Jagat

I started posting stuff from Bhakti Sandarbha starting from Anuccheda 178. This one was posted to Facebook on July 29, 2017, but not to the blog.

  Today's instalment is mostly a couple of quotes from Bhakti Sandarbha  along with Babajji's comments, though I include a quotation from Bhaktivinoda Thakur to begin. 

Tatiya Sthan I posted some material about śraddhā. This appears to  be the result of a discussion I was having with Babaji. My opinion on Hindu nationalist reactions to things like Ganesh on toilet seats and so on was that it was a bit hysterical and diminished Hindu gravitas. Babaji did not agree. This was stated in relation to Vaishnavas distress at the popular Radha-Krishna TV serial, which I saw in fact was popular with many devotees in Vrindavan. Other links:  Śraddhā and Bhakti Sandarbha ;  Label shraddha

Anuccheda 340 The Sequence of Progress In Bhakti तदेवं साधनात्मिका भक्तिर्दर्शिता। तत्र सिद्धिक्रमश्च श्रीसूतोपदेशारम्भे "शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य" (भा. १.२.१६) इत्यादिना दर्शितः। We have thus described the practice of devotion. The progressive stages of devotion leading to perfection have been shown in the beginning of Śrī Sūta's instructions in a series of verses beginning with this one: O learned ones, by visiting or dwelling in a holy place a person gets an opportunity to associate with great devotees and to render service to them. By such service a person awakens faith and an interest in hearing narrations about Bhagavān and thus develops a taste for such narrations. (SB 1.2.16) यथा च श्रीनारदवाक्ये "अहं पुरातीतभवेऽभवम्" (भा. १.५.२३) इत्यादौ। An example of how this development unfolds was seen in the case of Śrī Nārada, who described to Śrī Vyāsa the events of his previous life, beginning with this verse: O sage, in my former life during the previ...

This is the second last installment of Bhakti Sandarbha. Remember, these are not the final version that will be published and so I ask you to be judicious in your sharing and remember to give credit to Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji Maharaj when you do. Anuccheda 339 Keep Your Realizations Secret तत्र ते भक्तिमार्गाः दर्शिताः। अत्र च श्रीगुरोः श्रीभगवतो वा प्रसादलब्धं साधनसाध्यगतं स्वीयसर्वस्वभूतं यत् किमपि रहस्यं, तत्तु न कस्मैचित् प्रकाशनीयम्, The path of devotion has thus been outlined in this book. If by the mercy bestowed by one’s guru or Bhagavān, one has realized some confidential truth regarding the practice or the goal of devotion, and which has become one’s very existence, it should not be disclosed to anybody. यथाह (भा. ८.१७.२०)— नैतत् परस्मा आख्येयं पृष्टयापि कथञ्चन। सर्वं सम्पद्यते देवि देवगुह्यं सुसंवृतम्॥ सम्पद्यते फलदं भवति॥ As Śrī Viṣṇu told Aditi Devī: O goddess, never reveal this matter to anyone even if requested. All that is hidden to the go...

Anuccheda 338 Worship of Kṛṣṇa Along With Rādhā Is Supreme अथ गोकुलेऽपि श्रीमद्व्रजवधूसहितरासादिलीलात्मकस्य परमवैशिष्ट्यमाह (भा. १०.३३.३९)— विक्रीडितं व्रजवधूभिरिदं च विष्णोः श्रद्धान्वितो यः शृणुयादथ वर्णयेद्वा। भक्तिं परां भगवति परिलभ्य कामं हृद्रोगमाश्वपहिनोत्यचिरेण धीरः॥ And even as regards Kṛṣṇa in Gokula, the glory of Śrī Kṛṣṇa when He performs pastimes such as the rāsa-līlā along with the gopīs of Vraja is even greater still, as described by Śrī Śukadeva: A faithful person endowed with fortitude, who hears or relates this sport of Śrī Viṣṇu with the damsels of Vraja as well is blessed with supreme devotion to Bhagavān and is quickly freed from lust, the disease of the heart. (SB 10.33.39) चकारादन्यच्च। अथ इति वाथ। शृणुयाद्वा वर्णयेद्वा। उपलक्षणं चैतद्ध्यानादेः। परां यतः परा नान्या कुत्रचिद्विद्यते, तादृशीम्। हृद्रोगं कामादिकमपि शीघ्रमेव त्यजति। "As well" ( ca ) implies other pastimes as well. The word atha is used in the sense of “or,” whi...

Somebody got to use their zombie art on this one. We are approaching the final anucchedas of the Bhakti Sandarbha here. Remember, these postings are NOT the final draft and were posted as a psychological stratagem for me to get the work finished by giving me the illusion of getting some personal public recognition and glory. Alas, how weak is my spiritual will! But at least it got done. Now we are doing the same thing with the Priti Sandarbha videos. I will only get a small fraction of the spiritual benefit of the work I do. Nevertheless, better it gets done. I only wish, as I reread these translations yet again, how glad I am that someone else is there to clean up after me. Anuccheda 335 A Pure Devotee Desires Only Service पुनरेवमेव श्रीमदुद्धवोऽपि प्रार्थितवान् (भा. ११.२९.४०)— नमोऽस्तु ते महायोगिन् प्रपन्नमनुशाधि माम्। यथा त्वच्चरणाम्भोजे रतिः स्यादनपायिनी॥ Further, Śrīman Uddhava also petitioned Bhagavān in the very same manner: Salutations to You, O Supreme Master of...

