Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Madhya-līlā
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 20
Madhya20.120
TEXT 120
sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya
sei jīva nistare, māyā tāhāre chāḍaya
SYNONYMS
sādhu—of saintly persons; śāstra—of scriptures; kṛpāya—by the mercy; yadi—if; kṛṣṇa-unmukha haya—one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious; sei—that; jīva—living entity; nistare—becomes liberated; māyā—the illusory energy; tāhāre—him; chāḍaya—gives up.
TRANSLATION
“If the conditioned soul becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of māyā, who gives him up.
PURPORT
A conditioned soul is one who has forgotten Kṛṣṇa as his eternal master. Thinking that he is enjoying the material world, the conditioned soul suffers the threefold miseries of material existence. Saintly persons (sādhus), Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord, preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness on the basis of the Vedic literature. It is only by their mercy that the conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When awakened, he is no longer eager to enjoy the materialistic way of life. Instead, he devotes himself to the loving transcendental service of the Lord. When one engages in the Lord’s devotional service, he becomes detached from material enjoyment:
bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir
anyatra caiṣa trika eka-kālaḥ
(Bhāg. 11.2.42)
This is the test by which one can tell whether he is advancing in devotional service. One must be detached from material enjoyment. Such detachment means that māyā has actually given the conditioned soul liberation from illusory enjoyment. When one is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not consider himself as good as Kṛṣṇa. Whenever he thinks that he is the enjoyer of material advantages, he is imprisoned in the bodily conception. However, when he is freed from the bodily conception, he can engage in devotional service, which is his actual position of freedom from the clutches of māyā. This is all explained in the following verse from the Bhagavad-gītā (7.14).
Madhya20.121 TEXT 121 daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te SYNONYMS daivī—belonging to the Supreme Lord; hi—certainly; eṣā—this; guṇa-mayī—made of the three modes; mama—My; māyā—external energy; duratyayā—very difficult to surpass; mām—unto Me; eva—certainly; ye—those who; prapadyante—surrender fully; māyām—illusory energy; etām—this; taranti—cross over; te—they.
TRANSLATION “‘This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.’ Madhya20.122 TEXT 122 māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa SYNONYMS māyā-mugdha—enchanted by the illusory energy; jīvera—of the conditioned soul; nāhi—there is not; svataḥ—automatically; kṛṣṇa-jñāna—knowledge of Kṛṣṇa; jīvere—unto the conditioned soul; kṛpāya—out of mercy; kailā—presented; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; veda-purāṇa—the Vedic literature and the Purāṇas (supplements to the Vedic literature).
TRANSLATION “The conditioned soul cannot revive his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Kṛṣṇa compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Purāṇas. PURPORT A conditioned soul is bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy (māyā). Māyā’s business is to keep the conditioned soul forgetful of his real relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Thus the living entity forgets his real identity as spirit soul, Brahman, and instead of realizing his factual position thinks himself the product of the material energy. According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.7.5):
yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam “Due to this external energy, the living entity, although transcendental to the three modes of material nature, thinks of himself as a material product and thus undergoes the reactions of material miseries.”
This is a description of māyā’s action upon the conditioned soul. Thinking himself a product of the material energy, the conditioned soul engages in the service of the material energy in so many ways. He becomes the servant of lust, anger, greed and envy. In this way one totally becomes a servant of the illusory energy. Later, the bewildered soul becomes a servant of mental speculation, but in any case he is simply covered by the illusory energy. Out of His causeless mercy and compassion, Kṛṣṇa has compiled various Vedic literatures in His incarnation as Vyāsadeva. Vyāsadeva is a śaktyāveśa-avatāra of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He has very kindly presented these literatures to awaken the conditioned soul to his senses. Unfortunately, at the present moment the conditioned souls are guided by demons who do not care to read the Vedic literatures. Although there is an immense treasure-house of knowledge, people are engaged in reading useless literature that will give them no information on how to get out of the clutches of māyā. The purpose of the Vedic literatures is explained in the following verses.
