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  • yasmin yasmiṁs tu viṣaye yo yo yāti viniścayam |
    sa tam evābhijānāti nānyaṁ bharata-sattama ||
    yathā yathā ca paryeti loka-tantram asāravat |
    tathā tathā virāgo’tra jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ ||
    evaṁ vyavasite loke bahu-doṣe yudhiṣṭhira |
    ātma-mokṣa-nimittaṁ vai yateta matimān naraḥ ||
    (Mahābhārata: 12.175.3–5)

    “Whatever firm resolve one acquires in regard to whatever object—that alone one understands [to be truly beneficial], and not anything else, O best of the Bharatas. As far as one maturely recognizes [i.e., deliberates upon and thereby understands] the intrinsic nature of the world to be essenceless, so far detachment towards it arises. Of this there is no doubt. When the world is thus determined to be possessed of numerous defects, O Yudhiṣṭhra, an intelligent person shall certainly endeavor for the sake of liberation of the self.”

    Read on →: yasmin yasmiṁs tu viṣaye yo yo yāti viniścayam

  • lobha-moha-samāpannaṁ na daivaṁ trāyate naram ||
    yathāgniḥ pavanoddhūtaḥ sūkṣmo’pi bhavate mahān |
    tathā karma-samāyuktaṁ daivaṁ sādhu vivardhate ||
    yathā taila-kṣayād dīpaḥ pramlānim upagacchati |
    tathā karma-kṣayād daivaṁ pramlānim upagacchati ||
    (Mahābhārata: 13.6.42–44)

    “Destiny does not save a person afflicted with greed and delusion. As even a small fire stoked by the wind becomes large, so destiny supported by karma greatly increases. As a lamp becomes extinguished as a result of the diminution of oil, so destiny becomes extinguished as a result of the diminution of karma.”

    Read on →: lobha-moha-samāpannaṁ na daivaṁ trāyate naram

  • tat-saundaryaṁ sā ca lāvaṇya-lakṣmīs
    tan-mādhuryaṁ tasya kiṁ varṇitaṁ syāt |
    dravyair yogyā laukikair nopamā syāt
    kiṁ vānyena dvārakendreṇa nāpi ||
    kṛṣṇo yathā nāgara-śekharāgryo
    rādhā tathā nāgarikā-varāgryā |
    rādhā yathā nāgarikā-varāgryā
    kṛṣṇo tathā nāgara-śekharāgryaḥ ||
    (Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.6.110–111)

    “Can that beauty, that wealth of loveliness, or that sweetness of his [i.e., Kṛṣṇa’s] be described? Neither with worldly objects, nor with others [i.e., Nārāyaṇa of Vaikuṇṭha, or Rāma of Ayodhyā], nor even the Lord of Dvārakā shall any comparison [thereof] be appropriate. [There is only one appropriate object of comparison:] As Kṛṣṇa is the foremost of cultured lovers, so Rādhā is the foremost of cultured ladyloves, and as Rādhā is the foremost of cultured ladyloves, so Kṛṣṇa is the foremost of cultured lovers.”

    Read on →: tat-saundaryaṁ sā ca lāvaṇya-lakṣmīs

  • atha vandanam
    praṇamed atha sāṣṭāṅgaṁ tan-mudrāṁ ca pradarśayet |
    paṭhet prati-praṇāmaṁ ca prasīda bhagavann iti ||
    tad uktam ekādaśe śrī-bhagavatā—
    stavair uccāvacaiḥ stotraiḥ paurāṇaiḥ prākṛtair api |
    stutvā prasīda bhagavann iti vandeta daṇḍavat ||
    (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 8.357–358)

    “Now, [offering] obeisance [shall be described]: Then, one should prostrate with eight limbs and show the mudrā thereof. With every prostration, one should also declare, ‘Be pleased, O Bhagavān!’ This is stated by Śrī Bhagavān in the Eleventh [Canto, i.e., SB 11.27.45], ‘One should [offer] praise with various stavas and stotras, ancient and vernacular, [entreat Bhagavān,] ‘Be pleased, O Bhagavān,’ and offer obeisance like a stick.”

    Read on →: atha vandanam

  • agre pṛṣṭhe vāma-bhāge samīpe garbha-mandire |
    japa-homa-namaskārān na kuryāt keśavālaye ||
    (Unknown source; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 8.391)

    “In a temple of Keśava, one should not perform japa, homa, or namaskāra [i.e., obeisance] in front, behind, on the left side, very near, or in the sanctum sanctorum [of the deity].”

    Read on →: agre pṛṣṭhe vāma-bhāge samīpe garbha-mandire

  • atha praṇāma-vidhiḥ
    tatraiva—
    śiro mat-pādayoḥ kṛtvā bāhubhyāṁ ca parasparam |
    prapannaṁ pāhi mām īśa bhītaṁ mṛtyu-grahārṇavāt ||
    kiṁ cāgame—
    dorbhyāṁ padbhyāṁ ca jānubhyām urasā śirasā dṛśā |
    manasā vacasā ceti praṇāmo’ṣṭāṅga īritaḥ ||
    jānubhyāṁ caiva bāhubhyāṁ śirasā vacasā dhiyā |
    pañcāṅgakaḥ praṇāmaḥ syāt pūjāsu pravarāv imau ||
    (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 8.359–361)

    “Now, the procedure for prostration [is explained]: Therein specifically [i.e., in SB 11.27.46, it is explained by Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa], ‘Putting the head before my feet and the arms opposite one another, [one should address the deity], ‘O Lord, please protect me, I who have taken shelter [in you] and am afraid of the ocean inhabited by the shark of death’ [and then offer obeisance].’ Furthermore, in the Āgamas [it is said], ‘An obeisance with the arms, feet, knees, chest, head, sight, mind, and speech is known as aṣṭāṅga [i.e., an obeisance made with eight (aṣṭa) limbs (aṅga)]. An obeisance with the knees, arms, head, speech, and mind is [known as] pañcāṅga [i.e., an obeisance made with five (pañca) limbs (aṅga)]. These two [types of obeisance] are best in offerings of worship.’”

    Read on →: atha praṇāma-vidhiḥ

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