Humility
Grantha-kartuḥ prārthanā
The author [of Stavāvalī’s] earnest prayer to Śrī Kṛṣṇa
By Śrīmad Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmīpāda
nṛṣu tava māyayā bhramam amīṣv avagatya bhṛśaṁ
nṛṣu tava māyayā bhramam amīṣv avagatya bhṛśaṁ
tvayi sudhiyo’bhave dadhati bhāvam anuprabhavam |
katham anuvartatāṁ bhava-bhayaṁ tava yad bhrū-kuṭiḥ
sṛjati muhus trinemir abhavac-charaṇeṣu bhayam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.87.32)
[Translated according to Śrī Śrīdhara Svāmīpāda’s commentary:] “Understanding the ignorance as a consequence of your māyā among these human beings wherefrom repeated birth ensues, the wise foster bhāva [i.e., render service] profusely for you, Non-existence [i.e., you who are the cause of liberation from material existence]. How could your followers have any distress on account of [material] existence, since the furrowing of your brows—time (trinemi)—creates distress perpetually for those who are not in your shelter?”
anyonyaṁ vaiṣṇavā na spardhante kintu namanti
anyonyaṁ vaiṣṇavā na spardhante kintu namanti |
(Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa: 2026)
“Vaiṣṇavas don’t compete with, and rather, offer obeisance to, one another.”
namanti phalino vṛkṣāḥ namanti guṇino janāḥ
namanti phalino vṛkṣāḥ namanti guṇino janāḥ |
śuṣka-kāṣṭhaś ca mūrkhaś ca na namanti kadācana ||
(Unknown source)
“Trees full of fruits bow down.
People full of qualities bow down.
Dry wood and fools [however]
Never bow down.”
hantāsmin janmani bhavān mā māṁ draṣṭum ihārhati
hantāsmin janmani bhavān mā māṁ draṣṭum ihārhati |
avipakva-kaṣāyāṇāṁ durdarśo’haṁ kuyoginām ||
sakṛd yad darśitaṁ rūpam etat kāmāya te’nagha |
mat-kāmaḥ śanakaiḥ sādhu sarvān muñcati hṛc-chayān ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.6.22–23)
“[Bhagavān as a disembodied voice to Śrī Nārada in his previous life after once giving him darśana:] Hanta! You will not be able to see me [again] in this life. I am imperceptible to immature yogīs, whose impurities are not burnt away. O sinless one! This form which was once shown [to you by me] was for the sake of your desire [i.e., to intensify your desire for me]. A sādhu with desire for me gradually gives up all that lie in the heart.”
Vṛtrāsura-stuti
Vṛtrāsura-stuti
Six verses illustrating the nature of pure prīti for Bhagavān spoken by Vṛtrāsura.
Excerpted from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.11.22–27.
tṛṇād api sunīcena
tṛṇād api sunīcena taror iva sahiṣṇunā |
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ ||
(Padyāvalī: 32; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 269; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 1.17.31, 3.6.239, 3.20.21)
“Hari is to be praised always
By one who is far lower than even grass,
Tolerant like a tree,
Undesirous of respect,
And respectful [to all as appropriate].”