Pāṣaṇḍatva

arcye viṣṇau śilā‑dhīr guruṣu nara‑matir vaiṣṇave jāti‑buddhir

arcye viṣṇau śilā‑dhīr guruṣu nara‑matir vaiṣṇave jāti‑buddhir
viṣṇor vā vaiṣṇavānāṁ kali‑mala‑mathane pāda‑tīrthe’mbu‑buddhiḥ |
śrī-viṣṇor nāmni mantre sakala‑kaluṣa‑he śabda‑sāmānya‑buddhir
viṣṇau sarveśvareśe tad‑itara‑sama‑dhīr yasya vā nārakī saḥ ||
(Unknown source; attributed to a southerner in Padyāvalī: 114; cited in Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.26)

“One who has the notion of a stone in relation to a Deity of Viṣṇu [e.g., a Śālagrāma-śilā], the idea of a man in relation to gurus, the notion of a caste in relation to a Vaiṣṇava, the notion of water in relation to the sacred foot-wash of Viṣṇu or the Vaiṣṇavas, which is a destroyer of the contamination of Kali, the notion of an ordinary word in relation to the name of Śrī Viṣṇu, which is a vanquisher of all sin, or the notion of equality with those other than himself in relation to Viṣṇu, the Īśvara of all Īśvaras, is destined for Nāraka.”

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svātantryāt kriyate karma na ca vedoditaṁ mahat

svātantryāt kriyate karma na ca vedoditaṁ mahat |
vinaiva bhagavat-prītyā te vai pāṣaṇḍinaḥ smṛtāḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa: Uttara-khaṇḍa, 235.9a, 7a; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 312)

“They who, without prīti for Bhagavān, independently perform grand works not stated in the Vedas are known as heretics (pāṣaṇḍis).”

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tad evaṁ kalau nāma-kīrtana-pracāra-prabhāveṇaiva

tad evaṁ kalau nāma-kīrtana-pracāra-prabhāveṇaiva parama-bhagavat-parāyaṇatva-siddhir darśitā | tatra pāṣaṇḍa-praveśena nāmāparādhino ye, teṣāṁ tu tad-bahirmukhatvam eva syād … |
(Bhakti Sandarbha: 274)

“Thus, in this way, attainment of superlative shelteredness in Bhagavān [i.e., attainment of the state of being endowed with prema of the highest order for Bhagavān] solely by the influence of engagement in nāma-kīrtana has been shown. Only obliviousness of him [however] shall ensue for those who are offenders of the name because of an ingress of heresy therein [i.e., those who commit offense to the name because of fostering a heretical mentality contrary to Bhagavad-bhakti will only remain oblivious of Bhagavān even if they engage in nāma-kīrtana, or other practices of bhakti, as a result of their offenses].”

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uddiśya devatā eva juhoti ca dadāti ca

uddiśya devatā eva juhoti ca dadāti ca |
sa pāṣaṇḍīti vijñeyaḥ svatantro vāpi karmasu ||
(Padma Purāṇa: 6.235.8; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 222)

“One who performs sacrifices or gives in charity only for the sake of the devatās [i.e., without due regard for or the intent to please Bhagavān] or who is independent in action [i.e., performs action considering oneself independently capable of doing so and entitled to the fruit thereof independent of Bhagavān] is to be known as a heretic (pāṣaṇḍi) [i.e., one who is fallen from the Vaiṣṇava path].”

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śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā

śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā |
aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyaiva kalpate ||
bhaktir aikāntikī veyam avicārāt pratīyate |
vastutas tu tathā naiva yad aśāstrīyatekṣyate ||
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.101–102; Brahma-yāmala; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 284, 312)

“‘Without [adherence to] the injunctions of the Śrutis, Smṛtis, Purāṇas, Pañcarātras, and other śāstras, [even so-called] one-pointed bhakti to Hari simply leads to disturbance.’ Such bhakti [as mentioned in this verse from Brahma-yāmala] may appear to be one-pointed as a result of misjudgement. In reality, however, it is not so because it is seen to be unsupported by śāstra.”

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nāmaikaṁ yasya vāci smaraṇa-patha-gataṁ śrotra-mūlaṁ gataṁ vā

nāmaikaṁ yasya vāci smaraṇa-patha-gataṁ śrotra-mūlaṁ gataṁ vā
śuddhaṁ vāśuddha-varṇaṁ vyavahita-rahitaṁ tārayaty eva satyam |
tac ced deha-draviṇa-janatā-lobha-pāṣaṇḍa-madhye
nikṣiptaṁ syān na phala-janakaṁ śīghram evātra vipra ||
(Padma Purāṇa: 3.48.24 or 4.25.24; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 11.527; Bhakti Sandarbha: 153, 265; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 3.3.60)

“Be it with proper or improper [pronunciation of] syllables, one name [of Bhagavān] without separation [alt., or even with separation of its syllables] which has entered one’s speech, path of remembrance, or the base of the ears certainly delivers [a living being]. This is certainly true. If that [i.e., the name of Bhagavān] should be cast down among those who are heretical out of greed related to the body, wealth, or people, [however,] O brāhmaṇa, it certainly does not become fruitful quickly here.”

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