Bhakti

kim upāyanam ānītaṁ brahman me bhavatā gṛhāt

kim upāyanam ānītaṁ brahman me bhavatā gṛhāt |
aṇv apy upāhṛtaṁ bhaktaiḥ premṇā bhūry eva me bhavet |
bhūry apy abhaktopahṛtaṁ na me toṣāya kalpate ||
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati |
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.81.3–4)

“O brāhmaṇa, what gift has been brought by you from your home for me? Even something small offered by bhaktas with prema shall certainly be great to me. Even a great [i.e., lavish] offering by a non-bhakta [however] does not lead to satisfaction for me. One who with bhakti offers a leaf, flower, fruit, or water to me—I partake of that offered out of bhakti from one of pure heart.”

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patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati |
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 9.26)

[Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] “One who with bhakti offers a leaf, flower, fruit, or water to me—I partake of that offered out of bhakti from one of pure heart.”

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eṣa ca sthāyī sākṣād-upabhogātmakas tad-anumodanātmakaś ceti dvividhaḥ

eṣa ca sthāyī sākṣād-upabhogātmakas tad-anumodanātmakaś ceti dvividhaḥ | pūrvaḥ sākṣān nāyikānām, uttaraḥ sakhīnām | ubhaya-vyapadeśānām ubhāv api | tatropabhogātmakaḥ sa sāmānyato yathā—‘kṛṣṇaṁ nirīkṣya vanitotsava-rūpa-śīlam’ iti | spaṣṭam | sa eva punaḥ sambhogecchā-nidānaḥ sairindhry-ādau, yathā ‘sahoṣyatām iha preṣṭha’ ity ādi | spaṣṭam | kvacid bhedita-sambhogecchaḥ paṭṭa-mahiṣīṣu, yathā—‘smāyāvaloka-lava-darśita’ ity ādiṣu | svarūpābhinna-sambhogecchaḥ śrī-vraja-devīṣu, yathā—‘yat te sujāta-caraṇāmbu-ruhaṁ’ ity ādiṣu | āsāṁ caiṣa svābhāvika eva | ata eva sva-parityāga-jāterṣayā doṣaṁ kalpayitvāpi tat-parityāgāsāmarthyoktiḥ yathā ‘mṛgayur iva kapīndram’ ity ādau, ‘dustyajas tat-kathārthaḥ’ iti | eṣa cāsu bahu-bhedo vartate | ekatra bhāve khalu mithunasya mitha ādara-viśeṣaḥ | tatra preyasīnāṁ tvadīyatvābhimānātiśayena kāntaṁ prati pāratantrya-vinaya-stuti-dākṣiṇya-prācuryam | anyatra madīyatvātiśayaḥ, yatra paratantra-kāntatayāntar-marmajñatā-narma-kauṭilyābhāsa-prācuryam | etad yugalasya ca bhedasya bahv-aṁśa-svalpāṁśa-tat-sāṅkarya-bhedenāparāsu ca bahu-vidham iti |
(Prīti Sandarbha: 365–367)
“This sthāyī [-bhāva], furthermore, is of two types: that of the nature of direct enjoyment [with the Beloved] (sākṣad-upabhogātmaka) and that of the nature of sympathetic delight therewith [i.e., that which delights in the direct enjoyment of another with the Beloved] (tad-anumodātmaka). The former [type of kāntā-bhāva] is that of the direct nāyikās [i.e., those who engage in enjoyment directly with the Beloved], and the latter [type of kāntā-bhāva] is that of sakhīs [i.e., the friends of a particular nāyikā]. Those of both designations also have both [i.e., those who are possessed of kānta-bhāva of both types are recognized to be both direct nāyikās and sakhīs]. In this regard, that [type] which is of the nature of [direct] enjoyment (upabhogātmaka) is in general as [described] in [SB 10.21.12], ‘Beholding Kṛṣṇa, he whose figure and character are a festival for women, and hearing the wondrous flute songs played by him, the devīs [i.e., the wives of the devas] traveling [above] in airplanes became dispossessed of composure by Smara [i.e., Kāma] and bewildered as the flowers fell from their braids and their waistbands came loose.’ [The meaning is] Clear. ||365||
“In the case of Sairindhrī [i.e., Kubjā] and others, that itself [i.e., the type of kānta-bhāva that is of the nature of direct enjoyment (sākṣād-upabhogātmaka)], furthermore, is that the prime cause of which is desire for union (sambhoga), as [described in SB 10.48.9], ‘O Beloved, please stay here for some days with me and enjoy. I cannot bear to give up your company, O Lotus-eyed One!’ [The meaning is] Clear. ||366||
“In the case of the city queens [in Dvārakā], [kānta-bhāva that is of the nature of direct enjoyment (sākṣād-upabhogātmaka) is] sometimes that within which desire for union (sambhoga) is separated, as [described] in [SB 10.61.4], ‘These sixteen thousand wives, however, were unable to agitate whose sense [i.e., Kṛṣṇa’s mind] by means of Anaṅga’s [i.e., Kāma’s] arrows highly proficient in romance mantras shot from the captivating arches of the eyebrows with their intent (bhāva) shown by momentary, mildly smiling glances.’
“In the case of the blessed devīs of Vraja, [kānta-bhāva that is of the nature of direct enjoyment (sākṣād-upabhogātmaka) is] that within which the desire for union is non-different from its essential nature, as [is described] in [SB 10.31.19], ‘O Beloved! Fearful, we gently hold your tender lotus feet on our hard breasts. You roam with them throughout the forest. Have they not been cut by pebbles and so forth? Our hearts tremble. You are our very life.’ For them [i.e., the Vraja-devīs], furthermore, this [type of kānta-bhāva] is verily natural. Thus, there is an expression [by them to Uddhava in SB 10.47.17 of their] of inability in regard to leaving him [viz., Kṛṣṇa] even after ascribing fault [to him] out of spite arising from [his] leaving themselves [when he went to Mathurā]: ‘Therefore, enough with the the friendly relations of this black fellow who [as Rāma], being covetous, like a hunter shot the king of the monkeys [viz., Vālī], [who also as Rāma], being influenced by a woman [viz., Sītā], disfigured a woman whose drive was lust [viz., Śūrpaṇakhā], and [who as Vāmana], after taking an offering (balim) [from Bali], like a crow cast down even Bali [himself]. The wealth of discussion of him [however] is difficult to give up.’
“This [i.e., kānta-bhāva that is of the nature of direct enjoyment (sākṣād-upabhogātmaka)], furthermore, is of many varieties in them [i.e., in the Vraja-devīs]. In one [such] bhāva, the couple [i.e., Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the nāyikā endowed with such bhāva] has a special form of mutual adoration. Therein, the lovers have an abundance of obedience, demureness, laudation, and courtesy in regard to the beloved on account of a predominance of a sense of self (abhimāna) of ‘being yours’ (tvadīyatva) [in regard to the beloved]. Elsewhere [i.e., in another type of kānta-bhāva that is of the nature of direct enjoyment (sākṣād-upabhogātmaka)], there is a predominance [in the lover] of [a sense of self (abhimāna) of] ‘being mine’ (madīyatva) [in regard to the beloved, i.e., the nāyika has the sense that Śrī Kṛṣṇa belongs to her] wherein there is an abundance of awareness of [the] inner intent [of the beloved], joking, and the semblance of crookedness on account of the beloved’s being obedient [to the lover]. There are also many [sub-] types of this pair of varieties [of bhāvas, viz., those of ‘being yours’ (tvadīyatva) and ‘being mine’ (madīyatva)] in others in accord with variation in the mixture of these [two types of kānta-bhāva, viz., again those of ‘being yours’ (tvadīyatva) and ‘being mine’ (madīyatva)] in [respective] greater proportion or lesser proportion.”

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dhig janma nas trivṛd vidyāṁ dhig vrataṁ dhig bahujñatām

dhig janma nas trivṛd vidyāṁ dhig vrataṁ dhig bahujñatām |
dhik kulaṁ dhik kriyā-dākṣyaṁ vimukhā ye tv adhokṣaje ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.23.39)
“Fie on the threefold birth, fie on the education, fie on the vow, fie on the great learnedness, fie on the family, and fie on the rites and expertise of we who are utterly averse to Adhokṣaja!”

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yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād

yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād
yat-prahvaṇād yat-smaraṇād api kvacit |
śvādo’pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate
kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.33.6)

“O Bhagavān by hearing and repeating whose name, by bowing down to whom, and by even occasionally remembering whom, even a dog-eater immediately becomes eligible for savana, what more occurs by [having] the sight of you?”

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kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ |
ye’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.4.18; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.667)

“Kirātas, Hūṇas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas, Khasas, and so forth, as well as other sinners, become purified upon taking shelter in those who have taken shelter in whom—obeisance unto him, the Almighty.”

