Viśvanātha Cakravartī – Anuśīlana.in

vartitavyaṁ śam-icchadbhir bhaktavan na tu kṛṣṇavat

vartitavyaṁ śam-icchadbhir bhaktavan na tu kṛṣṇavat |
ity evaṁ bhakti-śāstrāṇāṁ tātparyasya vinirṇayaḥ ||
rāmādivad vartitavyaṁ na kvacid rāvaṇādivat |
ity eṣa mukti-dharmādi-parāṇāṁ naya īryate ||
(Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi: 3.24–5)

“[Conduct] is to be observed like a bhakta, and not, rather, like Kṛṣṇa, by those who desire well-being—this is the proper determination of the intent of the bhakti-śāstras. [Conduct] is to observed like Rāma and others [i.e., other forms of Bhagavān], and never like Rāvaṇa and others [i.e., those who are inimical to Bhagavān]—this is said to be proper for those who seek mukti, dharma, and so on [but not for those who follow bhakti-śāstra].”

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ye vai bhagavatā proktā

ye vai bhagavatā proktā upāyā hy ātma-labdhaye |
añjaḥ puṁsām aviduṣāṁ viddhi bhāgavatān hi tān ||
yān āsthāya naro rājan na pramādyeta karhicit |
dhāvan nimīlya vā netre na skhalen na pated iha ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.34–35; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.497, 524; Bhakti Sandarbha: 125, 216, 218; Mādhurya-kādambinī: 3.3)

“Know to be Bhāgavatas [i.e., Bhāgavata-dharmas—limbs of bhakti to Bhagavān] those well known means of realization (1) which are stated by Bhagavān for unlearned persons for the sake of [their] easy attainment of the Self (Ātmā) and (2) by taking shelter in which a human being, O King, shall never be hindered. [Even by] Running or keeping the eyes closed, one shall not stumble and shall not fall here.”

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kālena naṣṭā pralaye vāṇīyaṁ veda-saṁjñitā

kālena naṣṭā pralaye vāṇīyaṁ veda-saṁjñitā |
mayādau brahmaṇe proktā dharmo yasyāṁ mad-ātmakaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.14.3; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 76)

“[Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] This speech known as the Veda [which is] lost because of time [and] in the dissolution [of the universe] in which dharma based of me is present was dictated to Brahmā by me at the beginning [of the universe’s emanation following its prior dissolution].”

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bhakti-yogaḥ puraivoktaḥ prīyamāṇāya te’nagha

bhakti-yogaḥ puraivoktaḥ prīyamāṇāya te’nagha |
punaś ca kathayiṣyāmi mad-bhakteḥ kāraṇaṁ param ||
śraddhāmṛta-kathāyāṁ me śaśvan mad-anukīrtanam |
pariniṣṭhā ca pūjāyāṁ stutibhiḥ stavanaṁ mama ||
ādaraḥ paricaryāyāṁ sarvāṅgair abhivandanam |
mad-bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā sarva-bhūteṣu man-matiḥ ||
mad-artheṣv aṅga-ceṣṭā ca vacasā mad-guṇeraṇam |
mayy arpaṇaṁ ca manasaḥ sarva-kāma-vivarjanam ||
mad-arthe’rtha-parityāgo bhogasya ca sukhasya ca |
iṣṭaṁ dattaṁ hutaṁ japtaṁ mad-arthaṁ yad vrataṁ tapaḥ ||
evaṁ dharmair manuṣyāṇām uddhavātma-nivedinām |
mayi sañjāyate bhaktiḥ ko’nyo’rtho’syāvaśiṣyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.19.19–24; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.514-517, 526; Bhakti Sandarbha: 228)

“The practice (yoga) of bhakti was indeed explained previously [to you by me]. O sinless one, for you who are finding pleasure [in that], I will describe again the best means of bhakti to me. Continuous śraddhā in the nectar of narration of me, recapitulating related to me, full fixity in ritual worship of me, praising [me] with hymns, attentive regard for adoring service [to me], offering respectful obeisance [to me] with all the limbs, exceeding worship of my bhakta, awareness of me in all entities, body-activity for purposes related to me, speaking of my qualities with the [faculty] of speech, offering of the mind to me, letting go of all desires, relinquishment of wealth, as well as of enjoyment and of pleasure, for my sake, and sacrifice, charity, oblations, utterance (japa), rites, and austerity which are for my sake—by means of such dharmas, O Uddhava, bhakti to me is manifested in full for human beings who are offerers of themselves [to me]. What other object remains for one [i.e., for such a bhakta]?”

