PILLARS

ye me bhakta-janah partha
na me bhaktas cha te janah
mad-bhaktanan cha ye bhaktas
te me bhakta-tama matah

O Arjuna, those who are devoted only to Me are not truly[actually/really] My devotees. I consider those who are devoted to My devotees to be My real devotees.

—Adi-purana

nayamatma pravachanena labhyo
na medhaya na bahuna srutena
yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyah
tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam

The Supreme Soul is not attained by reasoning, intelligence, or extensive learning. He is attained by one whom He chooses. He reveals His form to them.

—Sri Katha-upanisad

satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

In the association of sadhus, discussions of the Pastimes of the Lord bring joy to the ear and heart. Relishing these discussion and association, you will quickly progress to the path of liberation, thereafter faith, attachment and devotion to the Lord will ensue.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskischananam na vrnita yavat

So long as those pursuant of mundane happiness have not bathed in the dust of the feet of great souls who are detached from this world, they cannot touch the Lord's feet, which destroy all impediments to devotion.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah

Learn divine knowledge by surrender, enquiry, and service. Those who know and see the Truth will teach it to you.

—Sri Gita

NICHE

Viraha

ayi dina-dayardra natha he
mathura-natha kadavalokyase
hrdayam tvad-aloka-kataram
dayita bhramyati kim karomy aham

O Lord, You are filled with mercy for the poor! O Lord of Mathura! When will I see You again? In painful separation from You, my Beloved, Mmy broken heart trembles. O Beloved! What shall I do now?

—Srila Madhavendra Puripad

amuny adhanyani dinantarani
hare tvad-alokanam antarena
anatha-bandho karunaika-sindho
ha hanta ha hanta katham nayami

O Lord! O Friend of the helpless! O one and only Ocean of mercy! Alas! Alas! How shall I pass these unfortunate days and nights without the sight of You?

—Srila Bilvamangal Thakur

sri-krsna-rupadi-nisevanam vina
vyarthani me 'hany akhilendriyany alam
pasana-suskendhana-bharakany aho
bibharmi va tani katham hata-trapah

Without the service of Sri Krsna's Form, Qualities, and Pastimes, my days and all my senses are like a completely useless burden of stone and dry wood. Alas! How can I even bear them? I am shameless.

—Revered Votary

tvach-chhaisavam tri-bhuvanadbhutam ity avehi
mach-chapalam cha tava va mama vadhigamyam
tat kim karomi viralam murali-vilasi
mugdham mukhambujam udiksitum iksanabhyam

Dear Flute Player, Your youth astonishes the whole universe. You know My mind is perturbed, and I know Yours is too. How can I then get to see Your beautiful lotus face in some private place?

—Srila Bilvamangal Thakur

sunyayate maha-gostham girindro 'jagarayate
vyaghra-tundayate kundam jivatu-rahitasya me

Without my life—Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu—Vraja seems empty, Giriraj seems like a python, and Radha Kunda seems like the jaws of a tiger.

—Srila Das Goswamipad

kurvati kila kokila-kula ujjvala-kala-nadam
jaiminir iti jaiminir iti jalpati sa-visadam

The koels sing bright melodies, but Radharani sorrowfully calls out, 'Jaimini! Jaimini!'

—Srila Rupa Goswamipad

(Translator's note: In Vraja, villagers call out the name of Jaimini Rishi to be protected from lightning. In separation from Krsna, Radharani calls out 'Jaimini' when She hears the koels' melodies because the remembrance their stir strikes Her like lightning.)

pidabhir nava-kala-kuta-katuta-garvasya nirvasano
nisyandena mudam sudha-madhurimahankara-sankochanah
prema sundari nanda-nandana-paro jagarti yasyantare
jnayante sphutam asya vakra-madhuras tenaiva vikrantayah

Those in whose hearts love for the Son of Nanda Maharaj awakes, experience all the crooked and sweet influences that it produces: it tortures more than the freshly emitted venom of an infatuated snake, but at the same time, the sweetness that pours out of it is nothing compared to the sweetness of nectar at its proud prime.

—Srila Rupa Goswamipad

Saranagati

sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma suchah

Abandon all forms of religion and surrender exclusively unto Me. I will liberate you from all sin. Do not despair.

—Sri Gita

tasmat tvam uddhavotsrjya chodanam pratichodanam
pravrttin cha nivrttin cha srotavyam srutam eva cha
mam ekam eva saranam atmanam sarva-dehinam
yahi sarvatma-bhavena maya sya hy akuto-bhayah

O Uddhava, abandoning the Vedas and their auxiliaries, all of their prescriptions and prohibitions, and everything you have heard or may ever hear, with all your heart take exclusive shelter of Me, the life of all beings. By My grace you will become completely fearless.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

bhagavad-bhaktitah sarvam ity utsrjya vidher api
kainkaryam krsna-padaikasrayatvam saranagatih

Having faith that everything is attained by devotion to the Supreme Lord, abandoning subservience to even scriptural injunctions, and taking exclusve shelter of Sri Krsna's feet is known as saranagati.

—Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam

ki jani ki baletomara dhamete
ha-inu saranagata
tumi dayamayapatita-pavana
patita-tarane rata

Somehow or other I have taken shelter within Your abode. You are the merciful saviour of the fallen, who is ever engaged in delivering them.

—Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur

dadhi-mathana-ninadais tyakta-nidrah prabhate
nibhrta-padam agaram ballavinam pravistah
mukha-kamala-samirair asu nirvapya dipan
kavalita-navanitah patu mam bala-krsnah

Awakened in the morning by the sound of churning butter, He stealthily enters the homes of the gopis, quickly blows out their lamps with His lotus mouth, and devours their fresh butter. May this baby Bala Krsna protect me.

—Bhagavan Sri Chaitanyadev

Hari-katha

tad eva ramyam ruchiram navam navam
tad eva sasvan manaso mahotsavam
tad eva sokarnava-sosanam nrnam
yad uttamahsloka-yaso 'nugiyate

Words that sing the glory of the Supreme Lord, are pleasing, relishable, and evernew. Such words are an eternal festival for the heart, and they dry up the ocean of misery suffered by the mankind.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

parasarya-vachah sarojam amalam gitartha-gandhotkatam
nanakhyanaka-kesaram hari-katha-sambodhana-abodhitam
loke sajjana-sat-padair ahar-ahah pepiya-manam muda
bhuyad bharata-pankajam kali-mala-pradhvamsi nah sreyase

These words of Sri Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasadeva, the son of Parasara Muni, are a perfect lotus flower. The meaning of the Gita is the beautiful fragrance of this lotus, the various episodes are its stamens, and the enlightening narrations about the Supreme Lord are its nectar. In this world, the pure devotees are the bees who day after day delight in drinking the nectar of the lotus flower. May this Mahabharata lotus, the vanquisher of all evils in this age of Kali, graciously bestow auspiciousness upon us.

—Sri Gita-mangalacharana

nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam
suka-mukhad amrta-drava-samyutam
pibata bhagavatam rasam alayam
muhur aho rasika bhuvi bhavukah

Constantly drink the rasa of Srimad Bhagavatam, the ripened fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree of the Vedas, enriched with the nectar from the mouth of Sukadev Goswami, until your death in this world, O devotees! O relishers of rasa!

—Srimad Bhagavatam

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam cha visnoh
sraddhanvito 'nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah
bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam
hrd-rogam asv apahinoty achirena dhirah

A sober soul, one who faithfully hears about and then describes Visnu's play with the wives of Vraja, quickly attains perfect devotion to the Lord and simultaneously leaves behind the heart disease of material desire.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

gaura-katha payorasi krsna-dasa tahe bhasi'
aniyachhe amrtera dhara
sei kavya-sudha pane vaisnava sitala prane
aro pite chahe bara bara

Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami Prabhu was swimming in the milk reservoir of talks about Sri Gaura and released a stream of that nectar—Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. Devotees drink the nectar of this poetry, their hearts are cooled, and they desire to drink more again and again.

—Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur

yeba nahi bujhe kehasunite sunite seha
ki adbhuta chaitanya-charita
krsne upajibe pritijanibe rasera riti
sunilei bada haya hita

How wonderful it is that just by continuously listening to Sri Chaitanya's Pastimes, even one who does not understand them will develop love for Krsna and understand the nature of rasa. Simply by listening you can attain such a great benefit!

—Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami

WALL

ami guru-dasa—nahi anya

I am a servant of Guru—nothing else.

ami kariba bhramana chaudda-bhuvana
svarupe sabaya kari' udbodhana
hate la'ye yaba premera nisana
dharaba svarupa chihna [1]

I will travel the fourteen worlds awakening everyone to their true self. I will take the banner of divine love into my hand and cause everyone to recognise the sign of the true self.

ami chhadaba sakale sarva-dharma
kariba churna jnana o karma
rachiba visala bhakati-harmya
guru-dasa nahi anya [2]

I will make everyone give up all religions. I will grind into powder the pursuits of liberation and worldly enjoyment. I will construct a grand palace of devotion. I am a servant of Guru—nothing else.

ami bajaba jagate vijaya-danka
ghuchaba sakala dvandva-sanka
bahaba visve bhakati-ganga
tusi' hari labhi punya [5]