Madhya20.123 TEXT 123 ‘śāstra-guru-ātma’-rūpe āpanāre jānāna ‘kṛṣṇa mora prabhu, trātā’——jīvera haya jñāna SYNONYMS śāstra-guru-ātma-rūpe—in the form of the Vedic literature, the spiritual master and the Supersoul; āpanāre jānāna—informs about Himself; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; mora—my; prabhu—Lord; trātā—deliverer; jīvera—of the conditioned soul; haya—there is; jñāna—knowledge.
TRANSLATION “The forgetful conditioned soul is educated by Kṛṣṇa through the Vedic literatures, the realized spiritual master and the Supersoul. Through these, he can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is, and he can understand that Lord Kṛṣṇa is his eternal master and deliverer from the clutches of māyā. In this way one can acquire real knowledge of his conditioned life and can come to understand how to attain liberation. PURPORT Being forgetful of his real position, the conditioned soul may take help from śāstra, guru and the Supersoul within his heart. Kṛṣṇa is situated within everyone’s heart as the Supersoul. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.61):
īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati “The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine made of the material energy.”
As the śaktyāveśa-avatāra Vyāsadeva, Kṛṣṇa teaches the conditioned soul through the Vedic literatures. Kṛṣṇa externally appears as the spiritual master and trains the conditioned soul to come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When his original Kṛṣṇa consciousness is revived, the conditioned soul is delivered from the material clutches. Thus a conditioned soul is always helped by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in three ways—by the scriptures, the spiritual master and the Supersoul within the heart. The Lord is the deliverer of the conditioned soul and is accepted as the Supreme Lord of all living entities. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66):
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” This same instruction is found throughout all Vedic literatures. Sādhu, śāstra and guru act as the representatives of Kṛṣṇa, and the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is also taking place all over the universe. Whoever takes advantage of this opportunity becomes liberated.
Madhya20.124 TEXT 124 veda-śāstra kahe——‘sambandha’, ‘abhidheya’, ‘prayojana’ ‘kṛṣṇa’——prāpya sambandha, ‘bhakti’——prāptyera sādhana SYNONYMS veda-śāstra kahe—the Vedic literature instructs; sambandha—the conditioned soul’s relationship with the Lord; abhidheya—the regulated activities of the conditioned soul for reviving that relationship; prayojana—and the ultimate goal of life to be attained by the conditioned soul; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāpya—to be awakened; sambandha—the original relationship; bhakti—devotional service; prāptyera sādhana—the means of attaining Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION “The Vedic literatures give information about the living entity’s eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa, which is called sambandha. The living entity’s understanding of this relationship and his acting accordingly is called abhidheya. Returning home, back to Godhead, is the ultimate goal of life and is called prayojana. Madhya20.125 TEXT 125 abhidheya-nāma ‘bhakti’, ‘prema’——prayojana puruṣārtha-śiromaṇi prema mahā-dhana SYNONYMS abhidheya—activities to revive one’s relationship; nāma—named; bhakti—devotional service; prema—love of Godhead; prayojana—the ultimate goal of life; puruṣa-artha-śiromaṇi—the topmost interest of the living entity; prema—love of Godhead; mahā-dhana—the greatest wealth.
TRANSLATION “Devotional service, or sense activity for the satisfaction of the Lord, is called abhidheya because it can develop one’s original love of Godhead, which is the goal of life. This goal is the living entity’s topmost interest and greatest wealth. Thus one attains the platform of transcendental loving service unto the Lord. PURPORT The conditioned soul is bewildered by the external, material energy, which fully engages him in sense gratification in various ways. Due to engagement in material activities, one’s original Kṛṣṇa consciousness is covered. However, as the supreme father of all living entities, Kṛṣṇa wants His sons to return home, back to Godhead; therefore He personally comes to deliver Vedic literatures like the Bhagavad-gītā. He engages His confidential servants who serve as spiritual masters and enlighten the conditioned living entities. Being present in everyone’s heart, the Lord gives the living entities the conscience whereby they can accept the Vedas and the spiritual master. In this way the living entity can understand his constitutional position and his relationship with the Supreme Lord. As personally enunciated by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ: through the study of Vedānta, one may become fully aware of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and act accordingly. In this way one may ultimately attain the platform of loving service to the Lord. It is in the living entity’s best interest to understand the Supreme Lord. Unfortunately, the living entities have forgotten that this is in their best interest, and therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says, na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum (Bhāg. 7.5.31).
