Chapter 20

1-2. Sri Narada said, O! the gems among the Brahmanas, path of unalloyed devotion to Sri Hari is the surest and safest means than any other systems for attaining the summum bonum of life. Because one who follows the path of devotion, God Sri Narayana Himself looks for his spiritual welfare and therefore for him there remains nothing to be unattainable. To attain spiritual welfare first of all the mind is to be brought under full control. How the devotees (Vaishnavas) keep the mind subjugated I shall be narrating all about that, listen to me.

3-6. A wise aspirant practising regularly the prescribed rites of devotion makes the mind engaged in the service of God and thus refraining it from the worldly gross enjoyments, subjugates it. As a wild animal is tamed, so too mind is to be controlled gradually without taking any extravagant means. If mind is inclined to songs then engage it to the singing of Sri Hari’s Nectarine Nama-Sankirtana. Accordingly if mind is fond of listening to the pleasing words then lead it either to listen to or discoursing on the Nectar-pouring Harikatha. If mind has got a thirst for beauty then direct it to beseech the transcendental Beauty of Srimurti of Lord Sri Narayana bedecked with choicest jewels and raiment. By having Darshana of the Srimurti of Godead naturally mind gets delighted. Mind is unsteady, unruly, treacherous and inclined to indulge in sinful acts. Never it rests at a particular place or object so wavering. Therefore a wise somehow keeps the mind constantly engaged in the Topics of Sri Hari, because anything in concern with Sri Hari is so attractive and charming that if one’s mind gets interested in it the mind will not run away elsewhere.

7-10. Sri Hari alone is the Attractor. His Nectar-pouring Exploits are the feast to the soul. All the sentient and non-sentient beings are maintaining their orderly system due to Sri Hari’s superintending. To the test of the mind people put their garments or ornaments, eat and drink for satisfaction; therefore all those materials which are won by hard labour when are offered to the Deities of Sri Hari the labour there of is crowned with success. Wise people offer all the delicious eatables to the Deity and honour a remnant (Mahaprasadam [Mahaprasada]) of them and thereby easily conquer illusive maya. A man of intuitive wisdom cleverly follows this spiritual path. All the material objects are nothing but poisonous and illusive but when they are offered with sincere devotion to Sri Hari they are turned to be as Nectar and therefore when accepted them as remnant of Sri Hari one attains immortality. So should any wise worship any god other than Sri Hari?

11. One, who has got steadfast devotion to Sri Hari is tranquil and peaceful. Therefore for subduing his senses he need not practice any extravagant austerities, severe penance or torturous fasting.

12. Now 1 shall be narrating about the contemplating of mind upon Sri Hari. Once mind is having succulent taste of the Nectar-pouring Exploits of Sri Hari, it will never go elsewhere. This is the proper source of attaining the fifth pursuit of life viz. final beatitude.

13-25. Sitting in the posture of Padmasana and muttering Pranava ‘OM’ one should feel his unstinted heart illumined with the moonly lit of the intuitive wisdom which dispenses the illusive triple guna of octopus maya. The mind has got its elementation from Mahattava; knowledge is its support and Prakriti or maya herself is its sentiency and eight principal siddhis viz. Anima, Laghima etc. are the rewards of the elevated mind. Therefore transcending mundanity the aspirant soul should observe the Supreme God Sri Narayana dwelling in his lotuslike heart. The aspirant finds his heart illumined with the dazzling Effulgence of the fire, sun and moon but not scorched by the scorching heat of fire and sun. There he finds an effulgent golden throne bedecked with emeralds and gems. And there he realises seated on that pleasant throne Lord Sri Narayana holding Conch, Sudarshna Discus, Mace and Lotus in His four massive beautiful Hands shining with all His Divine Splendour. That Supreme God Sri Narayana dazzlingly shines with all His Effulgence like the autumnal spotless full-moon. His every Limb is full of dazzling beauty. Effulgence of His Person is super-excellent that dims the glow of moon, sun, fire and all other luminaries. He is the Lord of all splendours. The diadem beset with pearls, gems, emeralds shines like the autumnal full-moon and Himself with His dazzling Beauty shines forth like the snow-belted mountain at sunrise. His beautiful Countenance appears more beautiful, His curling black hairs having fallen on it as it were, those hairs are like humming bees hovering round His Lotus Countenance. The beautiful half circle moon-shaped sign on His Forehead with highly raised Eye-brows is most bewitching. His both the lotus-Eyes are benignly beaming blessings. His beautiful Nose and His Neck shine forthwith all its charm having the reflection of the dazzling effulgence of His earpendants. His Bliss-showering smiling Face shows how His Compassionate moon-like Heart is reserved for His exalted devotees. Goddess Lakshmi blissfully keeps Her creeper-like Hands round His Neck. His massive Shoulder is like that of a lion. His Four Arms are excessively long, stout and strong. The Kaustabha gem on His Chest and gem-set armlet as well as the bracelet dazzlingly shine. The conch that He holds at one of His Hands is milk-white, swan-like that bestows all auspiciousness and the very Embodiment of divine wisdom, that illumines the heart like the beaming full-moon. Again that Conch represents as Pranava or ‘OM’. The Sudarshana Discus that He holds is the very source for substantiating the gold, sun, moon, fire and all the luminaries. It shines on its own splendour. What more, It is the fire of the sacrificial Altar and the destructive force for the asuras.

