Sri Krishna Kathamrita
Tav k QaaMa*Ta& TaJaqvNaMa(
tava kathmta tapta-jvanam
Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications
Issue No. 299 r Kmad Ekda 22 April 2013
Bindu
Circulation 6,320
Please Maintain the Standards
Highlights
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Darshan of Sri Guru
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
Vrindavan Spring
By the vaiava poet Nripati Lakshmi Narayan
Nama-Tattva Burning away sins
From the Bhagavan-nma-kaumud of Sri Lakshmidhara
Please Maintain the Standards
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Now you are placed in a responsible post, so I may request you to very carefully execute the regular program as you have learned it in Los Angeles. If the regulative principles are strictly followed there is no chance of mys dangerous influence to come in and cause some havoc. My is always peeping, ready to take advantage of our any lapse from the devotional standard, so everyone should be continuously engaged in chanting, studying, working or preaching. This full schedule will save you from engagement elsewhere. My and Krishna are always side by side. Either one is serving Krishna or serving my. Please manage the affairs of your temple in close cooperation with your godbrothers, and Krishna will give you the good intelligence to progress nicely. (Letter to Rsabhadeva Das. 16 November 1970.) Please do not neglect to engage yourself in the prescribed duties for maintaining your spiritual strength. Without keeping spiritual strength there is no question of any accomplishment like painting or anything else. So Krishna consciousness is first in all circumstances. Everything should be regulated in devotional service. Just like eating. Eating is necessary to remain fit, but too much eating means disease and too
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
little eating means starving. One must adjust things properly. That is the program of Krishna consciousness. (Letter to Jadurani Dasi. 16 November 1970.) Simply by keeping a nicely regulated temple schedule with many integrated devotional activities, our preaching program is sure to be a success. Following the regulative principles strictly is our strength in spiritual life. If they are neglected then all our efforts simply become spoiled. So go on the
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way you have described and Krishna will surely bless you. (Letter to Tulsi Das. 28 December 1970.) Our standard of purity must be kept, otherwise there will be loss of spiritual strength and subsequent fall down. Every one of you should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krishna mantra to protect you in all circumstances and chant accordingly at all times without offense. Then advancement will be swift and you will gradually come to see everything clearly so that you may act for the pleasure of the Lord without uncertainty. When one is spontaneously engaged in this way, always in the service of the Lord and anxious to avoid all mundane activities, he is actually experiencing the taste of bliss in Krishna consciousness. (Letter to Damodara Das. 10 January 1971.) This routine work, such as chanting, speaking, rising early, cleaning, cooking and offering prasdam, rati, reading books these activities are the backbone of our society, and if we practice them nicely in a regulative manner then our whole program will be successful. If we become slack or neglect these things then everything else we may try will fail. So it is very important that you keep your standards very high in these activities. Then your preaching will be strong. (Letter to Patita Uddharana Das. 8 December 1971.) Please continue these programs with added enthusiasm. They are very important. You should be very careful to follow all of the principles very rigidly. You must rise early (before 4:00 AM) attend the mangala-rati, attend the classes, chant at least sixteen good rounds daily, and observe the four basic principles. These things you must do without fail. Otherwise there is no question of spiritual life. (Letter to Caranaravinda Das. 2 April 1975.)
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Darshan of Sri Guru
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
There are two stages: anartha-yukta-avasth and anartha-mukta-avasth covered by anarthas and free from anarathas. In the stage where one is completely covered by anarthas, how can one see guru? Although one may externally see guru, one cannot see the real svarpa of guru. For one who is free from anarthas, his guru-darana, his seeing, is different. It is not the same.
