ṛṣe vidanti munayaḥ praśāntātmendriyāśayāḥ |
yadā tad evāsat-tarkais tirodhīyeta viplutam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.6.41)
“O sage, when of calm body, senses, and mind, contemplatives know him [i.e., Bhagavān]. [When] Assailed by spurious argumentation (asat-tarka) [however] he conceals himself.”
manaḥ-saṁharaṇaṁ śaucaṁ maunaṁ mantrārtha-cintanam |
avyagratvam anirvedo japa-sampatti-hetavaḥ ||
(Mantrārṇava; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 17.129)
“Retraction of the mind [from objects of the senses], purity, silence, contemplation of the mantra’s meaning, non-agitation [i.e., steadiness], and non-dejection [i.e., perseverance, sustained enthusiasm] are causes of success in japa.”
yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ |
tato’dhanaṁ tyajanty asya svajanā duḥkha-duḥkhitam ||
sa yadā vitathodyogo nirviṇṇaḥ syād dhanehayā |
mat-paraiḥ kṛta-maitrasya kariṣye mad-anugraham ||
tad brahma paramaṁ sūkṣmaṁ cin-mātraṁ sad anantakam |
vijñāyātmatayā dhīraḥ saṁsārāt parimucyate |
ato māṁ sudurārādhyaṁ hitvānyān bhajate janaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.88.8–10)
“[Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Yudhiṣṭhira:] I will gradually take away the wealth of one whom I favor. Then, [when he is] devoid of wealth and troubled by troubles [one after another], his relatives reject him. When he will [in this way] become unsuccessful in his endeavors and disinterested in the pursuit of wealth, then, once he has formed friendships with those devoted to me, I will bestow my favor upon him. Then, after realizing in essence the Supreme Brahman [i.e., me], subtle, purely conscious, eternal, and endless, and becoming steadfast, one is fully liberated from saṁsāra. Thus [i.e., because of how I in this way favor my bhaktas by depriving them of worldly wealth and enjoyment], a person leaves me, who am most difficult to worship [because of how I favor my bhaktas], and worships others [i.e., other devatās, such as Bhagavān Śiva, who do not favor their bhaktas in this manner that I do].”
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ dveṣyaṁ vā yadi vā priyam |
prāptaṁ prāptam upāsīta hṛdayenāparijitaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.168.36)
“Undergo all that is encountered, whether happiness or unhappiness, whether detestable or pleasant, with heart undefeated.”
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].”
ihāsane śuṣyatu me śarīraṁ
tvag-asthi-māṁsaṁ pralayaṁ ca yātu |
aprāpya bodhiṁ bahu-kalpa-durlabhāṁ
naivāsanāt kāyam ataś caliṣyate ||
(Lalita-vistara: 19.57)
“Let my body dry up on this seat.
And let its skin, bones, and flesh disintegrate.
Without attaining enlightenment (bodhi),
Which is difficult to attain [even] in many kalpas,
Never shall this body move forth from this seat.”
abhīpsāṁ svātmano rakṣāvirataṁ susthiraṁ tathā |
yatnam ātiṣṭha dhairyeṇa tataḥ siddhir bhaved dhruvam ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2353)
“Remain firmly fixed in your own aspiration, continuous [self-] protection, complete steadiness, and endeavor. Then success is certain.”