26-31. The asuras who have no significance before Him yet they are the destructive force for the world, therefore for disposing them He holds the massive Mace. He wears the Kaustabha Gem which shines brilliantly like dazzling sun just for illumining the hearts of His devotees. And this Gem is the source for all the precious metals. He holds this Gem on one side of His Chest and on the other side Sri Lakshmidevi as the most favourite to Him. He feels pleasure in the company of His exalted devotees, and the Necklace beselet with dazzling gems and round-shaped locket on its centre that hangs on His Chest is the very attraction to the devotees. His Navel-lotus, the seat for Brahma’s origin is shining with gem-set girdle and He is bedecked with yellow silk garment. His Lotus Feet, the pleasant Chest, Knees, Thighs are all super excellently beautiful. His Lotus Feet are the treasure for the seers, or they take sole refuge at His Lotus Feet only. His Nails are the seat for the moon. The moon is dimmed before the shining Nails. Nay, how the moon who has got black spots and also at times eclipsed and also its digits are subject to increase and decrease can be the comparison with the spotless Nails who are shining on the Feet of the Lord.

32. The exalted devotees offer Tulasi at His Lotus Feet. The Fragrance that is emitted from those applied Tulasi, when inhalted by the devotees, their hearts become surcharged with poigancy of Love. They, like the bees drink the Nectar that flows from His Lotus Feet. The Goddes Lakshmi covetously craves to render service to those Lotus Feet and therefore anoints His Lotus Palms with the idea that the Lord graciously may allow her to touch His Feet which are the glorious seats for the exalted crest-jewel devotees of His. Ah! very rememberance of those Lotus Feet at once dispels the illusion of maya.

He is sitting on that throne but placing His Both the Nectar-showering Lotus Feet on a foot-hold which is bedecked with all precious cat’s eye crystal gems. That foot-hold having touch of the crimson coloured Foot-soles of the Lord has become more shining. Although His Effulgence is the paramount Beauty without any comparison and nothing is required to be added because every ornament becomes more shining having reflection of the Glow of His Person. Yet He is anointed with kumkum, saffron and sandal-wood-paste, bedecked with wreath and ornaments. Thus to look at Him is a feast to the soul.

35-36. For the master-yogis He is the very object of meditation at their unstinted heart, but the devotees get the spiritual perturbations at the very sight of Him and they float in the ocean of Bliss. He is the feast to their eyes and the food to their soul. Again the mystic devotees who are bereft of His Darshana enjoy His presence by listening to the discourse in extolling His Pastimes and feel immersed into the ocean of Bliss by singing aloud in ecstatic rapture His Divine Names and Pastimes. He out of His Own Prerogative makes His different Advents for the true welfare of the universe. He possesses innumerable potencies. He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient. He is the sole-refuge for the exalted devotees. He is the Lord of all lords, therefore He is the only Object to be meditated upon and worshipped by the devotees.

37-39. O the Brahmins, those who follow this safest path taking Sri Hari as their be-all and end-all of their lives they easily attain the highest blessedness viz summum bonum of life doubtlessly. A devotee’s contemplation upon God is not at a particular period or at a particular posture but it is uninterrupted, there his mind never goes out of the thought of God. A cattle tied up by a rope to a pole does not mean that the cattle is lost, so too the mind with the rope of devotion when tied up at the Lottis Feet of God does not mean that mind is destroyed. At any condition and at no time God Sri Hari must not be forgotten, as a man of wisdom when lives a secluded life is he forgetful to his wisdom?

