Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata 002

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

#SrimadBhagavatam #Bhakti #Krishna #Vaisnava #Sastra #GranthaRaja

Srimad Bhagavatam is called the “king of all spiritual books” (Grantha Raja) for good reason. Within this tri-guna-free, immaculate and divine spiritual sastra, the amala purana, one will find all the sweet, majestic and beautiful truths about the sadhana and sadhya (daily practices and perfection) of Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

In his most merciful and wonderful sastra, Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja summarizes all the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Goswamis of Vrindavana. Throughout the book he cites key Bhagavatam verses to prove these truths, which the Goswamis themselves also discuss in their works.

To highlight its importance for all devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Radha-Govinda Yugala, the same Bhagavatam verse is quoted once, twice or even four times in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.

With the grace of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, the “Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata” series will focus on these Bhagavatam verses that reveal the absolute truth about Sri Krishna, Sri Radha, Sri Guru, Vaisnavas, Bhakti Sadhana, Sri Harinama and Krishna Prema.

* THE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH OF THE VAISNAVAS

The first post in this series discussed Guru tattva. Now we will present the key Srimad Bhagavatam verses describing the identity of Krishna’s devotees, associating with them and serving these compassionate and tangible mercy forms of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

All sincere sadhakas should learn and reflect upon these verses. Absorbing, understanding and implementing these truths will strengthen your faith, expand your joy, and double your enthusiasm to love, serve and respect all the humble servants of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Devotees Live in Damodara’s Heart

sädhavo hådayaà mahyaà, sädhünäà hådayaà tv aham,

mad-anyat te na jänanti, nähaà tebhyo manäg api

Sri Krishna says, “O Sage Durvasa! Saintly devotees are always in the core of My heart. And I am always in their hearts. They know nothing but Me, and I know nothing but them.” (SB 9.4.68/CC 1.1.62)

Krishna Devotees Are Walking Holy Places

bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs, tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho

térthé-kurvanti térthäni, sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåtä

When Vidura returned from his tirtha-yatra, Maharaja Yudhiñöhira said, “O Vibho! Devotees like yourself are the embodiments of all holy places. Because you carry Bhagavan Sri Krishna within your heart, you turn all places into holy tirthas.” (SB 1.13.10/CC 1.1.63)

Six Ornaments of a Devotee

titikñavaù käruëikäù, suhådaù sarva-dehinäm

ajäta-çatravaù çäntäù, sädhavaù sädhu-bhüñaëäù

“Devotees are adorned with the six good qualities of being tolerant, merciful, friendly to all beings, without enemies, peaceful, and straightforward.” (SB 3.25.21, Cc. 2.22.81)

Serving Saints Gives Liberation

mahat-seväà dväram ähur vimuktes

tamo-dväraà yoñitäà saìgi-saìgam

mahäntas te sama-cittäù praçäntä

vimanyavaù suhådaù sädhavo ye

“Serving saintly devotees opens the door of liberation. Whereas, association with men connected with women opens the door to hellish life. The saintly are very peaceful, pride-less, kind to all and well-behaved.” (SB 5.5. 2/Cc. 2.22.82)

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada says sadhavah means “those who do not see fault in others.”

Unique Rarity of Krishna Bhaktas

muktänäm api siddhänäà, näräyaëa-paräyaëaù

su-durlabhaù praçäntätmä, koöiñv api mahä-mune

“Among all the perfect ones, the blissful devotee of Narayana/Sri Krishna is very rare—one in a million.” (SB 6.14.5, Cc. 2.19.150)

Sri Krishna Saves His Devotees

sva-päda-mülam, bhajataù priyasya

tyaktänya-bhävasya, hariù pareçaù

vikarma yac cot, patitaà kathaïcid

dhunoti sarvaà, hådi sanniviñöaù

“One who gives up all other engagements to surrender to the lotus feet of Sri Hari is very dear to Bhagavan. Indeed, if such a dedicated soul accidentally commits a sin, Antaryami Sri Krishna within one’s heart, immediately removes the sinful reaction.” (SB 1.5.42, Cc. 2.22.144)

Srila Prabhupada tika: Although a beloved child may accidentally commit an abominable activity, the loving father forgives the child, taking into consideration the actual good intentions of the child.

Although the devotee does not ask Sri Krishna to free him the future suffering from his sins, Sri Krishna, by His own sweet will, frees the devotee from the reactions to accidental fall downs.

This causeless mercy of Sri Krishna upon His devotee is His param- aiçvaryam, or supreme opulence. Gradually the faithful devotee becomes pure and free from sins just by thinking of and serving Govinda’s lotus feet. Thus Krishna bhaktas are never actually defeated in life.

All Nama Chanters Are Great

aho bata çva-paco to garéyän, yaj-jihvägre vartate näma tubhyam

tepus tapas te juhuvuù sasnur äryä, brahmänücur näma gåëanti ye te

“O, how astonishing and worshipable are even dog-eaters if they chant Krishna nama! They have already performed all kinds of austerities and yajnas, cultivated good saintly virtues, bathed in all tirthas, and studied all Vedas”

Sripada Vallabhacarya tika (Sri Subodhini): Devahuti says, “By birth, class or conduct a chandala cannot compare with a Brahmin. However, the chandala is greater if he is chanting Krishna’s Divine Names. A complacent satisfied Brahmin performs actions for his own benefit. He may not chant Krishna’s names due to pride, ego or his status in society! In this way, he does not become a Krishna bhakta.

Sri Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika: The outcaste who chants even incompletely just one name of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is the best. He is a guru, and fully qualified to teach the mantra and the holy name to others i.e. dikña-guru. Amara-koña says anücura (line 4 of the verse above) means “a teacher, a person proficient in recitation of the Vedas with its aìgas.”

In prior lives the chandalas must have performed all types of yajnas and tapas, so now they no longer need to perform them nor will they do so in the future.

Srimad Bhagavatam Maha Purana ki jai! Hari Kathamrta ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!