Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Madhya-līlā
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 22
Madhya22.53
TEXT 53
naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat
SYNONYMS
na—not; eṣām—of those who are attached to household life; matiḥ—the interest; tāvat—that long; urukrama-aṅghrim—the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is credited with uncommon activities; spṛśati—touches; anartha—of unwanted things; apagamaḥ—vanquishing; yat—of which; arthaḥ—result; mahīyasām—of the great personalities, devotees; pāda-rajaḥ—of the dust of the lotus feet; abhiṣekam—sprinkling on the head; niṣkiñcanānām—who are completely detached from material possessions; na vṛṇīta—does not do; yāvat—as long as.
TRANSLATION
“‘Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās—devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions—mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted, miserable conditions of material life.’
PURPORT
This verse appears in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32). When the great sage Nārada was giving instructions to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, he narrated the activities of Prahlāda Mahārāja. This verse was spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja to his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, the king of demons. Prahlāda Mahārāja had informed his father of the nine basic processes of bhakti-yoga, explaining that whoever takes to these processes is to be considered a highly learned scholar. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, did not like his son to talk about devotional service; therefore he immediately called Prahlāda’s teacher, Ṣaṇḍa. The teacher explained that he had not taught devotional service to Prahlāda but that the boy was naturally inclined that way. At that time Hiraṇyakaśipu became very angry and asked Prahlāda why he had become a Vaiṣṇava. In answer to this question, Prahlāda Mahārāja recited this verse to the effect that one cannot become the Lord’s devotee without receiving the mercy and blessings of another devotee.
Madhya22.54 TEXT 54 ‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’——sarva-śāstre kaya lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya SYNONYMS sādhu-saṅga sādhu-saṅga—association with pure devotees; sarva-śāstre—all the revealed scriptures; kaya—say; lava-mātra—even for a moment; sādhu-saṅge—by association with a devotee; sarva-siddhi—all success; haya—there is.
TRANSLATION “The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success. PURPORT According to astronomical calculations, a lava is one eleventh of a second.
Madhya22.55 TEXT 55 tulayāma lavenāpi na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ SYNONYMS tulayāma—we make equal; lavena—with one instant; api—even; na—not; svargam—heavenly planets; na—nor; apunaḥ-bhavam—merging into the existence of the Supreme; bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya—of the association of devotees who are always associated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; martyānām—of persons destined to die; kim uta—what to speak of; āśiṣaḥ—the blessings.
TRANSLATION “‘The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, headed by Śaunaka Ṛṣi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.
Madhya22.56 TEXT 56 kṛṣṇa kṛpālu arjunere lakṣya kariyā jagatere rākhiyāchena upadeśa diyā SYNONYMS kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛpālu—merciful; arjunere—Arjuna; lakṣya kariyā—aiming at; jagatere—the whole world; rākhiyāchena—has protected; upadeśa diyā—giving instructions.
TRANSLATION “Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that simply by aiming His instructions at Arjuna, He has given protection to the whole world. Madhya22.57-58 TEXTS 57–58 sarva-guhyatamaṁ bhūyaḥ śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ iṣṭo ’si me dṛḍham iti tato vakṣyāmi te hitam man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo ’si me SYNONYMS sarva-guhya-tamam—most confidential of all; bhūyaḥ—again; śṛṇu—hear; me—My; paramam vacaḥ—supreme instruction; iṣṭaḥ—beloved; asi—you are; me—My; dṛḍham iti—very firmly; tataḥ—therefore; vakṣyāmi—I shall speak; te—to you; hitam—words of benediction; mat-manāḥ—whose mind is always on Me; bhava—become; mat-bhaktaḥ—My devotee; mat-yājī—My worshiper; mām—unto Me; namaskuru—offer obeisances; mām eva—to Me only; eṣyasi—you will come; satyam—truly; te—to you; pratijāne—I promise; priyaḥ asi—you are dear; me—My.
TRANSLATION “‘Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you My supreme instruction, the most confidential knowledge of all. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit. Always think of Me and become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (18.64–65).