40-41. O the Brahmins, it is the spiritual truth to my conviction that a man may lead a pure and austere life, but void of devotion to Sri Hari never can make him liberated from the illusive mays, The karma done with the spirit of dedication to Sri Hari when makes Sri Hari pleased, He bestows upon the doer the Nectar-showering Blissful Lotus Feet of His; that is the highest pursuit of human life, the summum bonum of life. Ah, what an unforthamable affection He shows towards His devotees. His affection towards His devotees knows no bounds.

41-54. So man of wisdom with his steadfast devotion in the company of exalted Parama Bhagavata devotees always by all means renders unalloyed service to Sri Hari. The devotees having installed the Srimurti of the Supreme Godhead Sri Hari worship Him with kaya-mana-vakya (body, mind, speech) by offering everything that they possess or that are accepted for leading a way of life conducive to Hari-Bhajan. By doing this they not only bring spiritual welfare of their own or of their family but of the whole world. The Srimurti of Supreme Godhead is the Wish-yielding Tree. He fulfils the sincere desires of His supplicants. By installing Srimurti one gains great spiritual merit that supersedes all the accumulated merits of the mundane world. One fully enlightened with the wisdom of Divinity when performs with steadfast devotion worship of Srimurti of Sri Hari does not once again, after his death enter into the womb of mother. He goes beyond the cycle of transmigration. One who has engaged his both the hands in the loving service of the Srimurti of Sri Vishnu thereby he becomes the instrumental cause for washing off the sins and impurities of the world. Ah, his both the hands are really the protecting force of the destructive world. Even a men without any knowledge of Divinity but innocent and free from any offence when offers with devotion, either holy water or Tulasi to the Srimurti of Sri Hari thereby Sri Hari becoming pleased upon him bestows unto him the Abode of peace and grants him eternal servitorship at His Lotus Feet. Ah, then what should be the paramount reward one gains by rendering unalloyed devotion to Him? The incense that is burnt in front of Srimurti when smelt that becomes the panacea for the worldly disease. When one illumines the Temple of Sri Vishnu, that dispels the darkness of his heart by endowing him with spiritual enlightenment. By offering number of ghee-lamps in front of Srimurti with devotion one destroys the nescience. Therefore no more he is afflicted by the illusion of maya. With steadfast devotion whatsoever small or little thing is offered to Him He pleasingly accepts that, and in return bestows upon the offerer the Nectar that feeds his soul. Whether the clothes, ornaments, wreaths or flowers are offered to the Srimurti with devotion, that rewards the worshipper with unending merit so the fulfilment of his desires and ultimately that leads him to attain the final beautitude in life. By circumambulating the Temple of Sri Vishnu thrice one ends the cycle of life of transmigration. By falling in protration before the Srimurti an aspirant washes off all his sins nay, no more sin can enter into his heart.

55-57. One who circumambulates the Vishnu Temple with falling- in prostration in every step, he goes beyond the roaming about on the earth, life after life. While he falls in prostration the dust may touch his body but actually they are the pollens of the lotus feet of the exalted devotees which sanctifiy the body. One who with steadfast devotion worships Sri Narayana, Spouse of Sri Lakshmidevi becomes worshippable even to the heavenly gods. One who extols devoutly the prestine Glory of Sri Hari, he becomes recipient of highest Blessings of Sri Hari which is not available even to gods of the heaven.

58-59. One born as a human being even when he is a boy, if makes panegyric to Lord Sri Narayana He is so pleased that the gods of the heaven cannot make Him so pleased by their prayer. A tiny boy who yet depends upon the mother’s breast-milk when rools down at the feet of his mother, mother with her utmost affection lifts him up on her lap, like-wise when a destitute humbly makes his panegyrics to Lord Sri Narayana, the Lord Who is full of mercy looks most graciously upon him.

