Bhajana-Rahasya
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya | 2010 | 123,965 words
The Bhajana-rahasya Text 16, English translation, including commentary (vritti). The Bhajana-rahasya is a compilation of verses describing the mercy of the eight pairs of names (Yugala-nama) of the Maha-mantra. This is text 16 belonging to the chapter “Prathama-yama-sadhana (Nishanta-bhajana–shraddha)” representing the last six dandas of the night: approximately 3.30 a.m.–6.00 a.m.
Text 16
The blazing fire of material existence is extinguished by nāmasaṅkīrtana. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.2.46) says:
नातः परं कर्म-निबन्ध-कृन्तनं मुमुक्षतां तीर्थ-पदानुकीर्तनात्
न यत् पुनः कर्मसु सज्जते मनो रजस्-तमोभ्यां कलिलं ततो’न्यथाnātaḥ paraṃ karma-nibandha-kṛntanaṃ mumukṣatāṃ tīrtha-padānukīrtanāt
na yat punaḥ karmasu sajjate mano rajas-tamobhyāṃ kalilaṃ tato’nyathāFor those who desire liberation from the bondage of this material existence, there is no other means than chanting the name of Śrī Bhagavān, who sanctifies even the holy places by the touch of His lotus feet. This nāma-saṅkīrtana is able to destroy the root cause of all sinful activities, because when the mind has taken shelter of the Supreme Lord it will never again be caught by fruitive activities. By taking shelter of any atonement other than the name of Śrī Bhagavān, the heart will remain affected by the modes of passion and ignorance, and sins will not be destroyed at the root.
कर्म-बन्ध सुखण्डन, मोक्ष प्राप्ति सङ्घटन,
कृष्ण-नाम-कीर्तने साधयkarma-bandha sukhaṇḍana, mokṣa prāpti saṅghaṭana,
kṛṣṇa-nāma-kīrtane sādhayaकर्म-चक्र रजस्-तमः, पूर्ण-रूपे विनिर्गम,
नाम विना नाहि अन्योपायkarma-cakra rajas-tamaḥ, pūrṇa-rūpe vinirgama,
nāma vinā nāhi anyopāya