Madhya22.59 TEXT 59 pūrva ājñā,——veda-dharma, karma, yoga, jñāna saba sādhi’ śeṣe ei ājñā——balavān SYNONYMS pūrva ājñā—previous orders; veda-dharma—performance of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; karma—fruitive activities; yoga—mystic yoga practice; jñāna—speculative knowledge; saba sādhi’—executing all these processes; śeṣe—at the end; ei ājñā—this order; balavān—powerful.
TRANSLATION “Although Kṛṣṇa previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals, performing fruitive activity as enjoined in the Vedas, practicing yoga and cultivating jñāna, these last instructions are most powerful and stand above all the others. Madhya22.60 TEXT 60 ei ājñā-bale bhaktera ‘śraddhā’ yadi haya sarva-karma tyāga kari’ se kṛṣṇa bhajaya SYNONYMS ei ājñā-bale—on the strength of this supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktera—of the devotees; śraddhā—faith; yadi—if; haya—there is; sarva-karma—all other activities, material and spiritual; tyāga kari’—leaving aside; se—he; kṛṣṇa bhajaya—serves Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION “If the devotee has faith in the strength of this order, he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa and gives up all other activities. Madhya22.61 TEXT 61 tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta na nirvidyeta yāvatā mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā śraddhā yāvan na jāyate SYNONYMS tāvat—up to that time; karmāṇi—fruitive activities; kurvīta—one should execute; na nirvidyeta—is not satiated; yāvatā—as long as; mat-kathā—of discourses about Me; śravaṇa-ādau—in the matter of śravaṇam, kīrtanam, and so on; vā—or; śraddhā—faith; yāvat—as long as; na—not; jāyate—is awakened.
TRANSLATION “‘As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23], one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9).
Madhya22.62 TEXT 62 ‘śraddhā’-śabde——viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya SYNONYMS śraddhā-śabde—by the word śraddhā; viśvāsa—faith; kahe—is said; sudṛḍha—firm; niścaya—certain; kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhakti—devotional service; kaile—by executing; sarva-karma—all activities; kṛta—completed; haya—are.
TRANSLATION “Śraddhā is confident, firm faith that by rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. Such faith is favorable to the discharge of devotional service. PURPORT Firm faith and confidence are called śraddhā. When one engages in the Lord’s devotional service, he is to be understood to have performed all his responsibilities in the material world. He has satisfied his forefathers, ordinary living entities, and demigods and is free from all responsibility. Such a person does not need to meet his responsibilities separately. It is automatically done. Fruitive activity (karma) is meant to satisfy the senses of the conditioned soul. However, when one awakens to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not have to work separately for pious activity. The best achievement of all fruitive activity is detachment from material life, and this detachment is spontaneously enjoyed by the devotee firmly engaged in the Lord’s service.
Madhya22.63 TEXT 63 yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā SYNONYMS yathā—as; taroḥ—of a tree; mūla—on the root; niṣecanena—by pouring water; tṛpyanti—are satisfied; tat—of the tree; skandha—trunk; bhuja—branches; upaśākhāḥ—subbranches; prāṇa—to the living force; upahārāt—from offering food; ca—also; yathā—as; indriyāṇām—of all the senses; tathā—similarly; eva—indeed; sarva—of all; arhaṇam—worship; acyuta—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ijyā—worship.
TRANSLATION “‘By pouring water on the root of a tree, one automatically satisfies the trunk, branches and twigs. Similarly, by supplying food to the stomach, where it nourishes the life air, one satisfies all the senses. In the same way, by worshiping Kṛṣṇa and rendering Him service, one automatically satisfies all the demigods.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.31.14).
Madhya22.64 TEXT 64 śraddhāvān jana haya bhakti-adhikārī ‘uttama’, ‘madhyama’, ‘kaniṣṭha’——śraddhā-anusārī SYNONYMS śraddhāvān jana—a person with faith; haya—is; bhakti-adhikārī—eligible for discharging transcendental loving service to the Lord; uttama—first class; madhyama—intermediate; kaniṣṭha—the lowest class; śraddhā-anusārī—according to the proportion of faith.