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vidagdhānāṁ mitho līlā-vilāsena yathā sukham

vidagdhānāṁ mitho līlā-vilāsena yathā sukham |
na tathā samprayogeṇa syād evaṁ rasikā viduḥ ||
yathā—
balena parirambhaṇe nakha-śikhābhir ullekhanaṁ
haṭhād adhara-khaṇḍane bhuja-yugena bandha-kriyām |
dukūla-dalane hatim kuvalayena kurvāṇayā
ratād api sukhaṁ harer adhikam ādadhe rādhayā ||
yathā vā—
narmotseka-kalā dṛg-añcala-camatkārī bhruvor vibhramaḥ
saṁvyānasya vikarṣaṇe caṭulatāṁ karṇotpalenāhatiḥ |
krīḍeyaṁ vraja-nāgarī-rati-guror gāndharvikāyās tathā
bhūyiṣṭhaṁ suratotsavād api navāsvādaṁ vitene sukham ||
ata eva śrī-gīta-govinde—
pratyūhaḥ pulakāṅkureṇa niviḍa-śleṣe nimeṣeṇa ca
krīḍā-kūta-vilokite’dhara-sudhā-pāne kathā-narmabhiḥ |
ānandābhigamena manmatha-kalā-yuddhe’pi yasminn abhud
udbhūtaḥ sa tayor babhūva suratārambhaḥ priyaṁbhāvukaḥ ||
(Ujjvala-nīlāmaṇi: 15.253–256)

“For the cultured, pleasure shall not arise from full union (samprayoga) as it shall from sportive coquetry (līlā-vilāsa) with one another. This rasikas know.
As [is described in the following verse]:
‘By scratching [him on the chest] with the tips of her nails
When he embraces [her] by force,
By blocking [him] with her arms
When he forcibly bites her lip,
And by striking [him] with a water lily
When he pulls her raiment,
Pleasure for Hari
Greater than even [that of] union [i.e., samprayoga]
Was created by Rādhā.’
Or as [is described in the following verse]:
‘The art of pouring forth jokes [exhibited by Kṛṣṇa],
And the waggling of the eyebrows
[That was] Astonishing with sidelong glances [exhibited by Rādhā in return],
The vivacity in pulling upon the upper garment [of Rādhā exhibited by Kṛṣṇa],
And the blow with a lotus from her ear [dealt to Kṛṣṇa by Rādhā in return]—
This play
Between the ladies of Vraja’s Love-teacher (Rati-guru) and Gāndharvikā
Manifested pleasure abundant and freshly relishable
Even more so than the delight of full union (samprayoga).’
Therefore, in Śrī Gīta-govinda (12.10) [the following is found], ‘Wherein obstruction arose
To their tight embraces
By their horripilation,
To their observation of the plentitude of their play
By the blinking of their eyes,
To their drinking the nectar of one another’s lips
By their talks and jokes,
And to their battle in the arts of the Mind-churner [i.e., Kāma]
By the arrival of bliss—
That [wonderful] beginning of their amorous union,
Being [most] pleasing [to them both],
Became perceptible.’”

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atha bhakta-niṣṭhām aiśvarya-jñānam

atha bhakta-niṣṭhām aiśvarya-jñānam | īśvaro’yam ity anusandhāne sati hṛt-kampā-janaka-sambhrameṇa svīya-bhāvasyātiśaithilyaṁ yat pratipādayati tad aiśvarya-jñānam, ata eva ‘yuvāṁ na naḥ sutau sākṣāt pradhāna-puruṣeśvarau’ ity ādi vasudevokteḥ, ‘sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktam’ ity arjunokteś ca | īśvaro’yam ity anusandhāne’pi hṛt-kampā-janaka-sambhrama-gandhasyānudgamāt svīya-bhāvasyātisthairyam eva yad utpādayati tan mādhurya-jñānam, yathā—‘vandinas tam upadeva-gaṇā ye vādya-gīta-balibhiḥ parivavruḥ | vatsalo vraja-gavāṁ yad aga-dhro vandyamāna-caraṇaḥ pathi vṛddhaiḥ ||’ iti ca yugala-gītokteḥ |
(Rāga-vartma-candrikā: 2.5)

“Now, awareness of Godhood (Aiśvarya-jñāna) present in bhaktas [will be discussed]. That [awareness] which produces a great slackening of one’s own bhāva [for Kṛṣṇa] by means of reverential excitement (sambhrama) productive of trembling of the heart when the thought is present, ‘He is Īśvara,’ is [called] ‘awareness of Godhood’ (Aiśvarya-jñāna), thus in accord with the statement of Vasudeva [in SB 10.85.15], ‘You two are not our sons; you two are directly the Īśvaras of material existence (pradhāna) and [all] embodied beings (puruṣa),’ and the statement of Arjuna [in BG 11.41–42], ‘O Acyuta, I beg you, the Immeasureable, for forgiveness for what was importunately said by me out of inattention or because of uninhibited affection—‘Hey Kṛṣṇa! Hey Yādava! Hey Sakhā!’—considering you a friend and not knowing this greatness of yours, and for your not being honored [by me] while sporting, resting, sitting, and eating alone or in the presence of others for the sake of jesting.’ That [awareness] which causes only great steadiness of one’s own bhāva [for Kṛṣṇa] as a result of the non-production of [even] a trace of reverential excitement (sambhrama) productive of trembling of the heart even in the presence of the thought, ‘He is Īśvara,’ is [called] ‘awareness of sweetness’ (mādhurya-jñāna), as per the statement by the gopīs in the Yugala-gīta [in SB 10.35.21–22], ‘Praisers, who are minor devas, worship him all around with music, songs, and tributes; [he is] affectionate to the cows of Vraja since he is the lifter of the mountain [viz., Govardhana], and his feet are being worshiped by the elders [i.e., the devatās] along the path.’”

