Special Poetry: Srimad Upadesamritam | Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali

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SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI : SPECIAL POETRY

Srimad Upadesamritam

(By Srimad Rupa Goswami Prabhu)

vacho vegam manasah krodha-vegam
jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam
etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah
sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat [1]

A sober person who can tolerate the urges of (1) speech, (2) mind, (3) anger, (4) tongue, (5) stomach and (6) genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world.

atyaharah prayas cha prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana-sangas cha laulyan cha sadbhir-bhaktir-vinasyati [2]

These six destroy devotion: (1) overeating (or hoarding material things); (2) trying hard or working hard to attain something material; (3) engaging in idle talks; (4) showing too much love for rules and regulations; (5) keeping bad association; and (6) being fickle-minded (or having material attachments, being greedy).

utsahan nischayad dhairyat tat tat karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati [3]

These six increase devotional mood: (1) enthusiasm; (2) firm faith and determination; (3) patience; (4) engaging in favourable practices; (5) rejecting bad association; and (6) following in sadhus’ footsteps.

dadati pratigrhnati guhyam akhyati prchchhati
bhunkte bhojayate chaiva sad-vidham priti-laksanam [4]

These six are the signs of love: (1) supplying necessary items to devotees; (2) accepting gifts from devotees; (3) talking heart-to-heart with devotees; (4) heart-to-heart enquiry from a devotee; (5) accepting food from devotees; and (6) lovingly feeding devotees.

krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta
diksasti chet pranatibhis cha bhajantam isam
susrusaya bhajana-vijnam ananyam anya-
nindadi-sunya-hrdam ipsita-sanga-labdhya [5]

One should mentally honour the devotees who chant the Holy Name of Lord Krishna; one should offer humble obeisances to the initiated devotees who are engaged in Deity worship; and one should associate with and faithfully serve pure devotees who are advanced in unswerving devotional service and whose hearts are completely devoid of criticism.

drstaih svabhava-janitair vapusas cha dosair
na prakrtatvam iha bhakta-janasya pasyet
gangambhasam na khalu budbud-phena-pankair
brahma-dravatvam apagachchhati nira-dharmaih [6]

No one should apply mundane vision towards pure devotees (considering them mortal humans) to discern any temporal faults that may be present in their mood or body while they are present in this world. It is part of water’s nature to contain some bubbles, foam or dust; therefore, the Ganges never loses its supramundane nature (even though such elements can be seen within her).

syat krsna-nama-charitadi-sitapy avidya-
pittopatapta-rasanasya na rochika nu
kintv adarad anudinam khalu saiva justa
svadvi kramad bhavati tad-gada-mula-hantri [7]

Lo! Although Lord Krishna’s Name, pastimes and other attributes are as sweet as sugar-candy, a tongue afflicted by the jaundice of ignorance cannot feel this sweet taste. At the same time, if Lord Krishna’s Holy Name, etc. are served daily with faith and in spiritual mood, they will certainly gradually become tasteful and destroy the root cause of this disease.

tan-nama-rupa-charitadi-sukirtananu-
smrtyoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya
tisthan vraje tad-anuragi-jananugami
kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram [8]

Those who engage their tongues and minds in proper remembering and chanting of Lord Sri Krishna’s Name, beauty, pastimes, and so on, according to the methods prescribed in the scriptures, should reside in Sri Vraja and spend the entire time faithfully following devotees who have loving attachment for Lord Sri Krishna.

vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad
vrndaranyam udara-pani-ramanat tatrapi govardhanah
radha-kundam ihapi gokula-pateh premamrtaplavanat
kuryad asya virajato giri-tate sevam viveki na kah [9]

Mathura, the place of Lord Krishna’s birth pastime, is higher than Vaikuntha (the abode of unborn Lord Narayan); higher than that is Sri Vrindavan, where Sri Krishna manifests His rasa-lila pastimes; even higher than that is Giriraj Sri Govardhan, where Udarapani Sri Krishna performs His amorous pastimes with His beloved gopis; at this Govardhan, the highest, topmost area is known as Sri Radha Kunda, which is fully flooded with the nectar of divine love for the Master of Sri Gokula. (Therefore,) who among experts in practising life would refuse to serve this Sri Kunda situated on the slope of Sri Govardhan?

karmibhyah parito hareh priyataya vyaktim yayur jnaninas
tebhyo jnana-vimukta-bhakti-paramah premaika-nisthas tatah
tebhyas tah pasu-pala-pankaja-drsas tabhyo ’pi sa radhika
prestha tad-vad iyam tadiya-sarasi tam nasrayet kah krti [10]

Those who pursue the path of knowledge (rejecting the three modes of material nature) are much dearer to Sri Krishna than those who engage in selfish activities (in the mode of goodness). Higher than such knowledge-seekers are exclusive devotees or pure, supramundane devotees (who are free from pursuits of knowledge); higher than such pure devotees are one-pointed devotees established in loving service to the Lord; higher than such loving devotees are beautiful gopis; and higher than even such gopis is Sri Radhika, who is renowned as the dearmost beloved of Lord Sri Krishna. This pond of Sri Radha is as dear to Lord Krishna as Sri Radha Herself. Therefore, what fortunate soul would refuse to take shelter at this Radha Kunda?

krsnasyochchaih pranaya-vasatih preyasibhyo ’pi radha-
kundam chasya munibhir abhitas tadrg eva vyadhayi!
yat presthair apy alam asulabham kim punar bhakti-bhajam
tat premedam sakrd api sarah snatur aviskaroti [11]

Among all beloved devotees of Lord Sri Krishna, Sri Radha is the greatest recipient of His love. Similarly, Her pond, Sri Radha Kunda, is the dearest place of Lord Sri Krishna – this is attested in the scriptures by great learned souls. What to speak of various practising devotees, this divine love is extremely rare even for dear devotees of Lord Sri Krishna to attain, but it manifests itself in the hearts of those who bath in this Sri Radha Kunda just once.

SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI (English)
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