Chapter 12. Glories of the Vaisnavas
কৃষ্ণভক্তি ও তীর্থ
krsna-bhakti o tirtha
Devotion to Krsna and holy places
জলময় তীর্থ মৃৎশিলাময় মূর্ত্তি ।
বহুকালে দেয় জীবহৃদে ধর্ম্ম স্ফূর্ত্তি ॥১॥
jalamaya tīrtha mṛtśilāmaya mūrti
bahu-kāle deya jīva-hṛde dharma sphūrti [1]
jalamaya tirtha–Holy waters [and] mrtsilamaya murti–earthen Deities sphurti deya–reveal dharma–religion jiva-hrde–in the hearts of souls bahu-kale–over the course of a long time. [1]
Translation:
Holy waters and earthen Deities gradually reveal dharma in the hearts of souls.
কৃষ্ণভক্ত দেখি’ দূরে যায় সর্ব্বানর্থ ।
কৃষ্ণভক্তি সমুদিত হয় পরমার্থ ॥২॥
kṛṣṇa-bhakta dekhi’ dūre yāya sarvānartha
kṛṣṇa-bhakti samudita haya paramārtha [2]
[But simply] dekhi’–by seeing krsna-bhakta–a devotee of Krsna, sarvanartha–all obstacles yaya–go dure–away [and] paramartha–the supreme wealth — krsna-bhakti–devotion to Krsna — samudita haya–arises in full. [2]
Translation:
But simply by seeing a devotee of Krsna, all obstacles go away and the supreme wealth — devotion to Krsna — arises in full.
সাধুসঙ্গের ফল
sadhu-sangera phala
The result of association with sadhus
সংসার ভ্রমিতে ভব-ক্ষয়োন্মুখ যবে ।
সাধুসঙ্গ-সংঘটন ভাগ্যক্রমে হবে ॥৩॥
saṁsāra bhramite bhava-kṣayonmukha yabe
sādhu-saṅga-saṁghaṭana bhāgya-krame habe [3]
yabe–When bhramite–the souls’ wandering samsara–throughout the world bhava-ksayonmukha–comes to an end, [then] bhagya-krame–according to their fortune, sadhu-sanga-samghatana habe–they attain the association of the sadhus. [3]
Translation:
When the souls’ wandering throughout samsara comes to an end, then, according to their fortune, they attain the association of the sadhus.
সাধুসঙ্গফলে কৃষ্ণে সর্ব্বেশ্বরেশ্বরে ।
ভাবোদয় হয় ভাই জীবের অন্তরে ॥৪॥
sādhu-saṅga-phale kṛṣṇe sarveśvareśvare
bhāvodaya haya bhāi jīvera antare [4]
bhai–Brother, sadhu-sanga-phale–as a result of this association with the sadhus, sarvesvaresvare krsne bhavodaya haya–devotion to Krsna, the Lord of all Lords, appears jivera antare–within the hearts of the souls. [4]
Translation:
Brother, as a result of this association with the sadhus, devotion to Krsna, the Lord of all Lords, appears within their hearts.
প্রাকৃত বা কনিষ্ঠ ভক্ত
prakrta va kanistha bhakta
The beginner or neophyte devotee
সেই ত’ প্রাকৃত ভক্ত দীক্ষিত হইয়া ।
কৃষ্ণার্চ্চন করে বিধিমার্গেতে বসিয়া ॥৫॥
sei ta’ prākṛta bhakta dīkṣita ha-iyā
kṛṣṇārchana kare vidhi-mārgete vasiyā [5]
sei ta’–These prakrta bhakta–beginner devotees diksita ha-iya–become initiated [and] krsnarchana kare–worship Krsna, vasiya–following vidhi-margete–the regulated path. [5]
Translation:
These beginner devotees become initiated and worship Krsna according to the regulated path.
উত্তম মধ্যম ভক্ত না করে বিচার ।
শুদ্ধভক্তে সমাদর না হয় তাহার ॥৬॥
uttama madhyama bhakta nā kare vichāra
śuddha-bhakte samādara nā haya tāhāra [6]
vichara kare na–They cannot judge [who is] uttama madhyama bhakta–an advanced or intermediate devotee, [and] tahara samadara haya na–they do not appreciate suddha-bhakta–pure devotees. [6]
Translation:
They cannot judge who is an advanced or intermediate devotee and do not appreciate pure devotees.
