Verse 1.16.55

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.16.55:

এবে ক্র্ষ্ণ-প্রতি তোমা’-সবাকার মন যেন আছে, এই-মত থাকু সর্ব-ক্ষণ ॥ ৫৫ ॥

एबे क्र्ष्ण-प्रति तोमा’-सबाकार मन येन आछे, एइ-मत थाकु सर्व-क्षण ॥ ५५ ॥

ebe krṣṇa-prati tomā’-sabākāra mana yena āche, ei-mata thāku sarva-kṣaṇa || 55 ||

ebe krsna-prati toma’-sabakara mana yena ache, ei-mata thaku sarva-ksana (55)

English translation:

(55) “As your minds are presently fixed on Kṛṣṇa, let them stay that way forever.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

Ṭhākura Haridāsa said to the prisoners, “Your present state of mind is auspicious for you, because you have received the opportunity to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness by giving up endeavors for material enjoyment. Therefore always remain engaged in chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names and in remembering Kṛṣṇa. If you get freedom from prison life and again indulge in sense gratification, then as a result of associating with wicked persons who are averse to the Lord you will forget the Supreme Lord. As long as the endeavor for material enjoyment is prominent in the living entity, there is no possibility for him to worship Kṛṣṇa. The goal of the material enjoyers is diametrically opposite to Kṛṣṇa. The conditioned souls who are devoid of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa are always merged in topics related to their wives and children, which are the center of their enjoyment. If by the mercy of the Lord a person in this dangerous situation meets a saintly person, his taste for material enjoyment will be turned into taste for the service of the Supreme Lord. When one gives up the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then his natural material propensities will submerse him in a mire of offenses. I do not mean that you should remain suffering within this prison, but in your present condition you have the opportunity to constantly chant the holy names of the Lord. Therefore do not be distressed. The Vaiṣṇavas always bless all living entities with the words: ‘May your devotion to the Supreme Lord be fixed.’ I consider this the greatest mercy towards the living entities.

Your prison life will soon be finished. Never give up your determination for serving the Supreme Lord in any condition.” [This purport also applies to the next twelve verses.]