60-61. Sri Hari is very much pleased upon one who humbly sings His Glories, therefore would there be any wise who will refrain himself from singing His Glories? Whether one is born as Brahmana or any celestial being, if he does not sing His Glory he is undone. Even though born in the race of untouchable but when he sings the Divine Name he is worshippable to the people born in the high lineage like Brahmanas. The compositions in characterising the Divine Pastimes of God Sri Hari, even though lacking in its rhetorical richness yet pleases Him. Therefore would there be any wise who will not sing His Divine Glories?

62-64. When one sings His Divine Names the triple affilition of maya feels afraid to approach him. Nay, thereby he easily cuts asunder the knots of worldly bondage. One who engages his tongue in singing aloud the Divine Names and Pastimes of Sri Hari not only endows himself with the spiritual wealfare and makes himself get rid of the illusion of maya but also thereby allowing others to listen to the Divine Harikirtana makes the world sanctified. The devotees in an ecstatic mood sing aloud the Divine Names and Pastimes of Sri Hari that brings auspiciousness to the world and it is like the impending rain-showering cloud to allay the fatigue of the worldliness. The Paramabhagavata mystic devotees ever resort in that ocean of Nectarine Bliss resonating in the Transcendental Pastimes of Sri Hari. By mere listening to such resonation of Sri Hari’s Glory one is drenched in the showers of Bliss and thereby allays the fatigue of the worldliness.

65-68. Panegyrics, chanting of Divine Names and singing aloud the Glories and Pastimes of Sri Hari, are the real fountainsource for all happiness and peace. Singing aloud in ecstatic rapture the Divine Names and Pastimes of Sri Hari bestows upon one, all the treasures of the Divine Kingdom. When a mystic Parama Bhagavata devotee in an ecstatic rapture sings aloud with stately dance the Divine Names and Pastimes of Sri Hari, his eyes are flooded with joyful streams of tears that itself is an ablution in the streams of all the sacred rivers. And his very sight itself washes off all the sins of those who come in contact with him. Those who earnestly lament for the Darshana of God that lamentation itself washes off their all the sins and impurities. The devotees in an ecstatic rapture sing aloud the Divine Name and Pastimes of Sri Hari with ecstatic dance atretching their hands upwards and their eyes upturned. Thereby they destroy inauspiciousness of the earth, of all the directions of space-world and of the heavenly worlds.

69-70. To honour Mahaprasadam [Mahaprasada], to drink the holy water in which the Deity is given an ablution and to hold with honour the wreaths that are earlier offered to the Deities—all these three wash off the sins and impurities of oneself. When by the very remembrance of the sacred Ganga who has got her origin from the Feet - Washing water of Sri Vishnu one gets rid of all the sins, then what will be the sanctifying power of the holy water in which an ablution of Srimurti of Sri Hari is given? Who can know it or measure it? The fire of the triple affliction of maya cannot be extinguished by drenching oneself with the waters of all the seas but it is possible only by sipping a drop of the holy Tirtha-water{GL_NOTE::} in which the Deity is given an ablution.

Our understanding about the santifying power of the Tirtham [Tirtha] is not adequate. It has got super-mundane sanctifying power. Therefore the forest-fire of the worldliness which cannot be extinguished by any inductive process but the sacred Tirtham is the panacea to cure the worldly disease. Therefore this holy Tirtham [Tirtha] should be honoured by sipping, or putting on the head and applying on the different upper limbs of the body.

72-76. One who drinks everyday the holy Tirtham is suppled with all the pleasures of the life by the heavenly gods. Nay this drinking of ‘Tirtham’ [Tirtha] with spiritual faith ultimately leads him to attain liberation or salvation. One who discourses on the Divine Pastimes of Sri Hari becomes totally free from the fears viz gets rid of the illusion of maya. One who possesses the most precious gems how can he be met with poverty? Where the holy Brahmanas extol about the sancity of the Sacred Thirtham the devotees, cows and Brahmins live there with all happiness because no worldly affliction can tresspass over there.

77. One who applies cow-dung in the courtyard of Sri Vishnu Temple or draws different picturesque auspicious signs in front of the Temple becomes the recipient of blessings of those who dwell at the Abode of Sri Vishnu because thereby he makes them pleased and thereby graciously look upon him.