মধ্যম ভক্ত
madhyama bhakta
The intermediate devotee
কৃষ্ণে প্রেম, ভক্তে মৈত্রী, মূঢ়ে কৃপা আর ।
শুদ্ধভক্তদ্বেষী উপেক্ষা যাঁহার ॥৭॥
তিহোঁ ত’ প্রকৃত ভক্তিসাধক মধ্যম ।
অতি শীঘ্র কৃষ্ণ-বলে হইবে উত্তম ॥৮॥
kṛṣṇe prema, bhakte maitrī, mūḍhe kṛpā āra
śuddha-bhakta-dveṣī upekṣā yā̐hāra [7]
tiho̐ ta’ prakṛta bhakti-sādhaka madhyama
ati śīghra kṛṣṇa-bale ha-ibe uttama [8]
tiho̐ ta’ ya̐hara–Those who have prema–love krsne–for Krsna, maitri–friendship bhakte–with devotees, krpa–compassion mudhe–for the ignorant, ara–and upeksa–disregard suddha-bhakta-dvesi–for those who are inimical to pure devotees [are] prakrta madhyama bhakti-sadhaka–genuine intermediate practitioners of devotion. krsna-bale–By Krsna’s grace, uttama ha-ibe–they become advanced ati sighra–very quickly. [7–8]
Translation:
Those who have love for Krsna, friendship with devotees, compassion for the ignorant, and disregard for those who are inimical to pure devotees are intermediate practitioners of devotion. By Krsna’s grace, they very quickly become advanced devotees.
উত্তম ভক্ত
uttama bhakta
The advanced devotee
সর্ব্বভূতে শ্রীকৃষ্ণের ভাব সন্দর্শন ।
ভগবানে সর্ব্বভূতে করেন দর্শন ॥৯॥
শত্রু-মিত্র-বিষয়েতে নাহি রাগদ্বেষ ।
তিহোঁ ভাগবতোত্তম এই গৌর-উপদেশ ॥১০॥
sarva-bhūte śrī-kṛṣṇera bhāva sandarśana
bhagavāne sarva-bhūte karena darśana [9]
śatru-mitra-viṣayete nāhi rāga-dveṣa
tiho̐ bhāgavatottama ei gaura-upadeśa [10]
tiho̐–Those [who] sandarsana–see sri-krsnera bhava–the presence of Krsna sarva-bhute–in all beings [and] darsana karena–see sarva-bhute–all beings bhagavane–within the Lord, [and who] nahi–have no raga-dvesa–attachment or aversion satru-mitra-visayete–to enemies, friends, or the world [are] bhagavatottama–advanced devotees. ei–These [are] gaura-upadesa–Gaura’s teachings. [9–10]
Translation:
Those who see the presence of Krsna in all beings, see all beings within Krsna, and have no attachment or aversion to enemies, friends, or the world are advanced devotees. These are Gaura’s teachings.
উত্তম ভক্তের বিষয়-স্বীকার
uttama bhaktera visaya-svikara
How the advanced devotee accepts material things
বিষয় ইন্দ্রিয়দ্বারে করিয়া স্বীকার ।
রাগদ্বেষহীন ভক্তি জীবনে যাঁহার ॥১১॥
সমস্ত জগৎ দেখি’ বিষ্ণুমায়াময় ।
ভাগবতগণোত্তম সেই মহাশয় ॥১২॥
viṣaya indriya-dvāre kariyā svīkāra
rāga-dveṣa-hīna bhakti jīvane yā̐hāra [11]
samasta jagat dekhi’ viṣṇu-māyā-maya
bhāgavata-gaṇottama sei mahāśaya [12]
sei mahasaya ya̐hara–Those great souls who svikara kariya–accept visaya–material things indriya-dvare–through [their] senses bhakti jivane–in [their] life of devotion [but] raga-dvesa-hina–have no attachment or aversion, [and who] dekhi’–see samasta jagat–the entire world [to be] visnu-maya-maya–made of Visnu’s energy, [are] bhagavata-ganottama–advanced amongst the devotees of the Lord. [11–12]
Translation:
Those great souls who accept material things through their senses but live a life of devotion free from attachment and aversion, and who see the entire world as a manifestation of Visnu’s energy, are advanced amongst the devotees of the Lord.
