Namaḥ 53–54 in Kṛṣṇa-līlā-stava
Namaḥ 53–54 in Kṛṣṇa-līlā-stavaḥ
A summary of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.21—the Veṇu-gītā
By Śrīmat Sanātana Gosvāmīpāda
Nāma-saṅkīrtana
Śrī Śrī Rādhikāṣṭottara-śata-nāma-stotram
A hymn of one hundred and eight names of Śrī Rādhikā
By Śrīmad Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmīpāda
tadīya-nāmehita-gāna-tatparā
tadīya-nāmehita-gāna-tatparā
vicitra-veśāmbara-kānti-bhūṣitāḥ |
ramātisaubhagya-mada-prahārikā
javena kṛṣṇā-taṭam āśrayanta tāḥ ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.6.53)
“Absorbed in singing his names and of his acts,
Adorned with extraordinary ornaments, garments, and embellishments,
And demolishing Ramā’s pride in her great beauty,
They swiftly converged on the bank of the Yamunā.”
tāṁ nāradīyām anusṛtya śikṣāṁ
tāṁ nāradīyām anusṛtya śikṣāṁ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmāni nija-priyāṇi |
saṅkīrtayan susvaram atra līlās
tasya pragāyann anucintayaṁś ca ||
tādīya-līlā-sthala-jātam etad
vilokayan bhāva-daśe gato ye |
tayoḥ sva-citte karaṇena lajje
kathaṁ parasminn kathayāny ahaṁ te ||
sadā mahārtyā karuṇā-svarai rudan
nayāmi rātrīr divasāṁś ca kātaraḥ |
na vedmi yad yat sucirād anuṣṭhitaṁ
sukhāya vā tat tad utārti-sindhave ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.6.1–3)
“Following that instruction of Nārada, here [in Vraja] melodiously chanting names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa dear to myself, singing aloud of and meditating upon his līlās, and beholding the sites of his līlās, this bhāva and state which arose [in me]—I feel embarrassed [just] by thinking of them in my own heart. [So,] How can I describe them to someone else? Crying continuously in pitiful tones out of great distress (ārti), I spent nights and days disconcerted. I did not know whether all that I had practiced for so long would lead to joy or an ocean of distress.”
na deśa-niyamo rājan na kāla-niyamas tathā
na deśa-niyamo rājan na kāla-niyamas tathā |
vidyate nātra sandeho viṣṇor nāmānukīrtane ||
kālo’sti dāne yajñe ca snāne kālo’sti saj-jape |
viṣṇu-saṅkīrtane kālo nāsty atra pṛthivī-tale ||
(Vaiṣṇava-cintāmaṇi; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.412–413)
“O King, there is no regulation in regard to place, and no regulation in regard to time with respect to continuous kīrtana of Viṣṇu’s name. There is no doubt in this regard. There is a [designation of propriety with respect to] time for charity and sacrifice, and there is a [designation of propriety with respect to] time for bathing and proper japa. There is no [designated proper or improper] time here on the surface of the earth for saṅkīrtana of Viṣṇu [i.e., Bhagavan-nāma-saṅkīrtana can be done at any time].”
na deśa-kāla-niyamo na śaucāśauca-nirṇayaḥ
na deśa-kāla-niyamo na śaucāśauca-nirṇayaḥ |
paraṁ saṅkīrtanād eva rāma rāmeti mucyate ||
(Vaiśvānara-saṁhitā; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.411)
“There is no regulation in regard to place or time, and there is no consideration of pure or impure. One is liberated just by the saṅkīrtana of ‘Rāma, Rāma.’”
na deśa-kālāvasthāsu śuddhy-ādikam apekṣate
na deśa-kālāvasthāsu śuddhy-ādikam apekṣate |
kintu svatantram evaitan nāma kāmita-kāmadam ||
(Skanda Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.410)
“Purity and so forth in regard to place, time, and circumstance is not replied upon [by one who chants the name of Śrī Bhagavān]. Rather, this name is verily an independent bestower of all desired objects of desire.”
cakrāyudhasya nāmāni sadā sarvatra kīrtayet
cakrāyudhasya nāmāni sadā sarvatra kīrtayet |
nāśaucaṁ kīrtane tasya sa pavitra-karo yataḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa; Skanda Purāṇa; Viṣṇu-dharmottama; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.409)
“One should always and everywhere chant the names of the Wielder of the cakra since he is purifying and there is no [consideration of] impurity in chanting about him.”
svapan bhuñjan vrajaṁs tiṣṭhaṁś ca vadaṁs tathā
svapan bhuñjan vrajaṁs tiṣṭhaṁś ca vadaṁs tathā |
ye vadanti harer nāma tebhyo nityaṁ namo namaḥ ||
(Bṛhan Nāradīya Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.404)
“Obeisance and obeisance forever unto they who speak Hari’s name while sleeping, eating, moving, standing, and speaking.”
sarvārtha-śakti-yuktasya deva-devasya cakriṇaḥ yac cābhirucitaṁ
sarvārtha-śakti-yuktasya deva-devasya cakriṇaḥ |
yac cābhirucitaṁ nāma tat sarvārtheṣu yojayet ||
(Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.401)
“One should meditate on that name of the Wielder of the cakra, the Deva of devas endowed with the śakti of all objects, which is also liked [by oneself, i.e., for which one feels a specific taste] for the sake of [attaining] all objects.”