The Glories of Śrī Advaita Ācārya

The truth of Advaita Ācārya has been described in two different verses. It is said that material nature has two features, namely the material cause and the efficient cause. The efficient causal activities are caused by Mahā-Viṣṇu, and the material causal activities are caused by another form of Mahā-Viṣṇu, known as Advaita. That Advaita, the superintendent of the cosmic manifestation, has descended in the form of Advaita to associate with Lord Caitanya. When He is addressed as the servitor of Lord Caitanya, His glories are magnified because unless one is invigorated by this mentality of servitorship one cannot understand the mellows derived from devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 1

vande taṁ śrīmad-advaitā-

cāryam adbhuta-ceṣṭitam

yasya prasādād aj�o 'pi

tat-svarūpaṁ nirūpayet

SYNONYMS

vande—I offer my respectful obeisances; tam—unto Him; śrīmat—with all opulences; advaita-ācāryam—Śrī Advaita Ācārya; adbhuta-ceṣṭitam—whose activities are wonderful; yasya—of whom; prasādāt—by the mercy; aj�aḥ api—even a foolish person; tat-svarūpam—His characteristics; nirūpayet—may describe.

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Advaita Ācārya, whose activities are all wonderful. By His mercy, even a foolish person can describe His characteristics.

TEXT 2

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya—all glories; śrī-caitanya—to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jaya—all glories; nityānanda—to Lord Nityānanda; jaya advaita-candra—all glories to Advaita Ācārya; jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda—all glories to the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. All glories to Lord Nityānanda. All glories to Advaita Ācārya. And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 3

pa�ca śloke kahila śrī-nityānanda-tattva

śloka-dvaye kahi advaitācāryera mahattva

SYNONYMS

pa�ca śloke—in five verses; kahila—described; śrī-nityānanda-tattva—the truth of Śrī Nityānanda; śloka-dvaye—in two verses; kahi—I describe; advaita-ācāryera—of Advaita Ācārya; mahattva—the glories.

TRANSLATION

In five verses I have described the principle of Lord Nityānanda. Then in the following two verses I describe the glories of Śrī Advaita Ācārya.

TEXT 4

mahā-viṣṇur jagat-kartā

māyayā yaḥ sṛjaty adaḥ

tasyāvatāra evāyam

advaitācārya īśvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

mahā-viṣṇuḥ—of the name Mahā-Viṣṇu, the resting place of the efficient cause; jagat-kartā—the creator of the cosmic world; māyayā—by the illusory energy; yaḥ—who; sṛjati—creates; adaḥ—that universe; tasya—His; avatāraḥ—incarnation; eva—certainly; ayam—this; advaita-ācāryaḥ—of the name Advaita Ācārya; īśvaraḥ—the Supreme Lord, the resting place of the material cause.

TRANSLATION

Lord Advaita Ācārya is the incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu, whose main function is to create the cosmic world through the actions of māyā.

TEXT 5

advaitaṁ hariṇādvaitād

ācāryaṁ bhakti-śaṁsanāt

bhaktāvatāram īśaṁ tam

advaitācāryam āśraye

SYNONYMS

advaitam—known as Advaita; hariṇā—with Lord Hari; advaitāt—from being nondifferent; ācāryam—known as Ācārya; bhakti-śaṁsanāt—from the propagation of devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhakta-avatāram—the incarnation as a devotee; īśam—to the Supreme Lord; tam—to Him; advaita-ācāryam—to Advaita Ācārya; āśraye—I surrender.

TRANSLATION

Because He is nondifferent from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates the cult of devotion, He is called Ācārya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord's devotee. Therefore I take shelter of Him.

TEXT 6

advaita-ācārya gosā�i sākṣāt īśvara

yāṅhāra mahimā nahe jīvera gocara

SYNONYMS

advaita-ācārya—of the name Advaita Ācārya; gosā�i—the Lord; sākṣāt īśvara—directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yāṅhāra mahimā—whose glories; nahe—not; jīvera gocara—within the reach of the understanding of ordinary living beings.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is indeed directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. His glory is beyond the conception of ordinary living beings.

TEXT 7

mahā-viṣṇu sṛṣṭi karena jagad-ādi kārya

tāṅra avatāra sākṣāt advaita ācārya

SYNONYMS

mahā-viṣṇu—the original Viṣṇu; sṛṣṭi—creation; karena—does; jagat-ādi—the material world; kārya—the occupation; tāṅra—His; avatāra—incarnation; sākṣāt—directly; advaita ācārya—Prabhu Advaita Ācārya.

TRANSLATION

Mahā-Viṣṇu performs all the functions for the creation of the universes. Śrī Advaita Ācārya is His direct incarnation.

TEXT 8

ye puruṣa sṛṣṭi-sthiti karena māyāya

ananta brahmāṇḍa sṛṣṭi karena līlāya

SYNONYMS

ye puruṣa—that personality who; sṛṣṭi-sthiti—creation and maintenance; karena—performs; māyāya—through the external energy; ananta brahmāṇḍa—unlimited universes; sṛṣṭi—creation; karena—does; līlāya—by pastimes.

TRANSLATION

That puruṣa creates and maintains with His external energy. He creates innumerable universes in His pastimes.

TEXT 9

icchāya ananta mūrti karena prakāśa

eka eka mūrte karena brahmāṇḍe praveśa

SYNONYMS

icchāya—by His will; ananta mūrti—unlimited forms; karena—does; prakāśa—manifestation; eka eka—each and every; mūrte—form; karena—does; brahmāṇḍe—within the universe; praveśa—entrance.

TRANSLATION

By His will He manifests Himself in unlimited forms, in which He enters each and every universe.

TEXT 10

se puruṣera aṁśa--advaita, nāhi kichu bheda

śarīra-viśeṣa tāṅra--nāhika viccheda

SYNONYMS

se—that; puruṣera—of the Lord; aṁśa—part; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; nāhi—not; kichu—any; bheda—difference; śarīra-viśeṣa—another specific transcendental body; tāṅra—of Him; nāhika viccheda—there is no separation.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is a plenary part of that puruṣa and so is not different from Him. Indeed, Śrī Advaita Ācārya is not separate but is another form of that puruṣa.

TEXT 11

sahāya karena tāṅra la-iyā 'pradhāna'

koṭi brahmāṇḍa karena icchāya nirmāṇa

SYNONYMS

sahāya karena—He helps; tāṅra—His; lā-iyā—with; pradhāna—the material energy; koṭi-brahmāṇḍa—millions of universes; karena—does; icchāya—only by the will; nirmāṇa—creation.

TRANSLATION

He [Advaita Ācārya] helps in the pastimes of the puruṣa, with whose material energy and by whose will He creates innumerable universes.

TEXT 12

jagat-maṅgala advaita, maṅgala-guṇa-dhāma

maṅgala-caritra sadā, 'maṅgala' yāṅra nāma

SYNONYMS

jagat-maṅgala—all-auspicious to the world; advaita—Ādvaita Ācārya; maṅgala-guṇa-dhāma—the reservoir of all auspicious attributes; maṅgala-caritra—all characteristics are auspicious; sadā—always; maṅgala—auspicious; yāṅra nāma—whose name.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is all-auspicious to the world, for He is a reservoir of all auspicious attributes. His characteristics, activities and name are always auspicious.

PURPORT

Śrī Advaita Prabhu, who is an incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu, is an ācārya, or teacher. All His activities and all the other activities of Viṣṇu are auspicious. Anyone who can view the all-auspiciousness in the pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu also becomes auspicious simultaneously. Therefore, since Lord Viṣṇu is the fountainhead of auspiciousness, anyone who is attracted by the devotional service of Lord Viṣṇu can render the greatest service to human society. Rejected persons of the material world who refuse to understand pure devotional service as the eternal function of the living entities, and as actual liberation of the living being from conditional life, become bereft of all devotional service because of their poor fund of knowledge.

In the teachings of Advaita Prabhu there is no question of fruitive activities or impersonal liberation. Bewildered by the spell of material energy, however, persons who could not understand that Advaita Prabhu is nondifferent from Viṣṇu wanted to follow Him with their impersonal conceptions. The attempt of Advaita Prabhu to punish them is also auspicious. Lord Viṣṇu and His activities can bestow all good fortune, directly and indirectly. In other words, being favored by Lord Viṣṇu and being punished by Lord Viṣṇu are one and the same because all the activities of Viṣṇu are absolute. According to some, Maṅgala was another name of Advaita Prabhu. As the causal incarnation, or Lord Viṣṇu's incarnation for a particular occasion, He is the supply agent or ingredient in material nature. However, He is never to be considered material. All His activities are spiritual. Anyone who hears about and glorifies Him becomes glorified himself, for such activities free one from all kinds of misfortune. One should not invest any material contamination or impersonalism in the Viṣṇu form. Everyone should try to understand the real identity of Lord Viṣṇu, for by such knowledge one can attain the highest stage of perfection.

TEXT 13

koṭi aṁśa, koṭi śakti, koṭi avatāra

eta la�ā sṛje puruṣa sakala saṁsāra

SYNONYMS

koṭi aṁśa—millions of parts and parcels; koṭi śakti—millions and millions of energies; koṭi avatāra—millions upon millions of incarnations; eta—all this; la�ā—taking; sṛje—creates; puruṣa—the original person, Mahā-Viṣṇu; sakala saṁsāra—all the material world.

TRANSLATION

Mahā-Viṣṇu creates the entire material world, with millions of His parts, energies and incarnations.

TEXTS 14-15

māyā yaiche dui aṁśa--'nimitta', 'upādāna'

māyā--'nimitta'-hetu, upādāna--'pradhāna'

puruṣa īśvara aiche dvi-mūrti ha-iyā

viśva-sṛṣṭi kare 'nimitta' 'upādāna' la�ā

SYNONYMS

māyā—the external energy; yaiche—as; dui aṁśa—two parts; nimitta—the cause; upādāna—the ingredients; māyā—the material energy; nimitta-hetu—original cause; upādāna—ingredients; pradhāna—immediate cause; puruṣa—the person Lord Viṣṇu; īśvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aiche—in that way; dvi-mūrti ha-iyā—taking two forms; viśva-sṛṣṭi kare—creates this material world; nimitta—the original cause; upādāna—the material cause; la�ā—with.

TRANSLATION

Just as the external energy consists of two parts-the efficient cause [nimitta] and the material cause [upādāna], māyā being the efficient cause and pradhāna the material cause-so Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes two forms to create the material world with the efficient and material causes.

PURPORT

There are two kinds of research to find the original cause of creation. One conclusion is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the all-blissful, eternal, all knowing form, is indirectly the cause of this cosmic manifestation and directly the cause of the spiritual world, where there are innumerable spiritual planets known as Vaikuṇṭhas as well as His personal abode, known as Goloka Vṛndāvana. In other words, there are two manifestations-the material cosmos and the spiritual world. As in the material world there are innumerable planets and universes, so in the spiritual world there are also innumerable spiritual planets and universes, including the Vaikuṇṭhas and Goloka. The Supreme Lord is the cause of both the material and spiritual worlds. The other conclusion, of course, is that this cosmic manifestation is caused by an inexplicable unmanifested void. This argument is meaningless.

The first conclusion is accepted by the Vedānta philosophers, and the second is supported by the atheistic philosophical system of the Sāṅkhya smṛti, which directly opposes the Vedāntic philosophical conclusion. Material scientists cannot see any cognizant spiritual substance that might be the cause of the creation. Such atheistic Sāṅkhya philosophers think that the symptoms of knowledge and living force visible in the innumerable living creatures are caused by the three qualities of the cosmic manifestation. Therefore the Sāṅkhyites are against the conclusion of Vedānta regarding the original cause of creation.