TRANSLATION “A faithful devotee is a truly eligible candidate for the loving service of the Lord. According to one’s faith, one is classified as a topmost devotee, an intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee. PURPORT The word śraddhāvān (faithful) means understanding Kṛṣṇa to be the summum bonum—the eternal truth and absolute transcendence. If one has full faith in Kṛṣṇa and confidence in Him, one becomes eligible to discharge devotional service confidentially. According to one’s faith, one is a topmost, intermediate or inferior devotee.
Madhya22.65 TEXT 65 śāstra-yuktye sunipuṇa, dṛḍha-śraddhā yāṅra ‘uttama-adhikārī’ sei tāraye saṁsāra SYNONYMS śāstra-yuktye—in argument and logic; su-nipuṇa—very expert; dṛḍha-śraddhā—firm faith and confidence in Kṛṣṇa; yāṅra—whose; uttama-adhikārī—the topmost devotee; sei—he; tāraye saṁsāra—can deliver the whole world.
TRANSLATION “One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Kṛṣṇa is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world. Madhya22.66 TEXT 66 śāstre yuktau ca nipuṇaḥ sarvathā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ prauḍha-śraddho ’dhikārī yaḥ sa bhaktāv uttamo mataḥ SYNONYMS śāstre—in the revealed scriptures; yuktau—in logic; ca—also; nipuṇaḥ—expert; sarvathā—in all respects; dṛḍha-niścayaḥ—who is firmly convinced; prauḍha—deep; śraddhaḥ—who has faith; adhikārī—eligible; yaḥ—who; saḥ—he; bhaktau—in devotional service; uttamaḥ—highest; mataḥ—is considered.
TRANSLATION “‘One who is expert in logic and in understanding the revealed scriptures, and who always has firm conviction and deep faith that is not blind, is to be considered a topmost devotee in devotional service.’ PURPORT This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.17), by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.
Madhya22.67 TEXT 67 śāstra-yukti nāhi jāne dṛḍha, śraddhāvān ‘madhyama-adhikārī’ sei mahā-bhāgyavān SYNONYMS śāstra-yukti—logical arguments on the basis of the revealed scripture; nāhi—not; jāne—knows; dṛḍha—firmly; śraddhāvān—faithful; madhyama-adhikārī—second-class devotee; sei—he; mahā-bhāgyavān—very fortunate.
TRANSLATION “One who is not very expert in argument and logic based on the revealed scriptures but who has firm faith is considered a second-class devotee. He also must be considered most fortunate. Madhya22.68 TEXT 68 yaḥ śāstrādiṣv anipuṇaḥ śraddhāvān sa tu madhyamaḥ SYNONYMS yaḥ—anyone who; śāstra-ādiṣu—in the revealed scriptures; anipuṇaḥ—not very expert; śraddhāvān—full of faith; saḥ—he; tu—certainly; madhyamaḥ—second-class or middle-class devotee.
TRANSLATION “‘He who does not know scriptural argument very well but who has firm faith is called an intermediate or second-class devotee.’ PURPORT This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.18).
Madhya22.69 TEXT 69 yāhāra komala śraddhā, se ‘kaniṣṭha’ jana krame krame teṅho bhakta ha-ibe ‘uttama’ SYNONYMS yāhāra—whose; komala śraddhā—soft faith; se—such a person; kaniṣṭha jana—a neophyte devotee; krame krame—by a gradual progression; teṅho—he; bhakta—devotee; ha-ibe—will become; uttama—first class.
TRANSLATION “One whose faith is soft and pliable is called a neophyte, but by gradually following the process he will rise to the platform of a first-class devotee. Madhya22.70 TEXT 70 yo bhavet komala-śraddhaḥ sa kaniṣṭho nigadyate SYNONYMS yaḥ—anyone who; bhavet—may be; komala—soft; śraddhaḥ—having faith; saḥ—such a person; kaniṣṭhaḥ—neophyte devotee; nigadyate—is said to be.
TRANSLATION “‘One whose faith is not very strong, who is just beginning, should be considered a neophyte devotee.’ PURPORT This verse also appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.19).