Everyone wants to achieve life’s ultimate goal, but due to being absorbed in the material energy, we waste our time with sense gratification. Through the study of Vedic literatures—of which the essence is the Bhagavad-gītā—one comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus one engages in devotional service, called abhidheya. When the living entity actually develops love of Godhead, he has reached the ultimate goal, prayojana. In other words, one who becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious has attained the perfection of life.
Madhya20.126 TEXT 126 kṛṣṇa-mādhurya-sevānanda-prāptira kāraṇa kṛṣṇa-sevā kare, āra kṛṣṇa-rasa-āsvādana SYNONYMS kṛṣṇa-mādhurya—of an intimate relationship with Kṛṣṇa; sevā-ānanda—of pleasure from rendering service unto Him; prāptira—of achievement; kāraṇa—because; kṛṣṇa-sevā kare—one renders service to Kṛṣṇa; āra—and; kṛṣṇa-rasa—of the mellows of such service; āsvādana—tasting.
TRANSLATION “When one attains the transcendental bliss of an intimate relationship with Kṛṣṇa, he renders service to Him and tastes the mellows of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Madhya20.127 TEXT 127 ihāte dṛṣṭānta——yaiche daridrera ghare ‘sarvajña’ āsi’ duḥkha dekhi’ puchaye tāhāre SYNONYMS ihāte—in this connection; dṛṣṭānta—the parable; yaiche—just as; daridrera ghare—in the house of a poor man; sarva-jña—an astrologer; āsi’—coming; duḥkha—distressed condition; dekhi’—seeing; puchaye tāhāre—inquires from him.
TRANSLATION “The following parable may be given. Once a learned astrologer came to the house of a poor man and, seeing his distressed condition, questioned him. PURPORT Sometimes we go to an astrologer or palmist when we are in a distressed condition or when we want to know the future. The living entity in conditioned life is always distressed by the threefold miseries of material existence. Under the circumstances, he is inquisitive about his position. For instance, Sanātana Gosvāmī approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, to ask Him why he was in a distressed condition. This is the position of all conditioned souls. We are always in a distressed condition, and an intelligent man naturally becomes inquisitive. This position is called brahma-jijñāsā. Athāto brahma jijñāsā (Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.1). Brahma here refers to the Vedic literature. One should consult the Vedic literature to know why the conditioned soul is always in a distressed condition. The Vedic literatures are meant to free the conditioned soul from the miserable conditions of material existence. In this chapter, the story of the astrologer Sarvajña and the poor man is very instructive.
Madhya20.128 TEXT 128 ‘tumi kene duḥkhī, tomāra āche pitṛ-dhana tomāre nā kahila, anyatra chāḍila jīvana” SYNONYMS tumi—you; kene—why; duḥkhī—distressed; tomāra—your; āche—there is; pitṛ-dhana—the riches of your father; tomāre—unto you; nā kahila—he did not disclose; anyatra—somewhere else; chāḍila—gave up; jīvana—his life.
TRANSLATION “The astrologer asked, ‘Why are you unhappy? Your father was very wealthy, but he did not disclose his wealth to you because he died elsewhere.’ Madhya20.129 TEXT 129 sarvajñera vākye kare dhanera uddeśe aiche veda-purāṇa jīve ‘kṛṣṇa’ upadeśe SYNONYMS sarvajñera—of the astrologer; vākye—the words; kare—make; dhanera—of the riches; uddeśe—news; aiche—similarly; veda-purāṇa—Vedic literatures; jīve—unto the living entity, the conditioned soul; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; upadeśe—instructs.
TRANSLATION “Just as the words of the astrologer Sarvajñā gave news of the poor man’s treasure, the Vedic literatures advise one about Kṛṣṇa consciousness when one is inquisitive to know why he is in a distressed material condition. Madhya20.130 TEXT 130 sarvajñera vākye mūla-dhana anubandha sarva-śāstre upadeśe, ‘śrī-kṛṣṇa’——sambandha SYNONYMS sarvajñera—of the astrologer; vākye—by the assurance; mūla-dhana—with the treasure; anubandha—connection; sarva-śāstre—all Vedic literatures; upadeśe—instruct; śrī-kṛṣṇa—Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sambandha—the central connection.