One who is covered by anarthas will see guru as bhogya-vastu. Oh! Gurudeva will give me all sorts of enjoyment. If I take shelter of guru I will get so much enjoyment. That is bhogya-darana. Most of us see in that way. Gurudeva will give me nice prasda, nice place to stay, nice vehicles, everything nice. Yes, very good. Gurudeva, I would like to marry a very beautiful girl. Then gurudeva says, Yes, marry a very beautiful girl. That stage is bhogya-darana. But for one who is anartha-mukta-avasth, on the stage of being free from anarthas, his guru darana is sevya-darana, he sees that guru is to be served. I will give gurudeva all sorts of pleasure through my service. I will never expect anything for my own pleasure. That is sevya-darana. One should understand this guru-tattva perfectly well, and only one who does so can say, Unless I take shelter of such a guru I cannot become free from all delusions, material fears and lamentations. aoka-abhaya, amta-dhra tomra caraa-dvaya thte ekhona, virma labhiy chrinu bhavera bhaya (aragati, tma-nivedana 8, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur)
Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu
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Spring in Vrindavan
Who can show you the lotus feet of Krishna? Who can lead you to the lotus feet of Krishna? Who can give you the clue how to see or approach the lotus feet of Krishna? That is guru, a prem-guru, prembhakta, a dear devotee who has established a loving relationship with Krishna. He is day and night, twenty-four hours, engaged in the loving service of Krishna. Only such a guru who has bound up Krishna in his heart with the rope of love can lead you to the lotus feet of Krishna, because he is a very dear and intimate associate of Krishna. Such a personality is a rdh-prya-sakh, a very dear girl companion of Srimati Radharani. If one can develop simplicity in ones heart, take shelter at the lotus feet of guru, and serve him without duplicity, then one will get the mercy of that guru. Then one will find a place at the lotus feet of Krishna. Otherwise one cannot. Therefore, serve guru-pda-padma without duplicity, nikapaasev, with your heart and soul, and then you will get the mercy of the guru, as a result of which he will take you to the lotus feet of Krishna.
From Bhakti Naipunya, chapter 2. Gopal Jiu Publications. Bhubaneshwar. 1994.
Vrindavan Spring
By the vaiava poet Nripati Lakshmi Narayan
In this composition, the poet glorifies the spring season of Vrindavan. vasanta-kle vsant phle vaise madhukara tya rasa vithri virikha pari pikavara kuhu gya During spring, the bumblebee sits on the vsant flower. The cuckoo, being the foremost amongst birds, expands rasa by singing a sweet kuhu. baraja nr vihare hari vimala yamun tre brija pti vikaca ati pavana bahe dhre The ladies of Vrindavan glance at Lord Hari by the banks of the spotless Yamuna. Heavily blossomed hosts of lotus flowers [decorate the river] as the breezes blow mildly. vinoda c bakula be varih obhe bhla vadana ai loka ri vipina kare la
Unknonw artist
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Lord Haris head is decorated with a beautiful ornament of bakula flowers and his forehead is decorated with peacock feathers. His moonlike face, the sum and substance of all beautiful objects, illuminates the entire forest. bara yoite vra gte bolaye madhura tna ballava pe ballav bhe vite milo gna The principal gops play the v while singing in melodious voices. The ballav (Srimati Radharani) sits next to the ballava (Krishna), talks sweetly to him, and supplements the flute with her delightful songs. vadana vidhu vacana madhu unite juo kna lachimi bhae ei ubha dine vilase gop kna His face beautiful as the moon! His words sweet like honey! By listening to them, ones ears attain perfection. Lakshmi Narayan says, On this auspicious day, the gops and Kanu (Krishna) enjoy sweet pastimes.
Translated from Vaiava Padval, fourth edition, April 2010. Compiled and edited by Hare Krishna Mukhopadhyay. Published by Shishu Sahitya Sansad Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata.
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Nama tattva Burning away Sins
From Bhagavan-nma-kaumud of Sri Lakshmidhara
ajnd atha v jnd uttamaloka nma yat sakrtita agha pus dahaty edho yath nala Done with or without knowledge, the congregational chanting of the holy names of Lord Uttamashloka burns away ones sins just as fire burns away its fuel. yath gada vryatamam upayukta yadcchay ajnato py tma gun kuryn mantro py udhta Just like a powerful and effective medicine independently shows its desired result even without the knowledge of the recipient, so does the chanting of the mantra [of the Lords names]. harir harati ppni dua cittair api smta anicchypi saspo dahaty eva hi pvaka Lord Hari snatches away the sins of even a rogue [who chants his name], just as fire burns a person who unwillingly touches it. vartamna ca yat ppam yad bhta yad bhaviyati tat sarva nirdahaty u govindnala krtanam Whatever sins exist [in one] in the present, past or the future are immediately burnt in the fire of Lord Govindas krtana.
Translated by Hari Parshad Das from r Lakmdhara Viracit r Bhagavan Nma Kaumud with thepraka commentary. Achyut Grantha Mala Karyalaya. Kashi. Vikram Samvat 1984 (Corresponding to 1927 A.D.)
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu
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Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. All other materials, unless specified, ISKCON Bhubaneswar/Gopal Jiu Publications. All rights reserved. Blanket permission is given to redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form provided no changes are made to the contents.
