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  • Eight verses in praise of Śrī Yamunā

    By Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmīpāda

    Read on →: Śrī Yamunāṣṭakam

  • nanu nirupādhi-premāspadasya prītau parikaratvābhimāna upādhiḥ syāt | tato jñānātmikāṁ sāmānyāṁ ca prītim apekṣya tad-abhimāni-prītayo gauṇya eva syuḥ | kiṁ ca mamatāyāḥ prīti-hetutve jñāte ca yasyātmanaḥ sambandhāt prītir bhavet tasminn eva tad-ādhikyaṁ syāt | naivaṁ | śrī-bhagavato yena svabhāvenaivānubhūtenābhimāna-viśeṣaṁ vināpi teṣāṁ prītir udayate tenāpi parikarāṇām udayate | tathā nija-svabhāva-siddho vā tātkāliko vā yo’bhimāna-viśeṣas tenāpy udayate | samuccaye ko virodhaḥ | pratyutollāsa eva |
    (Prīti Sandarbha: 92)

    “[An objection is raised:] ’Well, in the case of prīti for an object of upādhi-free prema [i.e., in the case of prīti for Śrī Bhagavān, who is the object of prema that is free from upādhis, that is, adjuncts, meaning, conditions], the identity (abhimāna) of being a parikara [i.e., an associate of Bhagavān] shall [itself] be an upādhi. Thus, the prītis of bearers of identity (abhimāna) in relation to him [i.e., the identity of being a parikara of Bhagavān] shall definitively be secondary [i.e., inferior] in comparison to jñāna-constituted and generic prīti [i.e., to jñānātmikā-prīti and sāmānya-prīti]. Moreover, when my-ness’s (mamatā’s) being the cause of prīti is also understood [i.e., when my-ness in relation to Bhagavān is considered the cause of prīti for Bhagavān], [then] an exceedance of prīti shall occur specifically for the self (ātmā) on the basis of a relation with which prīti [for Bhagavān] shall occur [i.e., if prīti for Bhagavān is caused by my-ness, that is, a sense of something belonging to and being dear to oneself, then prīti for one’s self is the basis of prīti for Bhagavān and will also always be greater than any prīti for Bhagavān that one may have].’
    “[In response, it should be said:] No, that is not so. Prīti is manifested in parikaras by the same perceived nature (svabhāva) of Śrī Bhagavān by which prīti is manifest in them [i.e., those possessed of jñānātmikā-prīti and sāmānya-prīti] even without a particular identity (abhimāna) [in relation to Śrī Bhagavān]. It is also similarly manifest by a particular identity (abhimāna), be it one established in one’s own nature (svabhāva) or existent [only] for a particular time [i.e., temporarily present in the mind of a parikara]. What contradiction is there in the aggregation [of these? Meaning, there is no contradiction in saying that prīti is manifested both by perception of Bhagavān’s nature (svabhāva) and manifested by a particular identity (abhimāna) in relation to Bhagavān because these two things are not mutually exclusive but rather mutually complementary and of the same nature since both are manifestations of Śrī Bhagavān’s own svarūpa-śakti]. Rather, there is simply elation (ullāsa) [i.e., the elation of prīti, alt., there is simply increase (ullāsa), meaning, prīti simply manifests to a greater degree when Bhagavān’s nature (svabhāva) is perceived by one who also has a sense of identity (abhimāna) in relation to Bhagavān that is also manifested by Bhagavān’s svarūpa-śakti].”

    Read on →: nanu nirupādhi-premāspadasya prītau parikaratvābhimāna upādhiḥ

  • yadyapi śrī-kṛṣṇasya tādṛśa-bhāva-janakatvaṁ svabhāva eva tathāpy ādhāra-guṇam apy apekṣate svāty-ambuno muktādi-janakatvam iva |
    (Prīti Sandarbha: 92)

    “Although Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s nature (svabhāva) itself is productive of such bhāva [i.e., mahābhāva], still it is dependent on the quality of the vessel [i.e., the Vraja-gopīs] as well like the water of Svāti’s productiveness of pearls and so forth [i.e., as water that falls during the presence the Svāti nakṣatra is said to have the power to produce pearls and other jewels yet such water requires that it fall upon and be held by an oyster or other specially qualified recipients to do so, so Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s nature as the power to produce mahābhāva yet it only does so when it is perceived by the gopīs of Vraja, that is, they alone in whom the qualities necessary for mahābhāva to manifest are present].”

    Read on →: yadyapi śrī-kṛṣṇasya tādṛśa-bhāva-janakatvaṁ svabhāva eva tathāpy

  • atha śrīmad-bhṛtyeṣu rāga-paryantāpi sambhāvyate teṣāṁ mamatādhikyena santata-tat-sevā-lampaṭatvena tad-eka-jīvanatvāt | lālyeṣu sākṣāc-chrī-vigraha-sambandhena tato’pi mamatā-viśeṣorjitatvāt rāgātiśayo mantavyaḥ |
    (Prīti Sandarbha: 92)

    “Then, in blessed servants (bhṛtyas) [of Śrī Bhagavān], [prīti] even up to [the stage of] rāga is possible because of their having him alone as [their] life as a result of [their] being constantly covetous of his service on account of the exceedance of [their] my-ness (mamatā) [in relation to him]. A profusion of rāga is to be recognized in those to be cherished (lālyas) because of [their] having special my-ness (mamatā) [in relation to him] stronger than even that [of the servants (bhṛtyas)] because of [the lālya’s] direct relationship with [his] divine body.”

    Read on →: atha śrīmad-bhṛtyeṣu rāga-paryantāpi sambhāvyate teṣāṁ

  • Praise of Śrī Mathurā

    By Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmīpāda

    Read on →: Śrī Mathurā-stavaḥ

  • Eight verses in praise of Śrī Vṛndāvana

    By Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmīpāda

    Read on →: Śrī Vṛndāvanāṣṭakam

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