24 Essential Verses To Know.docx

24 ESSENTIAL TEACHINGS FOR GAUDIYA VAISNAVAS Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das Life is too short, memory is very weak and time is less. Thus we offer the following 24 verses to summarize all the essential principles, practices and actual goal of Gaudiya Vaisnava Dharma. We have arranged them in a logical sequence to facilitate clear understanding. Devotees will obtain tremendous spiritual benefit by reflecting deeply upon each one; learning them and following their guidance. ^^^ STUDENT’S NOTE: Everyone must absolutely memorize the Sanskrit (if you can) or at least the English translation for these four verses: (Array1, 11, 14, 20) These verses give the correct and perfect meaning of “Krishna consciousness”, the practice and the goal. Try your best to also learn and understand the main points of all 24 verses. Then use this wisdom to preach to yourself and others. Jai Jai Sri Radhe! ** MOST IMPORTANT VERSE: Krishna Consciousness: The Essence This verse written 500 years ago perfectly describes the Gaudiya Vaisnava Ishta devata (worshipable God) Gati (destination) Sadhana Pramana (foundation, source) Prayojana (necessity, ultimate goal of life) Originator of our sampradaya 1. ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa tanayas, tad dhāma vṛndāvanaṁ ramyā kācid upāsanā, vraja,vadhū vargeṇa yā kalpitā śāstraṁ bhāgavatam pramāṇam amalaṁ, prema pumārtho mahān

śrī caitanya mahāprabhor matam, idaṁ tatrādaro naḥ para “Our worshipable form of Bhagavan [upasya] is Sri Krishna, Nandanandana, whom we worship in Vrindavana [the divya dhama and goal of life]. Our way to attain perfection is to follow the delightful method of worship done by the newlywed gopis of Vraja (vraja vadhu).” “Our main scripture is the Srimad Bhagavatam, the spotless authority on Krishna-bhakti. The highest goal of human life is Krishna prema, pure love of God. These truths are the transcendental tenets of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which deserve our highest respect, love and care.” (Written by Srinatha Cakravarti, a sisya of Sri Advaita Prabhu; and Guru of Kavi Karnapura) KRISHNA: The Absolute Truth 2. janmādy asya yato’nvayād itarataś, cārtheṣv abhijnaḥ svarāṭ tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye, muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ tejo-vāri-mṛdāṁ yathā vinimayo, yatra tri-sargo’mṛṣā dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṁ, satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi “I meditate upon the Supreme Absolute Truth, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, from whom all reality manifests. Sri Krishna is both present in everything and simultaneously aloof from it. Sri Krishna is completely omniscient and independent. It is Krishna alone who revealed the Veda (eternal transcendental wisdom) within the heart of Brahmaji, the first saintly person. Bhagavan Sri Krishna bewilders even the greatest sages and devatas, just as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Sri Krishna do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the three modes of nature, appear

factual, although unreal. Bhagavan Sri Krishna eternally exists in His transcendental abode (Vrndavana Dhama), which is forever free from the illusions of the material world. (SB 1.1.1) KRISHNA: Best Definition 3. īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ, sac cid ānanda vigraha anādir ādir govinda, sarva kārana kāranam Bhagavan Sri Krishna Govinda is the Supreme God, and Sri Krishna’s eternal, transcendental body is sac cid ananda, full of awareness, reality and bliss. Sri Krishna is beginningless, the greatest of all, and the cause of all causes.” (Brahma Samhita 5.1) KRISHNA: Ultimate Beauty Meditation 4. barhāpīḍaṁ naṭa-vara-vapuḥ, karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṁ bibhrad-vāsaḥ kanaka-kapiśaṁ, vaijayantīṁ ca mālām randhrān veṇor adhara-sudhayā, pūrayan gopa-vṛndair vṛndāraṇyaṁ sva-pada-ramaṇaṁ, prāviśad gīta-kīrtiḥ “Krishna’s head is adorned with a peacock feather crown. Krishna’s divine form is shaped like the best of dancers and Krishna wears karnikara flowers on His ears. While wearing a golden-hued garment and a vaijayanti flower mala, Krishna fills the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips while the cowherd boys sing Krishna glories as He wanders in the forest of Vrindavana, beautifying the earth with His lovely footprints.” (Venu Gita: SB 10.21.5) Mahaprabhu: Is Krishna not Radha-Krishna 5. rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

