Çré Papamocani Ekadäsé Issue no:108 1st April 2019

The Three Fundamental Instructions

The Saints Narada And Angira Should We Make Disciples?
Instruct King Chitraketu Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
Srila Sukadeva Goswami

Instructions On Association For Why Did Srila Rupa Goswami Only Give
Maharaja Chitraketu Brief Instructions In His Upadesamrita?
His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Three Fundamental Instructions
From Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu Circulaton 28, 676
Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura
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The Saints Narada And Angira certainly not interested in the temporary
Instruct King Chitraketu cosmic manifestation. Nonetheless, just
Srila Sukadeva Goswami as a boy at the beach creates something
of sand which he is not truly interested
Sri Sukadeva Goswami said: While in, the Lord, keeps everything under His
King Chitraketu, overcome by lamentation, control, and causes creation, maintenance
lay like a dead body at the side of the and annihilation. He creates by engaging
dead body of his son, the two great sages a father to beget a son, He maintains by
Narada and Angira instructed him about engaging a government or king to see to
spiritual consciousness as follows. the public’s welfare, and He annihilates
O King what relationship does the dead through agents for killing, such as snakes.
body for which you lament have with The agents for creation, maintenance
you, and what relationship do you have and annihilation have no independent
with him? You may say that you are now potency, but because of the spell of the
related as father and son, but do you think illusory energy, one thinks himself the
this relationship existed before? Does creator, maintainer or annihilator.
it truly exist now? Will it continue in the As from one seed another seed is
future? generated, O King, so from one body [the
O King, as small particles of sand body of the father], through another body
sometimes come together and are [the body of the mother], a third body
sometimes separated due to the force of is generated [the body of a son]. As the
the waves, the living entities who have elements of the material body are eternal,
accepted material bodies sometimes come the living entity who appears through these
together and are sometimes separated by material elements is also eternal. Divisions
the force of time. When seeds are sown of generalization and specification, such
in the ground, they sometimes grow into as nationality and individuality, are the
plants and sometimes do not. Sometimes imagined notions of persons who are not
the ground is not fertile, and the sowing advanced in knowledge.
of seeds is unproductive. Similarly, Thus enlightened by the instructions
sometimes a prospective father, being of Narada and Angira, King Chitraketu
impelled by the potency of the Supreme became hopeful with knowledge. Wiping
Lord, can beget a child, but sometimes his shriveled face with his hand, the King
conception does not take place. Therefore began to speak.
one should not lament over the artificial King Chitraketu said: You have both
relationship of imagined parenthood, come here dressed like avadhütas,
which is ultimately controlled by the liberated persons, just to cover your
Supreme Lord. identities, but I see that of all people, you
O King, both you and ourselves, your are the most elevated in awareness. You
advisers, wives and ministers, as well know everything as it is. Therefore you
as everything moving and not moving are the greatest of all great personalities.
throughout the entire cosmos, are in a Brähmaëas who are elevated to the
temporary situation. Before our birth position of Vaisnavas (the dearest servants
this situation did not exist, and after our of Krishna) sometimes dress like madmen.
death it will no longer exist. Therefore our Just to bring benefit to materialists like
current situation is temporary, although it us, who are always attached to sense
is not false. gratification, and just to dissipate our
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, ignorance, these Vaisnavas wander the
the master and proprietor of everything, is Earth according to their desire. O great

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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 108, Page—3
souls, I have heard that among the great same in that they are certainly temporary.
and perfect persons wandering the surface One’s kingdom, military power, treasury,
of the earth to instruct knowledge to people servants, ministers, friends and relatives are
covered by ignorance are Sanat-kumara, all causes of fear, illusion, lamentation and
Narada, Rbhu, Angira, Devala, Asita, distress. They are like a castle in the sky,
Apantaratama [Vyasadeva], Markandeya, a non-existent palace that one imagines to
Gautama, Vasistha, Bhagavan Parasurama, exist. Because they are impermanent, they
Kapila, Sukadeva, Durvasa, Yajnavalkya, are no better than illusions, dreams and
Jatukarna and Aruni. Others are Romasa, mental concoctions. These visible objects
Cyavana, Dattatreya, Asuri, Patanjali, like wife, children and property are like
the great sage Dhaumya who is like the dreams and mental concoctions. Actually
head of the Vedas, the sage Pancasikha, what we see has no permanent existence.