I will sound the kettle-drums of victory throughout the world, dispel all quarrel and fear, and let the Ganges of pure devotion flow throughout the universe. Satisfying the Lord in this way, I will attain good fortune.

ami aryanarya mlechchha sabaya
lagaiba ba'le krsna-sevaya
chadaiba sabe golokera na'ya
prthvi kariba sunya [6]

I will forcibly engage all—the respectable and the uncivilized, as well as the savage mlechhas—in service to Krishna. I will board them all in the boat to Goloka and vacate this earth.

ami chalaba sakale guru-pada bale
vadama tuliba hari-bola bale
mahamaya-vini chhalana chhalile
kariba chinna-bhinna [7]

I will guide them all by the power of my Guru's feet and hoist the boat's sails by the power of chanting of the Holy Names. If Mahamaya presents any illusion, I shall cut it asunder.

sabe eka parichaye dibe parichaya
labhibe svarupa amrta-maya
pujibe sri-hari dibe jaya jaya
nehari' ha-iba dhanya [9]

Everyone will identify with the same identity, realise their immortal self, worship Sri Hari, and call out, 'Jay! Jay!' Seeing this, I will be satisfied.

ami guru-dasa nahi anya

I am a servant of Guru—nothing else.

—Srila Govinda Dev-Goswami (Selected verses from the poem 'Svarupodbodhana')

aminai va gelam puri,
gaya, kasi, badarinara'na
nai va elama ghuri'

yadi kona janme paire hote
vaisnava-kinkara
amara sakala asai mitbe re
bhai pai yadi ai vara [2]

I may not go to Puri, Gaya, Kashi, or Badarinath, I may not wander to so many places, but if in some lifetime I am able to be a Vaisnava's servant, then all of my desires will be fulfilled. O brothers! If only I can attain such a benediction!

ami chai na pete mukti
hate—bhuktire ke mage?
yadi gauraharira charana-sevaka-
charana paire lage [3]

I do not want to have liberation in hand, and who prays for mundane enjoyment if they can attain the feet of a servitor of Gaurahari's feet?

ami chai re sudhu sachi-sutera
sevaka-charana-rage [5]

Oh! I desire only loving attachment to the feet of Sachi Suta's servant.

—Srila Govinda Dev-Goswami (Selected verses from the poem 'Chaoya')

narayano 'pi vikrtim yati guroh prachyutasya durbuddheh
kamalasya jalad apaiti ravih susyati nasayati cha

Narayan becomes disturbed by the ignorant who have deviated from Sri Guru, just as the sun dries up and destroys a lotus that withdraws from water.

—Mahajana-gana

sravanayapi bahubhir yo na labhyah
srnvanto 'pi bahavo yam na vidyuh
ascharyo 'sya vakta kusalo 'sya labdha
ascharyo jnata kusalanusistah

Many do not even get to hear about spiritual truths, there are many who hear about it but do not understand it. It is a great fortune if you find a spiritual master and it is a great fortune if you get to be taught about it.

—Sri Katha-upanisad

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, praising and meditating upon His glory at the three junctions of the day. By his grace, one gains the Lord's grace. Without his grace, one has no shelter whatsoever.

—Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur

guru-pada-padme rahe yara nistha-bhakti
brahmanda tarite se dhare maha-sakti

One who has firm devotion to Sri Guru's lotus feet has a great power to deliver the world.

nitai-pada-kamala koti-chandra-susitala
ye chayaya jagata judaya
hena nitai bine bhai radha-krsna paite nai
drdha kari' dhara nitaira paya

Nitai's lotus feet are cooling like ten million moons: their shade soothes the whole world. O brother! It is not possible to reach Radha-Krsna without Nitai, so firmly clasp Nitai's feet!

—Srila Narottam Das Thakur

preme matta nityananda krpa-avatara
uttama, adhama, kichhu na kare vichara
ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara

Mad with divine love, Nityananda Prabhu is the embodiment of mercy. He does not discriminate between the high and the low at all. He delivers whoever falls before Him.

—Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami

samsarera para haiya bhaktira sagare
ye dubibe se bhajuka nitaichandere

May those who wish to cross over material existence and dive into the ocean of devotion serve Nitaichand.

—Srila Vrndavan Das Thakur

sphurad-amala-kiritam kinkini-kankanarham
chalad-alaka-kapolam kundala-sri-mukhabjam
tuhina-giri-manojnam nila-meghambaradhyam
hala-musala-visalam kama-palam samide

He is adorned with a shining spotless crown, bangles, and ankle bells; His curly hair plays on His lotus cheeks and earrings embellish the beauty of His lotus face; dressed in fine clothes of rich blue colour like that of a cloud, He is as captivating as a snow-capped mountain; He is also carrying a great plough and a club. This Balaram—One who fulfils all desires—do I offer my prayers to.

