Nārada Pañcarātra – Page 2

tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam

tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.3.21; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.32; Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.97; Bhakti Sandarbha: 202, 238)

“Therefore [i.e., because there is no lasting fulfillment in saṁsāra and bhakti is the only means of crossing over saṁsāra], one who wishes to know the highest good should take shelter in a guru who is adept in śabda-brahman and Parabrahman, and is an abode of tranquility.”

Read on →

jñānī guruś ca balavān bhavābdheḥ śiṣyam uddharet

jñānī guruś ca balavān bhavābdheḥ śiṣyam uddharet
guruḥ svayam asiddhaś ca durbalaḥ katham uddharet
(Nārada Pañcarātra 1.10.19)

“A guru, who is knowledgable and strong, delivers a disciple from the ocean of material existence. How can a guru who is not realized (asiddha) and weak deliver [a disciple]?”

Read on →

atithir yasya tuṣṭo hi tasya tuṣṭo hariḥ svayam

atithir yasya tuṣṭo hi tasya tuṣṭo hariḥ svayam |
harau tuṣṭe gurus tuṣṭo gurau tuṣṭe jagat-trayam ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra 1.6.40)

“Hari himself is satisfied with one with whom a guest is satisfied. When Hari is satisfied, then guru is satisfied, and when guru is satisfied, then the three worlds are satisfied.”

Read on →

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ

sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam |
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra; cited in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.1.12)

“Service with [all] the senses to Hṛṣīkeśa [i.e., Kṛṣṇa, the master of the senses] with intentness upon him [i.e., upon his pleasure] that is completely free from all upādhis [i.e., adjuncts—extraneous desirousness], and untainted [i.e., unobstructed by jñāna, karma, and so forth] is called bhakti.”

Read on →

yasmai dattaṁ ca yaj-jñānaṁ

yasmai dattaṁ ca yaj-jñānaṁ jñāna-dātā hariḥ svayam |
jñānena tena sa stauti bhāva-grāhī janārdanaḥ ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra: 1.12.40)

“One offers praises [to Hari] with the knowledge which Hari himself, the bestower of knowledge, has bestowed upon one, but Janārdana [i.e., “the instigator of the people”] is a partaker of bhāva [i.e., Hari relishes primarily the bhāva of his bhaktas, and not their knowledge].”

Read on →

deśa-tyāgo mahān vyādhiḥ

deśa-tyāgo mahān vyādhiḥ virodho bandhubhiḥ saha |
dhana-hāni apamānaṁ ca mad-anugraha-lakṣaṇam ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra)

“Leaving one’s homeland, a severe disease, a dispute between friends, loss of wealth, and disrespect are signs of my grace.”

Read on →

vaiṣṇavānāṁ parā-bhaktir

vaiṣṇavānāṁ parā-bhaktir ācāryāṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ |
pūjanaṁ ca yathā-śakti tān āpannāṁś ca pālayet ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 2.137)

“One should have great bhakti for the Vaiṣṇavas, and for the ācāryas in particular. One should worship them as one is able and protect them [when they are] in difficulty.”

Read on →