“The transformations of love between Śrī Rādhā and Śrī Krishna are manifestations of the hlādinī-śakti. These two, although one soul, have manifested in this world in separate forms since ancient times. He, who is known as Caitanya, has now manifest as the union of Radha-Krishna. Obeisances to Sri Chaitanya, who is Śrī Krishna Himself, beautifully endowed with the feelings and lustre (bhava, kanti) of Śrī Rādhā!” Mahaprabhu: Main Purpose of Appearance 6. anarpita carīṁ cirāt karuṇayā avatīrṇa kalau, samarpayitum unnatojjvala rasa sva bhakti śriyaṁ hariḥ puraṭa sundara dyuti kadamba sandīpitaḥ, sadā hṛdaya kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ “May Sri Sacinandana, who is Sri Hari Himself appearing in a splendid beautiful golden form, and who descended in the age of Kali to mercifully bestow the wealth of His own bhakti, which was never bestowed before, and which is endowed with the elevated amorous flavour [madhurya-rasa i.e. gopibhava], always be manifest in the cave of your heart.” VRINDAVAN: Goloka Is a Realm: Not a Planet 7. śanakair bhagaval-lokān, nṛ-lokaṁ punar āgataḥ. vimṛjya netre viduraṁ, prītyāh oddhava utsmayan “Gradually, Uddhava [after breaking his deep lila meditation] returned from Bhagavān’s world to the external human world [near Gurugaon, U.P. India]. Rubbing his eyes, Uddhava lovingly told Vidura in amazement…” (SB 3.2.6); Krishna Sandarbha 106). VRINDAVAN: Living in to get Radha’s mercy. 8. vṛndāni sarva mahatām apahāya dūrāt, vṛndāṭavīm anusara pranayena cetaḥ sat tāranī kṛta subhāva sudhā rasaugham, rādhā bhidhānam iha divya nidhānam asti

O Mind! Stay aloof [apahaya durat] from all great things or persons [sarva mahatam], and live in Vrndavana with love. In Vraja, there is a divine jewel of wonderful moods and feelings named RADHA, Who redeems all the sincere souls sheltered in Vraja!” (Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi 17) SHUDDHA BHAKTI: Best Definition 9. anyābhilāṣita śūnyaṁ, jnāna-karmādy anāvṛtam ānukūlyena krishnanu, śilanaṁ bhaktir uttamā Sri Rupa Gosvami said, “The topmost devotion [uttama bhakti] is devoid of all material desires, and not mixed with or covered by any practices of impersonal liberation (jnana) or fruitive activities [karma kanda, homas, yajnas etc]. Uttama bhakti is practiced deliberately and actively, solely for the pleasure of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.” (Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu 1.1.11) SADHANA: Diksa Reveals Siddha Deha 10. dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kore, ātma-samarpana; sei-kāle krishna tare, kore ātma-sama sei deha kore tāra, cid-ānanda-maya; aprākṛta-dehe tāṅra, caraṇa bhajaya Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “At the time of diksa, the disciple surrenders one’s very self (body, mind & heart) to Sri Guru. Then Sri Krishna makes the disciple (qualitatively) equal to Himself. Krishna fills the disciple with transcendental bliss, and in that spiritual body the disciple serves Krishna’s lotus feet.” (Cc. 3.4.192-193) SADHANA: Gita’s Top Secret [told twice] 11. man manā bhava mad bhakto, mad yāji māṁ namaskuru mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te, pratijāne priyo’si me

“Think of Me and be My devotee. Worship Me and offer respects unto Me. Thus you will surely come to Me. I promise you this because you are dear to Me.” (Bhagavad-gita 18.65; 9.34) SADHANA: 24/7 Main Rule of Bhakti 12. smartavyaṁ satataṁ viṣṇor, vismartavyo na jātūcit sarva vidhi niṣedha syur, etayor eva kinkarāḥ “Always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna! All other rules and prohibitions are subservient to this.” (Padma P. 6.71.100) SADHANA: Best Instruction to the Mind 13. gurau goṣṭhe goṣṭhālayiṣu, sujane bhū-sura-gaṇe, sva-mantre śrī-nāmni, vraja-nava-yuva-dvandva-śaraṇe sadā dambhaṁ hitvā kuru, ratim apūrvām atitarāṁ aye svāntar bhrātaś caṭubhir, abhiyāce dhṛta-padaḥ Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami said, “O brother mind! I clasp your feet and pray to you with flattering words: ‘Always give up hypocrisy and develop unprecedented love for Sri Guru, Vraja Dhama, the Vrajavasis, the saints, the brāhmaṇas, the diksa mantra, the Holy Names of Sri Krishna, and the shelter of the eternally youthful Couple of Vraja, Śrī-Śrī Rādhā-Krishna.’” (Manaḥ Śikṣā 1) SADHANA: 4 Point Bhakti Success 14. tṛṇād api sunīcena, taror iva sahiṣṇunā; amāninā mānadena, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ “One should always chant Hari kirtana i.e. the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than a blade of grass. Always be as tolerant as a tree and respect everyone without expecting honor in return.” (Śrī Caitanya-śikṣāṣṭakam 3)