—Sri Garga-samhita

muktir hitvanyatha rupam sva-rupena vyavasthitih

Mukti: existing in one's true form, having abandoned all illusory forms.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir
anyatra chaisa trika eka-kalah
prapadyamanasya yathasnatah syus
tustih pustih ksud-apayo 'nughasam

As one who eats feels satisfaction, nourishment, and relief from hunger with each mouthful, so a surrendered soul simultaneously develops devotion, realisation of the Supreme Lord, and detachment from all else.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

prema-dhana vina vyartha daridra jivana!
'dasa' kari' vetana more deha prema-dhana!

Without the wealth of prema, life is meaningless and poor! Make me Your servant and grant me a salary of divine love!

—Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami

atmendriya-priti-vanchha—tare bali 'kama'
krsnendriya-priti-ichchha dhare 'prema' nama ataeva kama-preme bahuta antara kama—andha-tamah, prema—nirmala bhaskara

The desire to gratify one's senses is known as kama. The desire to gratify Krsna's senses is known as prema. Thus there is a vast difference between kama and prema: kama is like dense darkness, and prema is like the shining sun.

—Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami

varsayam vai sajala-jalado vadayan mandra-bherim
yadvad visve bhramati bahudha varidharan cha varsan
tadvad bhumau bhramasi saganair ghosayan gaura-gatha
nityam divyamrta-sukarunam tvam hi deva! pravarsan

Generally in the rainy season the water-bearing clouds wander about and beat a deep-sounding drum. Just as in this world clouds wander about and shed torrents of rain, you and your associates wander about this earth, marching and proclaiming the glories of Gaura. My Lord, indeed you always pour without reservation the divine nectar of your mercy.

—Srila Govinda Dev-Goswami

The author: "I composed this sloka on a train on my way from Nabadwip. It was raining so much that day and this inspiration came to me."

dasa-vrndavanam vande krsna-dasa-prabhum tatha
chhannavatara-chaitanya-lila-vistara-karinau
dvau nityananda-padabja-karuna-renu-bhusitau
vyakta-chchhannau budhachintyau vavande vyasa-rupinau
sri-guru-gaura-gandharva-govindas cha ganaih saha
jayanti pathakas chatra sarvesam karunarthinah

I offer my obeisances to Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami, who made public the pastimes of the hidden avatara, Sri Chaitanya. They were both adorned with the mercy-dust of the lotus feet of Nityananda. I offer my obeisances to these two inconceivable sages who assumed the form of Vyasadeva, one—explicitly (Vrindavan Das Thakur), another—hiddenly (Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami). Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda and Their associates are ever victorious, and we, the students, pray for Their mercy. —Srila Govinda Dev-Goswami

yah sankhya-pankena kutarka-pamsuna
vivarta-gartena cha lupta-didhitim
suddham vyadhad vak-sudhaya mahesvaram
krsnam sa jivah prabhur astu me gatih

With his nectarean teachings, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu revealed the the Supreme Lord, Krsna, whose effulgence had been hidden by the quicksand of calculation, the dust storm of fallacious logic, and the ditch of illusionism. May that Jiva Prabhu be the goal of my life.

—Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan

srnvantu visve amrtasya putrah

O children of nectar throughout the world, listen!

—Svetasvatara-upanisad

uttistha jagrata prapya varan nibodhata ksurasya dhara
nisita duratyaya durgam pathas tat kavayo vadanti

Awake! Arise! Search for your fortune and you cannot but have that; but the wise warn that this path is extremely difficult: it is as sharp as a razor blade.

—Sri Katha-upanisad

sahasa vidadhita na kriyam

Do not do anything suddenly: wait and see.

—Bharavi: Kiratarjuniyam, 2.30

krsna-bhakta—niskama, ataeva 'santa'
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami—sakali 'asanta'

Those who desire enjoyment, liberation, or supernatural power are not peaceful. Krsna's devotees are free from such desires and thus peaceful.

—Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami

samsare 'smin ksanardho 'pi sat-sangah sevadhir nrnam

For souls in this world, even half a moment of association with sadhus is a great treasure.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

aham bhakta-paradhino hy asvatantra iva dvija
sadhubhir grasta-hrdayo bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyah

O brahman, I am completely given over to My devotees. Indeed, it is as though I am not independent: My heart is captured by the sadhus, My devotees, and their servants are also dear to Me.

—Srimad Bhagavatam

yaha, bhagavata pada vaisnavera sthane
ekanta asraya kara chaitanya-charane

Go and study Srimad Bhagavatam with the Vaisnavas. Take exclusive shelter at Sri Chaitanya's feet.

—Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami