Brāhmaṇas

Uddhava-gītā

Uddhava-gītā

Six verses in praise of the Vraja-gopīs expressed by Śrī Uddhava after delivering Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s messages from Mathurā.

Excerpted from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.47.58–63.

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rājā paśyati karṇābhyāṁ dhiyā paśyanti paṇḍitāḥ

rājā paśyati karṇābhyāṁ dhiyā paśyanti paṇḍitāḥ |
paśuḥ paśyati gandhena bhūte paśyanti barbarāḥ ||
(Unknown source)

“A king sees through his ears [by hearing from his ministers, spies, subjects, and so forth]. The wise see through their intellect. An animal sees through scent [i.e., their sense of smell]. Fools [however] see [only] the past [i.e., they have no foresight at all].”

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brāhmaṇānāṁ sahasrebhyaḥ satra-yājī viśiṣyate

brāhmaṇānāṁ sahasrebhyaḥ satra-yājī viśiṣyate |
satra-yāji-sahasrebhyaḥ sarva-vedānta-pāragaḥ ||
sarva-vedānta-vit-koṭyāṁ viṣṇu-bhakto viśiṣyate |
vaiṣṇavānāṁ sahasrebhya ekānty eko viśiṣyate ||
ekāntinas tu puruṣā gacchanti paramaṁ padam |
(Garuḍa Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.175–176; Bhakti Sandarbha: 174)

“A performer of the satra-yāga [i.e., a difficult form of sacrifice only a highly trained brāhmaṇa can perform] is superior to thousands of brāhmaṇas. One adept in the entire Vedānta [i.e., who knows the conclusion of all the Vedas] is superior to thousands of performers of the satra-yāga. A bhakta of Viṣṇu is superior to crores of knowers of the entire Vedānta, and one who is one-pointed [in one’s bhakti to Viṣṇu] is superior to thousands of Vaiṣṇavas [who are not yet one-pointed]. One-pointed persons reach the supreme abode.”

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yadṛcchā-lābha-tuṣṭasya tejo viprasya vardhate

yadṛcchā-lābha-tuṣṭasya tejo viprasya vardhate |
tat praśāmyaty asantoṣād ambhasevāśuśukṣaṇiḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 8.19.26)

“[Vāmanadeva to Bali Mahārāja:] The potency of a brāhmaṇa who is satisfied with that which is attained of its own accord increases, and that [i.e., that potency] is extinguished because of dissatisfaction like fire by water.”

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asantuṣṭasya viprasya

asantuṣṭasya viprasya tejo vidyā tapo yaśaḥ |
sravantīndriya-laulyena jñānaṁ caivāvakīryate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.15.19)

“On account of greed related to the senses, an unsatisfied brāhmaṇa’s potency, learning, austerity, and fame dwindle, and his awareness [i.e., discernment] too is certainly cast away.”

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parīkṣya lokān karma-citān brāhmaṇo

parīkṣya lokān karma-citān brāhmaṇo
nirvedam āyān nāsty akṛtaḥ kṛtena |
tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet
samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham ||
(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad: 1.2.12)

“Having examined the planes attained by karma, a brāhmaṇa reaches disinterest [based on the conclusion], ‘That which is unmade [Brahman] is not attained by that which is made [karma].’ To know in depth that [which is unmade, Brahman], he, with firewood in hand, should only [rather than seeking knowledge of it independently] approach a guru who is learned [in the śāstra] and fixed [exclusively] in Brahman.”

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nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro

nāhaṁ vipro na ca nara-patir nāpi vaiśyo na śūdro
nāhaṁ varṇī na ca gṛha-patir no vanastho yatir vā |
kintu prodyan nikhila-paramānanda-pūrnāmṛtābdher
gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ ||
(Padyāvalī: 74; cited in Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.13.80)

“I am neither a brāhmaṇa, nor a kṣatriya, nor a vaiśya, nor a śūdra. I am neither a brahmacārī, nor a gṛhastha, nor a vānaprastha, nor a sannyāsī. Rather, I am an assisting servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of the gopīs’ Lord—the brimming ocean of nectar filled with complete, paramount bliss.”

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mantre tīrthe dvije deve

mantre tīrthe dvije deve daivajñe bheṣaje gurau |
yādṛśī bhāvanā yasya siddhir bhavati tādṛśī ||
(Skanda Purāṇga: 5.3.227.38–9; cited in Pañcatantra: 5.96)

“In regard to a mantra, tīrtha, brāhmaṇa, deva, astrologer, medicine, or guru—as is one’s attitude (bhāvanā), so is one’s attainment.”

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māthurānugṛhītārya

māthurānugṛhītārya vipra-vaṁśābdhi-candramaḥ |
kṣemaṁ śrī-jana-śarmāṁs te kaccid rājati sarvataḥ ||
kṣemaṁ sa-parivārasya mama tvad-anubhāvataḥ |
tvat-kṛpākṛṣṭa-citto’smi nityaṁ tvad-vartma-vīkṣakaḥ ||
diṣṭyā smṛto’smi bhavatā diṣṭyā dṛṣṭaś cirād asi |
svādhīno’smi tava brahman ramasvātra yadṛcchayā ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.7.39)

[Bhagavān to Janaśarmā:] “O blessed noble of Mathurā, you are the moon of the ocean of the dynasty of brāhmaṇas. O Śrī Janaśarmā, are you indeed well in all respects? I along with my family am well by your influence. My heart is attracted by your grace, and I always look towards your path [i.e., towards the path by which you arrive to see me, wondering, ‘When will you arrive?’]. By [my] good fortune, I am remembered by you, and by [my] good fortune, you are seen by me [today] after so long. O brāhmaṇa, I am completely dependent upon you. Please enjoy here [with me] as you wish.”

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