TRANSLATION “By the words of the astrologer, the poor man’s connection with the treasure was established. Similarly, the Vedic literature advises us that our real connection is with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. PURPORT In the Bhagavad-gītā (7.26), Śrī Kṛṣṇa says:
vedāhaṁ samatītāni vartamānāni cārjuna “O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities, but Me no one knows.”
Thus Kṛṣṇa knows the cause of the distressed condition of the conditioned soul. He therefore descends from His original position to instruct the conditioned soul and inform him about his forgetfulness of his relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa exhibits Himself in His relationships in Vṛndāvana and at the Battle of Kurukṣetra so that people will be attracted to Him and will return home, back to Godhead. Kṛṣṇa also says in the Bhagavad-gītā that He is the proprietor of all universes, the enjoyer of everything that be and the friend of everyone. Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram/ suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhutānāṁ (Bg. 5.29). If we revive our original intimate relationship with Kṛṣṇa, our distressed condition in the material world will be mitigated. Everyone is trying to adjust to the distressed conditions of material existence, but the basic problems cannot be solved unless one is in an intimate relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
Madhya20.131 TEXT 131 ‘bāpera dhana āche’——jñāne dhana nāhi pāya tabe sarvajña kahe tāre prāptira upāya SYNONYMS bāpera dhana āche—the father has some treasure; jñāne—by this knowledge; dhana—treasure; nāhi pāya—one does not get; tabe—then; sarvajña—the astrologer; kahe—says; tāre—unto the poor man; prāptira upāya—the means of getting the treasure.
TRANSLATION “Although being assured of his father’s treasure, the poor man cannot acquire this treasure by such knowledge alone. Therefore the astrologer had to inform him of the means whereby he could actually find the treasure. Madhya20.132 TEXT 132 ‘ei sthāne āche dhana’——yadi dakṣiṇe khudibe ‘bhīmarula-barulī’ uṭhibe, dhana nā pāibe SYNONYMS ei sthāne—at this place; āche—is; dhana—treasure; yadi—if; dakṣiṇe—on the southern side; khudibe—you will dig; bhīmarula-barulī—wasps and drones; uṭhibe—will rise; dhana—the riches; nā pāibe—you will not get.
TRANSLATION “The astrologer said, ‘The treasure is in this place, but if you dig toward the southern side, the wasps and drones will rise, and you will not get your treasure. Madhya20.133 TEXT 133 ‘paścime’ khudibe, tāhā ‘yakṣa’ eka haya se vighna karibe,——dhane hāta nā paḍaya SYNONYMS paścime—on the western side; khudibe—if you dig; tāhā—there; yakṣa—ghost; eka—one; haya—there is; se—he; vighna karibe—will create disturbances; dhane—on the treasure; hāta—hand; nā—not; paḍaya—touches.
TRANSLATION “‘If you dig on the western side, there is a ghost who will create such a disturbance that your hands will not even touch the treasure. Madhya20.134 TEXT 134 ‘uttare’ khudile āche kṛṣṇa ‘ajagare’ dhana nāhi pābe, khudite gilibe sabāre SYNONYMS uttare—on the northern side; khudile—if you dig; āche—there is; kṛṣṇa—black; ajagare—snake; dhana—treasure; nāhi—not; pābe—you will get; khudite—digging; gilibe—will devour; sabāre—everyone.
TRANSLATION “‘If you dig on the northern side, there is a big black snake that will devour you if you attempt to dig up the treasure. Madhya20.135 TEXT 135 pūrva-dike tāte māṭī alpa khudite dhanera jhāri paḍibeka tomāra hātete SYNONYMS pūrva-dike—on the eastern side; tāte—there; māṭī—the dirt; alpa—small quantity; khudite—digging; dhanera—of the treasure; jhāri—the pot; paḍibeka—you will get; tomāra—your; hātete—in the hands.