Madhya22.71 TEXT 71 rati-prema-tāratamye bhakta——tara-tama ekādaśa skandhe tāra kariyāche lakṣaṇa SYNONYMS rati—of attachment; prema—and love; tāratamye—by comparison; bhakta—devotee; tara-tama—superior or superlative; ekādaśa skandhe—in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; tāra—of this; kariyāche—has made; lakṣaṇa—symptoms.
TRANSLATION “A devotee is considered superlative or superior according to his attachment and love. In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the following symptoms have been given. PURPORT Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has stated that if one has developed faith in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is to be considered an eligible candidate for further advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Those who have faith are divided into three categories—uttama, madhyama and kaniṣṭha (first class, second class and neophyte). A first-class devotee has firm conviction in the revealed scriptures and is expert in arguing according to the śāstras. He is firmly convinced of the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The madhyama-adhikārī, or second-class devotee, has firm conviction in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but he cannot support his conviction by citing śāstric references. The neophyte devotee does not yet have firm faith. In this way the devotees are typed.
The standard of devotion is also categorized in the same way. A neophyte believes that only love of Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very good, but he may not know the basis of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness or how one can become a perfect devotee. Sometimes in the heart of a neophyte there is attraction for karma, jñāna or yoga. When he is free and transcendental to mixed devotional activity, he becomes a second-class devotee. When he becomes expert in logic and can refer to the śāstras, he becomes a first-class devotee. The devotees are also described as positive, comparative and superlative in terms of their love and attachment for Kṛṣṇa.
It should be understood that a madhyama-adhikārī, a second-class devotee, is fully convinced of Kṛṣṇa consciousness but cannot support his convictions with śāstric reference. A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with śāstric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the śāstras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down, even though he may mix with nondevotees to preach. Conviction and faith gradually increase to make one an uttama-adhikārī, a first-class devotee.
Madhya22.72 TEXT 72 sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyed bhagavad-bhāvam ātmanaḥ bhūtāni bhagavaty ātmany eṣa bhāgavatottamaḥ SYNONYMS sarva-bhūteṣu—in all objects (in matter, spirit and combinations of matter and spirit); yaḥ—anyone who; paśyet—sees; bhagavat-bhāvam—the ability to be engaged in the service of the Lord; ātmanaḥ—of the supreme spirit soul or the transcendence beyond the material conception of life; bhūtāni—all beings; bhagavati—in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātmani—the basic principle of all existence; eṣaḥ—this; bhāgavata-uttamaḥ—a person advanced in devotional service.
TRANSLATION “‘A person advanced in devotional service sees within everything the soul of souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Consequently he always sees the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the cause of all causes and understands that all things are situated in Him. PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.45).
Madhya22.73 TEXT 73 īśvare tad-adhīneṣu bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ SYNONYMS īśvare—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-adhīneṣu—to persons who have taken fully to Kṛṣṇa consciousness; bāliśeṣu—unto the neophytes or the ignorant; dviṣatsu—to persons envious of Kṛṣṇa and the devotees of Kṛṣṇa; prema—love; maitrī—friendship; kṛpā—mercy; upekṣā—negligence; yaḥ—anyone who; karoti—does; saḥ—he; madhyamaḥ—a second-class devotee.
TRANSLATION “‘An intermediate, second-class devotee shows love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is friendly to all devotees and is very merciful to neophytes and ignorant people. The intermediate devotee neglects those who are envious of devotional service. PURPORT This is also a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.46). This statement was made by the great sage Nārada while he was speaking to Vasudeva about devotional service. This subject was originally discussed between Nimi, the King of Videha, and the nine Yogendras.
Madhya22.74 TEXT 74 arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ SYNONYMS arcāyām—in the temple worship; eva—certainly; haraye—for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pūjām—worship; yaḥ—anyone who; śraddhayā—with faith and love; īhate—executes; na—not; tat-bhakteṣu—to the devotees of the Lord; ca anyeṣu—and to others; saḥ—he; bhaktaḥ—a devotee; prākṛtaḥ—materialistic; smṛtaḥ—is considered.
