vicitra-līlā-rasa-sāgarasya
prabhor vicitrāt sphuritāt prasādāt |
vicitra-saṅkīrtana-mādhurī sā
na tu sva-yatnād iti sādhu sidhyet ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.3.168)
“That variegated sweetness of saṅkīrtana can be truly attained [only] by the manifest, variegated grace of Prabhu [i.e., Bhagavān], the ocean of variegated līlā-rasa, and not, rather, by one’s own exertion.”
bhakti-prabhāveṇa vicāra-jātaiḥ
sañjāyamānena sadedṛśais tvam |
vighnātivighnān kila jeṣyasīha
sarvatra te hanta vayaṁ sahāyāḥ ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 2.3.173)
[Vaikuṇṭhā-vāsīs to Gopa Kumāra:] “By the power of bhakti, accumulated by varieties of such continuous deliberation, you will certainly conquer all obstacles, [even] the greatest obstacles. Hanta! In this, everywhere we are your supporters.”
te santaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ nirupādhika-bāndhavāḥ |
ye nṛsiṁha bhavan nāma gāyanty uccair mudānvitāḥ ||
(Nārasiṁha Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.352)
“[Prahlāda Mahārāja:] O Nṛsiṁha, those who, filled with joy, loudly sing your name are the sincere friends of all living beings.”
grāmya-kathā nā śunibe, grāmya-vārtā nā kahibe |
bhāla nā khāibe, āra bhāla nā paribe ||
amānī mānada kṛṣṇa-nāma sadā labe |
vraje rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā mānase karibe ||
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Antya-līlā, 6.236–7)
“Do not listen to village talk, and do not speak of village matters. Do not eat fancy food, and do not wear fancy clothes. [Remaining] Undesirous of honor and respectful [to others], always take Kṛṣṇa’s name and within your heart engage in service to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vraja.”
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam |
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam ||
(Padyāvalī: 22; cited in Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 3.20.12)
“Cleansing the mirror of the mind,
Extinguishing the raging forest fire of material existence,
Shining moonlight on the evening lotus of good fortune,
The life of the wife of knowledge,
Expanding the ocean of bliss,
The taste of full nectar at every moment,
Bathing the entire self—
Śrī Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana is supremely triumphant!”
abhūd gehe gehe tumula-hari-saṅkīrtana-ravo
babhau dehe dehe vipula-pulakāśru-vyatikaraḥ |
api snehe snehe parama-madhurotkarṣa-padavī
davīyasyāmnāyād api jagati gaure’vatarati ||
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta: 114)
“From home to home, a tumult of Hari-saṅkīrtana arose; from body to body, horripilation, tears, and other transformations shone; and the supremely sweet and exalted path, which is filled with affection and extends far beyond even the Vedas, appeared in this world when Gaura descended.”
akasmād evāvirbhavati bhagavan-nāma-laharī
parītānāṁ pāpair api purubhir eṣāṁ tanu-bhṛtām |
aho vajra-prāyaṁ hṛd api navanītāyitam abhūn
nṝṇāṁ yasmin loke’vatarati sa gauro mama gatiḥ ||
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta: 110)
“Aho! Suddenly a wave of Bhagavān’s name arose and even the thunderbolt-like hearts of embodied beings covered over by profusions of sins melted like butter when Gaura descended to this human world. My he be my shelter.”
saṁsāra-sindhu-taraṇe hṛdayaṁ yadi syāt
saṅkīrtanāmṛta-rase ramate manaś cet |
premāmbudhau viharaṇe yadi citta-vṛttiś
caitanyacandra-caraṇe śaraṇaṁ prayātu ||
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta: 93)
“If you wish to cross the ocean of saṁsāra, if you desire to relish the rasa of the amṛta of saṅkīrtana, and if you yearn to swim in the ocean of prema, then take shelter at the feet of Caitanyacandra.”
hā hanta citta-bhuvi me paramoṣarāyāṁ
sad-bhakti-kalpa-latikāṅkuritā kathaṁ syāt |
hṛdy ekam eva paramāśvasanīyam asti
caitanya-nāma kalayan na kadāpi śocyaḥ ||
(Caitanya-candrāmṛta: 53)
“Hā! Hanta! [lsy., Oh! Alas!] How will the wish-fulfilling creeper of pure bhakti sprout within the utterly barren land of my consciousness? There is only one source of great hope within my heart: by chanting the name of Caitanya no reason to lament can ever remain.”
saṅkīrtanārambha-kṛte’pi gaure
dhāvanti jīva-śravaṇe guṇāni |
aśuddha-cittāḥ kim u śuddha-cittāḥ
śrutvā pramattāḥ khalu te nanartuḥ ||
(Caitanya-śataka: 32)
“Even when Gaura had just begun his saṅkīrtana, the qualities [of the name] purified the ears of the jīvas. Those of impure mind, and all the more those of pure mind, upon hearing [the saṅkīrtana], became indeed maddened and danced.”