TRANSLATION “‘However, if you dig up a small quantity of dirt on the eastern side, your hands will immediately touch the pot of treasure.’ PURPORT The Vedic literatures, including the Purāṇas, state that according to the position of the conditioned soul, there are different processes—karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa, the yogic process and the bhakti-yoga process. Karma-kāṇḍa is compared to wasps and drones that will simply bite if one takes shelter of them. Jñāna-kāṇḍa, the speculative process, is simply like a ghost who creates mental disturbances. Yoga, the mystic process, is compared to a black snake that devours people by the impersonal cultivation of kaivalya. However, if one takes to bhakti-yoga, he becomes quickly successful. In other words, through bhakti-yoga, one’s hands touch the hidden treasure without difficulty.
The goal of all the revealed scriptures and Vedic injunctions is Kṛṣṇa, as He Himself says in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15): vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ. Since the Vedas enjoin one to search out Kṛṣṇa and take shelter at His lotus feet, and since no Vedic process but devotional service will enable one to do this, one has to take to devotional service. According to the Bhagavad-gītā (18.55), only the bhakti process is said to be definitive. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti. This is the conclusive statement of the Vedas, and one has to accept this process if one is serious in searching for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following statement. The eastern side represents devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. The southern side represents the process of fruitive activity (karma-kāṇḍa), which ends in material gain. The western side represents jñāna-kāṇḍa, the process of mental speculation, sometimes called siddhi-kāṇḍa. The northern side represents the speculative method, sometimes known as the mystic yoga system. It is only the eastern side, devotional service, that enables one to attain life’s real goal. On the southern side, there are fruitive activities, by which one is subject to the punishment of Yamarāja. When one follows the system of fruitive activity, his material desires remain prominent. Consequently the results of this process are compared to wasps and drones. The living entity is bitten by the wasps and drones of fruitive activity and thus suffers in material existence birth after birth. One cannot become free from material desires by following this process. The propensity for material enjoyment never ends. Therefore the cycle of birth and death continues, and the spirit soul suffers perpetually.
The mystic yoga process is compared to a black snake that devours the living entity and injects him with poison. The ultimate goal of the yoga system is to become one with the Absolute. This means finishing one’s personal existence. But the spiritual part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has an eternal individual existence. The Bhagavad-gītā confirms that the individual soul existed in the past, is existing in the present and will continue to exist as an individual in the future. Artificially trying to become one with the Absolute is suicidal. One cannot annihilate his natural condition.
A yakṣa, a protector of riches, will not allow anyone to take away riches for enjoyment. Such a demon will simply create disturbances. In other words, a devotee will not depend on his material resources but on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can give real protection. This is called rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāsaḥ or (in the Bengali poetry of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Śaraṇāgati) ‘avaśya rakṣibe kṛṣṇa’—viśvāsa pālana. The surrendered soul must accept the fact that his real protector is Kṛṣṇa, not his material acquisitions.
Considering all these points, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the real treasure house for the living entity. When one comes to the platform of devotional service, he always remains opulent in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who is bereft of devotional service is swallowed by the black snake of the yoga system and bitten by the wasps and drones of fruitive activity, and he suffers consequent material miseries. Sometimes the living entity is misled into trying to merge into spiritual existence, thinking himself as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This means that when he comes to the spiritual platform, he will be disturbed and will again return to the material platform. According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32):
ye ’nye ’ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas Such people may become sannyāsīs, but unless they take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, they will return to the material platform to perform philanthropic activities. In this way, one’s spiritual life is lost. This is to be understood as being devoured by the black snake.
Madhya20.136 TEXT 136 aiche śāstra kahe,——karma, jñāna, yoga tyaji’ ‘bhaktye’ kṛṣṇa vaśa haya, bhaktye tāṅre bhaji SYNONYMS aiche—in that way; śāstra kahe—the Vedic literatures confirm; karma—fruitive activities; jñāna—speculative knowledge; yoga—the mystic yoga system; tyaji’—giving up; bhaktye—by devotional service; kṛṣṇa—the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead; vaśa haya—becomes satisfied; bhaktye—by devotional service; tāṅre—Him; bhaji—we worship.