Hiranyanabha, Kausalya, Srutadeva and It is sometimes seen and sometimes not.
Rtadhvaja. You must certainly be among Only because of our past actions do we
them. create such mental concoctions, and
Because you are great personalities, because of these concoctions, we perform
you can give me real knowledge. I am as further activities. The living entity in the
foolish as a village animal like a pig or dog bodily conception of life is absorbed in
because I am merged in the darkness of the body, which is a combination of the
ignorance. Therefore, please ignite the physical elements, the five senses for
torch of knowledge to save me. gathering knowledge, and the five senses
Angira said: My dear King, when you of action, and the mind. Through the
desired to have a son, I approached you. mind the living entity suffers three kinds
Indeed, I am the same Angira Åñi who of tribulations known as ädhyätmika,
gave you this son. As for this Åñi, he is adhibautika, adhidaivika. Thus this body
the great sage Narada, the direct son is naturally a source of miseries.
of Lord Brahma. My dear King, you are Therefore, O King Chitraketu, carefully
an advanced devotee of the Supreme consider the position of the ätma. In other
Personality of Godhead. To be absorbed words, try to understand who you are;
in lamentation for the loss of something body, mind or soul. Consider where you
material is unsuitable for a person like you.
Therefore we have both come to relieve have come from, where you are going
you from this false lamentation, which is after giving up this body, and why you are
due to your being merged in the darkness under the control of material lamentation.
of ignorance. For those who are advanced Try to understand your real position in this
in spiritual knowledge to be affected by way, and then you will be able to give up
material loss and gain most undesirable. your unnecessary attachment. You will
When I first came to your home, I could also be able to give up the belief that this
have given you the supreme transcendental material world, or anything not directly in
knowledge, but when I saw that your mind touch with service to the Supreme Lord
was absorbed in material things, I gave Krishna, is eternal. Thus you will obtain
you only a son, who caused you jubilation true peace.
and lamentation. My dear King, now you The great sage Narada continued:
are actually experiencing the misery of a My dear King, attentively receive from me
person who has sons and daughters. a mantra, which is most auspicious. By
O King, owner of the state of Shurasena, chanting it with rapt attention, in seven
one’s wife, his house, the opulence of his nights you will be able to see the Lord
kingdom, and his various other plenitudes face to face. My dear King, in former days
and objects of sense perception are all the Lord Siva and other demigods in this way
took shelter of the lotus feet of Sankarsana.
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devotee of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. To be absorbed in lamentation
for the loss of something material is
unsuitable for a person like you. Therefore
we have come to relieve you from this false
lamentation, which is due to your being
merged in the darkness of ignorance.
For those who are advanced in spiritual
knowledge to be affected by material loss
and gain is not at all desirable.
Several words in this verse are very
important. The word mahä-puruña refers
to advanced devotees and also to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mahä
means "the supreme," and puruña means
"person." One who always serves the
Supreme Lord with complete purity is
called mahä-pauruñika. Thus Sukadeva
Goswami and Maharaja Pariksit are
sometimes addressed as mahä-pauruñika.
A devotee should always aspire to engage
themself in the service of advanced
Thus they immediately got free from the devotees.
illusion of duality and achieved unequaled Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung:
and unsurpassed glories in spiritual life.
You will very soon attain that very same täìdera caraëa sevi bhakta-sane väsa
position. janame janame haya, ei abhiläña
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam » Canto 6: Prescribed Duties for
Mankind » Chapter 15. » Verses 1-28.