তাঁহার ইন্দ্রিয় বৃত্তি পরিচালন
ta̐hara indriya-vrtti parichalana
How they control the work of their senses
দেহেন্দ্রিয়-প্রাণ-মন-বুদ্ধি-যুক্ত-সবে ।
জন্ম নাশ ক্ষুধা তৃষ্ণা ভয় উপদ্রবে ॥১৩॥
অনিত্য সংসার-ধর্ম্মে হঞা মোহহীন ।
কৃষ্ণ স্মরি’ কাল কাটে ভক্ত সমীচীন ॥১৪॥
dehendriya-prāṇa-mana-buddhi-yukta-sabe
janma nāśa kṣudhā tṛṣṇā bhaya upadrave [13]
anitya saṁsāra-dharme hañā moha-hīna
kṛṣṇa smari’ kāla kāṭe bhakta samīchīna [14]
[Although] dehendriya-prana-mana-buddhi-yukta-sabe–they have a body, senses, a life-force, a mind, and intelligence, samichina bhakta–wise devotees moha-hina hana–remaining unaffected janma nasa ksudha trsna bhaya upadrave–by birth, death, hunger, thirst, fear, and disturbances, [as well as] anitya samsara-dharme–the temporary nature of this world. kala kate–They spend [their] time smari’–remembering krsna–Krsna. [13–14]
Translation:
Although they have a body, senses, a life-force, a mind, and intelligence, wise devotees remain unaffected by birth, death, hunger, thirst, fear, and disturbances, as well as the temporary nature of this world. They spend their time remembering Krsna.
তাঁহার কর্ম্ম দেহযাত্রার্থে মাত্র — কামের জন্য নহে
ta̐hara karma deha-yatrarthe matra — kamera janya nahe
Their worldly activities are only for the maintenance of their body — not for selfish enjoyment
যাঁর চিত্তে নিরন্তর যশোদানন্দন ।
দেহযাত্রামাত্র কামকর্ম্মের গ্রহণ ॥১৫॥
yā̐ra chitte nirantara yaśodā-nandana
deha-yātrā-mātra kāma-karmera grahaṇa [15]
ya̐ra chitte–Devotees in whose heart yasoda-nandana–Krsna [is present] nirantara–always grahana–accept [engagement in] kama-karmera–worldly actions deha-yatra-matra–only to maintain their bodies. [15]
Translation:
Devotees in whose heart Krsna is always present accept engagement in worldly actions only to maintain their bodies.
কামকর্ম্মবীজরূপ বাসনা তাঁহার ।
চিত্তে নাহি জন্মে এই ভক্তিতত্ত্বসার ॥১৬॥
kāma-karma-bīja-rūpa vāsanā tā̐hāra
chitte nāhi janme ei bhakti-tattva-sāra [16]
vasana–Material desire, kama-karma-bija-rupa–the seed of worldly actions, janme nahi–does not arise ta̐hara chitte–in their heart. ei–This [is] bhakti-tattva-sara–the essence of the nature of devotion. [16]
Translation:
Material desire — the seed of worldly actions — does not arise in their heart. This is the essence of devotion.
হরিজন দেহাত্মবুদ্ধিহীন
hari-jana dehatma-buddhi-hina
The surrendered soul has no conception of the body being the self
জ্ঞান-কর্ম্ম-বর্ণাশ্রম দেহের স্বভাব ।
তাহে সঙ্গদ্বারা হয় ‘অহং-মম’-ভাব ॥১৭॥
jñāna-karma-varṇāśrama dehera svabhāva
tāhe saṅga-dvārā haya ‘ahaṁ-mama’-bhāva [17]
jnana-karma-varnasrama–Knowledge, action, and social duties [are] svabhava–attributes dehera–of the body, [and] ‘aham-mama’-bhava–the conception of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ haya–arise sanga-dvara–through attachment tahe–to them. [17]
Translation:
Knowledge, action, and social duties are attributes of the body, and the conceptions of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ arise through attachment to them.
দেহসত্ত্বে ‘অহং-মম’-ভাব নাহি যাঁর ।
হরিপ্রিয়জন তিহোঁ, করহ বিচার ॥১৮॥
deha-sattve ‘ahaṁ-mama’-bhāva nāhi yā̐ra
hari-priya-jana tiho̐, karaha vichāra [18]
vichara karaha–Consider tiho̐ ya̐ra nahi–those who have no ‘aham-mama’-bhava–conception of ‘I’ or ‘mine’ deha-sattve–in relation to [their] body [to be] hari-priya-jana–dear to the Lord. [18]
Translation:
Consider those who have no conception of ‘I’ or ‘mine’ in relation to their body to be dear to the Lord.
