Translator’s Note

The purpose of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur’s Prakrta-rasa-sata-dusani is to clarify the proper understanding and application of the science of rasa given by Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu in his Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Srila Saraswati Thakur wrote this treatise for an audience that is familiar with the key terms given in Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, and thus he has not defined these terms within his composition. For readers who are not acquainted with these terms and their definitions as given by Srila Rupa Goswami, both an overview of them based on Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu and a glossary are being presented here prior to Prakrta-rasa-sata-dusani. Furthermore, these key terms have for the most part been left untranslated throughout this rendering of Prakrta-rasa-sata-dusani so that readers can clearly see how Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur delineates their significance and proper application.

What is bhakti?

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir uchyate

“Bhakti is said to be service with the senses to the Lord of the senses that is dedicated to the Lord, unalloyed, and completely unconditional.”

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama

“Pure bhakti is constant endeavour to please Krishna that is free from fleeting desires and unobstructed by exploitation and renunciation.”

What are the distinguishing characteristics of bhakti?

klesa-ghni subhada moksa-laghuta-krt sudurlabha
sandrananda-visesatma sri-krsnakarsini cha sa

“Bhakti (1) destroys all suffering, (2) bestows all good fortune, (3) belittles liberation, (4) is very difficult to attain, (5) is intensely joyful, and (6) attracts Sri Krishna Himself.”

What are the stages of bhakti?

sa bhaktih sadhanam bhavah prema cheti tridhodita

“Bhakti is said to have three stages: sadhana-bhakti, bhava-bhakti, and prema-bhakti.

What is sadhana-bhakti?

krti-sadhya bhavet sadhya-bhava sa sadhanabhidha
nitya-siddhasya bhavasya prakatyam hrdi sadhyata

“Action of the senses aimed at attaining bhava is known as sadhana-bhakti. Such attainment is the manifestation within the heart of one’s perfected eternal nature.”

How many kinds of sadhana-bhakti are there?

vaidhi raganuga cheti sa dvidha sadhanabhidha

“There are two kinds of sadhana-bhakti: vaidhi and raganuga.”

What is vaidhi-bhakti?

yatra raganavaptatvat pravrttir upajayate
sasanenaiva sastrasya sa vaidhi bhaktir uchyate

“Sadhana-bhakti in which activity arises not from having developed raga but from the regulations of the scriptures is called vaidhi-bhakti.”

What is raga?

iste svarasiki ragah paramavistata bhavet
tan-mayi ya bhaved bhaktih satra ragatmikodita

“Intense natural immersion in the object of one’s desire is called raga. Devotion based on such raga is called ragatmika-bhakti.”

What is raganuga-bhakti?

virajantim abhivyaktam vraja-vasi-janadisu
ragatmikam anusrta ya sa raganugochyate

“Devotion that follows the ragatmika-bhakti beautifully manifest in the residents of Vraja is known as raganuga-bhakti.”

What is bhava-bhakti?

suddha-sattva-visesatma prema-suryamsu-samya-bhak
ruchibhis chitta-masrnya-krd asau bhava uchyate

“Devotion that is completely pure in nature (a special composition of the Lord’s spiritual energy), resembles a ray of the sun of prema, and melts the heart with ruchi is called bhava-bhakti.”

What are the characteristics of bhava-bhakti?

ksantir avyartha-kalatvam viraktir mana-sunyata
asa-bandhah samutkantha nama-gane sada ruchih
asaktis tad-gunakhyane pritis tad-vasati-sthale
ity adayo ’nubhavah syur jata-bhavankure jane

“(1) Tolerance, (2) not wasting time, (3) detachment, (4) pridelessness, (5) hopefulness, (6) longing, (7) constant taste for chanting the Name, (8) attachment to discussion of the Lord’s qualities, and (9) fondness for the Lord’s abode—these and other qualities are present within those in whose hearts bhava has sprouted.”

What is rati?

purane natya-sastre cha dvayos tu rati-bhavayoh
samanarthataya hy atra dvayam aikyena laksitam

“In the Puranas and the scriptures on drama, the words rati and bhava have the same meaning. Here also (in Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu), the two words are seen to be synonymous.”

What is prema?

samyan-masrnita-svanto mamatvatisayankitah
bhavah sa eva sandratma budhaih prema nigadyate

“Intense bhava that completely melts the heart and is characterised by extreme loving possessiveness (of the Lord) is called prema by the wise.”

What are the stages in the awakenment of prema?

adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ’tha bhajana-kriya
tato’nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha ruchis tatah
athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudanchati
sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah

“First sraddha, then sadhu-sanga, then bhajana-kriya, then anartha-nivrtti, then nistha, then ruchi, then asakti, then bhava, and then prema arise. These are the stages in a practitioner’s prema arising.”

What is sraddha?

Faith in revealed truth produced by association with sadhus and both knowing and unknowing engagement in service to the Lord; faith that by serving Krishna all duties and desires are fulfilled.

What is sadhu-sanga?

Taking shelter at the feet of Sri Guru and learning the process of service to the Lord under his guidance; associating with and serving the sadhus, those who adhere to truth.

What is bhajana-kriya?

Engaging in practices of devotion, such as hearing, chanting, and worshipping, according to the instructions of Sri Guru and the sadhus.

What is anartha-nivrtti?

The gradual cessation of the four types of vices—(1) misconception, (2) desires for the mundane, (3) offences, and (4) weakness of heart.

What is nistha?

Constant engagement in the service of the Lord free from anarthas and distractions.

What is ruchi?

Genuine taste for the Lord and His service.

What is asakti?

Attachment; natural ruchi for the Lord and His service.

What are bhava and prema?

These have been defined above in Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: Purva-vibhaga, 3.1 and 4.1.

What is rasa?

vyatitya bhavana-vartma yas chamatkara-bhara-bhuh
hrdi sattvojjvale badham svadate sa raso matah

“That which is beyond the scope of thought, extremely wonderful, and most deeply relished in a heart shining with pure goodness is known as rasa.”

In further detail:

“That which surpasses all thought of its ingredients, is more wonderful than rati (bhava-bhakti), and is most deeply relished in a heart made bright by a special manifestation of the Lord’s spiritual energy is known as rasa.”

Who is Krishna?

akhila-rasamrta-murtih

“Krishna is the the personification of the supreme joy, the abode of all spiritual rasas.”

What is the Name?

nama-chintamanih krsnas chaitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto ‘bhinnatvan nama-naminoh

“The Name of Krishna is a wish-fulfilling jewel and an embodiment of spiritual rasa. The Name is complete, pure, eternally liberated, and non-different from whom He names.”

How is the Name revealed?

atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah

“Although Krishna’s Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes cannot be grasped by the material senses, they manifest themselves to the material senses in response to one’s inclination to serve.”