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sasarja cchāyayāvidyāṁ pañca-parvāṇam agrataḥ |
tāmisram andha-tāmisraṁ tamo moho mahā-tamaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.20.18; cited in Bhagavat Sandarbha: 18)
“First, he [i.e., Brahmā] emanated with his shadow fivefold avidyā (ignorance): tāmisra, andha-tāmisra, tamas, moha, and mahāmoha.”
Read on →: sasarja cchāyayāvidyāṁ pañca-parvāṇam agrataḥ
sasarjāgre’ndha-tāmisram atha tāmisram ādi-kṛt |
mahāmohaṁ ca mohaṁ ca tamaś cājñāna-vṛttayaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.12.2)
“At the beginning [of the emanation of the universe], the original creator [i.e., Lord Brahmā] emanated the functions of ajñāna (ignorance): andha-tāmisra (blinding darkness), tāmisra (darkness), mahāmoha (severe delusion), moha (delusion), and tamas (dimness).”
Read on →: sasarjāgre’ndha-tāmisram atha tāmisram ādi-kṛt
anityāśuci-duḥkhānātmasu nitya-śuci-sukhātma-khyātir avidyā |
(Yoga-sūtra: 2.5)
“Ignorance (avidyā) is considering the self, which is eternal, pure, and joyful, to be the non-self, which is impermanent, impure, and miserable.”
Read on →: anityāśuci-duḥkhānātmasu nitya-śuci-sukhātma-khyātir avidyā
aho nṛ-janmākhila-janma-śobhanaṁ
kiṁ janmabhis tv aparair apy amuṣmin |
na yad dhṛṣīkeśa-yaśaḥ-kṛtātmanāṁ
mahātmanāṁ vaḥ pracuraḥ samāgamaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 5.13.21)
“[Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa to Jaḍa Bharata:] Aho! Human birth is the best of all births. What is the use of other births even in the hereafter [i.e., in Svarga] where there is no abundant association with great souls who have dedicated themselves to the glory of Hṛṣīkeśa?”
Read on →: aho nṛ-janmākhila-janma-śobhanaṁ
maryādāṁ ca kṛtāṁ tena yo bhinatti sa mānavaḥ |
na viṣṇu-bhakto vijñeyaḥ sādhu-dharmārcito hariḥ ||
(Viṣṇu-dharma Purāṇa; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 172, 173)
“A human being who transgresses the code of conduct established by him [i.e., by Bhagavān Viṣṇu] should not be recognized as a bhakta of Viṣṇu; Hari is worshipped by virtuous conduct [i.e., the dharma of the sādhus, and not by transgressions thereof].”
Read on →: maryādāṁ ca kṛtāṁ tena yo bhinatti sa mānavaḥ
tatra śrī-vāsudevasya sarva-deva-śiromaṇeḥ |
pādāmbujaika-bhāg eva dīkṣā grāhyā manīṣibhiḥ ||
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.103)
“In this regard [i.e., in regard to dīkṣā being accepted], dīkṣā, that is, taking shelter solely in the lotus feet of Śrī Vāsudeva, the crest-jewel of all devas, is to be accepted by the wise [since otherwise only indiscretion occurs].”
Read on →: tatra śrī-vāsudevasya sarva-deva-śiromaṇeḥ