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taj janma tāni karmāṇi tad āyus tan mano vacaḥ

taj janma tāni karmāṇi tad āyus tan mano vacaḥ |
nṝṇāṁ yena hi viśvātmā sevyate harir īśvaraḥ ||
kiṁ janmabhis tribhir veha śaukra-sāvitra-yājñikaiḥ |
karmabhir vā trayī-proktaiḥ puṁso’pi vibudhāyuṣā ||
śrutena tapasā vā kiṁ vacobhiś citta-vṛttibhiḥ |
buddhyā vā kiṁ nipuṇayā balenendriya-rādhasā ||
kiṁ vā yogena sāṅkhyena nyāsa-svādhyāyayor api |
kiṁ vā śreyobhir anyaiś ca na yatrātma-prado hariḥ ||
śreyasām api sarveṣām ātmā hy avadhir arthataḥ |
sarveṣām api bhūtānāṁ harir ātmātmadaḥ priyaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 4.31.9–13; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 51, 101)

“That is a birth, those are actions, that is a life, that is mind and [that is] is speech on the part of human beings whereby Hari, Īśvara, the Self of the universe, is worshiped. Here [in this world], what [is the use] of the three births—the seminal (śaukra), the sāvitra [i.e., the second birth brought about by dīkṣā into the sāvitra-mantra and investiture with the sacred thread, viz., the upanayana-saṁskāra], and the sacrificial (yājñika) [i.e., the third birth brought about by dīkṣā into the performance of a particular Vedic sacrifice (yajña)], what [is the use] of the rites prescribed in the three [Vedas], what [is the use] of even the lifespan of a deva for a human being, what [is the use] of hearing, austerity, words, and states of mind, what [is the use] of sharp intellect, [physical] strength, and acuity of the senses, what [is the use] of yoga [i.e., aṣṭāṅga-yoga], sāṅkhya [i.e., discrimination between the body and self], sannyāsa, and even study, and what [is the use] of any other means of benefit (śreyas) [e.g., vows (vratas), non-attachment (vairāgya), etc.] whereby Hari does not become a bestower of the Self [alt., himself]? In reality, the Self specifically is the culmination even of all means of benefit, and Hari is the Self, the Bestower of the Self, and the Beloved even of all beings.”

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kṛṣṇasyānugraho’py ebhyo nānumīyeta sattamaiḥ

kṛṣṇasyānugraho’py ebhyo nānumīyeta sattamaiḥ |
sa cāvirbhavati śrīmann adhikṛtyaiva sevakam ||
hanūmad-ādivat tasya kāpi sevā kṛtāsti na |
paraṁ vighnākule citte smaraṇaṁ kriyate mayā ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.4.19–20)

“Even Kṛṣṇa’s favor shall not be inferred from these [i.e., from someone’s overcoming impediments, teaching children, acting like a sādhu, being compassionate to living beings in distress, not accepting mokṣa, pleasing people in general, and other characteristics spoken of in the previous verse] by the best of the sat. O blessed one, furthermore that [i.e., Kṛṣṇa’s favor] appears only towards a servant [i.e., it is not bestowed upon someone like me who does not engage in service to Bhagavān]. Not sort of service to him like Hanumān [performs] has been performed by me. Only remembrance [of him] with a mind beset with disturbances is performed by me.”

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yeṣāṁ sa eṣa bhagavān dayayed anantaḥ

yeṣāṁ sa eṣa bhagavān dayayed anantaḥ
sarvātmanāśrita-pado yadi nirvyalīkam |
te dustarām atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
naiṣāṁ mamāham iti dhīḥ śva-śṛgāla-bhakṣye ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.7.42; cited in Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.4.86; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.6.235)

“If those whom he, this Bhagavān, the Unlimited, may grace take shelter in his feet in all respects without duplicity, they will cross beyond his difficult to surmount, divine māyā [and come to know him], and they will have no notion of ‘my’ or ‘I’ in regard to that which is food for dogs and jackals [i.e., the material body].”

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tasmād asad-abhidhyānaṁ yathā svapna-manoratham

tasmād asad-abhidhyānaṁ yathā svapna-manoratham |
hitvā mayi samādhatsva mano mad-bhāva-bhāvitam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.14.28)

“Therefore, one should reject desire for [alt., meditation upon] the asat, which is like the illusion in a dream, and upon me fully fix the mind imbued with bhāva by way of contemplation of me.”

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