siddhasya lakṣaṇaṁ yat syāt sādhanaṁ sādhakasya tat |
(Unknown source; cited in Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta-ṭīkā 2.3.167)
“The characteristics [i.e., conduct, etc.] of a siddha [i.e., a prema-bhakta] should be the sādhana [i.e., means of attainment] of a sādhaka.”
tac ca śrī-ballavī-prāṇanātha-pāda-sarojayoḥ |
premaiva tad-vraja-prema-sājātīyaṁ na cetarat ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.5.214)
“That [i.e., your sādhana to attain your Iṣṭadeva], moreover, is simply prema for the lotus feet of the beautiful ballavī’s Beloved [lit., the Lord of the gopīs’ prāṇas, that is, hearts, lives, or vital airs] which resembles the [highly celebrated] prema for him [found] in Vraja, and is not otherwise.”
ācāra eva dharmasya mūlaṁ rājan kulasya ca |
ācārād vicyuto jantur na kulīno na dhārmikaḥ ||
(Bhaviṣyottara Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 3.17)
“O King, ācāra (conduct) is the source of dharma and of nobility. A person devoid of ācāra is neither noble nor dharmic.”
tasmāt sadaiva viduṣāvahitena rājan
śāstrodito hy anudinaṁ paripālanīyaḥ ||
(Bhaviṣyottara Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 3.19)
“Therefore, O King, ācāra (conduct) as described in śāstra should always be fully observed daily with attention by the wise.”
sadācāraṁ vinā pāpena citte maline sati bhaktau pravṛttir api na syād |
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta-ṭīkā: 2.3.171)
“Without sadācāra, when the mind is contaminated by pāpa, then even inclination for bhakti cannot come about.”
ācāra-prabhavo dharmaḥ santaś cācāra-lakṣaṇāḥ |
sādhūnāṁ ca yathā vṛttaṁ sa sad-ācāra iṣyate ||
tasmāt kuryāt sad-ācāraṁ ya icched gatim ātmanaḥ |
sarva-lakṣaṇa-hīno’pi samudācāravān nṛpa |
śraddadhāno’nasūyaś ca sarvān kāmān avāpnuyāt ||
(Bhaviṣyottara Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 3.15–16)
“The source of dharma is ācāra (conduct), and sādhus are characterized by ācāra. The behavior of sādhus is called sadācāra. Therefore, one who desires one’s own good fortune should engage in sadācāra. O King, even if devoid of all [other] characteristics, one who has excellent ācāra (sadācāra), is endowed with śraddhā, and is free from envy can fulfill all one’s desires.”
sādhavaḥ kṣīṇa-doṣās tu sac-chabdaḥ sādhu-vācakaḥ |
teṣām ācaraṇaṁ yat tu sad-ācāraḥ sa ucyate ||
(Viṣṇu Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 3.12)
“Sādhus are those who are free from faults, and the word ‘sat’ is a signifier of a sādhu. Their conduct is called sadācāra (proper conduct).”
kālena vṛndāvana-keli-vārttā
lupteti tāṁ khyāpayituṁ viśiṣya |
kṛpāmṛtenābhiṣiṣeca devas
tatraiva rūpaṁ ca sanātanaṁ ca ||
(Caitanyacandrodaya-nāṭaka: 9.38; cited in Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.19.119)
“In the course of time, discussion of the play [i.e., līlā of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa] in Vṛndāvana was lost. Therefore, to distinguish and disseminate this, Deva [i.e., Śrīman Mahāprabhu], specifically in this respect, anointed Rūpa and Sanātana with the nectar of his grace.”
hetuvādo na kartavyo hetunā patate naraḥ ||
(Nāradīya Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 12.280)
“Disputation should not be done, as by argument a person falls down.”
vaṁśī-sañjalpitam anurataṁ rādhayāntardhi-keliḥ
prādurbhūyāsanam adhi-paṭaṁ praśna-kūṭottaraṁ ca |
nṛtyollāsaḥ punar api rahaḥ-krīḍanaṁ vāri-khelā
kṛṣṇāraṇye viharaṇam iti śrīmatī rāsa-līlā ||
(Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.33.26)
“The call of the vaṁśī, the response, the sport of disappearing with Rādhā, the [re-] appearance, sitting on [the gopīs’] garments, incisive questions and answers, the exultation of dancing, further private play, sporting in the water, and strolling in the forest along the Kṛṣṇā [i.e., the Yamunā]—such is the beautiful rāsa-līlā [of Śrī Kṛṣṇa].”
