Misfortune

alaukika-līlā prabhura alaukika-rīti

alaukika-līlā prabhura alaukika-rīti |
śunileo bhāgya-hīnera nā haya pratīti ||
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.18.225)

“Prabhu’s līlā is extraordinary, and [his] manner is extraordinary. Even when they hear [of it, however], the unfortunate do not believe.”

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yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam

yayā sammohito jīva ātmānaṁ tri-guṇātmakam |
paro’pi manute’narthaṁ tat-kṛtaṁ cābhipadyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.7.5)

“Bewildered by māyā, the jīva, although superior [to the guṇas], thinks himself to be constituted of the three guṇas and [thus] undergoes the misfortune (anartha) [i.e., the plight of saṁsāra] which results from this [i.e., from misidentification of self].”

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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].”

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ye māṁ bhajanti dāmpatye tapasā vrata-caryayā

ye māṁ bhajanti dāmpatye tapasā vrata-caryayā |
kāmātmāno’pavargeśaṁ mohitā mama māyayā ||
māṁ prāpya māniny apavarga-sampadaṁ
vāñchanti ye sampada eva tat-patim |
te manda-bhāgā niraye’pi ye nṛṇāṁ
mātrātmakatvān nirayaḥ susaṅgamaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatan: 10.60.52–53; cited in Prīti Sandarbha: 16)

“[Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Rukmiṇī Devī:] The desirous who by means of austerity and performance of rites worship me, the master of apavarga [i.e., mokṣa, or, the bestower of prema-bhakti, the ultimate puruṣārtha beyond even mokṣa], for the sake of matrimony [i.e., to enjoy the pleasures of being married] are deluded by my māyā. O Mānini! Those who desire [material] wealth [even] after attaining [alt., propitiating] me, who am the master of that [i.e., of wealth] and the wealth of apavarga, are unfortunate, since that [i.e., wealth] is present even in hell [alt., in births in lower, hellish species and conditions], and hell is a good condition for [such] persons on account of [their] being fixated upon the elements [i.e., on enjoying pleasures of sense objects].”

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āpadāṁ kathitaḥ panthā

āpadāṁ kathitaḥ panthā indriyāṇām asaṁyamaḥ |
taj-jayaḥ sampadāṁ mārgo yeneṣṭaṁ tena gamyatām ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

“Lack of control over the senses is said to be the path to misfortune. Conquering the senses is [said to be] the path to good fortune. Go by that [path] which is so desired.”

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vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat tatra tatra jagad-guro |
bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād apunar bhava-darśanam ||
janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrībhir edhamāna-madaḥ pumān |
naivārhaty abhidhātuṁ vai tvām akiñcana-gocaram ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.8.25–26)

“[Kuntī Devī to Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] O Guru of the universe, let those dangers occur constantly everywhere in the midst of which shall occur the sight of you, by virtue of which the sight of material existence again does not! A person swelling with conceit as a result of birth, capability, learning, or beauty is never fit to speak of you, who are attainable [only] by the disinterested [i.e., those who foster no attachment to anything of the world].”

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