TRANSLATION “The revealed scriptures conclude that one should give up fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system and instead take to devotional service, by which Kṛṣṇa can be fully satisfied. Madhya20.137 TEXT 137 na sādhayati māṁ yogo na sāṅkhyaṁ dharma uddhava na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo yathā bhaktir mamorjitā SYNONYMS na—never; sādhayati—causes to remain satisfied; mām—Me; yogaḥ—the process of control; na—nor; sāṅkhyam—the process of gaining philosophical knowledge about the Absolute Truth; dharmaḥ—such an occupation; uddhava—My dear Uddhava; na—nor; svādhyāyaḥ—study of the Vedas; tapaḥ—austerities; tyāgaḥ—renunciation, acceptance of sannyāsa, or charity; yathā—as much as; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; mama—unto Me; ūrjitā—developed.
TRANSLATION “[The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, said:] ‘My dear Uddhava, neither through aṣṭāṅga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyāsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me. PURPORT This and the following verse are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.20–21). The explanation for this verse is given in Ādi–līlā 17.76.
Madhya20.138 TEXT 138 bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ śraddhayātmā priyaḥ satām bhaktiḥ punāti man-niṣṭhā śva-pākān api sambhavāt SYNONYMS bhaktyā—by devotional service; aham—I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ekayā—unflinching; grāhyaḥ—obtainable; śraddhayā—by faith; ātmā—the most dear; priyaḥ—to be served; satām—by the devotees; bhaktiḥ—the devotional service; punāti—purifies; mat-niṣṭhā—fixed only on Me; śva-pākān—the lowest of human beings, who are accustomed to eating dogs; api—certainly; sambhavāt—from all faults due to birth and other circumstances.
TRANSLATION “‘Being very dear to the devotees and sādhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.’ Madhya20.139 TEXT 139 ataeva ‘bhakti’——kṛṣṇa-prāptyera upāya ‘abhidheya’ bali’ tāre sarva-śāstre gāya SYNONYMS ataeva—therefore; bhakti—devotional service; kṛṣṇa-prāptyera—of achieving the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; upāya—the only means; abhidheya—abhidheya; bali’—calling; tāre—this system; sarva-śāstre—in all revealed scriptures; gāya—is described.
TRANSLATION “The conclusion is that devotional service is the only means for approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This system is therefore called abhidheya. This is the verdict of all revealed scriptures. PURPORT As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.55).
bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ “One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.”
The aim of life is to get rid of the material conditioning and enter into spiritual existence. Although the śāstras prescribe different methods for different men, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says that one ultimately must accept the path of devotional service as the assured path of spiritual advancement. Devotional service to the Lord is the only process actually confirmed by the Lord. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (Bg. 18.66). One must become a devotee if one wants to return home, back to Godhead, and become eternally blissful.
Madhya20.140 TEXT 140 dhana pāile yaiche sukha-bhoga phala pāya sukha-bhoga haite duḥkha āpani palāya SYNONYMS dhana pāile—when one gets riches; yaiche—just as; sukha-bhoga—enjoyment of happiness; phala—result; pāya—one gets; sukha-bhoga—real enjoyment of happiness; haite—from; duḥkha—all distresses; āpani—themselves; palāya—run away.
TRANSLATION “When one actually becomes rich, he naturally enjoys all kinds of happiness. When one is actually in a happy mood, all distressful conditions go away by themselves. No extraneous endeavor is needed. Madhya20.141 TEXT 141 taiche bhakti-phale kṛṣṇe prema upajaya preme kṛṣṇāsvāda haile bhava nāśa pāya SYNONYMS taiche—similarly; bhakti-phale—by the result of devotional service; kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; prema—love; upajaya—arises; preme—in devotional love; kṛṣṇa-āsvāda—tasting the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa; haile—when there is; bhava—the distress of the repetition of birth and death; nāśa—annihilation; pāya—obtains.