78-80. Thus all the activities of a devotee of God Sri Hari are conducive to Hari Bhajan which is the highest gain in life. There is no other means to attain the highest good in life than steadfast devotion of Sri Hari. To serve Sri Hari with steadfast devotion is the be-all and end-all of life. By possessing enormous wealth in the shape of beautiful clothes, precious ornaments, the delicious food and drinking, may all other amenities that the modern world produces cannot make a devotee of God Sri Hari happy, but when he finds that his body, mind and speech are engaged in the unalloyed service of Sri Hari and thereby feels His Blessings that alone is the solace and happiness to him. Thus when one with his steadfast devotion renders service to Sri Hari with kaya-mana and vakya at the time of his death naturally on the tip of his tongue the Divine Name of Sri Hari dances and therefore with the full remembrance of Sri Hari he breathes his last and forthwith his soul is taken to the Blissfull Abode of Sri Hari, the Abode of Eternal Peace and Happiness.

81. Whereas one who is not devoted to Sri Hari and does not render devotional service to Him nor takes His Divine Name such a wretched person at the time of his death will only remember his wife, children and the objects of his attachment, thus deluded by the illusion of maya his life becomes will-o- the-wisp; he sheds tears in sorrow and suffering. Alas, how such a man steeped in the quagmire of maya can remember Sri Hari? Alas he is undone.

82-83. So those who have been blessed with the human birth should constantly serve with devotion the Supreme Godhead Who is always gracious to His supplicants. None but Sri Hari alone is the Bestower of the highest pursuit of human life. Sri Hari is so gracious that even if one worships Him with showing his worldly vanity or jokingly reverently or with any pretending mood, that rewards him to wash off his sins. Whatever meritorious acts are done if they are not done in dedication to Sri Hari ultimately they become harmful and cause the entanglement in the worldliness and therefore do not serve real purpose in life. Who else other than Sri Hari can be the true Well-wisher of the universe?

84-85. O, the holy Brahmins, in one of my past lives I was born as a son of a maid-servant. It so happened that my mother used to leave me in a hermitage where I could have the association of the exalted Parama Bhagavata devotees and got the great good chance to listen to their discourses on the Divine Names and Pastimes of Transcendental Godhead Sri Hari and by dint of that I could be recipient of Sri Hari’s Grace and thereby imbibed unflinching devotion to Him. When with steadfast devotion I listened to and sang the Glories of Sri Hari naturally forthwith I became totally free from all the dirts and impurities of my heart. Next out of His Own prerogative God Sri Hari appeared in my unstinted heart. Having got Him realised in my heart I made the following Panegyric:

86. I prayed, ‘O Blissful Lord, falling into the quagmire of maya I have been cycling the life of transmigration, but now by Thy unreserved Grace my heart has been fastened at Thy Lotus Feet, therefore I pray that O Lord, wherever or in whatever condition I remain or in whichever species I may be rebron let me possess steadfast devotion at Thy Lotus Feet.

87-88. O holy Brahmanas, you all drink deep this Nectar-pouring Hari-Katha which cannot be enjoyed by the celestial even. This itself in due course will bestow upon you the final beatitude of your lives. There rests no doubt such effect in Hari- katha. O the glorious crest jewel Munis! The association with the exalted devotees of Sri Hari in no time endows oneself steadfastness in devotion to Sri Hari. Ah how blessed you all are! One who is bestowed with steadfast devotion to Sri Hari, he forthwith is enlightened with the intuitive wisdom. Such a man of intuitive wisdom attains the transcendental Abode of eternal Bliss in loving unalloyed service to Sri Vishnu, the Supreme God.

89. Thus one goes beyond the life of sorrow and suffering. No more quagmire of maya exists there and he goes beyond the life of transmigration.

90. Thus delighting the munis of Sri Naimisharanya by giving discourse in extolling the Divine Glories and Pastimes of Sri Hari the crest-jewel Parama Bhagavata mystic devotee Sri Narada took leave of them.

91. One who with sincere faith and steadfast devotion when either listens to, or gives discourse on this Sri Haribhakti Sudhodaya, becomes totally free from all dirts and impurities of the heart and in due course attains the final beautitude in life.

Here ends the “Sri Hari-bhakti-Sudhodaya”

By the unreserved Grace of my Divine Master Nityalila- pravishta Sri Srimad Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Goswami Maharaj I could complete the translation of this book on the 20th Nov. 1987 at Sree Gaudiya Math, Madras.=

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Tirtham [Tirtha], the sacred water in which an ablution is given to the Deity.