Factually, the supreme absolute spirit soul is the cause of every kind of manifestation, and He is always complete, both as the energy and as the energetic. The cosmic manifestation is caused by the energy of the Supreme Absolute Person, in whom all energies are conserved. Philosophers who are subjectively engaged in the cosmic manifestation can appreciate only the wonderful energies of matter. Such philosophers accept the conception of God only as a product of material energy. According to their conclusions, the source of the energy is also a product of the energy. Such philosophers wrongly observe that the living creatures within the cosmic manifestation are caused by the material energy, and they think that the supreme absolute conscious being must similarly be a product of the material energy.

Since materialistic philosophers and scientists are too much engaged with their imperfect senses, naturally they conclude that the living force is a product of a material combination. But the actual fact is just the opposite. Matter is a product of spirit. According to the Bhagavad-gītā, the supreme spirit, the Personality of Godhead, is the source of all energies. When one advances in research work by studying a limited substance within the limits of space and time, one is amazed by the various wonderful cosmic manifestations, and naturally one goes on hypnotically accepting the path of research work or the inductive method. Through the deductive way of understanding, however, one accepts the Supreme Absolute Person, the Personality of Godhead, as the cause of all causes, who is full with diverse energies and who is neither impersonal nor void. The impersonal manifestation of the Supreme Person is another display of His energy. Therefore the conclusion that matter is the original cause of creation is completely different from the real truth. The material manifestation is caused by the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is inconceivably potent. Material nature is electrified by the supreme authority, and the conditioned soul, within the limits of time and space, is trapped by awe of the material manifestation. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually realized in the vision of a material philosopher and scientist through the manifestations of His material energy. For one who does not understand the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His diverse energies because of not knowing the relationship between the source of the energies and the energies themselves, there is always a chance of error, which is known as vivarta. As long as materialistic scientists and philosophers do not come to the right conclusion, certainly they will hover above the material field, bereft of proper understanding of the Absolute Truth.

The great Vaiṣṇava philosopher Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa has very nicely explained the materialistic conclusion in his Govinda-bhāṣya on the Vedānta-sūtra. He writes as follows:

"The Sāṅkhya philosopher Kapila has connected the different elementary truths according to his own opinion. Material nature, according to him, consists of the equilibrium of the three material qualities, goodness, passion and ignorance. Material nature produced the material energy, known as mahat, and mahat produced the false ego. The ego produced the five objects of sense perception, which produced the ten senses (five for acquiring knowledge and five for working), the mind and the five gross elements. Counting the puruṣa, or the enjoyer, with these twenty-four elements, there are twenty-five different truths. The nonmanifested stage of these twenty-five elementary truths is called prakṛti, or material nature. The qualities of material nature can associate in three different stages, namely as the cause of happiness, the cause of distress and the cause of illusion. The quality of goodness is the cause of material happiness, the quality of passion is the cause of material distress, and the quality of ignorance is the cause of illusion. Our material experience lies within the boundaries of these three manifestations of happiness, distress and illusion. For example, a beautiful woman is certainly a cause of material happiness for one who possesses her as a wife, but the same beautiful woman is a cause of distress to a man whom she rejects or who is the cause of her anger, and if she leaves a man she becomes the cause of illusion.

"The two kinds of senses are the ten external senses and the one internal sense, the mind. Thus there are eleven senses. According to Kapila, material nature is eternal and all-powerful. Originally there is no spirit, and matter has no cause. Matter itself is the chief cause of everything. It is the all-pervading cause of all causes. The Sāṅkhya philosophy regards the total energy (mahat-tattva), the false ego and the five objects of sense perception as the seven diverse manifestations of material nature, which has two features, known as the material cause and efficient cause. The puruṣa, the enjoyer, is without transformation, whereas material nature is always subject to transformation. But although material nature is inert, it is the cause of enjoyment and salvation for many living creatures. Its activities are beyond the conception of sense perception, but still one may guess at them by superior intelligence. Material nature is one, but because of the interaction of the three qualities, it can produce the total energy and the wonderful cosmic manifestation. Such transformations divide material nature into two features, namely the efficient and material causes. The puruṣa, the enjoyer, is inactive and without material qualities, although at the same time He is the master, existing separately in each and every body as the emblem of knowledge. By understanding the material cause, one can guess that the puruṣa, the enjoyer, being without activity, is aloof from all kinds of enjoyment or superintendence. Sāṅkhya philosophy, after describing the nature of prakṛti (material nature) and puruṣa (the enjoyer), asserts that the creation is only a product of their unification or proximity to one another. With such unification the living symptoms are visible in material nature, but one can guess that in the person of the enjoyer, puruṣa, there are powers of control and enjoyment. When the puruṣa is illusioned for want of sufficient knowledge, He feels Himself to be the enjoyer, and when He is in full knowledge He is liberated. In the Sāṅkhya philosophy the puruṣa is described to be always indifferent to the activities of prakṛti.

"The Sāṅkhya philosopher accepts three kinds of evidences, namely direct perception, hypothesis and traditional authority. When such evidence is complete, everything is perfect. The process of comparison is within such perfection. Beyond such evidence there is no proof. There is not much controversy regarding direct perceptional evidence or authorized traditional evidence. The Sāṅkhya system of philosophy identifies three kinds of procedures-namely, parimāṇāt (transformation), samanvayāt (adjustment) and śaktitaḥ (performance of energies)-as the causes of the cosmic manifestation."

Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, in his commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, has tried to nullify this conclusion because he thinks that discrediting these so-called causes of the cosmic manifestation will nullify the entire Sāṅkhya philosophy. Materialistic philosophers accept matter to be the material and efficient cause of creation; for them, matter is the cause of every type of manifestation. Generally they give the example of a waterpot and clay. Clay is the cause of the waterpot, but the clay can be found as both cause and effect. The waterpot is the effect and clay itself is the cause, but clay is visible everywhere. A tree is matter, but a tree produces fruit. Water is matter, but water flows. In this way, say the Sāṅkhyites, matter is the cause of movements and production. As such, matter can be considered the material and efficient cause of everything in the cosmic manifestation. Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana has therefore enunciated the nature of pradhāna as follows:

"Material nature is inert, and as such it cannot be the cause of matter, neither as the material nor as the efficient cause. Seeing the wonderful arrangement and management of the cosmic manifestation generally suggests that a living brain is behind this arrangement, for without a living brain such an arrangement could not exist. One should not imagine that such an arrangement can exist without conscious direction. In our practical experience we never see that inert bricks can themselves construct a big building.

"The example of the waterpot cannot be accepted because a waterpot has no perception of pleasure and distress. Such perception is within. Therefore the covering body, or the waterpot, cannot be synchronized with it.

"Sometimes the material scientist suggests that trees grow from the earth automatically, without assistance from a gardener, because that is a tendency of matter. They also consider the intuition of living creatures from birth to be material. But such material tendencies as bodily intuition cannot be accepted as independent, for they suggest the existence of a spirit soul within the body. Actually, the tree or the body of a living creature has no tendency or intuition; the tendency and intuition exist because the soul is present within the body. In this connection, the example of a car and driver may be given very profitably. The car has a tendency to turn right and left, but one cannot say that the car itself, as matter, turns right and left without the direction of a driver. A material car has neither tendencies nor intuitions independent of the intentions of the driver within the car. The same principle applies for the automatic growth of trees in the forest. The growth takes place because of the soul's presence within the tree.

"Sometimes foolish people take for granted that because scorpions are born from heaps of rice, the rice has produced the scorpions. The real fact, however, is this: the mother scorpion lays eggs within the rice, and by the proper fermentation of the rice the eggs give birth to several baby scorpions, which in due course come out. This does not mean that the rice gives birth to the scorpions. Similarly, sometimes bugs are seen to come from dirty beds. This does not mean, however, that the beds give birth to the bugs. It is the living soul that comes forth, taking advantage of the dirty condition of the bed. There are different kinds of living creatures. Some of them come from embryos, some from eggs and some from the fermentation of perspiration. Different living creatures have different sources of appearance, but one should not conclude that matter produces such living creatures.

"The example cited by materialists that trees automatically come from the earth follows the same principle. Taking advantage of a certain condition, a living entity comes from the earth. According to the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad, every living being is forced by divine superintendence to take a certain type of body according to his past deeds. There are many varieties of bodies, and because of a divine arrangement a living entity takes bodies of different shapes.

"When a person thinks 'I am doing this,' the 'I am' does not refer to the body. It refers to something more than the body, or within the body. As such, the body as it is has neither tendencies nor intuition; the tendencies and intuition belong to the soul within the body. Material scientists sometimes suggest that the tendencies of male and female bodies cause their union and that this is the cause of the birth of the child. But since the puruṣa, according to Sāṅkhya philosophy, is always unaffected, where does the tendency to give birth come from?

"Sometimes material scientists give the example that milk turns into curd automatically and that distilled water pouring from the clouds falls down to earth, produces different kinds of trees, and enters different kinds of flowers and fruits with different fragrances and tastes. Therefore, they say, matter produces varieties of material things on its own. In reply to this argument, the same proposition of the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad-that different kinds of living creatures are put into different kinds of bodies by the management of a superior power-is repeated. Under superior superintendence, various souls, according to their past activities, are given the chance to take a particular type of body, such as that of a tree, animal, bird or beast, and thus their different tendencies develop under these circumstances. The Bhagavad-gītā (13.22) also further affirms:

puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi
bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

'The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil among various species.' The soul is given different types of bodies. For example, were souls not given varieties of tree bodies, the different varieties of fruits and flowers could not be produced. Each class of tree produces a particular kind of fruit and flower; it is not that there is no distinction between the different classes. An individual tree does not produce flowers of different colors or fruits of different tastes. There are demarcated classes, as we find them among humans, animals, birds and other species. There are innumerable living entities, and their activities, performed in the material world according to the different qualities of the material modes of nature, give them the chance to have different kinds of life.

"Thus one should understand that pradhāna, matter, cannot act unless impelled by a living creature. The materialistic theory that matter independently acts cannot, therefore, be accepted. Matter is called prakṛti, which refers to female energy. A woman is prakṛti, a female. A female cannot produce a child without the association of a puruṣa, a man. The puruṣa causes the birth of a child because the man injects the soul, which is sheltered in the semen, into the womb of the woman. The woman, as the material cause, supplies the body of the soul, and as the efficient cause she gives birth to the child. But although the woman appears to be the material and efficient cause of the birth of a child, originally the puruṣa, the male, is the cause of the child. Similarly, this material world gives rise to varieties of manifestations due to the entrance of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu within the universe. He is present not only within the universe but within the bodies of all living creatures, as well as within the atom. We understand from the Brahma-saṁhitā that the Supersoul is present within the universe, within the atom and within the heart of every living creature. Therefore the theory that matter is the cause of the entire cosmic manifestation cannot be accepted by any man with sufficient knowledge of matter and spirit.

"Materialists sometimes give the argument that as straw eaten by a cow produces milk automatically, so material nature, under different circumstances, produces varieties of manifestations. Thus originally matter is the cause. In refuting this argument, we may say that an animal of the same species as the cow-namely, the bull-also eats straw like the cow but does not produce milk. Under the circumstances, it cannot be said that straw in connection with a particular species produces milk. The conclusion should be that there is superior management, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10), where the Lord says, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: 'This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings.' The Supreme Lord says, mayādhyakṣeṇa ('under My superintendence'). When He desires that the cow produce milk by eating straw, there is milk, and when He does not so desire it, the mixture of such straw cannot produce milk. If the way of material nature had been that straw produced milk, a stack of straw could also produce milk. But that is not possible. And the same straw given to a human female also cannot produce milk. That is the meaning of the Bhagavad-gītā's statement that only under superior orders does anything take place. Matter itself has no power to produce independently. The conclusion, therefore, is that matter, which has no self-knowledge, cannot be the cause of the material creation. The ultimate creator is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

"If matter were accepted as the original cause of creation, all the authorized scriptures in the world would be useless, for in every scripture, especially the Vedic scriptures like the Manu-smṛti, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is said to be the ultimate creator. The Manu-smṛti is considered the highest Vedic direction to humanity. Manu is the giver of law to mankind, and in the Manu-smṛti it is clearly stated that before the creation the entire universal space was darkness, without information and without variety, and was in a state of complete suspension, like a dream. Everything was darkness. The Supreme Personality of Godhead then entered the universal space, and although He is invisible, He created the visible cosmic manifestation. In the material world the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not manifested by His personal presence, but the presence of the cosmic manifestation in different varieties is the proof that everything has been created under His direction. He entered the universe with all creative potencies, and thus He removed the darkness of the unlimited space.

