Qualities of a Vaishnava in Govinda-lilamrita


tṛptāv anya-janasya tṛptim ayitā duḥkhe mahā-duḥkitā
labdhaiḥ svīya-sukhāli-duḥka-nicayair no harṣa-bādhodayāḥ
sveṣṭārādhana-tat-parā iha yathā śrī-vaiṣṇava-śreṇayaḥ
kās tā brūhi vicārya candra-vadane tā mad-vayasyā imāḥ

Krishna says, “O hey Chandra-vadane Radhe! Just think for a moment, then answer me this: Who are happy on seeing others’ happiness and distressed on seeing their distress? Who are neither elated by personal happiness nor perturbed by their own suffering? And who serve the objects of their love here in Vrindavan with the same steadfast love as the saintly Vaishnavas serving their Lord?”

Radhika answers, “Oh! You are surely talking about my dearest sakhis, Lalita, Vishakha and the others!” (13.113)

Rasa-tarangini Tika: Vrindavan Chakravarti points out that the reference to devotees indicates that these qualities are present to a greater or lesser degree in all Vaishnavas, from Narada and Prahlada to present-day mahatmas like Sanatan Goswami and other followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Vrindavan Chakravarti's reference to Sanatan Goswami reminds us of Raghunath Das Goswami’s prayer in the Vilāpa-kusumāñjali (6)—


vairāgya-yug-bhakti-rasaṁ prayatnair
apāyayan mām anabhīpsum andham
kripāmbudhir yaḥ para-duḥkha-duḥkhī
sanātanaṁ taṁ prabhum āśrayāmi

I take refuge in Sanatan Goswami Prabhu, an ocean of mercy who always feels distress on seeing the suffering of others. Though I was blind and unwilling, he force-fed me the nectar of devotion mixed with detachment.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Jagat!

Can you please provide your email address? Thanks!

Radhe! Radhe!
Monday, 26 November, 2007
Jagadananda Das said…
jankbrz [art] yahoo dort com.
Monday, 26 November, 2007
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