Here conclude the teachings from Uddhava-saṁvāda. . I find it rather interesting that after all that rāgānigā talk he returns to something as weak sounding as engaging in one's dharmic duties in consciousness of Him. It reminds me of the inquiry I made into āropa-siddhā bhakti way back in the early days of this blog. [Āropa-siddhā was discussed in Bhakti Sandarbha posts from 217 to 225 (five posts in all). You can see those early posts here: Ahangrahopasana III and IV . I have yet to find a devotee who understands these articles. Anuccheda 333 Dharma Offered to Kṛṣṇa Brings Perfection अथ तामेव कैमुत्येनाप्याह (भा. ११.२९.२१)— यो यो मयि परे धर्मः कल्प्यते निष्फलाय चेत्। तत्रायासोऽनिरर्थः स्याद्भयादेरिव सत्तम॥ Bhagavān expressed this superiority of His own worship by the a fortiori or kaimutya principle: O pious Uddhava, whatever dharma is offered to Me, the Supreme, if it is done without fruitive purpose, then the effort undertaken never goes in vain, just as was seen...

Anucchedas 331-332:  Worship of Kṛṣṇa is Superior to That of Paramātmā ततश्च (भा. ११.२९.१३-१४)— इति सर्वाणि भूतानि मद्भावेन महाद्युते। सभाजयन् मन्यमानो ज्ञानं केवलमाश्रितः॥ ब्राह्मणे पुक्कसे स्तेने ब्रह्मण्येऽर्के स्फुलिङ्गके। अक्रूरे क्रूरके चैव समदृक् पण्डितो मतः॥ Thereafter, Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: My dear effulgent Uddhava, one who thus taking recourse to non-dual knowledge, honors all living beings, perceiving My presence in them all, and who thus regards with equal vision a brāhmaṇa or an outcaste, a thief or one devoted to the brāhmaṇas, the sun or a mere spark, one of tender heart or a cruel person, is understood to be wise. (SB 11.29.13-14) केवलं ज्ञानमन्तर्यामिदृष्टिमाश्रितोऽपि। इति पूर्वोक्तप्रकारेण सर्वाणि भूतानि मद्भावेन तेषु मम श्रीकृष्णरूपस्य यो भावोऽस्तित्वं तद्विशिष्टतया मन्यमानः सभाजयन् पण्डितो मतः। मद्दृष्ट्या ब्राह्मणादिषु समदृक् समं मामेव पश्यतीति॥ "Taking recourse to non-dual knowledge" means to take shelter of a vision of the Indwelling Supreme Se...

The Bhakti Sandarbha texts that appear here are not the official version , which still has to go through more editorial changes. It represents the state of the work after I have looked at it and made my changes. The Jiva Institute edition of the Bhakti Sandarbha should be finished and published later this year, and also made available in electronic form soon thereafter. This is only meant to give a foretaste, but better not to quote or use it. Thank you. N.B. Many e-books are now available from jiva.org, as are the  other first four Sandarbhas  in hard copy. Remember that the  Jiva Tirtha courses  with Satyanarayana Dasaji are ongoing. You can also take beginner or advanced Sanskrit with me. Registration is now open.  Register here .  The opportunity to study with an extraordinary Vaishnava scholar like Babaji in the holy dham of Vrindavan is unequaled anywhere in this world. Rare and most fortunate are the souls who can take advantage. Jai Radhe. ...

The Bhakti Sandarbha texts that appear here are not the official version , which still has to go through more editorial changes. It represents the state of the work after I have looked at it and made my changes. The Jiva Institute edition of the Bhakti Sandarbha should be finished and published later this year, and also made available in electronic form soon thereafter. This is only meant to give a foretaste, but better not to quote or attribute it to Babaji Maharaj. Thank you. N.B. Many e-books are now available from jiva.org, as are the  other first four Sandarbhas in hard copy. Someone wrote and said they thought these e-books were being given freely. That is not the case. In order to produce texts of high quality, a team of scholars and volunteers, etc., participate in the production at all levels. The costs of production are high, and any profits are reinvested in further publication and other projects of the Jiva Institute. Scholarly publications everywhere are expe...

The Bhakti Sandarbha texts that appear here are not the official version , which still has to go through more editorial changes. It represents the state of the work after I have looked at it and made my changes. The Jiva Institute edition of the Bhakti Sandarbha should be finished and published later this year, and also made available in electronic form soon thereafter. This is only meant to give a foretaste, but better not to quote or use it. Thank you. N.B. Many e-books are now available from jiva.org, as are the  other first four Sandarbhas  in hard copy. Remember that the  Jiva Tirtha courses  with Satyanarayana Dasaji are ongoing. You can also take beginner or advanced Sanskrit with me. Registration is now open.  Register here .  The opportunity to study with an extraordinary Vaishnava scholar like Babaji in the holy dham of Vrindavan is unequaled anywhere in this world. Rare and most fortunate are the souls who can take advantage. Jai R...