"The form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is described to be transcendental, very subtle, eternal, all-pervading, inconceivable and therefore nonmanifested to the material senses of a conditioned living creature. He desired to expand Himself into many living entities, and with such a desire He first created a vast expanse of water within the universal space and then impregnated that water with living entities. By that process of impregnation a massive body appeared, blazing like a thousand suns, and in that body was the first creative principle, Brahmā. The great Parāśara Ṛṣi has also confirmed this in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. He says that the cosmic manifestation visible to us is produced from Lord Viṣṇu and sustained under His protection. He is the principal maintainer and destroyer of the universal form.

"This cosmic manifestation is one of the diverse energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As a spider secretes saliva and weaves a web by its own movements but at the end winds the web within its body, so Lord Viṣṇu produces this cosmic manifestation from His transcendental body and at the end winds it up within Himself. All the great sages of the Vedic understanding have accepted that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original creator.

"It is sometimes claimed that the impersonal speculations of great philosophers are meant for the advancement of knowledge without religious ritualistic principles. But the religious ritualistic principles are actually meant for the advancement of spiritual knowledge. By performance of religious rituals one ultimately reaches the supreme goal of knowledge by understanding that Vāsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of everything. It is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gītā that even those who are advocates of knowledge only, without any religious ritualistic processes, advance in knowledge after many, many lifetimes of speculation and thus come to the conclusion that Vāsudeva is the supreme cause of everything that be. As a result of this achievement of the goal of life, such an advanced learned scholar or philosopher surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Religious ritualistic performances are actually meant to cleanse the contaminated mind in the material world, and the special feature of this Age of Kali is that one can easily execute the process of cleansing the mind of contamination by chanting the holy names of God-Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

"A Vedic injunction states, sarve vedā yat padam āmananti (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.15): all Vedic knowledge is searching after the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Similarly, another Vedic injunction states, nārāyaṇa-parā vedāḥ: the Vedas are meant for understanding Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Lord. Similarly, the Bhagavad-gītā also confirms, vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ: by all the Vedas, Kṛṣṇa is to be known. Therefore, the main purpose of understanding the Vedas, performing Vedic sacrifices and speculating on the Vedānta-sūtra is to understand Kṛṣṇa. Accepting the impersonalist view of voidness or the nonexistence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead negates all study of the Vedas. Impersonal speculation aims at disproving the conclusion of the Vedas. Therefore any impersonal speculative presentation should be understood to be against the principles of the Vedas or standard scriptures. Since the speculation of the impersonalists does not follow the principles of the Vedas, their conclusion must be considered to be against the Vedic principles. Anything not supported by the Vedic principles must be considered imaginary and lacking in standard proof. Therefore no impersonalist explanation of any Vedic literature can be accepted.

"If one tries to nullify the conclusions of the Vedas by accepting an unauthorized scripture or so-called scripture, it will be very hard for him to come to the right conclusion about the Absolute Truth. The system for adjusting two contradictory scriptures is to refer to the Vedas, for references from the Vedas are accepted as final judgments. When we refer to a particular scripture, it must be authorized, and for this authority it must strictly follow the Vedic injunctions. If someone presents an alternative doctrine he himself has manufactured, that doctrine will prove itself useless, for any doctrine that tries to prove that Vedic evidence is meaningless immediately proves itself meaningless. The followers of the Vedas unanimously accept the authority of Manu and Parāśara in the disciplic succession. Their statements, however, do not support the atheistic Kapila because the Kapila mentioned in the Vedas is a different Kapila, the son of Kardama and Devahūti. The atheist Kapila is a descendant of the dynasty of Agni and is one of the conditioned souls. But the Kapila who is the son of Kardama Muni is accepted as an incarnation of Vāsudeva. The Padma Purāṇa gives evidence that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vāsudeva takes birth in the incarnation of Kapila and, by His expansion of theistic Sāṅkhya philosophy, teaches all the demigods and a brāhmaṇa of the name Āsuri. In the doctrine of the atheist Kapila there are many statements directly against the Vedic principles. The atheist Kapila does not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He says that the living entity is himself the Supreme Lord and that no one is greater than him. His conceptions of so-called conditioned and liberated life are materialistic, and he refuses to accept the importance of immortal time. All such statements are against the principles of the Vedānta-sūtra."

TEXT 16

āpane puruṣa--viśvera 'nimitta'-kāraṇa

advaita-rūpe 'upādāna' hana nārāyaṇa

SYNONYMS

āpane—personally; puruṣa—Lord Viṣṇu; viśvera—of the entire material world; nimitta kāraṇa—the original cause; advaita-rūpe—in the form of Advaita; upādāna—the material cause; hana—becomes; nārāyaṇa—Lord Nārāyaṇa.

TRANSLATION

Lord Viṣṇu Himself is the efficient [nimitta] cause of the material world, and Nārāyaṇa in the form of Śrī Advaita is the material cause [upādāna].

TEXT 17

'nimittāṁśe' kare teṅho māyāte īkṣaṇa

'upādāna' advaita karena brahmāṇḍa-sṛjana

SYNONYMS

nimitta-aṁśe—in the portion as the original cause; kare—does; teṅho—He; māyāte—in the external energy; īkṣaṇa—glancing; upādāna—the material cause; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; karena—does; brahmāṇḍa-sṛjana—creation of the material world.

TRANSLATION

Lord Viṣṇu, in His efficient aspect, glances over the material energy, and Śrī Advaita, as the material cause, creates the material world.

TEXT 18

yadyapi sāṅkhya māne, 'pradhāna'--kāraṇa

jaḍa ha-ite kabhu nahe jagat-sṛjana

SYNONYMS

yadyapi—although; sāṅkhya—Sāṅkhya philosophy; māne—accepts; pradhāna—ingredients; kāraṇa—cause; jaḍa ha-ite—from matter; kabhu—at any time; nahe—there is not; jagat-sṛjana—the creation of the material world.

TRANSLATION

Although the Sāṅkhya philosophy accepts that the material ingredients are the cause, the creation of the world never arises from dead matter.

TEXT 19

nija sṛṣṭi-śakti prabhu sa�cāre pradhāne

īśvarera śaktye tabe haye ta' nirmāṇe

SYNONYMS

nija—own; sṛṣṭi-śakti—power for creation; prabhu—the Lord; sa�cāre—infuses; pradhāne—in the ingredients; īśvarera śaktye—by the power of the Lord; tabe—then; haye—there is; ta'-certainly; nirmāṇe—the beginning of creation.

TRANSLATION

The Lord infuses the material ingredients with His own creative potency. Then, by the power of the Lord, creation takes place.

TEXT 20

advaita-rūpe kare śakti-sa�cāraṇa

ataeva advaita hayena mukhya kāraṇa

SYNONYMS

advaita-rūpe—in the form of Advaita Ācārya; kare—does; śakti-sa�cāraṇa—infusion of the energy; ataeva—therefore; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; hayena—is; mukhya kāraṇa—the original cause.

TRANSLATION

In the form of Advaita He infuses the material ingredients with creative energy. Therefore, Advaita is the original cause of creation.

TEXT 21

advaita-ācārya koṭi-brahmāṇḍera kartā

āra eka eka mūrtye brahmāṇḍera bhartā

SYNONYMS

advaita-ācārya—of the name Advaita Ācārya; koṭi-brahmāṇḍera kartā—the creator of millions and millions of universes; āra—and; eka eka—each and every; mūrtye—by expansions; brahmāṇḍera bhartā—maintainer of the universe.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is the creator of millions and millions of universes, and by His expansions [as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu] He maintains each and every universe.

TEXT 22

sei nārāyaṇera mukhya aṅga,--advaita

'aṅga'-śabde aṁśa kari' kahe bhāgavata

SYNONYMS

sei—that; nārāyaṇera—of Lord Nārāyaṇa; mukhya aṅga—the primary part; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; aṅga-śabde—by the word aṅga; aṁśa kari'-taking as a plenary portion; kahe—says; bhāgavata—Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita is the principal limb [aṅga] of Nārāyaṇa. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam speaks of "limb" [aṅga] as "a plenary portion" [aṁśa] of the Lord.

TEXT 23

nārāyaṇas tvaṁ na hi sarva-dehinām

ātmāsy adhīśākhila-loka-sākṣī

nārāyaṇo 'ṅgaṁ nara-bhū-jalāyanāt

tac cāpi satyaṁ na tavaiva māyā

SYNONYMS

nārāyaṇaḥ—Lord Nārāyaṇa; tvam—You; na—not; hi—certainly; sarva—all; dehinām—of the embodied beings; ātmā—the Supersoul; asi—You are; adhīśa—O Lord; akhila-loka—of all the worlds; sākṣī—the witness; nārāyaṇaḥ—known as Nārāyaṇa; aṅgam—plenary portion; nara—of Nara; bhū—born; jala—in the water; ayanāt—due to the place of refuge; tat—that; ca—and; api—certainly; satyam—highest truth; na—not; tava—Your; eva—at all; māyā—the illusory energy.

TRANSLATION

"O Lord of lords, You are the seer of all creation. You are indeed everyone's dearest life. Are You not, therefore, my father, Nārāyaṇa? 'Nārāyaṇa' refers to one whose abode is in the water born from Nara [Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu ], and that Nārāyaṇa is Your plenary portion. All Your plenary portions are transcendental. They are absolute and are not creations of māyā."

PURPORT

This text is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.14).

TEXT 24

īśvarera 'aṅga' aṁśa--cid-ānanda-maya

māyāra sambandha nāhi' ei śloke kaya

SYNONYMS

iśvarera—of the Lord; aṅga—limb; aṁśa—part; cit-ānanda-maya—all-spiritual; māyāra—of the material energy; sambandha—relationship; nāhi'-there is not; ei śloke—this verse; kaya—says.

TRANSLATION

This verse describes that the limbs and plenary portions of the Lord are all spiritual; they have no relationship with the material energy.

TEXT 25

'aṁśa' nā kahiyā, kene kaha tāṅre 'aṅga'

'aṁśa' haite 'aṅga,' yāte haya antaraṅga

SYNONYMS

aṁśa—part; nā kahiyā—not saying; kene—why; kaha—you say; tāṅre—Him; aṅga—limb; aṁśa haite—than a part; aṅga—limb; yāte—because; haya—is; antaraṅga—more.

TRANSLATION

Why has Śrī Advaita been called a limb and not a part? The reason is that "limb" implies greater intimacy.

TEXT 26

mahā-viṣṇura aṁśa--advaita guṇa-dhāma

īśvare abheda, te�i 'advaita' pūrṇa nāma

SYNONYMS

mahā-viṣṇura—of Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu; aṁśa—part; advaita—Advaita Ācārya; guṇa-dhāma—reservoir of all attributes; īśvare—from the Lord; abheda—nondifferent; te�i—therefore; advaita—nondifferent; pūrṇa nāma—full name.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita, who is a reservoir of virtues, is the main limb of Mahā-Viṣṇu. His full name is Advaita, for He is identical in all respects with that Lord.

