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  • upamīyate yena tad upamānam, yat tūpamīyate tad upameyam |
    (Amṛta-ṭīkā on Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa: 1314)

    “That with which comparing occurs [i.e., to which something is compared] is [called] the upamāna [i.e., the object of comparison], and that which is compared [to the upamāna] is [called] the upameya [i.e., the subject of comparison, e.g., in the phrase ‘lotus feet,’ the lotus is the upamāna and feet are the upameya].”

    Read on →: upamīyate yena tad upamānam, yat tūpamīyate tad upameyam

  • alpa-mātraṁ kṛto dharmo bhavej jñānavatāṁ mahān |
    mahān api kṛto dharmo hy ajñānān niṣphalo bhavet ||
    (Mahābhārata: 13.227.28)

    “Dharma performed even slightly shall be great for one possessed of knowledge. Dharma performed even greatly shall be fruitless as a result of ignorance.”

    Read on →: alpa-mātraṁ kṛto dharmo bhavej jñānavatāṁ mahān

  • mama śāstraṁ bahiṣkṛtya asmākaṁ yaḥ prapadyate |
    muktvā ca mama śāstrāṇi śāstram anyat prabhāṣase ||
    (Varāha Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 8.460)

    “One who excludes śāstra related to me and takes shelter in me [alt., approaches me, that is, performs upāsanā (worship)], and one who rejects śāstras related to me and teaches other śāstra … [commits offense to me].”

    Read on →: mama śāstraṁ bahiṣkṛtya asmākaṁ yaḥ prapadyate

  • śraddhayopāhṛtaṁ preṣṭhaṁ bhaktena mama vāry api |
    bhūry apy abhaktopahṛtaṁ na me toṣāya kalpate ||
    gandho dhūpaḥ sumanaso dīpo’nnādyaṁ ca kiṁ punaḥ ||
    (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.27.17–18; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 300)

    “Even water [i.e., the simplest thing] offered [to me] with śraddhā by my bhakta is most dear. Even a lavish offering from a non-bhakta [however] brings me no satisfaction. And what’s more of fragrances, incense, flowers, lamps, food, and so on?”

    Read on →: śraddhayopāhṛtaṁ preṣṭhaṁ bhaktena mama vāry api

  • mahad-aparādhas tu cāṭukārādinā vā tat-prīty-artha-kṛtena nirantara-dīrgha-kālīna-bhagavan-nāma-kīrtanena vā taṁ prasādya kṣamāpanīya … | tat-prasādaṁ vinā tad-asiddheḥ |
    (Bhakti Sandarbha: 303)

    “Offense to a great person (mahad-aparādha) is to be begged pardon for by propitiating him [i.e., the mahat] with endearing words and so forth, or, by chanting of Bhagavān’s name continuously for a long time performed for the sake of pleasing him … because of non-accomplishment of this [i.e., of forgiveness of one’s offense to a great person] without propitiation of him.”

    Read on →: mahad-aparādhas tu cāṭukārādinā vā tat-prīty-artha-kṛtena

  • avaiṣṇavopadiṣṭena mantreṇa nirayaṁ vrajet |
    punaś ca vidhinā samyag grāhayed vaiṣṇavād guroḥ ||
    (Nārada Pañcarātra; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 4.366 and the Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.54; Bhakti Sandarbha: 207)

    “One shall go to hell as a result of [receiving] a mantra imparted by a non-Vaiṣṇava. [If one has received a mantra from a non-Vaiṣṇava] Again and properly according to rule, one should occasion reception [of a mantra] from a Vaiṣṇava guru.”

    Read on →: avaiṣṇavopadiṣṭena mantreṇa nirayaṁ vrajet

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