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atra vidhi-mārgeṇa rādhā-kṛṣṇayor bhajane

atra vidhi-mārgeṇa rādhā-kṛṣṇayor bhajane mahāvaikuṇṭhastha-goloke khalv avivikta-svakīyā-parakīyā-bhāvam aiśvarya-jñānaṁ prāpnoti | madhura-bhāva-lobhitve sati vidhi-mārgeṇa bhajane dvārakāyāṁ śrī-rādhā-satyabhāmayor aikyāt satyabhāmā-parikaratvena svakīyā-bhāvam aiśvarya-jñāna-miśra-mādhurya-jñānaṁ prāpnoti | raga-mārgeṇa bhajane vraja-bhūmau śrī-rādhā-parikaratvena parakīyā-bhāvaṁ śuddha-mādhurya-jñānaṁ prāpnoti |
(Rāga-vartma-candrikā: 2.6)

“In this regard, from worship of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa by means of the path of injunction (vidhi) one attains in the Goloka situated in Mahāvaikuṇṭha awareness of [Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s] Godhood (Aiśvarya-jñāna) and a bhāva that is indiscriminate between svakīyā and parakīyā [i.e., a bhāva that possesses no specificity as to whether Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds are ‘his own’ (svakīyā), meaning, his wives, or ‘another’s’ (parakīyā), meaning, the wives of others]. When one [i.e., a sādhaka] is desirous of madhura-bhāva, from worship by means of the path of injunction (vidhi) one attains awareness of [Kṛṣṇa’s] sweetness (mādhurya) mixed with awareness of [his] Godhood (Aiśvarya-jñāna) and svakīyā-bhāva [i.e., the perception that Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds are his own wives] by virtue of [one’s then] being a companion of Satyabhāmā on account of the oneness between Śrī Rādhā and Satyabhāmā in Dvārakā. From worship by means of the path of attachment (rāga) one attains pure awareness of [Kṛṣṇa’s] sweetness (mādhurya) [i.e., awareness that is free from awareness of his Godhood (Aiśvarya)] and parakīyā-bhāva [i.e., the perception that Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds are ‘another’s’] by virtue of [one’s then] being a companion of Śrī Rādhā in the land of Vraja.”

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atha vaidhī-lakṣanaṁ

atha vaidhī-lakṣanaṁ—śravaṇa-kīrtanādīni śāstra-śāsana-bhayena yadi kriyante tadā vaidhī bhaktiḥ |
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu-bindu: 8)

“Now, the characteristic of vaidhī [-bhakti is stated]: when hearing, praising, and so forth are done out of fear of the ruling of śāstra, then vaidhī-bhakti [is being practiced].”

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vaidhī-bhaktir bhavet śāstraṁ bhaktau cet syāt pravartakam

vaidhī-bhaktir bhavet śāstraṁ bhaktau cet syāt pravartakam |
rāgānugā syāc ced bhaktau lobha eva pravartakaḥ ||
bhaktau pravṛttir atra syāt tac-cikīrṣā suniścayā |
śāstrāl lobhāt tac-cikīrṣū syātāṁ tad-adhikāriṇau ||
(Rāga-vartma-candrikā: 1.3–4)

“Vaidhī-bhakti shall be when the motivator for bhakti shall be śāstra [i.e., injunctions in the śāstra]. Rāgānugā [-bhakti] shall be when the motivator for bhakti shall be intense desire (lobha) specifically. In this regard, an inclination (pravṛtti) towards bhakti [which may be of either of the two aforementioned types] shall be [understood as] a firmly resolved desire to enact that [viz., bhakti]. Those possessed of desire to enact that [viz., bhakti] because of śāstra [i.e., injunctions in the śāstra] or because of intense desire (lobha) shall be the two bearers of eligibility (adhikārīs) for that [i.e., for bhakti, meaning, for vaidhī-bhakti and rāgānugā-bhakti respectively].”

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atraiva narakaḥ svarga iti mātaḥ pracakṣyate

atraiva narakaḥ svarga iti mātaḥ pracakṣyate |
yā yātanā vai nārakyas tā ihāpy upalakṣitāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.30.29)

“O mother, they say Naraka and Svarga exist [i.e., are experienced] here [i.e., in this plane] itself. Sufferings which are hellish are perceived here too.”

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