TEXT 27

pūrve yaiche kaila sarva-viśvera sṛjana

avatari' kaila ebe bhakti-pravartana

SYNONYMS

pūrve—formerly; yaiche—as; kaila—performed; sarva—all; viśvera—of the universes; sṛjana—creation; avatari'-taking incarnation; kaila—did; ebe—now; bhakti-pravartana—inauguration of the bhakti cult.

TRANSLATION

As He had formerly created all the universes, now He descended to introduce the path of bhakti.

TEXT 28

jīva nistārila kṛṣṇa-bhakti kari' dāna

gītā-bhāgavate kaila bhaktira vyākhyāna

SYNONYMS

jīva—the living entities; nistārila—delivered; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; kari'-making; dāna—gift; gītā-bhāgavate—in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; kaila—performed; bhaktira vyākhyāna—explanation of devotional service.

TRANSLATION

He delivered all living beings by offering the gift of kṛṣṇa-bhakti. He explained the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the light of devotional service.

PURPORT

Although Śrī Advaita Prabhu is an incarnation of Viṣṇu, for the welfare of the conditioned souls He manifested Himself as a servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and throughout all His activities He showed Himself to be an eternal servitor. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda also manifested the same principle, although They also belong to the category of Viṣṇu. If Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda and Advaita Prabhu had exhibited Their all-powerful Viṣṇu potencies within this material world, people would have become greater impersonalists, monists and self-worshipers than they had already become under the spell of this age. Therefore the Personality of Godhead and His different incarnations and forms played the parts of devotees to instruct the conditioned souls how to approach the transcendental stage of devotional service. Advaita Ācārya especially intended to teach the conditioned souls about devotional service. The word ācārya means "teacher."The special function of such a teacher is to make people Kṛṣṇa conscious. A bona fide teacher following in the footsteps of Advaita Ācārya has no other business than to spread the principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. The real qualification of an ācārya is that he presents himself as a servant of the Supreme. Such a bona fide ācārya can never support the demoniac activities of atheistic men who present themselves as God. It is the main business of an ācārya to defy such imposters posing as God before the innocent public.

TEXT 29

bhakti-upadeśa vinu tāṅra nāhi kārya

ataeva nāma haila 'advaita ācārya'

SYNONYMS

bhakti-upadeśa—instruction of devotional service; vinu—without; tāṅra—His; nāhi—there is not; kārya—occupation; ataeva—therefore; nāma—the name; haila—became; advaita ācārya—the supreme teacher (ācārya) Advaita Prabhu.

TRANSLATION

Since He has no other occupation than to teach devotional service, His name is Advaita Ācārya.

TEXT 30

vaiṣṇavera guru teṅho jagatera ārya

dui-nāma-milane haila 'advaita-ācārya'

SYNONYMS

vaiṣṇavera—of the devotees; guru—spiritual master; teṅho—He; jagatera ārya—the most respectable personality in the world; dui-nāma-milane—by combining the two names; haila—there was; advaita-ācārya—the name Advaita Ācārya.

TRANSLATION

He is the spiritual master of all devotees and is the most revered personality in the world. By a combination of these two names, His name is Advaita Ācārya.

PURPORT

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is the prime spiritual master of the Vaiṣṇavas, and He is worshipable by all Vaiṣṇavas. Vaiṣṇavas must follow in the footsteps of Advaita Ācārya, for by so doing one can actually engage in the devotional service of the Lord.

TEXT 31

kamala-nayanera teṅho, yāte 'aṅga' 'aṁśa'

'kamalākṣa' kari dhare nāma avataṁsa

SYNONYMS

kamala-nayanera—of the lotus-eyed; teṅho—He; yāte—since; aṅga—limb; aṁśa—part; kamala-akṣa—the lotus-eyed; kari'-accepting that; dhare—takes; nāma—the name; avataṁsa—partial expansion.

TRANSLATION

Since He is a limb or part of the lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, He also bears the name Kamalākṣa.

TEXT 32

īśvara-sārūpya pāya pāriṣada-gaṇa

catur-bhuja, pīta-vāsa, yaiche nārāyaṇa

SYNONYMS

īśvara-sārūpya—the same bodily features as the Lord; pāya—gets; pāriṣada-gaṇa—the associates; catur-bhuja—four hands; pīta-vāsa—yellow dress; yaiche—just as; nārāyaṇa—Lord Nārāyaṇa.

TRANSLATION

His associates have the same bodily features as the Lord. They all have four arms and are dressed in yellow garments like Nārāyaṇa.

TEXT 33

advaita-ācārya--īśvarera aṁśa-varya

tāṅra tattva-nāma-guṇa, sakali āścarya

SYNONYMS

advaita-ācārya—Advaita Ācārya Prabhu; īśvarera—of the Supreme Lord; aṁśa-varya—principal part; tāṅra—His; tattva—truths; nāma—names; guṇa—attributes; sakali—all; āścarya—wonderful.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is the principal limb of the Supreme Lord. His truths, names and attributes are all wonderful.

TEXT 34

yāṅhāra tulasī-jale, yāṅhāra huṅkāre

sva-gaṇa sahite caitanyera avatāre

SYNONYMS

yāṅhāra—whose; tulasī-jale—by tulasī leaves and Ganges water; yāṅhāra—of whom; huṅkāre—by the loud voice; sva-gaṇa—His personal associates; sahite—accompanied by; caitanyera—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; avatāre—in the incarnation.

TRANSLATION

He worshiped Kṛṣṇa with tulasī leaves and water of the Ganges and called for Him in a loud voice. Thus Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared on earth, accompanied by His personal associates.

TEXT 35

yāṅra dvārā kaila prabhu kīrtana pracāra

yāṅra dvārā kaija prabhu jagat nistāra

SYNONYMS

yāṅra dvārā—by whom; kaila—did; prabhu—Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kīrtana pracāra—spreading of the saṅkīrtana movement; yāṅra dvārā—by whom; kaila—did; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jagat nistāra—deliverance of the entire world.

TRANSLATION

It is through Him [Advaita Ācārya] that Lord Caitanya spread the saṅkīrtana movement and through Him that He delivered the world.

TEXT 36

ācārya gosā�ira guṇa-mahimā apāra

jīva-kīṭa kothāya pāibeka tāra pāra

SYNONYMS

ācārya gosā�ira—of Advaita Ācārya; guṇa-mahimā—the glory of the attributes; apāra—unfathomable; jīva-kīṭa—a living being who is just like a worm; kothāya—where; pāibeka—will get; tāra—of that; pāra—the other side.

TRANSLATION

The glory and attributes of Advaita Ācārya are unlimited. How can the insignificant living entities fathom them?

TEXT 37

ācārya gosā�i caitanyera mukhya aṅga

āra eka aṅga tāṅra prabhu nityānanda

SYNONYMS

ācārya gosā�i—Advaita Ācārya; caitanyera—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mukhya—primary; aṅga—part; āra—another; eka—one; aṅga—part; tāṅra—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; prabhu nityānanda—Lord Nityānanda.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is a principal limb of Lord Caitanya. Another limb of the Lord is Nityānanda Prabhu.

TEXT 38

prabhura upāṅga--śrīvāsādi bhakta-gaṇa

hasta-mukha-netra-aṅga cakrādy-astra-sama

SYNONYMS

prabhura upāṅga—Lord Caitanya's smaller parts; śrīvāsa-ādi—headed by Śrīvāsa; bhakta-gaṇa—the devotees; hasta—hands; mukha—face; netra—eyes; aṅga—parts of the body; cakra-ādi—the disc; astra—weapons; sama—like.

TRANSLATION

The devotees headed by Śrīvāsa are His smaller limbs. They are like His hands, face and eyes and His disc and other weapons.

TEXT 39

e-saba la-iyā caitanya-prabhura vihāra

e-saba la-iyā karena vā�chita pracāra

SYNONYMS

e-saba—all these; la-iyā—taking; caitanya-prabhura—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; vihāra—pastimes; e-saba—all of them; la-iyā—taking; karena—does; vā�chita pracāra—spreading His mission.

TRANSLATION

With all of them Lord Caitanya performed His pastimes, and with them He spread His mission.

TEXT 40

mādhavendra-purīra iṅho śiṣya, ei j�āne

ācārya-gosā�ire prabhu guru kari' māne

SYNONYMS

mādhavendra-purīra—of Mādhavendra Purī; iṅho—Advaita Ācārya; śiṣya—disciple; ei j�āne—by this consideration; ācārya-gosā�ire—unto Advaita Ācārya; prabhu—Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; guru—spiritual master; kari'-taking as; māne—obeys Him.

TRANSLATION

Thinking "He [Śrī Advaita Ācārya] is a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī," Lord Caitanya obeys Him, respecting Him as His spiritual master.

PURPORT

Śrī Mādhavendra Purī is one of the ācāryas in the disciplic succession from Madhvācārya. Mādhavendra Purī had two principal disciples, Īśvara Purī and Śrī Advaita Prabhu. Therefore the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava-sampradāya is a disciplic succession from Madhvācārya. This fact has been accepted in the authorized books known as Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā and Prameya-ratnāvalī, as well as by Gopāla Guru Gosvāmī. The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā clearly states the disciplic succession of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas as follows: "Lord Brahmā is the direct disciple of Viṣṇu, the Lord of the spiritual sky. His disciple is Nārada, Nārada's disciple is Vyāsa, and Vyāsa's disciples are Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Madhvācārya. Padmanābha Ācārya is the disciple of Madhvācārya, and Narahari is the disciple of Padmanābha Ācārya. Mādhava is the disciple of Narahari, Akṣobhya is the direct disciple of Mādhava, and Jayatīrtha is the disciple of Akṣobhya. Jayatīrtha's disciple is J�ānasindhu, and his disciple is Mahānidhi. Vidyānidhi is the disciple of Mahānidhi, and Rājendra is the disciple of Vidyānidhi. Jayadharma is the disciple of Rājendra. Puruṣottama is the disciple of Jayadharma. Śrīmān Lakṣmīpati is the disciple of Vyāsatīrtha, who is the disciple of Puruṣottama. And Mādhavendra Purī is the disciple of Lakṣmīpati."

TEXT 41

laukika-līlāte dharma-maryādā-rakṣaṇa

stuti-bhaktye karena tāṅra caraṇa vandana

SYNONYMS

laukika—popular; līlāte—in pastimes; dharma-maryādā—etiquette of religious principles; rakṣaṇa—observing; stuti—prayers; bhaktye—by devotion; karena—He does; tāṅra—of Advaita Ācārya; caraṇa—lotus feet; vandana—worshiping.

TRANSLATION

To maintain the proper etiquette for the principles of religion, Lord Caitanya bows down at the lotus feet of Śrī Advaita Ācārya with reverential prayers and devotion.

