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- Read on →: nāgni-hotraṁ vinā vedā
nāgni-hotraṁ vinā vedā na ca dānaṁ vinā kriyā |
na bhāvena vinā siddhis tasmād bhāvo hi kāraṇam ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti-darpaṇa: 8.10)“There are no Vedas without Agni-hotra [i.e., the practice of Agni-hotra is described all throughout the Vedas], and there are no rites without charity [ie., Vedic sacrifices always include, and not considered successful without, giving charity]. [Similarly,] There is no attainment without bhāva. Therefore, bhāva is the means.”
- Read on →: sarvopāya-parityāgaḥ
sarvopāya-parityāgaḥ kṛṣṇopāyanam arcanam |
suciraṁ proṣite kānte yathā pati-parāyaṇā ||
priyānurāgiṇī dīnā tasya saṅgaika-kāṅkṣiṇī |
tad-guṇān bhāvayen nityaṁ gāyaty api śṛṇoti ca ||
śrī-kṛṣṇa-guṇa-līlādi-smaraṇādi tathā caret |
na punaḥ sādhanatvena kāryaṁ tat tu kadācana ||
(Sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā: 115–117)“One [then] gives up all other processes and engages in worship of Kṛṣṇa just as a wife devoted to her husband worships her beloved while he is abroad for a long time. Filled with loving attachment for her husband, humble, desirous only of his company, she always meditates on, sings, and hears of his qualities. Similarly, one should engage in remembrance and so forth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s qualities, līlās, and so forth. This is never to be done, however, with it being a means of attainment [of something else, i.e., it should be done simply for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa and not to obtain any other result].”
- Read on →: sandhyā-vandana bhadram astu bhavato bhoḥ snāna tubhyaṁ namo
sandhyā-vandana bhadram astu bhavato bhoḥ snāna tubhyaṁ namo
bho devāḥ pitaraś ca tarpaṇa-vidhau nāhaṁ kṣamaḥ kṣamyatām |
yatra kvāpi niṣadya yādava-kulottamasya kaṁsa-dviṣaḥ
smāraṁ smāram aghaṁ harāmi tad alaṁ manye kim anyena me ||
(Mādhavendra Purī; cited Padyāvalī: 79)“Sandhyā-vandana, may there be auspiciousness for you. O Bathing, obeisance unto you. O Devas and Forefathers, I am unable to perform oblations. Please pardon me. Sitting somewhere, I will dispel all sin by continuously remembering the Crown of the Yadu dynasty, the Enemy of Kaṁsa. I consider that sufficient. What is the use of anything else to me?”
- Read on →: jāta-śraddho mat-kathāsu
jāta-śraddho mat-kathāsu nirviṇṇaḥ sarva-karmasu |
veda duḥkhātmakān kāmān parityāge’py anīśvaraḥ ||
tato bhajeta māṁ prītaḥ śraddhālur dṛḍha-niścayaḥ |
juṣamāṇaś ca tān kāmān duḥkhodarkāṁś ca garhayan ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.20.27–28)“One who has śraddhā in discussions of me, is disinterested in all karmas [i.e., in all activities that are unrelated to me], and knows that objects of desire (kāma) are full of suffering [i.e., are invariable causes of suffering] yet is still unable to relinquish them, should thereafter worship me, being affectionate, full of śraddhā, and of firm resolve while both acceding to and condemning those objects of desire, the consequences of which are [only ultimately] suffering.”