A devotee should aspire to constantly live
in the association of advanced devotees
Instructions On Association For and always engage in the service of the
Maharaja Chitraketu Lord through the paramparä (disciplic
His Divine Grace succession ) system. One should serve
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
through the instructions of the great
Angira Åñi said: Goswamis of Vrindavan. This is called
täìdera caraëa sevi. While serving the
lotus feet of the Goswamis, one should
itthaà tväà putra-çokena live in the association of devotees (bhakta-
magnaà tamasi dustare sane väsa). This is the primary activity of
atad-arham anusmåtya a devotee. A devotee should not hanker
mahäpuruña-gocaram for material profit or lament for material
loss.
anugrahäya bhavataù When Angira Åñi and Narada saw
präptäv äväm iha prabho that Maharaja Chitraketu, an advanced
brahmaëyo bhagavad-bhakto devotee, had fallen in the darkness of
näväsäditum arhasi ignorance and was lamenting for the
material body of his son, by their causeless
My dear King, you are an advanced
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 108, Page—5
mercy they came to advise him so that he
could be saved from this ignorance. Why Did Srila Rupa Goswami Only Give
Another significant word is brahmaëya. Brief Instructions In His Upadeçämåta?
The Supreme Personality of Godhead Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
is sometimes addressed by the prayer
namo brahmaëya-deväya, which offers O sädhakas, one must accept proximity
obeisance unto the Lord because He is with both bad and good people as one
served by the devotees. Therefore this passes his life. This equally applies to
verse states, brahmaëyo bhagavad-bhakto householders and renunciates. Proximity
näväsäditum arhasi. This is the symptom must be there, nevertheless one should
of an advanced devotee. Brahma-bhütaù not engage in bad association as this is
prasannätmä [Géta 18.54]. For a devotee— forbidden by the scriptures. Giving in
an advanced, self-realized soul—there charity, accepting charity, revealing one's
is no cause for material jubilation or mind, hearing another's mind, accepting
lamentation. He is always transcendental foods, and giving foods - if done with
to conditional life. love, these are called saìga, association.
— Çrémad-Bhägavatam » Canto 6: Prescribed Duties for Giving some foodstuffs to a hungry person
Mankind » Chapter 15 » Verses 18-19, Purport. and accepting some charity from a pious
man is done out of duty, not out of love.
Should We Make Disciples? Even if they are materialists, this type of
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura engagement is not considered association.
But if they are pure devotees, then such
Unless we are pure devotees and activities are to be performed with love.
liberated souls, we should not make When acts are performed with love, then
disciples. Instead, we should first become it is association. Therefore giving charity
disciples ourselves by taking shelter of a to pure Vaisnavas and accepting items or
bona fide spiritual master. We should then wealth from them becomes sat-saìga, holy
hear hari-kathä from such a gurus mouth association. Giving charity to a materialist
and practically apply his instructions or accepting charity from one, if done
with humility. While glorifying those with love, becomes asat-saìga, unholy
instructions, we then become gurus. Trying association.
to remain forever insignificant on some When a materialist approaches you,
pretext amounts to self-deceit. To become whatever is required to be done should
guru means to become a devotee of be done only out of duty. One should not
Krishna and to remain constantly engaged speak confidentially with a materialist.
in the Lord’s service with all our senses. Generally there is some love involved
There are no hard and fast rules that in confidential speaking, therefore it
tell us we must make disciples, but if the constitutes association. While meeting a
Lord desires it, then a pure devotee will materialistic friend, one should speak only
give instructions for others’ benefit. Such what is extremely necessary. At that time it
pure devotees are not selfishly motivated. is better not to exhibit heartfelt love. But if
Rather, their main purpose is to make the that friend is a genuine Vaisnava, then one
insignificant great, to make the godless should accept his association by speaking
inclined toward the Lord. They wish to to him with love. This type of behaviour
make each and every person a devotee of with relatives and friends creates no
Krishna. hostility.
—Amåta Väëé: Nectar of Instructions of Immoratality » His There is no association in ordinary talking.
Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda » One should behave with ordinary people as
Adapted and Published by Éçvara däsa Touchstone Media, one externally behaves with an unknown
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 Issue no 108, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
whatever alms he receives by mädhukaré,
(begging), at the house of a honest
householder with the above mentioned
consideration. He should always remember
the difference between gross begging and
mädhukaré. A conscientious householder
Vaisnava should accept prasäda – offered
foodstufs - in the house of another gåhastha
who has pure character. One should
always be cautious about taking prasäda
in the house of a non-devotee or one with
bad character. There is no need to speak
further about this as it is self explanatory.
Due to their pious activities, those who
have developed faith in devotional service
have a little intelligence by the mercy of
Krishna. Applying that intelligence they
can easily understand the essence of the
äcäryas' instructions. Therefore only a few
words are needed to instruct them. Those
who have not accumuated pious credit
naturally have no faith. Even if they are
given volumes of instruction, they will not
understand anything. Therefore Srila Rupa
Goswami has given only a few words of
instruction in Çré Upadeçämåta.
merchant while buying something in the —Çré Bhaktyäloka - The Six Faults and Qualities of Bhakti,
market. The same dealings with a pure Translated by Sarvabhavana Das.
devotee of the Lord however, should
be done out of love. If one is obliged to
feed hungry people, needy people, and
teachers, he should do so as a host dutifully Three Fundamental Instructions From
cares for his guest; there is however,no Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu
need to exhibit love. One should care for Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura
them, but not out of love.
Conversely, one should feed pure The Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu gives three
Vaisnavas with love, and when required, fundamental instructions on the cultivation
accept the remnants given by them of bhakti. The first is that the devotee
with love. If one can behave in this must immerse himself in remembering
way while giving in charity, accepting (smaraëa) and discussing topics of Lord
charity, speaking confidentially, hearing Krishna and those intimate associates of
confidentially, feeding others, and the Lord whom the devotee finds attractive
accepting food with one's wife, children, and wishes to emulate. The devotee must
servants, maidservants, strangers, and also reside in the holy place known as
whoever else one meets, then there will Våndävana-dhäma. If a devotee cannot
be no unholy association, only good holy be there in body, then he should be there
association. There is no hope of achieving in spirit.
devotion to Krishna until one gives up The second instruction states that a
unholy association in this way. practicing devotee (sädhaka) must serve
A renunciate Vaisnava should accept Lord Krishna, particularly in His Vraja
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 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 108, Page—7
pastimes. Since the sädhaka has not yet devotee's personal spiritual sentiments.
attained perfection (siddhi) on the path of The word janancasya describes the Lord's
spontaneously generated rägänugä bhakti, eternally, surrendered associates. In order
should do this in his current condition and to remove any doubt regarding who they
circumstances. He should serve Krishna are, the word nijasamihitam (very dear
under the guidance of a pure devotee who persons) has been used. Specifically this
is steeped in the mood of those intimate refers to devotees such as the Queen
associates of the Lord who complement of Vrindavan, Srimati Radhika, Lalita-
the sädhakas own spiritual, feelings. The devi, Visakha-devi, and Sri Rupa Manjari.
siddha-bhakta, being a perfect devotee, Although Lord Krishna is the worshippable
internally serves Lord Krishna in Vraja, and object for those pure devotees who posses
becomes absorbed in deep meditation by the precious jewel of bhava, it is the
mentally accepting his perfected spiritual Lord's intimate associates, Srimati Radhika
form which is perfectly suitable for his and the Vraja gopis who possess bhava
service. Intensely yearning for the same (loving sentiments ) to the highest degree.
devotional mood that Krishna's beloved Therefore, the pure devotees situated in
associates possess, such a devotee always bhava want to serve and worship such
follows in their footsteps. intimate associates of the Lord.
The third instruction explains that The next instruction ''to reside in
in vaidhé-bhakti all directives for the Vrindavan" should be understood to mean
different processes of devotion, beginning that if it is physically impossible to do so,
with hearing and chanting, are listed then the devotee must be present there in
systematically according to different grades spirit. (The subject of residing in Vrindavan
of spiritual development. The acaryas have as a sädhaka will be automatically covered
applied in principle the same devotional when we expand upon the second
procedures in raganuga-bhakti. instruction.)