TEXT 42

caitanya-gosā�ike ācārya kare 'prabhu'-j�āna

āpanāke karena tāṅra 'dāsa'-abhimāna

SYNONYMS

caitanya-gosā�ike—unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; kare—does; prabhu-j�āna—considering His master; āpanāke—unto Himself; karena—does; tāṅra—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dāsa—as a servant; abhimāna—conception.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya, however, considers Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu His master, and He thinks of Himself as a servant of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

PURPORT

The Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu of Rūpa Gosvāmī explains the superexcellent quality of devotional service as follows:

brahmānando bhaved eṣa
cet parārdha-guṇī-kṛtaḥ
naiti bhakti-sukhāmbhodheḥ
paramāṇu-tulām api

"If multiplied billions of times, the transcendental pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman realization still could not compare to even an atomic portion of the ocean of bhakti, or transcendental service." (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.38) Similarly, the Bhāvārtha-dīpikā states:

tvat-kathāmṛta-pāthodhau
viharanto mahā-mudaḥ
kurvanti kṛtinaḥ kecic
catur-vargaṁ tṛṇopamam

"For those who take pleasure in the transcendental topics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the four progressive realizations of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation, all combined together, cannot compare, any more than a straw, to the happiness derived from hearing about the transcendental activities of the Lord." Those who engage in the transcendental service of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, being relieved of all material enjoyment, have no attraction to topics of impersonal monism. In the Padma Purāṇa, in connection with the glorification of the month of Kārttika, it is stated that devotees pray:

varaṁ deva mokṣaṁ na mokṣāvadhiṁ vā
na cānyaṁ vṛṇe 'haṁ vareśād apīha
idaṁ te vapur nātha gopāla-bālaṁ
sadā me manasy āvirāstāṁ kim anyaiḥ

kuverātmajau baddha-mūrtyaiva yadvat
tvayā mocitau bhakti-bhājau kṛtau ca
tathā prema-bhaktiṁ svakāṁ me prayaccha
na mokṣe graho me 'sti dāmodareha

"Dear Lord, always remembering Your childhood pastimes at Vṛndāvana is better for us than aspiring to merge into the impersonal Brahman. During Your childhood pastimes You liberated the two sons of Kuvera and made them great devotees of Your Lordship. Similarly, I wish that instead of giving me liberation You may award me such devotion unto You." In the Hayaśīrṣīya-śrī-nārāyaṇa-vyūha-stava, in the chapter called Nārāyaṇa-stotra, it is stated:

na dharmaṁ kāmam arthaṁ vā
mokṣaṁ vā vara-deśvara
prārthaye tava pādābje
dāsyam evābhikāmaye

"My dear Lord, I do not wish to become a man of religion or a master of economic development or sense gratification, nor do I wish for liberation. Although I can have all these from You, the supreme bestower of benedictions, I do not pray for all these. I simply pray that I may always be engaged as a servant of Your lotus feet." Nṛsiṁhadeva offered Prahlāda Mahārāja all kinds of benedictions, but Prahlāda Mahārāja did not accept any of them, for he simply wanted to engage in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. Similarly, a pure devotee wishes to be blessed like Mahārāja Prahlāda by being thus endowed with devotional service. Devotees also offer their respects to Hanumān, who always remained a servant of Lord Rāma. The great devotee Hanumān prayed:

bhava-bandha-cchide tasyai
spṛhayāmi na muktaye
bhavān prabhur ahaṁ dāsa
iti yatra vilupyate

"I do not wish to take liberation or to merge in the Brahman effulgence, where the conception of being a servant of the Lord is completely lost." Similarly, in the Nārada-pa�carātra it is stated:

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣeṣu
necchā mama kadācana
tvat-pāda-paṅkajasyādho
jīvitaṁ dīyatāṁ mama

"I do not want any one of the four desirable stations. I simply want to engage as a servant of the lotus feet of the Lord." King Kulaśekhara, in his very famous book Mukunda-mālā-stotra, prays:

nāhaṁ vande tava caraṇayor dvandvam advandva-hetoḥ
kumbhī-pākaṁ gurum api hare nārakaṁ nāpanetum
ramyā-rāmā-mṛdu-tanu-latā-nandane nābhirantuṁ
bhāve bhāve hṛdaya-bhavane bhāvayeyaṁ bhavantam

"My Lord, I do not worship You to be liberated from this material entanglement, nor do I wish to save myself from the hellish condition of material existence, nor do I ever pray for a beautiful wife to enjoy in a nice garden. I wish only that I may always be in full ecstasy with the pleasure of serving Your Lordship." (M.m.s. 4) In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also there are many instances in the Third and Fourth cantos in which devotees pray to the Lord simply to be engaged in His service, and nothing else (Bhāg. 3.4.15, 3.25.34, 3.25.36, 4.8.22, 4.9.10 and 4.20.24).

TEXT 43

sei abhimāna-sukhe āpanā pāsare

'kṛṣṇa-dāsa' hao--jīve upadeśa kare

SYNONYMS

sei—that; abhimāna-sukhe—in the happiness of that conception; āpanā—Himself; pāsare—He forgets; kṛṣṇa-dāsa hao—You are servants of Lord Kṛṣṇa; jīve—the living beings; upadeśa kare—He instructs.

TRANSLATION

He forgets Himself in the joy of that conception and teaches all living entities, "You are servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu."

PURPORT

The transcendental devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so ecstatic that even the Lord Himself plays the part of a devotee. Forgetting Himself to be the Supreme, He personally teaches the whole world how to render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 44

kṛṣṇa-dāsa-abhimāne ye ānanda-sindhu

koṭī-brahma-sukha nahe tāra eka bindu

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa-dāsa-abhimāne—under this impression of being a servant of Kṛṣṇa; ye—that; ānanda-sindhu—ocean of transcendental bliss; koṭī-brahma-sukha—ten million times the transcendental bliss of becoming one with the Absolute; nahe—not; tāra—of the ocean of transcendental bliss; eka—one; bindu—drop.

TRANSLATION

The conception of servitude to Śrī Kṛṣṇa generates such an ocean of joy in the soul that even the joy of oneness with the Absolute, if multiplied ten million times, could not compare to a drop of it.

TEXT 45

mu�i ye caitanya-dāsa āra nityānanda

dāsa-bhāva-sama nahe anyatra ānanda

SYNONYMS

mu�i—I; ye—that; caitanya-dāsa—servant of Lord Caitanya; āra—and; nityānanda—of Lord Nityānanda; dāsa-bhāva—the emotion of being a servant; sama—equal to; nahe—not; anyatra—anywhere else; ānanda—transcendental bliss.

TRANSLATION

He says, "Nityānanda and I are servants of Lord Caitanya." Nowhere else is there such joy as that which is tasted in this emotion of servitude.

TEXT 46

parama-preyasī lakṣmī hṛdaye vasati

teṅho dāsya-sukha māge kariyā minati

SYNONYMS

parama-preyasī—the most beloved; lakṣmī—the goddess of fortune; hṛdaye—on the chest; vasati—residence; teṅho—she; dāsya-sukha—the happiness of being a maidservant; māge—begs; kariyā—offering; minati—prayers.

TRANSLATION

The most beloved goddess of fortune resides on the chest of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, yet she too, earnestly praying, begs for the joy of service at His feet.

TEXT 47

dāsya-bhāve ānandita pāriṣada-gaṇa

vidhi, bhava, nārada āra śuka, sanātana

SYNONYMS

dāsya-bhāve—in the conception of being a servant; ānandita—very pleased; pāriṣada-gaṇa—all the associates; vidhi—Lord Brahmā; bhava—Lord Śiva; nārada—the great sage Nārada; āra—and; śuka—Śukadeva Gosvāmī; sanātana—and Sanātana.

TRANSLATION

All the associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa, such as Brahmā, Śiva, Nārada, Śuka and Sanātana, are very much pleased in the sentiment of servitude.

TEXT 48

nityānanda avadhūta sabāte āgala

caitanyera dāsya-preme ha-ilā pāgala

SYNONYMS

nityānanda avadhūta—the mendicant Lord Nityānanda; sabāte—among all; āgala—foremost; caitanyera dāsya-preme—in the emotional ecstatic love of being a servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ha-ilā pāgala—became mad.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Nityānanda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the associates of Lord Caitanya. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Caitanya.

TEXTS 49-50

śrīvāsa, haridāsa, rāmadāsa, gadādhara

murāri, mukunda, candraśekhara, vakreśvara

e-saba paṇḍita-loka parama-mahattva

caitanyera dāsye sabāya karaye unmatta

SYNONYMS

śrīvāsa—Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura; haridāsa—Haridāsa Ṭhākura; rāmadāsa—Rāmadāsa; gadādhara—Gadādhara; murāri—Murāri; mukunda—Mukunda; candraśekhara—Candraśekhara; vakreśvara—Vakreśvara; e-saba—all of them; paṇḍita-loka—very learned scholars; parama-mahattva—very much glorified; caitanyera—of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dāsye—the servitude; sabāya—all of them; karaye unmatta—makes mad.

TRANSLATION

Śrīvāsa, Haridāsa, Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara, Murāri, Mukunda, Candraśekhara and Vakreśvara are all glorious and are all learned scholars, but the sentiment of servitude to Lord Caitanya makes them mad in ecstasy.

TEXT 51

ei mata gāya, nāce, kare aṭṭahāsa

loke upadeśe,--'hao caitanyera dāsa'

SYNONYMS

ei mata—in this way; gāya—chant; nāce—dance; kare—do; aṭṭa-hāsa—laughing like madmen; loke—unto the people in general; upadeśe—instruct; hao—just become; caitanyera dāsa—servants of Śrī Caitanya.

TRANSLATION

Thus they dance, sing and laugh like madmen, and they instruct everyone, "Just be loving servants of Lord Caitanya."

TEXT 52

caitanya-gosā�i more kare guru j�āna

tathāpiha mora haya dāsa-abhimāna

SYNONYMS

caitanya-gosā�i-Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; more-unto Me; kare-does; guru-j�āna-consideration as a spiritual master; tathāpiha-still; mora-My; haya-there is; dāsa-abhimāna-the conception of being His servant.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Advaita Ācārya thinks, "Lord Caitanya considers Me His spiritual master, yet I feel Myself to be only His servant."

TEXT 53

kṛṣṇa-premera ei eka apūrva prabhāva

guru-sama-laghuke karāya dāsya-bhāva

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa-premera—of love of Kṛṣṇa; ei—this; eka—one; apūrva prabhāva—unprecedented influence; guru—to those on the level of the spiritual master; sama—equal level; laghuke—unto the less important; karāya—makes; dāsya-bhāva—the conception of being a servant.

TRANSLATION

Love for Kṛṣṇa has this one unique effect: it imbues superiors, equals and inferiors with the spirit of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

PURPORT

There are two kinds of devotional service: the way of pā�carātrika regulative principles and the way of bhāgavata transcendental loving service. The love of Godhead of those engaged in pā�carātrika regulative principles depends more or less on the opulent and reverential platform, but the worship of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is purely on the platform of transcendental love. Even persons who play as the superiors of Kṛṣṇa also take the chance to offer transcendental loving service to the Lord. The service attitude of the devotees who play the parts of superiors of the Lord is very difficult to understand, but can be very plainly understood in connection with the superexcellence of their particular service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. A vivid example is the service of mother Yaśodā to Kṛṣṇa, which is distinct. In the feature of Nārāyaṇa, the Lord can accept services only from His associates who play parts in which they are equal to or less than Him, but in the feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa He accepts service very plainly from His fathers, teachers and other elders who are His superiors, as well as from His equals and His subordinates. This is very wonderful.

TEXT 54

ihāra pramāṇa śuna--śāstrera vyākhyāna

mahad-anubhava yāte sudṛḍha pramāṇa

SYNONYMS

ihāra—of this; pramāṇa—evidence; śuna—please hear; śāstrera vyākhyāna—the description in the revealed scriptures; mahat-anubhava—the conception of great souls; yāte—by which; su-dṛḍha—strong; pramāṇa—evidence.

TRANSLATION

For evidence, please listen to the examples described in the revealed scriptures, which are also corroborated by the realization of great souls.

TEXTS 55-56

anyera kā kathā, vraje nanda mahāśaya

tāra sama 'guru' kṛṣṇera āra keha naya

śuddha-vātsalye īśvara-j�āna nāhi tāra

tāhākei preme karāya dāsya-anukāra

SYNONYMS

anyera—of others; kā—what; kathā—to speak; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; nanda mahāśaya—Nanda Mahārāja; tāra sama—like him; guru—a superior; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āra—another; keha—anyone; naya—not; śuddha-vātsalye—in transcendental paternal love; īśvara-j�āna—conception of the Supreme Lord; nāhi—not; tāra—his; tāhākei—unto him; preme—ecstatic love; karāya—makes; dāsya-anukāra—the conception of being a servant.

