the Name.

deva-seva chhala kari' visaya nahi kara
visayete raga-dvesa sada parihara [26]

visaya kara nahi–Do not engage in worldly affairs chhala kari'–by making a pretence deva-seva–of Deity worship, [and] sada–always parihara–avoid raga-dvesa–attachment and aversion visayete–to worldly matters. [26]

"Do not engage in worldly affairs on the pretence of Deity worship, and always avoid attachment and aversion to worldly matters.

para-himsa kapatata anya sane vaira
kabhu nahi kara bhai yadi mora vakya dhara [27]

kabhu nahi–Never kara–engage in para-himsa–envy, kapatata–deceit, [or] vaira–enmity anya sane–with others, bhai–brother, yadi–if [you want to] dhara–follow mora–My vakya–advice. [27]

"Never behave enviously, deceitfully, or inimically with others, brother, if you want to follow My advice.

nirjana sudrdha bhakti kara alochana
krsna-sevara sambandhe dina karaha yapana [28]

alochana kara–Discuss sudrdha–resolute bhakti–devotion nirjana–in seclusion, [and] yapana karaha–spend [your] dina–days sambandhe–engaged in krsna-sevara–the service of Krishna. [28]

"Discuss resolute devotion in seclusion, and spend your days engaged in the service of Krishna.

matha mandira dalana badira na kara prayasa
artha thake kara bhai yemana abhilasa [29]

prayasa kara na–Do not endeavour matha mandira dalana badira–for monasteries, temples, or big houses, [but] artha thake–if you have wealth, bhai–brother, [then you can] kara–make [them,] yemana–as [you] abhilasa–desire. [29]

"Do not endeavour to make monasteries, temples, or big houses, but if you have wealth, brother, then you can make them, as you desire.

artha nai tabe matra sattvika seva kara
jala-tulasi diya giridharike vakse dhara [30]

artha nai–If you do not have wealth, tabe–then matra–simply sattvika seva kara–perform pure worship. diya–Offer jala-tulasi–water and Tulasi giridharike–to Giridhari [and] dhara–hold [Him] vakse–to [your] chest. [30]

"If you do not have wealth, then simply perform pure worship. Offer water and Tulasi to Giridhari and hold Him to your chest.

bhavete kandiya bala, "ami ta' tomara
tava pada-padma chitte rahuka amara" [31]

kandiya–Crying bhavete–with love, bala–say, 'ami ta'–'I [am] tomara–Yours. [Let] tava–Your pada-padma–lotus feet rahuka–remain amara chitte'–in my heart.' [31]

"Crying with love, pray, 'I am Yours. Let Your lotus feet remain in my heart.'

vaisnave adara kara prasadadi diya
artha nai dainya-vakye tosa minati kariya [32]

adara kara–Honour vaisnave–the Vaisnavas diya–with prasadadi–prasad and other remnants. artha nai–If you have no wealth, [then] minati kariya–submissively tosa–satisfy [them] dainya-vakye–with humble words. [32]

"Honour the Vaisnavas with prasad and other remnants. If you have no wealth, then submissively satisfy them with humble words.

parijana parikara krsna-dasa-dasi
atma-sama palane ha-ibe mista-bhasi [33]

[Consider your] parijana–friends [and] parikara–relatives krsna-dasa-dasi–Krishna's servants and maidservants, palane ha-ibe–care [for them] atma-sama–as you do for yourself, [and] suska-vairagya dura kara kartavya–speak [to them] sweetly. [33]

"Consider your friends and relatives servants of Krishna, care for them as well as you care for yourself, and speak to them sweetly.

smarana-kirtana-seva sarva-bhute daya
ei ta' karibe yukta vairagi ha-iya [34]

smarana-kirtana-seva–Remember, glorify, and serve [the Lord, and] daya–be kind sarva-bhute–to all beings. karibe–Do ei ta'–this, ha-iya–being yukta vairagi–a proper renunciant. [34]

"Remember, glorify, and serve the Lord, and be kind to all beings. Do all this as a proper renunciant.

krsna yadi nahi deya parijana-parikara
athava diya ta laya sarva sukhera akara [35]

yadi–If krsna–Krishna deya nahi–does not give [you] parijana-parikara–friends and relatives, athava–or if diya–He gives [them and then] ta laya–takes [them] away, [accept] sarva–all [such conditions as] akara–a source sukhera–of joy. [35]

"Krishna may not give you friends and relatives, or He may give them and then take them away. Accept all such conditions as a source of joy.

soka-moha chhada bhai nama kara nirantara"
jagai bale, "e-bhava gaurera sane mora kondala vistara" [36]

bhai–Brother, chhada–leave behind soka-moha–lamentation and bewilderment, [and] nirantara–always nama kara"–chant the Name." jagai–Jagai bale–says, "mora–"I have vistara–many kondala–quarrels e-bhava"–about this subject gaurera sane–with Gaura." [36]

"Brother, leave behind all lamentation and bewilderment, and always chant the Name." Jagai says, "I have many quarrels with Gaura about this."

Translator's Note
Introduction
In Praise of Sri Sri Prema-vivarta
Sri Sri Prema-vivarta:
1 Invocation of Auspiciousness
2 The Composition of this Book
3 First Obeisances
4 Gaura's Greatness
5 Transformations of Ecstasy in Service
6 The Journey of the Soul
7 The Name is for Everyone
8 Give up Deceit
9 Proper Renunciation
10 Caste and Class
11 The Light of Nabadwip
12 Glories of the Vaisnavas
13 Eagerness to see Sri Gaura
14 Contradictory Transformations
15 Morning Pastimes in Nabadwip
16 What is Love?
17 Different Practices for Different Devotees
18 Sri Ekadasi
19 A Collection of Hidden Truths about the Name
20 The Glories of the Name
+ The Ten Offences to the Holy Name
+ Glossary