Śāstra-pramāṇa

vartitavyaṁ śam-icchadbhir bhaktavan na tu kṛṣṇavat

vartitavyaṁ śam-icchadbhir bhaktavan na tu kṛṣṇavat |
ity evaṁ bhakti-śāstrāṇāṁ tātparyasya vinirṇayaḥ ||
rāmādivad vartitavyaṁ na kvacid rāvaṇādivat |
ity eṣa mukti-dharmādi-parāṇāṁ naya īryate ||
(Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi: 3.24–5)

“[Conduct] is to be observed like a bhakta, and not, rather, like Kṛṣṇa, by those who desire well-being—this is the proper determination of the intent of the bhakti-śāstras. [Conduct] is to observed like Rāma and others [i.e., other forms of Bhagavān], and never like Rāvaṇa and others [i.e., those who are inimical to Bhagavān]—this is said to be proper for those who seek mukti, dharma, and so on [but not for those who follow bhakti-śāstra].”

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śrī-gurūpasatti-kāraṇam

śrī-gurūpasatti-kāraṇam—
kṛpayā kṛṣṇa-devasya tad-bhakta-jana-saṅgataḥ |
bhakter māhātmyam ākarṇya tām ichchan sad-guruṁ bhajet ||
atrānubhūyate nityaṁ duḥkha-śreṇī paratra ca |
duḥsahā śrūyate śāstrāt titīrṣed api tāṁ sudhīḥ ||
(Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.28–29)

“The cause of approaching a blessed guru [is described as follows]: Upon hearing by Kṛṣṇadeva’s grace in the company of his bhaktas of the greatness of bhakti and [then consequently] desiring that, one shall worship an excellent guru. A difficult to bear succession of sufferings is experienced continuously here [i.e., in this world] and from the śāstra is heard of [as also continuing] in the hereafter. One of sharp intellect shall desire [at least] just to cross beyond that.”

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sarvajña munira vākya śāstra—paramāṇa

sarvajña munira vākya śāstra—paramāṇa |
āmā-sabhā-jīvera haya śāstra-dvārā jñāna ||
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.20.350)

“The statements of the all-knowing sages—the śāstra—is the pramāṇa [i.e., the means of attaining valid knowledge]. All of us jīvas have knowledge by means of the śāstra.”

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veda-gamyaḥ paraḥ śuddha iti me dhīyate matiḥ

veda-gamyaḥ paraḥ śuddha iti me dhīyate matiḥ ||
adhyātma-dhyāna-saṁbhūta-bhūtaṁ dīpavat sphuṭam |
jñānaṁ viddhi śubhācāre tena yānti parāṁ gatim ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.220.100)

“[Bhīṣmadeva:] The pure Supreme is knowable through the Veda. This is my firmly held view. O you of fine conduct, know knowledge (jñāna) to be that which is born of meditation related to the higher self and [self-] evident like a lamp. Thereby, one attains the supreme destination.”

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śrī-kṛṣṇātivaśīkāra-cuñcor jiṣṇu-śiromaṇeḥ

śrī-kṛṣṇātivaśīkāra-cuñcor jiṣṇu-śiromaṇeḥ |
premṇā hāsa ivāyaṁ śrī-rāsaḥ śrīr api nāpa yam ||
śāstra-buddhi-vivekādyair api durgamam īkṣyate |
gopīnāṁ rasa-vartmedaṁ tāsām anugatīr vinā ||
(Excerpt from the Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.33.39)

“This Śrī Rāsa [i.e., this beautiful Rāsa-līlā], which even Śrī [i.e., Lakṣmī] did not attain, is like a smile with prema of the crest-jewel of conquerors renowned for greatly captivating Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This path of the gopīs’ rasa is seen to be difficult to comprehend even with [knowledge of] śāstra, intelligence, discernment, and so forth without anugati of [i.e., following] them [i.e., the gopīs].”

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svalpāpi rucir eva syād bhakti-tattvāvabodhikā

svalpāpi rucir eva syād bhakti-tattvāvabodhikā |
yuktis tu kevalā naiva yad asyā apratiṣṭhatā ||
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.1.45)

“Even just a little ruci [i.e., ‘taste’] shall be an illuminator of the nature of bhakti. Pure reasoning, however, is certainly not, because of its inconclusiveness.”

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sat-puṇḍarīka-nayanaṁ meghābhaṁ vaidyutāmbaram

sat-puṇḍarīka-nayanaṁ meghābhaṁ vaidyutāmbaram |
dvi-bhujaṁ jñāna-mudrāḍhyaṁ vana-mālinam īśvaram ||
gopa-gopī-gavāvītaṁ sura-druma-talāśritam |
divyālaṅkaraṇopetaṁ rakta-paṅkaja-madhyagam ||
kālindī-jala-kallola-saṅgi-māruta-sevitam |
cintayaṁś cetasā kṛṣṇaṁ mukto bhavati saṁsṛteḥ ||
(Gopāla-tāpanī Upaniṣad: 1.9–11; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 3.107–109, Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 153, Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.87.2)

“Excellent lotus eyes,

The luster of a cloud,

Cloth like lightning,

Two-arms,

Endowed with the posture of wisdom,

Wearing a forest garland,

Capable,

Surrounded by gopas, gopīs, and cows,

Situated at the base of a sura-tree,

Endued with divine ornaments,

Centered on red lotus [seat],

Attended by breezes

Bearing [the mist from] the waves

Of the waters of the Kālindī—

Meditating with the heart on Kṛṣṇa [in this way],

One becomes liberated from saṁsāra.”

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