TRANSLATION

Although no one is a more respected elder for Kṛṣṇa than Nanda Mahārāja in Vraja, who in transcendental paternal love has no knowledge that his son is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, still ecstatic love makes him, what to speak of others, feel himself to be a servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 57

teṅho rati-mati māge kṛṣṇera caraṇe

tāhāra śrī-mukha-vāṇī tāhāte pramāṇe

SYNONYMS

teṅho—he also; rati-mati—affection and attraction; māge—begs; kṛṣṇera caraṇe—unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa; tāhāra—his; śrī-mukha-vāṇī—words from his mouth; tāhāte—in that; pramāṇe—evidence.

TRANSLATION

He too prays for attachment and devotion to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as the words from his own mouth give evidence.

TEXTS 58-59

śuna uddhava, satya, kṛṣṇa--āmāra tanaya

teṅho īśvara--hena yadi tomāra mane laya

tathāpi tāṅhāte rahu mora mano-vṛtti

tomāra īśvara-kṛṣṇe hauka mora mati

SYNONYMS

śuna uddhava—my dear Uddhava, please hear me; satya—the truth; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; āmāra tanaya—my son; teṅho—He; īśvara—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hena—thus; yadi—if; tomāra—your; mane—the mind; laya—takes; tathāpi—still; tāṅhāte—unto Him; rahu—let there be; mora—my; manaḥ-vrtti—mental functions; tomāra—your; īśvara-kṛṣṇe—to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord; hauka—let there be; mora—my; mati—attention.

TRANSLATION

"My dear Uddhava, please hear me. In truth Kṛṣṇa is my son, but even if you think that He is God, I would still bear toward Him my own feelings for my son. May my mind be attached to your Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 60

manaso vṛttayo naḥ syuḥ

kṛṣṇa-pādāmbujāśrayāḥ

vāco 'bhidhāyinīr nāmnāṁ

kāyas tat-prahvaṇādiṣu

SYNONYMS

manasaḥ—of the mind; vṛttayaḥ—activities (thinking, feeling and willing); naḥ—of us; syuḥ—let there be; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pāda-ambuja—the lotus feet; āśrayāḥ—those sheltered by; vācaḥ—the words; abhidhāyinīḥ—speaking; nāmnām—of His holy names; kāyaḥ—the body; tat—to Him; prahvaṇa-ādiṣu—bowing down to Him, etc.

TRANSLATION

"May our minds be attached to the lotus feet of your Lord Kṛṣṇa, may our tongues chant His holy names, and may our bodies lie prostrate before Him.

TEXT 61

karmabhir bhrāmyamāṇānāṁ

yatra kvāpīśvarecchayā

maṅgalācaritair dānai

ratir naḥ kṛṣṇa īśvare

SYNONYMS

karmabhiḥ—by the activities; bhrāmyamāṇānām—of those wandering within the material universe; yatra—wherever; kva api—anywhere; īśvara-icchayā—by the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead; maṅgala-ācaritaiḥ—by auspicious activities; dānaiḥ—like charity and philanthropy; ratiḥ—the attraction; naḥ—our; kṛṣṇe—in Kṛṣṇa; īśvare—the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

"Wherever we wander in the material universe under the influence of karma by the will of the Lord, may our auspicious activities cause our attraction to Lord Kṛṣṇa to increase."

PURPORT

These verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.66-67) were spoken by the denizens of Vṛndāvana, headed by Mahārāja Nanda and his associates, to Uddhava, who had come from Mathurā.

TEXT 62

śrīdāmādi vraje yata sakhāra nicaya

aiśvarya-j�āna-hīna, kevala-sakhya-maya

SYNONYMS

śrīdāmā-ādi—Kṛṣṇa's friends, headed by Śrīdāmā; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; yata—all; sakhāra—of the friends; nicaya—the group; aiśvarya—of opulence; j�āna—knowledge; hīna—without; kevala—purely; sakhya-maya—fraternal affection.

TRANSLATION

Lord Kṛṣṇa's friends in Vṛndāvana, headed by Śrīdāmā, have pure fraternal affection for Lord Kṛṣṇa and have no idea of His opulences.

TEXT 63

kṛṣṇa-saṅge yuddha kare, skandhe ārohaṇa

tārā dāsya-bhāve kare caraṇa-sevana

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa-saṅge—with Kṛṣṇa; yuddha kare—fight; skandhe—on His shoulders; ārohaṇa—getting up; tārā—they; dāsya-bhāve—in the conception of being Lord Kṛṣṇa's servants; kare—do; caraṇa-sevana—worship the lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

Although they fight with Him and climb upon His shoulders, they worship His lotus feet in a spirit of servitude.

TEXT 64

pāda-saṁvāhanaṁ cakruḥ

kecit tasya mahātmanaḥ

apare hata-pāpmāno

vyajanaiḥ samavījayan

SYNONYMS

pāda-saṁvāhanam—massaging the feet; cakruḥ—performed; kecit—some of them; tasya—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; mahā-ātmanaḥ—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; apare—others; hata—destroyed; pāpmānaḥ—whose resultant actions of sinful life; vyajanaiḥ—with hand-held fans; samavījayan—fanned very pleasingly.

TRANSLATION

"Some of the friends of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, massaged His feet, and others whose sinful reactions had been destroyed fanned Him with hand-held fans."

PURPORT

This verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.15.17), describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma were playing with the cowherd boys after killing Dhenukāsura in Tālavana.

TEXTS 65-66

kṛṣṇera preyasī vraje yata gopī-gaṇa

yāṅra pada-dhūli kare uddhava prārthana

yāṅ-sabāra upare kṛṣṇera priya nāhi āna

tāṅhārā āpanāke kare dāsī-abhimāna

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; preyasī—the beloved girls; vraje—in Vṛndāvana; yata—all; gopī-gaṇa—the gopīs; yāṅra—of whom; pada-dhūli—the dust of the feet; kare—does; uddhava—of the name Uddhava; prārthana—desiring; yāṅ-sabāra—all of them; upare—beyond; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; priya—dear; nāhi—there is not; āna—anyone else; tāṅhārā—all of them; āpanāke—to themselves; kare—do; dāsī-abhimāna—the conception of being maidservants.

TRANSLATION

Even the beloved girlfriends of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, the dust of whose feet was desired by Śrī Uddhava and beyond whom no one is more dear to Kṛṣṇa, regard themselves as Kṛṣṇa's maidservants.

TEXT 67

vraja-janārti-han vīra yoṣitāṁ

nija-jana-smaya-dhvaṁsana-smita

bhaja sakhe bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ sma no

jala-ruhānanaṁ cāru darśaya

SYNONYMS

vraja-jana-ārti-han—O one who diminishes all the painful conditions of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana; vīra—O hero; yoṣitām—of women; nija—personal; jana—of the associates; smaya—the pride; dhvaṁsana—destroying; smita—whose smile; bhaja—worship; sakhe—O dear friend; bhavat-kiṅkarīḥ—Your servants; sma—certainly; naḥ—unto us; jala-ruha-ānanam—a face exactly like a lotus flower; cāru—attractive; darśaya—please show.

TRANSLATION

"O Lord, remover of the afflictions of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana! O hero of all women! O Lord who destroy the pride of Your devotees by Your sweet, gentle smile! O friend! We are Your maidservants. Please fulfill our desires and show us Your attractive lotus face."

PURPORT

This verse in connection with the rāsa dance of Kṛṣṇa with the gopīs is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.6). When Kṛṣṇa disappeared from His companions in the course of dancing, the gopīs sang like this in separation from Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 68

api bata madhu-puryām ārya-putro 'dhunāste

smarati sa pitṛ-gehān saumya bandhūṁś ca gopān

kvacid api sa kathāṁ naḥ kiṅkariṇāṁ gṛṇīte

bhujam aguru-sugandhaṁ mūrdhny adhāsyat kadā nu

SYNONYMS

api—certainly; bata—regrettable; madhu-puryām—in the city of Mathurā; ārya-putraḥ—the son of Nanda Mahārāja; adhunā—now; āste—resides; smarati—remembers; saḥ—He; pitṛ-gehān—the household affairs of His father; saumya—O great soul (Uddhava); bandhūn—His many friends; ca—and; gopān—the cowherd boys; kvacit—sometimes; api—or; saḥ—He; kathām—talks; naḥ—of us; kiṅkarīṇām—of the maidservants; gṛṇīte—relates; bhujam—hand; aguru-su-gandham—having the fragrance of aguru; mūrdhni—on the head; adhāsyat—will keep; kadā—when; nu—may be.

TRANSLATION

"O Uddhava! It is indeed regrettable that Kṛṣṇa resides in Mathurā. Does He remember His father's household affairs and His friends, the cowherd boys? O great soul! Does He ever talk about us, His maidservants? When will He lay on our heads His aguru-scented hand?"

PURPORT

This verse appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.21) in the section known as the Bhramara-gītā. When Uddhava came to Vṛndāvana, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, in complete separation from Kṛṣṇa, sang like this.

TEXTS 69-70

tāṅ-sabāra kathā rahu,--śrīmatī rādhikā

sabā haite sakalāṁśe parama-adhikā

teṅho yāṅra dāsī hai�ā sevena caraṇa

yāṅra prema-guṇe kṛṣṇa baddha anukṣaṇa

SYNONYMS

tāṅ-sabāra—of the gopīs; kathā—talk; rahu—let alone; śrīmatī rādhikā—Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; sabā haite—than all of them; sakala-aṁśe—in every respect; parama-adhikā—highly elevated; teṅho—She also; yāṅra—whose; dāsī—maidservant; hai�ā—becoming; sevana—worships; caraṇa—the lotus feet; yāṅra—whose; prema-guṇe—because of loving attributes; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; baddha—obliged; anukṣaṇa—always.

TRANSLATION

What to speak of the other gopīs, even Śrī Rādhikā, who in every respect is the most elevated of them all and who has bound Śrī Kṛṣṇa forever by Her loving attributes, serves His feet as His maidservant.

TEXT 71

hā nātha ramaṇa preṣṭha

kvāsi kvāsi mahā-bhuja

dāsyās te kṛpaṇāyā me

sakhe darśaya sannidhim

SYNONYMS

hā—O; nātha—My Lord; ramaṇa—O My husband; preṣṭha—O My most dear one; kva asi kva asi—where are You, where are You; mahā-bhuja—O mighty-armed one; dāsyāḥ—of the maidservant; te—You; kṛpaṇāyāḥ—very much aggrieved by Your absence; me—to Me; sakhe—O My friend; darśaya—show; sannidhim—nearness to You.

TRANSLATION

"O My Lord, O My husband, O most dearly beloved! O mighty-armed Lord! Where are You? Where are You? O My friend, reveal Yourself to Your maidservant, who is very much aggrieved by Your absence."

PURPORT

This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.30.39). When the rāsa dance was going on in full swing, Kṛṣṇa left all the gopīs and took only Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī with Him. At that time all the gopīs lamented, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, being proud of Her position, requested Kṛṣṇa to carry Her wherever He liked. Then Kṛṣṇa immediately disappeared from the scene, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī began to lament.