TRANSLATION “‘A prākṛta-bhakta, or materialistic devotee, does not purposefully study the śāstra and try to understand the actual standard of pure devotional service. Consequently he does not show proper respect to advanced devotees. He may, however, follow the regulative principles learned from his spiritual master or from his family who worships the Deity. He is to be considered on the material platform, although he is trying to advance in devotional service. Such a person is a bhakta-prāya [neophyte devotee], or bhaktābhāsa, for he is a little enlightened by Vaiṣṇava philosophy.’ PURPORT This verse is also from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47). Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that one who has full love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who maintains a good friendship with the Lord’s devotees is always callous to those who envy Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s devotees. Such a person is to be considered an intermediate devotee. He becomes a first-class devotee when, in the course of advancing in devotional service, he feels an intimate relationship with all living entities, seeing them as part and parcel of the Supreme Person.
Madhya22.75 TEXT 75 sarva mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali sañcāre SYNONYMS sarva—all; mahā—great; guṇa-gaṇa—transcendental qualities; vaiṣṇava-śarīre—in the bodies of Vaiṣṇavas; kṛṣṇa-bhakte—in the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guṇa—the qualities; sakali—all; sañcāre—appear.
TRANSLATION “A Vaiṣṇava is one who has developed all good transcendental qualities. All the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa gradually develop in Kṛṣṇa’s devotee. Madhya22.76 TEXT 76 yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā mano-rathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ SYNONYMS yasya—of whom; asti—there is; bhaktiḥ—devotional service; bhagavati—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akiñcanā—without material desires; sarvaiḥ—all; guṇaiḥ—with good qualities; tatra—there; samāsate—live; surāḥ—the demigods; harau—unto the Lord; abhaktasya—of the nondevotee; kutaḥ—where; mahat-guṇāḥ—the high qualities; manaḥ-rathena—by mental concoction; asati—to temporary material happiness; dhāvataḥ—running; bahiḥ—externally.
TRANSLATION “‘In one who has unflinching devotional faith in Kṛṣṇa, all the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa and the demigods are consistently manifest. However, he who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord.’ PURPORT This was spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja and his followers, who were offering prayers to Nṛsiṁhadeva (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.18.12).
Madhya22.77 TEXT 77 sei saba guṇa haya vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa saba kahā nā yāya, kari dig-daraśana SYNONYMS sei saba guṇa—all those transcendental qualities; haya—are; vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa—the symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava; saba—all; kahā nā yāya—cannot be explained; kari—I shall do; dik-daraśana—a general review.
TRANSLATION “All these transcendental qualities are the characteristics of pure Vaiṣṇavas, and they cannot be fully explained, but I shall try to point out some of the important qualities. Madhya22.78-80 TEXTS 78–80 kṛpālu, akṛta-droha, satya-sāra sama nidoṣa, vadānya, mṛdu, śuci, akiñcana sarvopakāraka, śānta, kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇa akāma, anīha, sthira, vijita-ṣaḍ-guṇa mita-bhuk, apramatta, mānada, amānī gambhīra, karuṇa, maitra, kavi, dakṣa, maunī SYNONYMS kṛpālu—merciful; akṛta-droha—not defiant; satya-sāra—thoroughly true; sama—equal; nidoṣa—faultless; vadānya—magnanimous; mṛdu—mild; śuci—clean; akiñcana—without material possessions; sarva-upakāraka—working for the welfare of everyone; śānta—peaceful; kṛṣṇa-eka-śaraṇa—exclusively surrendered to Kṛṣṇa; akāma—desireless; anīha—indifferent to material acquisitions; sthira—fixed; vijita-ṣaṭ-guṇa—completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.); mita-bhuk—eating only as much as required; apramatta—without inebriation; māna-da—respectful; amānī—without false prestige; gambhīra—grave; karuṇa—compassionate; maitra—a friend; kavi—a poet; dakṣa—expert; maunī—silent.
TRANSLATION “Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad qualities—lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave, compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic, expert and silent. Madhya22.81 TEXT 81 titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ SYNONYMS titikṣavaḥ—very forbearing; kāruṇikāḥ—merciful; suhṛdaḥ—who are well-wishers; sarva-dehinām—to all living entities; ajāta-śatravaḥ—without enemies; śāntāḥ—peaceful; sādhavaḥ—following the injunctions of the śāstra; sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ—who are decorated with good character.