সর্ব্বভূতে সমবুদ্ধিসম্পন্ন
sarva-bhute sama-buddhi-sampanna
Equality towards all beings
বিত্তসত্ত্বে তাহে ছাড়ি’ স্ব-পরভাবনা ।
‘তুমি’ ‘আমি’-সত্ত্বভেদে মিত্রারি-কল্পনা ॥১৯॥
সর্ব্বভূতে সমবুদ্ধি শান্ত যেই জন ।
ভাগবতোত্তম বলি’ তাঁহার গণন ॥২০॥
vitta-sattve tāhe chhāḍi’ sva-para-bhāvanā
‘tumi’ ‘āmi’-sattva-bhede mitrāri-kalpanā [19]
sarva-bhūte sama-buddhi śānta yei jana
bhāgavatottama bali’ tā̐hāra gaṇana [20]
ta̐hara yei santa jana–Peaceful souls who chhadi’–reject sva-para-bhavana–the conceptions of ‘mine’ and ‘other’s’ vitta-sattve tahe–with regard to property, sattva-bhede–the distinction between ‘tumi’–‘You’ [and] ‘ami’–‘I’, [and] mitrari-kalpana–the conceptions of friends and enemies, [and who are] sama-buddhi–equal sarva-bhute–towards all beings, [are] ganana–considered bali’–to be bhagavatottama–advanced devotees. [19–20]
Translation:
Peaceful souls who reject the conceptions of ‘mine’ and ‘other’s’ regarding property, reject distinctions between themself and others, reject the conceptions of friends and enemies, and are equal towards all beings, are advanced devotees.
কৃষ্ণপাদপদ্মে সেই সুরমৃগ্য ধন ।
ভুবনবৈভব লাগি’ না ছাড়ে যে জন ॥২১॥
কৃষ্ণপদস্মৃতি নিমেষার্ধ নাহি ত্যজে ।
বৈষ্ণব-অগ্রণী তিহোঁ পরানন্দে মজে ॥২২॥
kṛṣṇa-pāda-padme sei sura-mṛgya dhana
bhuvana-vaibhava lāgi’ nā chhāḍe ye jana [21]
kṛṣṇa-pada-smṛti nimeṣārdha nāhi tyaje
vaiṣṇava-agraṇī tiho̐ parānande maje [22]
tiho̐ ye jana–Those who chhade na–do not leave krsna-pada-padme–Krsna’s lotus feet — sei sura-mrgya dhana–the wealth sought by the wise — lagi’–for the sake of bhuvana-vaibhava–worldly opulence, [and] tyaje nahi–do not neglect krsna-pada-smrti–remembering Krsna’s feet nimesardha–for half a second, [are] vaisnava-agrani–advanced devotees [and are] maje–immersed paranande–in divine ecstasy. [21–22]
Translation:
Those who do not leave Krsna’s lotus feet — the wealth sought by the wise — for the sake of worldly opulence, and do not forget Krsna’s feet for even half a second, are advanced devotees and are immersed in divine ecstasy.
ভক্ত ত্রিতাপমুক্ত
bhakta tritapa-mukta
The devotee is free from the three miseries
কৃষ্ণপদশাখানখমণিচন্দ্রিকায় ।
নিরস্ত সকল তাপ যাঁহার হিয়ায় ॥২৩॥
সে কেন বিষয়সূর্য্যতাপ অন্বেষিবে ।
হৃদয় শীতল তার সর্ব্বদা রহিবে ॥২৪॥
kṛṣṇa-pada-śākhā-nakha-maṇi-chandrikāya
nirasta sakala tāpa yā̐hāra hiyāya [23]
se kena viṣaya-sūrya-tāpa anveṣibe
hṛdaya śītala tāra sarvadā rahibe [24]
kena–Why [would] se–the soul ya̐hara hiyaya–from whose heart sakala–all tapa–miseries [have been] nirasta–driven away krsna-pada-sakha-nakha-mani-chandrikaya–by the moonlight from the jewel-like toenails of Krsna’s feet anvesibe–seek visaya-surya-tapa–the misery produced by the sun of mundanity? tara–Their hrdaya–heart rahibe–will remain sitala–cool sarvada–always. [23–24]
Translation:
Why would the soul from whose heart all miseries have been driven away by the moonlight from the jewel-like toenails of Krsna’s feet seek the misery produced by the sun of mundanity? Such a soul’s heart always remains tranquil.
উত্তম ভক্তের অন্যান্য লক্ষণ
uttama bhaktera anyanya laksana
Other qualities of the advanced devotee
যে বেঁধেছে প্রেমছাঁদে কৃষ্ণাঙ্ঘ্রিকমল ।
নাহি ছাড়ে হরি তার হৃদয় সরল ॥২৫॥
ye be̐dhechhe prema-chhā̐de kṛṣṇāṅghri-kamala
nāhi chhāḍe hari tāra hṛdaya sarala [25]
hari–The Lord chhade nahi–never leaves sarala hrdaya–the sincere hearts tara ye–of those who be̐dhechhe–have bound krsnanghri-kamala–Krsna’s lotus feet prema-chha̐de–with the rope of divine love. [25]
Translation:
The Lord never leaves the sincere hearts of those who have bound His lotus feet with the rope of divine love.
