yādṛcchikatvaṁ na tu karma-janitatvaṁ
yādṛcchikatvaṁ na tu karma-janitatvaṁ … |
(Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.10.17)
“Being yādṛcchika [lsly., “of independent cause”], and not rather, being produced by karma ….”
Fortune
ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato‘naghāḥ
ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato’naghāḥ |
saṁsāre’smin kṣaṇārdho’pi sat-saṅgaḥ śevadhir nṛṇām ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.30; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 59; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.22.85)
“Therefore, O sinless ones, I ask you all about the highest good. For human beings here in saṁsāra, even half a moment of association with the sat is a treasury.”
bhāgyodayena bahu-janma-samarjitena sat-saṅgamaṁ ca labhate puruṣo yadā vai
bhāgyodayena bahu-janma-samarjitena sat-saṅgamaṁ ca labhate puruṣo yadā vai |
ajñāna-hetu-kṛta-moha-madāndhakāra-nāśanaṁ vidhāya hi tadodayate vivekaḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa: Bhāgavata-māhātmya: 2.76)
“When a person attains association with a sādhu as a result of good fortune acquired over the course of many lives, then discernment (viveka) arises and dispels the darkness of bewilderment and pride caused by ignorance.”
udaye savitā rakto raktaś cāstamaye tathā
udaye savitā rakto raktaś cāstamaye tathā |
sampattau ca vipattau ca mahatām eka-rūpatā ||
(Mahābhārata)
“The sun is red while rising, and red while setting as well. In both good fortune and misfortune [alt., prosperity or adversity], the great are uniform [i.e., consistent, unwavering, and steadfast].”
sa-premakā bhaktir atīva-durlabhā
sa-premakā bhaktir atīva-durlabhā
svargādi-bhogaḥ sulabho’bhavaś ca saḥ |
cintāmaṇiḥ sarva-janair na labhyate
labhyeta kācādi kadāpi hāṭakam ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.4.232)
“Bhakti endowed with prema is extremely rare to attain. Enjoyment of Svarga and so forth, and even non-birth [i.e., non-rebirth], are [relatively] easy to attain. A thought-jewel is not attained by everyone. [Rather,] Glass and so forth is attained, and sometimes gold.”
‘sukṛti-labhya phelā-lava’ bole bāra-bāra
‘sukṛti-labhya phelā-lava’ bole bāra-bāra |
īśvara-sevaka puche—prabhu! ki artha ihāra ||
prabhu kahe—ei ye dilā kṛṣṇādharāmṛta |
brahmādi-durlabha ei—nindaye amṛta ||
kṛṣṇera ye bhukta-śeṣa, tāra ‘phelā’ nāma |
tāra eka lava pāya, se-i bhāgyavān ||
sāmānya bhāgya haite tāra prāpti nāhi haya |
kṛṣṇera yāte pūrṇa kṛpā, sei tāhā pāya ||
sukṛti-śabde kahe—kṛṣṇa-kṛpā-hetu puṇya |
sei yāra haya, phelā pāya sei dhanya ||
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 3.16.96–100)
“Prabhu said again and again, ‘A morsel of phelā attainable by sukṛti.’ The servants of Īśvara asked, ‘Prabhu, what is the meaning of this?’ Prabhu replied, ‘This is that in which Kṛṣṇa has placed the nectar of his lips. This is rare for Brahmā and others to attain, and it belittles amṛta. The remainder of what Kṛṣṇa has eaten is called phelā (remnants). One who attains one morsel of this is fortunate. Attainment of this does not come about from ordinary fortune. One who receives Kṛṣṇa’s full grace attains this. The word ‘sukṛti’ refers to puṇya (purifying action) the cause of which is Kṛṣṇa’s grace [or, puṇya (purifying action) which is the cause of Kṛṣṇa’s grace]. One who has this [type of puṇya] attains [Kṛṣṇa’s] phelā and is fortunate.’”
mahāprasāde govinde nāma-brahmaṇi vaiṣṇave
mahāprasāde govinde nāma-brahmaṇi vaiṣṇave |
svalpa-puṇya-vatāṁ rājan viśvāso naiva jāyate ||
(Attributed to Mahābhārata)
“O King, faith in mahāprasāda, Govinda, the name [i.e., Bhagavān‘s name], the Veda, and the Vaiṣṇava certainly does not arise in those possessed of little piety.”
puṇyāraṇye nṛsiṁhaika-nāma-siṁho virājate
puṇyāraṇye nṛsiṁhaika-nāma-siṁho virājate |
yan-nādataḥ palāyante mahākalmaṣa-kuñjarāḥ ||
(Bhāvārtha-dīpikā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 6.1.1)
“In the forest of good fortune resides a lion named Nṛsiṁha from whose roar the elephants of enormous sins flee.”
anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlyaṁ duḥkha-nāśe sukhasya ca
anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlyaṁ duḥkha-nāśe sukhasya ca |
mahān bhavaty anirviṇṇaḥ sukhaṁ cātyantam aśnute ||
(Mahābhārata: 5.39.45; Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)
“Perseverance [lit., non-despondence] is the root of fortune, elimination of suffering, and happiness. One who is perseverant [alt., non-despondent] is great and enjoys the greatest happiness.”
sahasā vidadhīta na kriyām
sahasā vidadhīta na kriyām
avivekaḥ param āpadāṁ padam |
vṛṇate hi vimṛśya-kāriṇaṁ
guṇa-lubdhāḥ svayam eva sampadaḥ ||
(Kirātārjunīyam: 2.30; cited in Sāhitya-darpaṇa: 643, Hitopadeśa: 4.104; the Vṛtti on Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa: 780; Bhakti-rasāmṛta-śeṣa: 90)
“One should not act rashly. Indiscrimination is a cause of severe misfortune. Desirous of [such] virtue, good fortune personally worships one who acts after having deliberated.”