TRANSLATION “‘Devotees are always tolerant, forbearing and very merciful. They are the well-wishers of every living entity. They follow the scriptural injunctions, and because they have no enemies, they are very peaceful. These are the decorations of devotees.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.21). When the sages, headed by Śaunaka, inquired about Kapiladeva, the incarnation of Godhead, Sūta Gosvāmī, who was the topmost devotee of the Lord, quoted talks about self-realization between Vidura and Maitreya, a friend of Vyāsadeva’s. During these talks the topic of Lord Kapila had come up, and at that time Maitreya had repeated Kapiladeva’s discussions with His mother, wherein the Lord states that attachment to material things is the cause of conditioned life. When a person becomes attached to transcendental things, he is on the path of liberation.
Madhya22.82 TEXT 82 mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam mahāntas te sama-cittāḥ praśāntā vimanyavaḥ suhṛdaḥ sādhavo ye SYNONYMS mahat-sevām—the service of the pure devotee spiritual master; dvāram—door; āhuḥ—they said; vimukteḥ—of liberation; tamaḥ-dvāram—the door to darkness; yoṣitām—of women and money; saṅgi-saṅgam—association with those who enjoy the association; mahāntaḥ—great souls; te—they; sama-cittāḥ—equally disposed to all; praśāntāḥ—very peaceful; vimanyavaḥ—without anger; suhṛdaḥ—well-wishers of everyone; sādhavaḥ—who are endowed with all good qualities, or who do not look for faults in others; ye—those who.
TRANSLATION “‘It is the verdict of all śāstras and great personalities that service to a pure devotee is the path of liberation. By contrast, association with materialistic people who are attached to material enjoyment and women is the path of darkness. Those who are actually devotees are broadminded, equal to everyone and very peaceful. They never become angry, and they are friendly to all living entities.’ PURPORT This verse is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.2).
Madhya22.83 TEXT 83 kṛṣṇa-bhakti-janma-mūla haya ‘sādhu-saṅga’ kṛṣṇa-prema janme, teṅho punaḥ mukhya aṅga SYNONYMS kṛṣṇa-bhakti—of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; janma-mūla—the root cause; haya—is; sādhu-saṅga—association with advanced devotees; kṛṣṇa-prema—love of Kṛṣṇa; janme—awakens; teṅho—that same association with devotees; punaḥ—again; mukhya aṅga—the chief principle.
TRANSLATION “The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, association with devotees is still most essential. Madhya22.84 TEXT 84 bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau parāvareśe tvayi jāyate ratiḥ SYNONYMS bhava-apavargaḥ—liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramataḥ—wandering; yadā—when; bhavet—should be; janasya—of a person; tarhi—at that time; acyuta—O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samāgamaḥ—association with devotees; sat-saṅgamaḥ—association with the devotees; yarhi—when; tadā—at that time; eva—only; sat-gatau—the highest goal of life; para-avara-īśe—the Lord of the universe; tvayi—to You; jāyate—appears; ratiḥ—attraction.
TRANSLATION “‘O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the topmost devotees, and the Lord of the universe.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).
Madhya22.85 TEXT 85 ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato ’naghāḥ saṁsāre ’smin kṣaṇārdho ’pi sat-saṅgaḥ sevadhir nṛṇām SYNONYMS ataḥ—therefore (due to the rarity of seeing pure devotees of the Lord); ātyantikam—supreme; kṣemam—auspiciousness; pṛcchāmaḥ—we are asking; bhavataḥ—you; anaghāḥ—O sinless ones; saṁsāre—in the material world; asmin—this; kṣaṇa-ardhaḥ—lasting half a moment; api—even; sat-saṅgaḥ—association with devotees; sevadhiḥ—a treasure; nṛṇām—for human society.
TRANSLATION “‘O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.’ PURPORT This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.30).
THIS WEB PAGE URL: http://causelessmercy.com/Madhya22.2.htm