Jīva Gosvāmī

yad yad iṣṭatamaṁ loke yac cātipriyam ātmanaḥ

yad yad iṣṭatamaṁ loke yac cātipriyam ātmanaḥ |
tat tan nivedayen mahyaṁ tad ānantyāya kalpate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.11.41; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 8.119, 10.513, Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.199, Bhakti Sandarbha: 295)

“[Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] Whatever is most desired in the world and whatever is most dear to oneself—offer that to me. This leads to the infinite.”

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kiṁ bahunā sarvatraiva sahṛdayaiḥ sarva evāvagantavyaḥ

kiṁ bahunā, sarvatraiva sahṛdayaiḥ sarva evāvagantavyaḥ |
(Prīti Sandarbha: 158)

“What is the use of more [illustrations of the excellence of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s manifestations and līlās in Śrī Vṛndāvana]? Verily in all cases, everything is to be [alt., can be] understood by sahṛdayas [i.e., rasikas, lit., ‘those with heart’].”

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smared vṛndāvane ramye mohayantam anāratam

smared vṛndāvane ramye mohayantam anāratam |
govindaṁ puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ gopa-kanyāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
ātmano vadanāmbhoja-preritākṣi-madhu-vratāḥ |
kāma-bāṇena vivaśāś ciram āśleṣaṇotsukāḥ ||
muktāhāra-lasat-pīnottuṅga-stana-bharānatāḥ |
srasta-dhammilla-vasanā mada-skhalita-bhāṣaṇāḥ ||
danta-paṅkti-prabhodbhāsi-spandamānādharāñcitāḥ |
vilobhayantīr vividhair vibhramair bhāva-garbhitaiḥ ||
(Śāradā-tilaka, following the Mṛtuñjaya-saṁhitā; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 3.110–113, Bhakti Sandarbha: 286)

“Remember in joyful Vṛndāvana

Govinda of lotus eyes

Enchanting unceasingly

Thousands of gopa girls,

Their own bumblebees eyes directed

Towards the lotus of his face,

Captivated by arrows of kāma,

Long eager for his embraces,

Bowed by the weight of their full, raised breasts

Shining with pearl necklaces [draped over them],

Their chignons and garments disheveled,

Their speech wavering with passion,

Adorned with quivering lips

Shining with the splendor

Of their rows of teeth,

And alluring [him] with various amorous movements

Filled with bhāva.”

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sat-puṇḍarīka-nayanaṁ meghābhaṁ vaidyutāmbaram

sat-puṇḍarīka-nayanaṁ meghābhaṁ vaidyutāmbaram |
dvi-bhujaṁ jñāna-mudrāḍhyaṁ vana-mālinam īśvaram ||
gopa-gopī-gavāvītaṁ sura-druma-talāśritam |
divyālaṅkaraṇopetaṁ rakta-paṅkaja-madhyagam ||
kālindī-jala-kallola-saṅgi-māruta-sevitam |
cintayaṁś cetasā kṛṣṇaṁ mukto bhavati saṁsṛteḥ ||
(Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad: 1.9–11; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 3.107–109, Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 153, Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.87.2)

“Excellent lotus eyes,

The luster of a cloud,

Cloth like lightning,

Two-arms,

Endowed with the posture of wisdom,

Wearing a forest garland,

Capable,

Surrounded by gopas, gopīs, and cows,

Situated at the base of a sura-tree,

Endued with divine ornaments,

Centered on red lotus [seat],

Attended by breezes

Bearing [the mist from] the waves

Of the waters of the Kālindī—

Meditating with the heart on Kṛṣṇa [in this way],

One becomes liberated from saṁsāra.”

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tad evaṁ kalau nāma-kīrtana-pracāra-prabhāveṇaiva

tad evaṁ kalau nāma-kīrtana-pracāra-prabhāveṇaiva parama-bhagavat-parāyaṇatva-siddhir darśitā | tatra pāṣaṇḍa-praveśena nāmāparādhino ye, teṣāṁ tu tad-bahirmukhatvam eva syād … |
(Bhakti Sandarbha: 274)

“Thus, in this way, in [the Age of] Kali, attainment of superlative devotedness to Bhagavān solely by the influence of engagement in nāma-kīrtana has been shown. Only obliviousness (bahirmukhatva) of him [however] shall ensue for those who are offenders of the name because of an ingress of heresy therein [i.e., those who commit offense to the name because of fostering a heretical mentality contrary to Bhagavad-bhakti will only remain oblivious of Bhagavān even if they engage in nāma-kīrtana, or other practices of bhakti, as a result of their offenses].”

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bahubhir militvā kīrtanaṁ saṅkīrtanam ity ucyate

bahubhir militvā kīrtanaṁ saṅkīrtanam ity ucyate | tat tu camatkāra-viśeṣa-poṣāt pūrvato’py adhikam iti jñeyam |
(Bhakti Sandarbha: 269)

“Kīrtana [performed] by many [who have] gathered together is called saṅkīrtana. This [i.e., saṅkīrtana] is to be known as superior even to the former [i.e., kīrtana] because of [its] fostering a special type of wondrousness.”

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