The Latest
- Read on →: rāga-bhakti vidhi-bhakti haya dui-rūpa
rāga-bhakti vidhi-bhakti haya dui-rūpa |
svayaṁ-bhagavattve bhagavattve prakāśa dvi-rūpa ||
rāga-bhaktye vraje svayaṁ-bhagavāne pāya |
vidhi-bhaktye pārṣada-dehe vaikuṇṭhete yāya ||
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.24.84–85, 87)“There are two forms [of bhakti]: rāga-bhakti and vidhi-bhakti. There are two forms of manifestation [of Brahman in response to these two forms of bhakti]: as Svayam Bhagavān [i.e., as Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Gokula] and as Bhagavān [i.e., as the various forms of Bhagavān found elsewhere]. By rāga-bhakti, one attains Svayaṁ Bhagavān in Vraja. By vidhi-bhakti, one reaches Vaikuṇṭha in the body of a companion (pārṣada) [of Bhagavān].”
- Read on →: atha vaidhī-lakṣanaṁ
atha vaidhī-lakṣanaṁ—śravaṇa-kīrtanādīni śāstra-śāsana-bhayena yadi kriyante tadā vaidhī bhaktiḥ |
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu-bindu: 8)“Now, the characteristic of vaidhī [-bhakti is stated]: when hearing, praising, and so forth are done out of fear of the ruling of śāstra, then vaidhī-bhakti [is being practiced].”
- Read on →: vaidhī-bhaktir bhavet śāstraṁ bhaktau cet syāt pravartakam
vaidhī-bhaktir bhavet śāstraṁ bhaktau cet syāt pravartakam |
rāgānugā syāc ced bhaktau lobha eva pravartakaḥ ||
bhaktau pravṛttir atra syāt tac-cikīrṣā suniścayā |
śāstrāl lobhāt tac-cikīrṣū syātāṁ tad-adhikāriṇau ||
(Rāga-vartma-candrikā: 1.3–4)“Vaidhī-bhakti shall be when the motivator for bhakti shall be śāstra [i.e., injunctions in the śāstra]. Rāgānugā [-bhakti] shall be when the motivator for bhakti shall be intense desire (lobha) specifically. In this regard, an inclination (pravṛtti) towards bhakti [which may be of either of the two aforementioned types] shall be [understood as] a firmly resolved desire to enact that [viz., bhakti]. Those possessed of desire to enact that [viz., bhakti] because of śāstra [i.e., injunctions in the śāstra] or because of intense desire (lobha) shall be the two bearers of eligibility (adhikārīs) for that [i.e., for bhakti, meaning, for vaidhī-bhakti and rāgānugā-bhakti respectively].”
- Read on →: gavāṁ keva kathā kṛṣṇa te te’pi bhavataḥ priyāḥ
gavāṁ keva kathā kṛṣṇa te te’pi bhavataḥ priyāḥ |
mṛgā vihaṅgā bhāṇḍīra-kadambādyāś ca pādapāḥ ||
latāni kuñja-puñjāni śādvalāny api jīvanam |
bhavaty evārpayāmāsuḥ kṣīṇāś ca sarito’drayaḥ ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.6.116–117)“[Baladeva to Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā:] Why talk like this [only] of the cows, O Kṛṣṇa? The animals, birds, and trees like the bhāṇḍīras and kadambas—they all too are dear to you. The creepers, multitudes of bowers, and greenswards have all offered their lives to you alone. The rivers and hills too are emaciated [in your absence].”
- Read on →: atraiva narakaḥ svarga iti mātaḥ pracakṣyate
atraiva narakaḥ svarga iti mātaḥ pracakṣyate |
yā yātanā vai nārakyas tā ihāpy upalakṣitāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.30.29)“O mother, they say Naraka and Svarga exist [i.e., are experienced] here [i.e., in this plane] itself. Sufferings which are hellish are perceived here too.”