These three instructions analyze the In the second instruction, the terms
different stages of raganuga-bhakti in sädhaka devotee and siddha devotee,
general, and now these stages will be with their different devotional attitudes
explained in terms of kamanuga-bhakti. and statuses, are explained. The
Ragatmika-bhakti has two branches: sädhaka serves according to his level
sambandha-rüpa (relationship based of advancement, and the siddha serves
affection) and kama-rüpa (unsupported in his revealed spiritual form according
attraction). Devotees such as Nanda to his eternal spiritual relationship with
Maharaja and Yasoda mayi are in the Krishna. Tad-bhava-lipsuna means to
category of sambandha-rupa, while the take shelter of one’s most dear form of
gopis of Vraja are in the kama-rüpa Krishna, His associates and paraphernalia.
category. It also means to intensely emulate the
The first basic instruction that the Bhakti- deep devotional mood of Srimati Radhika
rasämåta-sindhu gives- “ always remember and the other confidential associates of
Lord Krishna" - advocates that in the Lord Krishna. The devotee should serve
raganuga-bhakti process the devotional the Lord using appropriate ingredients
aspect of remembering is of prime collected, either mentally for meditative
importance because raga ( attachment ) is service or physically for practical service.
a state of mental activity, or consciousness. As for the quality of service, the term.
In the Sanskrit for this instructicin, the vrajalokanusaratah aptly describes it as
word prestham (dearly beloved) refers following in the footsteps of the residents
to Lord Krishna, the Lord of Vrindavan, of Vraja. A sädhaka devotee must serve
whose pastimes specifically nourish each the residents of Vraja (Vrajabasis) such as

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 Issue no 108, Page — 8 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
devotee sincerely performs çravaëaà
and kértanaà, he deeply laments his own
inadequacy. Through this humility, the
devotee finds secure shelter in his guru and
in the other devotional activities. According
to the authoritative preceptors the point is
that without diligently practising processes
such as çravaëaà and kértanaà, one
cannot obtain the protection and guidance
of a vrajabasi who is the key to a further
realm of spiritual enlightenment. We can
conclude that an intelligent sädhaka (of
madhyam adhikära), with his personal
realizations and purified consciousness
assisting him, analyses and assesses his
spiritual inclinations. According to such a
sädhakas conclusions, he then practises
specific disciplines, carefully avoiding
any activities contrary to his devotional
predilection because they he is well aware
that they impede his advancement on
the path of devotion founded on loving
sentiments (bhäva-bhakti).
—Ragavartma-Candrika - Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura
Translated by Sarvabhävana däsa.

Rupa Manjari, following their devotional

mood. A siddha devotee, in his siddha-
deha (eternal spiritual form) must serve
the Vrajabasis like Sri Rupa Manjari, under !! Sri Sri Nitai Gaurchandra Jayati !!
the guidance of such Vaisnavas as Rupa ISKCON
Goswami. Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya
is a branch of
The Vrajabasis, whom the sädhaka International Society for Krishna Consciousness
devotee follows, have a permanent Founder-Äcärya: His Divine Grace
A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupāda
relationship with Lord Krishna in
Vrindavan. Devotees such as Candrakanti Editor
Brajsunder Das
and the sakhés (girlfriends), the munis of
Dandakaranya mentioned in the Vamana Copy Editor
Isha Prakash Das
Puräëa, and the personified Çrutis are in
this category. They are good examples Sanskrit Editor,
Vrajsevika Devi Dasi
of Vrajabasis because of their devotional
behaviour. Assistance
Rasa Manjari Devi Dasi
The first two instructions dealt with
Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of
smarana and vrajabasya (residing His Divine Grace A.C. BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada
in Vraja), The third instruction deals ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
with hearing about the Lord, chanting ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists.
His glories, and the other devotional
processes - sravanot-kirtandini. As the

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