TRANSLATION “Similarly, as a result of bhakti, one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens. When one is so situated that he can taste the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa, material existence, the repetition of birth and death, comes to an end. Madhya20.142 TEXT 142 dāridrya-nāśa, bhava-kṣaya,——premera ‘phala’ naya prema-sukha-bhoga——mukhya prayojana haya SYNONYMS dāridrya-nāśa—the end of poverty-stricken life; bhava-kṣaya—annihilation of material existence; premera—of love of Godhead; phala—the result; naya—certainly is not; prema-sukha-bhoga—enjoyment of the happiness of love of God; mukhya—chief; prayojana—goal of life; haya—is.
TRANSLATION “The goal of love of Godhead is not to become materially rich or free from material bondage. The real goal is to be situated in devotional service to the Lord and to enjoy transcendental bliss. PURPORT The results of devotional service are certainly not material benefits or liberation from material bondage. The goal of devotional service is to be eternally situated in the loving service of the Lord and to enjoy spiritual bliss from that service. One is said to be in a poverty-stricken condition when one forgets the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One has to end such a life of poverty in order to automatically end the miserable conditions of material existence. One is automatically liberated from material enjoyment when one tastes the service of Kṛṣṇa. One does not have to endeavor separately for opulence. Opulence automatically comes to the pure devotee, even though he does not desire material happiness.
Madhya20.143 TEXT 143 veda-śāstre kahe sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa-bhakti, prema,——tina mahā-dhana SYNONYMS veda-śāstre—in the Vedic literature; kahe—it is said; sambandha—relationship; abhidheya—execution; pra-yojana—goal; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to the Lord; prema—love of Godhead; tina—these three; mahā-dhana—the supreme treasure.
TRANSLATION “In the Vedic literatures, Kṛṣṇa is the central point of attraction, and His service is our activity. To attain the platform of love of Kṛṣṇa is life’s ultimate goal. Therefore Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s service and love of Kṛṣṇa are the three great riches of life. Madhya20.144 TEXT 144 vedādi sakala śāstre kṛṣṇa——mukhya sambandha tāṅra jñāne ānuṣaṅge yāya māyā-bandha SYNONYMS veda-ādi—beginning with the Vedas; sakala—all; śāstre—in the revealed scriptures; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; mukhya—chief; sambandha—central point or central attraction; tāṅra jñāne—by knowledge of Him; ānuṣaṅge—simultaneously; yāya—goes away; māyā-bandha—the bondage of material existence.
TRANSLATION “In all revealed scriptures, beginning with the Vedas, the central point of attraction is Kṛṣṇa. When complete knowledge of Him is realized, the bondage of māyā, the illusory energy, is automatically broken. Madhya20.145 TEXT 145 vyāmohāya carācarasya jagatas te te purāṇāgamās tāṁ tām eva hi devatāṁ paramikāṁ jalpantu kalpāvadhi siddhānte punar eka eva bhagavān viṣṇuḥ samastāgama- vyāpāreṣu vivecana-vyatikaraṁ nīteṣu niścīyate SYNONYMS vyāmohāya—to increase the illusion and ignorance; cara-acarasya—of all living entities, moving and nonmoving; jagataḥ—of the world; te te—those respective; purāṇa—the supplementary Vedic literatures called the Purāṇas; āgamāḥ—and Vedas; tām tām—that respective; eva hi—certainly; devatām—demigod; paramikām—as supreme; jalpantu—let them speak about; kalpa-avadhi—until the end of the millennium; siddhānte—in conclusion; punaḥ—but; ekaḥ—one; eva—only; bhagavān—Supreme Personality of Godhead; viṣṇuḥ—Lord Viṣṇu; samasta—all; āgama—of the Vedas; vyāpāreṣu—in the dealings; vivecana-vyatikaram—to collective consideration; nīteṣu—when forcibly brought; niścīyate—is established.
TRANSLATION “‘There are many types of Vedic literatures and supplementary Purāṇas. In each of them there are particular demigods who are spoken of as the chief demigods. This is just to create an illusion for moving and nonmoving living entities. Let them perpetually engage in such imaginations. However, when one analytically studies all these Vedic literatures collectively, he comes to the conclusion that Lord Viṣṇu is the one and only Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ PURPORT This is a verse from the Padma Purāṇa.
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