TEXT 72

dvārakāte rukmiṇy-ādi yateka mahiṣī

tāṅhārāo āpanāke māne kṛṣṇa-dāsī

SYNONYMS

dvārakāte—in Dvārakā-dhāma; rukmiṇī-ādi—headed by Rukmiṇī; yateka—all of them; mahiṣī—the queens; tāṅhārāo—all of them also; āpanāke—themselves; māne—consider; kṛṣṇa-dāsī—maidservants of Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

In Dvārakā-dhāma, all the queens, headed by Rukmiṇī, also consider themselves maidservants of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 73

caidyāya mārpayitum udyata-kārmukeṣu

rājasv ajeya-bhaṭa-śekharitāṅghri-reṇuḥ

ninye mṛgendra iva bhāgam ajāvi-yūthāt

tac chrī-niketa-caraṇo 'stu mamārcanāya

SYNONYMS

caidyāya—unto Śiśupāla; mā—me; arpayitum—to deliver or to give in charity; udyata—upraised; kārmukeṣu—whose bows and arrows; rājasu—among the kings headed by Jarāsandha; ajeya—unconquerable; bhaṭa—of the soldiers; śekharita-aṅghri-reṇuḥ—the dust of whose lotus feet is the crown; ninye—forcibly took; mṛga-indraḥ—the lion; iva—like; bhāgam—the share; aja—of the goats; avi—and sheep; yūthāt—from the midst; tat—that; śrī-niketana—of the shelter of the goddess of fortune; caraṇaḥ—the lotus feet; astu—let there be; mama—my; arcanāya—for worshiping.

TRANSLATION

"When Jarāsandha and other kings, bows and arrows upraised, stood ready to deliver me in charity to Śiśupāla, He forcibly took me from their midst, as a lion takes its share of goats and sheep. The dust of His lotus feet is therefore the crown of unconquerable soldiers. May those lotus feet, which are the shelter of the goddess of fortune, be the object of my worship."

PURPORT

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.83.8) was spoken by Queen Rukmiṇī.

TEXT 74

tapaś carantīm āj�āya

sva-pāda-sparśanāśayā

sakhyopetyāgrahīt pāṇiṁ

sāhaṁ tad-gṛha-mārjanī

SYNONYMS

tapaḥ—austerity; carantīm—performing; āj�āya—knowing; sva-pāda-sparśana—of touching His feet; āśayā—with the desire; sakhyā—with His friend Arjuna; upetya—coming; agrahīt—accepted; pāṇim—my hand; sā—that woman; aham—I; tat—His; gṛha-mārjanī—keeper of the home.

TRANSLATION

"Knowing me to be performing austerities with the desire to touch His feet, He came with His friend Arjuna and accepted my hand. Yet I am but a maidservant engaged in sweeping the floor of the house of Śrī Kṛṣṇa."

PURPORT

Like the previous verse, this verse appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.83.11) in connection with the meeting of the family ladies of the Kuru and Yadu dynasties at Samanta-pa�caka. At the time of that meeting, the queen of Kṛṣṇa named Kālindī spoke to Draupadī in this way.

TEXT 75

ātmārāmasya tasyemā

vayaṁ vai gṛha-dāsikāḥ

sarva-saṅga-nivṛttyāddhā

tapasā ca babhūvima

SYNONYMS

ātmārāmasya—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is satisfied in Himself; tasya—His; imāḥ—all; vayam—we; vai—certainly; gṛha-dāsikāḥ—the maidservants of the home; sarva—all; saṅga—association; nivṛttyā—fully bereft of; addhā—directly; tapasā—on account of austerity; ca—also; babhūvima—we have become.

TRANSLATION

"Through austerity and through renunciation of all attachments, we have become maidservants in the home of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is satisfied in Himself."

PURPORT

During the same incident, this verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.83.39), was spoken to Draupadī by a queen of Kṛṣṇa's named Lakṣmaṇā.

TEXT 76

ānera ki kathā, baladeva mahāśaya

yāṅra bhāva--śuddha-sakhya-vātsalyādi-maya

SYNONYMS

ānera—of others; ki kathā—what to speak; baladeva—Lord Baladeva; mahāśaya—the Supreme Personality; yāṅra—His; bhāva—emotion; śuddha-sakhya—pure friendship; vātsalya-ādi-maya—with a touch of paternal love.

TRANSLATION

What to speak of others, even Lord Baladeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is full of emotions like pure friendship and paternal love.

PURPORT

Although Lord Baladeva appeared before the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa and is therefore Kṛṣṇa's worshipable elder brother, He used to act as Kṛṣṇa's eternal servitor. In the spiritual sky all the Vaikuṇṭha planets are predominated by the quadruple expansions of Kṛṣṇa known as the catur-vyūha. They are direct expansions from Baladeva. It is the singularity of the Supreme Lord that everyone in the spiritual sky thinks himself a servitor of the Lord. According to social convention one may be superior to Kṛṣṇa, but factually everyone engages in His service. Therefore in the spiritual sky or the material sky, in all the different planets, no one is able to supersede Lord Kṛṣṇa or demand service from Him. On the contrary, everyone engages in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. As such, the more a person engages in the service of the Lord, the more he is important; and, conversely, the more one is bereft of the transcendental service of Kṛṣṇa, the more he invites the bad fortune of material contamination. In the material world, although materialists want to become one with God or compete with God, everyone directly or indirectly engages in the service of the Lord. The more one is forgetful of the service of Kṛṣṇa, the more he is considered to be dying. Therefore, when one develops pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he immediately develops his eternal servitorship to Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 77

teṅho āpanāke karena dāsa-bhāvanā

kṛṣṇa-dāsa-bhāva vinu āche kona janā

SYNONYMS

teṅho—He also; āpanāke—Himself; karena—does; dāsa-bhāvanā—considering a servant; kṛṣṇa-dāsa-bhāva—the conception of being a servant of Kṛṣṇa; vinu—without; āche—is; kona—what; janā—person.

TRANSLATION

He also considers Himself a servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, who is there who does not have this conception of being a servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa?

TEXT 78

sahasra-vadane yeṅho śeṣa-saṅkarṣaṇa

daśa deha dhari' kare kṛṣṇera sevana

SYNONYMS

sahasra-vadane—with thousands of mouths; yeṅho—one who; śeṣa-saṅkarṣaṇa—Lord Śeṣa, the incarnation of Saṅkarṣaṇa; daśa—ten; deha—bodies; dhari'-accepting; kare—does; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sevana—service.

TRANSLATION

He who is Śeṣa, Saṅkarṣaṇa, with His thousands of mouths, serves Śrī Kṛṣṇa by assuming ten forms.

TEXT 79

ananta brahmāṇḍe rudra--sadāśivera aṁśa

guṇāvatāra teṅho, sarva-deva-avataṁsa

SYNONYMS

ananta—unlimited; brahmāṇḍe—in the universes; rudra—Lord Śiva; sadāśivera aṁśa—part and parcel of Sadāśiva; guṇa-avatāra—an incarnation of a quality; teṅho—he also; sarva-deva-avataṁsa—the ornament of all the demigods.

TRANSLATION

Rudra, who is an expansion of Sadāśiva and who appears in unlimited universes, is also a guṇāvatāra [qualitative incarnation] and is the ornament of all the demigods in the endless universes.

PURPORT

There are eleven expansions of Rudra, or Lord Śiva. They are as follows: Ajaikapāt, Ahibradhna, Virūpākṣa, Raivata, Hara, Bahurūpa, Devaśreṣṭha Tryambaka, Sāvitra, Jayanta, Pināki and Aparājita. Besides these expansions there are eight forms of Rudra called earth, water, fire, air, sky, the sun, the moon and soma-yājī. Generally all these Rudras have five faces, three eyes and ten arms. Sometimes it is found that Rudra is compared to Brahmā and considered a living entity. But when Rudra is explained to be a partial expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is compared to Śeṣa. Lord Śiva is therefore simultaneously an expansion of Lord Viṣṇu and, in his capacity for annihilating the creation, one of the living entities. As an expansion of Lord Viṣṇu he is called Hara, and he is transcendental to the material qualities, but when he is in touch with tamo-guṇa he appears contaminated by the material modes of nature. This is explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Brahma-saṁhitā. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Tenth Canto, it is stated that Lord Rudra is always associated with the material nature when she is in the neutral, unmanifested stage, but when the modes of material nature are agitated he associates with material nature from a distance. In the Brahma-saṁhitā the relationship between Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva is compared to that of milk and yogurt. Milk is converted into yogurt by certain additives, but although milk and yogurt have the same ingredients, they have different functions. Similarly, Lord Śiva is an expansion of Lord Viṣṇu, yet because of his taking part in the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation, he is considered to be changed, like milk converted into yogurt. In the Purāṇas it is found that Durgā appears sometimes from the heads of Brahmā and sometimes from the heads of Viṣṇu. The annihilator, Rudra, is born from Saṅkarṣaṇa and the ultimate fire to burn the whole creation. In the Vāyu Purāṇa there is a description of Sadāśiva in one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets. That Sadāśiva is a direct expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa's form for pastimes. It is said that Sadāśiva (Lord Śambhu) is an expansion from the Sadāśiva in the Vaikuṇṭha planets (Lord Viṣṇu) and that his consort, Mahāmāyā, is an expansion of Ramādevī, or Lakṣmī. Mahāmāyā is the origin or birthplace of material nature.

TEXT 80

teṅho karena kṛṣṇera dāsya-pratyāśa

nirantara kahe śiva, 'mu�i kṛṣṇa-dāsa'

SYNONYMS

teṅho—he; karena—does; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; dāsya-pratyāśa—expectation of being a servant; nirantara—constantly; kahe—says; śiva—Lord Śiva; mu�i—I; kṛṣṇa-dāsa—a servant of Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

He also desires only to be a servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Sadāśiva always says, "I am a servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa."

TEXT 81

kṛṣṇa-preme unmatta, vihvala digambara

kṛṣṇa-guṇa-līlā gāya, nāce nirantara

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa-preme—in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa; unmatta—almost mad; vihvala—overwhelmed; digambara—without any dress; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guṇa—attributes; līlā—pastimes; gāya—chants; nāce—dances; nirantara—constantly.

TRANSLATION

Intoxicated by ecstatic love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, he becomes overwhelmed and incessantly dances without clothing and sings about Lord Kṛṣṇa's qualities and pastimes.

TEXT 82

pitā-mātā-guru-sakhā-bhāva kene naya

kṛṣṇa-premera svabhāve dāsya-bhāva se karaya

SYNONYMS

pitā—father; mātā—mother; guru—superior teacher; sakhā—friend; bhāva—the emotion; kene naya—let it be; kṛṣṇa-premera—of love of Kṛṣṇa; svabhāve—in a natural inclination; dāsya bhāva—the emotion of becoming a servant; se—that; karaya—does.

TRANSLATION

All the emotions, whether those of father, mother, teacher or friend, are full of sentiments of servitude. That is the nature of love of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 83

eka kṛṣṇa--sarva-sevya, jagat-īśvara

āra yata saba,--tāṅra sevakānucara

SYNONYMS

eka kṛṣṇa—one Lord Kṛṣṇa; sarva-sevya—worthy of being served by all; jagat-īśvara—the Lord of the universe; āra yata saba—all others; tāṅra—His; sevaka-anucara—servants of the servants.

TRANSLATION

Lord Kṛṣṇa, the one master and the Lord of the universe, is worthy of being served by everyone. Indeed, everyone is but a servant of His servants.

TEXT 84

sei kṛṣṇa avatīrṇa--caitanya-īśvara

ataeva āra saba,--tāṅhāra kiṅkara

SYNONYMS

sei—that; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; avatīrṇa—descended; caitanya-īśvara—Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ataeva—therefore; āra—others; saba—all; tāṅhāra kiṅkara—His servants.

TRANSLATION

That same Lord Kṛṣṇa has descended as Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone, therefore, is His servant.