SADHANA: Krishna Gives All to Devotees 15. ananyaś cintayanto māṁ, ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ, yoga kṣemaṁ vahāmyaham “If one always worships and exclusively meditates Me, I will provide all one’s needs and maintain whatever one has.” (Bhagavad-gītā 9.22) SADHANA: Mind—Only Krishna Bhakti Can Control 16. cancalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa, pramāthi balavad dṛḍham tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye, vāyor iva suduṣkaram “O Kṛṣṇa! The mind is very restless, agitating, powerful and obstinate. It seems harder to control than the wind.” (Bhagavad-gītā 6.34) SHASTRA: Must Live By 17. yaḥ śāstra-vidhiṁ utsṛjya vartate kāma kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na paraṁ gatiṁ “One who rejects scriptural injunctions and acts whimsically will not attain perfection, nor will one become happy or attain the spiritual world.” (Bhagavad Gītā 16.23) SHASTRA: Focus On Essence: Pure Bhakti 18. ananta-śāstraṁ bahulāś ca vidyāḥ svalpaś ca kālo bahu-vighnatā ca yat sāra-bhūtaṁ tad-upāsanīyaṁ haṁso yathā kṣīram ivāmbu-madhyāt “The scriptures are infinite and the branches of knowledge are many. Our time is limited and our lives are full of obstacles. Therefore, we should worship

the essence, just as the swan extracts the milk from a body of water.” (Canakya-nīti-darpanam 15.10) SHASTRA: Benefit of Hearing Rasa Lila 19. vikrīḍitaṁ vraja vadhūbhir, idaṁ ca viṣṇoḥ, śraddhānvito ’nuśṛṇuyed, atha varṇayed yaḥ bhaktiṁ paraṁ bhagavatiṁ, pratilabhya kāmaṁ, hṛd-rogam āśva pahinot, yacireṇa dhīraḥ Suka Muni said [phala shruti for rasa-lila] “Anyone who faithfully and continually hears and describes the pastimes of Bhagavan Sri Krishna with the Vraja gopis will attain the highest devotion [Vraja madhurya-rati] to Sri Krishna, become peaceful, and quickly become free from the heart’s disease of lust.” (SB 10.29.39) SADHANA: Sri Chaitanya Orders Gopi Bhava 20. ataeva gopī-bhāva, kari aṅgīkāra, rātri-dina cinte, rādhā-kṛṣṇera vihāra “Therefore one should accept the loving mood of the gopis [gopi-bhava], and day and night meditate on the pleasure pastimes of Radha and Krishna. (Cc. 2.8.228) SADHANA: Two Forms—Internal & External 21. bāhya antara ihāra dui to sādhana; bāhya sādhaka dehe kore śravaṇa kīrtana mane nija siddha deha koriyā bhāvana; rātri dine kore vraje kṛṣṇera sevana Mahaprabhu said, “O Sri Sanatana Goswami! “There are two kinds of devotion in practise (sadhana bhakti): external and internal. In the external practitioner’s body, one performs hearing and chanting of Krishna’s glories, and internally, in the mentally conceived spiritual body, one renders mental service to Krishna in Vraja day and night.” (Cc. 2.22.155-156)

SADHANA: Worship Shyama For Sriji’s Seva 22. dhyāyantaṁ śikhi-piccha-mauli-maniśaṁ tan nāmasankīrtayan nityaṁ tac caraṇāmbujaṁ paricaran tan-mantra-varyaṁ japan śrī rādhā padāsyam eva paramābhīṣṭaṁ hṛdā dhārayan karhi syāṁ tad anugraheṇa param ādbhutānurāg otsavaḥ “I always meditate on Krishna wearing a crown of peacock feathers; I always sing Krishna’s name in saṅkīrtana; I always serve Krishna’s lotus feet and repeat His best of mantras [diksa mantras], all the while holding in my heart the desire for the supremely cherished service of Śrī Rādhā’s lotus feet. When by Krishna’s grace will that grand festival of Radha’s amazing anuraga arise in my heart?” (Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi 259) SADHANA: Manjari Bhava Perfection 23. tavaiv āsmi tavaiv āsmi, na jīvāmi tvayā vinā, iti vijnaya devi tvaṁ, naya māṁ caraṇ āntikam Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami prays, “O Devi Radha! I am Yours, I am Yours! I cannot live without You! Knowing this, please take me to Your lotus feet!” (Vilapa Kusumanjali 96) SADHANA: Perfection Demands Practice & Patience 24. krame krame pāya loka, bhava-sindhu-kūla Mahaprabhu said to Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, “Slowly and gradually one will cross the ocean of material existence [attain liberation i.e. Goloka Vrndavana].” (Cc. 2.16.237) Jai Jai Sri Radhe!