অবশেও যদি মুখে স্ফুরে কৃষ্ণনাম ।
ভাগবতোত্তম সেই, পূর্ণ সর্ব্ব কাম ॥২৬॥
avaśeo yadi mukhe sphure kṛṣṇa-nāma
bhāgavatottama sei, pūrṇa sarva kāma [26]
yadi–If avaseo–even involuntarily krsna-nama–the Name of Krsna sphure–appears mukhe–in [their] mouth, [then] sei–they [are] bhagavatottama–an advanced devotee, [and] sarva kama–all [their] desires [are] purna–fulfilled.[26]
Translation:
If even involuntarily the Name of Krsna appears in their mouth, then they are an advanced devotee, and all their desires are fulfilled.
স্বধর্ম্মের গুণদোষ বুঝিয়া যে জন ।
সর্ব্ব ধর্ম্ম ছাড়ি’ ভজে কৃষ্ণের চরণ ॥২৭॥
সেই ত’ উত্তম ভক্ত, কেহ তার সম ।
না আছে জগতে আর ভাগবতোত্তম ॥২৮॥
svadharmera guṇa-doṣa bujhiyā ye jana
sarva dharma chhāḍi’ bhaje kṛṣṇera charaṇa [27]
sei ta’ uttama bhakta, keha tāra sama
nā āchhe jagate āra bhāgavatottama [28]
sei ta’ ye jana–Those who bujhiya–understand guna-dosa–the qualities and faults svadharmera–of social duties (the duties of their varna and asram), [subsequently] chhadi’–leave aside sarva dharma–all [such] duties, [and] bhaje–serve charana–the feet krsnera–of Krsna [are] uttama bhakta–advanced devotees. jagate–Throughout the world, keha achhe na–there are no ara–other bhagavatottama–advanced devotees tara sama–equal to them. [27–28]
Translation:
Those who understand the qualities and faults of social duties, subsequently leave aside all such duties, and serve the feet of Krsna are advanced devotees. Throughout the world, there are no advanced devotees equal to them.
কৃষ্ণের স্বরূপ আর নামের স্বরূপ ।
ভক্তের স্বরূপ আর ভক্তির স্বরূপ ॥২৯॥
জানিয়া ভজন করে যেই মহাজন ।
তার তুল্য নাহি কেহ বৈষ্ণব সুজন ॥৩০॥
kṛṣṇera svarūpa āra nāmera svarūpa
bhaktera svarūpa āra bhaktira svarūpa [29]
jāniyā bhajana kare yei mahājana
tāra tulya nāhi keha vaiṣṇava sujana [30]
keha vaisnava sujana nahi–There are no sincere devotees tulya–comparable tara yei mahajana–to the great souls who bhajana kare–engage in service janiya–understanding krsnera svarupa–the true nature of Krsna, namera svarupa–the true nature of the Name, bhaktera svarupa–the true nature of devotees, ara ara–and bhaktira svarupa–the true nature of devotion. [29–30]
Translation:
There are no sincere devotees comparable to the great souls who engage in service understanding the true nature of Krsna, the true nature of the Name, the true nature of devotees, and the true nature of devotion.
স্বরূপ না জানে তবু অনন্যভাবেতে ।
শ্রীকৃষ্ণে সাক্ষাৎ ভজে নামস্বরূপেতে ॥৩১॥
তিহোঁ ভক্তোত্তম বলি’ জানিবেরে ভাই ।
এই আজ্ঞা দিয়াছেন চৈতন্য গোসাঞি ॥৩২॥
svarūpa nā jāne tabu ananya-bhāvete
śrī-kṛṣṇe sākṣāt bhaje nāma-svarūpete [31]
tiho̐ bhaktottama bali’ jānibere bhāi
ei ājñā diyāchhena chaitanya gosāñi [32]
bhai–Brother, janibere–know tiho̐–those who jane na–do not understand svarupa–these truths, tabu–but ananya-bhavete–exclusively [and] saksat–directly bhaje–serve sri-krsne–Sri Krsna nama-svarupete–in the form of [His] Name bali’–to be bhaktottama–advanced devotees. chaitanya gosani–Lord Chaitanya diyachhena–has given ei–this ajna–instruction. [31–32]
Translation:
Brother, know even those who do not understand these truths but exclusively and directly serve Krsna in the form of His Name to be advanced devotees. Lord Chaitanya has given this instruction.