TEXT 85

keha māne, keha nā māne, saba tāṅra dāsa

ye nā māne, tāra haya sei pāpe nāśa

SYNONYMS

keha māne—someone accepts; keha nā māne—someone does not accept; saba tāṅra dāsa—all His servants; ye nā māne—one who does not accept; tāra—of him; haya—there is; sei—that; pāpe—in sinful activity; nāśa—annihilation.

TRANSLATION

Some accept Him whereas others do not, yet everyone is His servant. One who does not accept Him, however, will be ruined by his sinful activities.

PURPORT

When a living entity forgets his constitutional position, he prepares himself to be an enjoyer of the material resources. Sometimes he is also misguided by the thought that service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not absolute engagement. In other words, he thinks that there are many other engagements for a living entity besides the service of the Lord. Such a foolish person does not know that in any position he either directly or indirectly engages in activities of service to the Supreme Lord. Actually, if a person does not engage in the service of the Lord, all inauspicious activities encumber him because service to the Supreme Lord, Lord Caitanya, is the constitutional position of the infinitesimal living entities. Because the living entity is infinitesimal, the allurement of material enjoyment attracts him, and he tries to enjoy matter, forgetting his constitutional position. But when his dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness is awakened, he no longer engages in the service of matter but engages in the service of the Lord. In other words, when one is forgetful of his constitutional position, he appears in the position of the lord of material nature. Even at that time he remains a servant of the Supreme Lord, but in an unqualified or contaminated state.

TEXT 86

caitanyera dāsa mu�i, caitanyera dāsa

caitanyera dāsa mu�i, tāṅra dāsera dāsa

SYNONYMS

caitanyera—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dāsa—servant; mu�i—I; caitanyera dāsa—a servant of Lord Caitanya; caitanyera dāsa mu�i—I am a servant of Caitanya Mahāprabhu; tāṅra dāsera dāsa—a servant of His servant.

TRANSLATION

"I am a servant of Lord Caitanya, a servant of Lord Caitanya. I am a servant of Lord Caitanya, and a servant of His servants."

TEXT 87

eta bali' nāce, gāya, huṅkāra gambhīra

kṣaṇeke vasilā ācārya hai�ā susthira

SYNONYMS

eta bali'-saying this; nāce—dances; gāya—sings; huṅkāra—loud vibrations; gambhīra—deep; kṣaṇeke—in a moment; vasilā—sits down; ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; hai�ā su-sthira—being very patient.

TRANSLATION

Saying this, Advaita Prabhu dances and loudly sings. Then at the next moment He quietly sits down.

TEXT 88

bhakta-abhimāna mūla śrī-balarāme

sei bhāve anugata tāṅra aṁśa-gaṇe

SYNONYMS

bhakta-abhimāna—to think oneself a devotee; mūla—original; śrī-balarāme—in Lord Balarāma; sei bhāve—in that ecstasy; anugata—followers; tāṅra aṁśa-gaṇe—all His parts and parcels.

TRANSLATION

The source of the sentiment of servitude is indeed Lord Balarāma. The plenary expansions who follow Him are all influenced by that ecstasy.

TEXT 89

tāṅra avatāra eka śri-saṅkarṣaṇa

bhakta bali' abhimāna kare sarva-kṣaṇa

SYNONYMS

tāṅra avatāra—His incarnation; eka—one; śrī-saṅkarṣaṇa—Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa; bhakta bali'-as a devotee; abhimāna—conception; kare—does; sarva-kṣaṇa—always.

TRANSLATION

Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, who is one of His incarnations, always considers Himself a devotee.

TEXT 90

tāṅra avatāra āna śrī-yuta lakṣmaṇa

śrī-rāmera dāsya tiṅho kaila anukṣaṇa

SYNONYMS

tāṅra avatāra—His incarnation; āna—another; śrī-yuta—with all beauty and opulence; lakṣmaṇa—Lord Lakṣmaṇa; śrī-rāmera—of Rāmacandra; dāsya—servitude; tiṅho—He; kaila—did; anukṣaṇa—always.

TRANSLATION

Another of His incarnations, Lakṣmaṇa, who is very beautiful and opulent, always serves Lord Rāma.

TEXT 91

saṅkarṣaṇa-avatāra kāraṇābdhi-śāyī

tāṅhāra hṛdaye bhakta-bhāva anuyāyī

SYNONYMS

saṅkarṣaṇa-avatāra-an incarnation of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa; kāraṇa-abdhi-śāyī-Lord Viṣṇu lying on the Causal Ocean; tāṅhāra-His; hṛdaye-in the heart; bhakta-bhāva-the emotion of being a devotee; anuyāyī-accordingly.

TRANSLATION

The Viṣṇu who lies on the Causal Ocean is an incarnation of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, and, accordingly, the emotion of being a devotee is always present in His heart.

TEXT 92

tāṅhāra prakāśa-bheda, advaita-ācārya

kāya-mano-vākye tāṅra bhakti sadā kārya

SYNONYMS

tāṅhāra—His; prakāśa-bheda—separate expansion; advaita-ācārya—Advaita Ācārya; kāya-manaḥ-vākye—by His body, mind and words; tāṅra—His; bhakti—devotion; sadā—always; kārya—occupational duty.

TRANSLATION

Advaita Ācārya is a separate expansion of Him. He always engages in devotional service with His thoughts, words and actions.

TEXT 93

vākye kahe, 'mu�i caitanyera anucara'

mu�i tāṅra bhakta--mane bhāve nirantara

SYNONYMS

vākye—by words; kahe—He says; mu�i—I am; caitanyera anucara—a follower of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; mu�i—I; tā�ra—His; bhakta—devotee; mane—in His mind; bhāve—in this condition; nirantara—always.

TRANSLATION

By His words He declares, "I am a servant of Lord Caitanya." Thus with His mind He always thinks, "I am His devotee."

TEXT 94

jala-tulasī diyā kare kāyāte sevana

bhakti pracāriyā saba tārilā bhuvana

SYNONYMS

jala-tulasī—Ganges water and tulasī leaves; diyā—offering together; kare—does; kāyāte—with the body; sevana—worship; bhakti—the cult of devotional service; pracāriyā—preaching; saba—all; tārilā—delivered; bhuvana—the universe.

TRANSLATION

With His body He worshiped the Lord by offering Ganges water and tulasī leaves, and by preaching devotional service He delivered the entire universe.

TEXT 95

pṛthivī dharena yei śeṣa-saṅkarṣaṇa

kāya-vyūha kari' karena kṛṣṇera sevana

SYNONYMS

pṛthivī—planets; dharena—holds; yei—that one who; śeṣa-saṅkarṣaṇa—Lord Śeṣa Saṅkarṣaṇa; kāya-vyūha kari'—expanding Himself in different bodies; karena—does; kṛṣṇera sevana—service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

Śeṣa Saṅkarṣaṇa, who holds all the planets on His head, expands Himself in different bodies to render service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 96

ei saba haya śrī-kṛṣṇera avatāra

nirantara dekhi sabāra bhaktira ācāra

SYNONYMS

ei saba—all of them; haya—are; śrī-kṛṣṇera avatāra—incarnations of Lord Kṛṣṇa; nirantara—constantly; dekhi—I see; sabāra—of all; bhaktira ācāra—behavior as devotees.

TRANSLATION

These are all incarnations of Lord Kṛṣṇa, yet we always find that they act as devotees.

TEXT 97

e-sabāke śāstre kahe 'bhakta-avatāra'

'bhakta-avatāra'-pada upari sabāra

SYNONYMS

e-sabāke—all of them; śāstre—the scriptures; kahe—say; bhakta-avatāra—incarnations as devotees; bhakta-avatāra—of such an incarnation as a devotee; pada—the position; upari sabāra—above all other positions.

TRANSLATION

The scriptures call them incarnations as devotees [bhakta-avatāra]. The position of being such an incarnation is above all others.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in different incarnations, but His appearance in the role of a devotee is more beneficial to the conditioned souls than the other incarnations, with all their opulences. Sometimes a conditioned soul is bewildered when he tries to understand the incarnation of Godhead with full opulence. Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared and performed many uncommon activities, and some materialists misunderstood Him, but in His appearance as Lord Caitanya He did not show much of His opulences, and therefore fewer conditioned souls were bewildered. Misunderstanding the Lord, many fools consider themselves incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the result is that after leaving the material body they enter the species of jackals. Persons who cannot understand the real significance of an incarnation must attain such lower species of life as punishment. Conditioned souls who are puffed up by false egoism and who try to become one with the Supreme Lord become Māyāvādīs.

TEXT 98

eka-mātra 'aṁśī'--kṛṣṇa, 'aṁśa'--avatāra

aṁśī aṁśe dekhi jyeṣṭha-kaniṣṭha-ācāra

SYNONYMS

eka-mātra—only one; aṁśī—source of all incarnations; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; aṁśa—of the part; avatāra—incarnations; aṁśī—is the source of all incarnations; aṁśe—in the incarnation; dekhi—we can see; jyeṣṭha—as superior; kaniṣṭha—and inferior; ācāra—behavior.

TRANSLATION

Lord Kṛṣṇa is the source of all incarnations, and all others are His parts or partial incarnations. We find that the whole and the part behave as superior and inferior.

TEXT 99

jyeṣṭha-bhāve aṁśīte haya prabhu-j�āna

kaniṣṭha-bhāve āpanāte bhakta-abhimāna

SYNONYMS

jyeṣṭha-bhāve—in the emotion of being superior; aṁśīte—in the original source of all incarnations; haya—there is; prabhu-j�āna—knowledge as master; kaniṣṭha-bhāve—in an inferior conception; āpanāte—in Himself; bhakta-abhimāna—the conception of being a devotee.

TRANSLATION

The source of all incarnations has the emotions of a superior when He considers Himself the master, and He has the emotions of an inferior when He considers Himself a devotee.

PURPORT

A fraction of a particular thing is called a part, and that from which the fraction is distinguished is called the whole. Therefore the fraction, or part, is included within the whole. The Lord is the whole, and the devotee is the part or fractional part. That is the relationship between the Lord and the devotee. There are also gradations of devotees, who are calculated as greater and lesser. When a devotee is great he is called prabhu, and when he is lesser he is called bhakta, or a devotee. The supreme whole is Kṛṣṇa, and Baladeva and all Viṣṇu incarnations are His fractions. Lord Kṛṣṇa is therefore conscious of His superior position, and all Viṣṇu incarnations are conscious of Their positions as devotees.

TEXT 100

kṛṣṇera samatā haite baḍa bhakta-pada

ātmā haite kṛṣṇera bhakta haya premāspada

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇera—with Lord Kṛṣṇa; samatā—equality; haite—than this; baḍa—greater; bhakta-pada—the position of a devotee; ātmā haite—than His own self; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhakta—a devotee; haya—is; prema-āspada—the object of love.

TRANSLATION

The position of being a devotee is higher than that of equality with Lord Kṛṣṇa, for the devotees are dearer to Lord Kṛṣṇa than His own self.

PURPORT

The conception of oneness with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is inferior to that of eternal service to the Lord because Lord Kṛṣṇa is more affectionate to devotees than to His personal self. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.68) the Lord clearly says:

sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ
sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad anyat te na jānanti
nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api

"The devotees are My heart, and I am the heart of My devotees. My devotees do not know anyone but Me; similarly, I do not know anyone but My devotees." This is the intimate relationship between the Lord and His devotees.

TEXT 101

ātmā haite kṛṣṇa bhakte baḍa kari' māne

ihāte bahuta śāstra-vacana pramāṇe

SYNONYMS

ātmā haite—than His own self; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhakte—His devotee; baḍa kari' māne—accepts as greater; ihāte—in this connection; bahuta—many; śāstra-vacana—quotations from revealed scripture; pramāṇe—evidences.

TRANSLATION

Lord Kṛṣṇa considers His devotees greater than Himself. In this connection the scriptures provide an abundance of evidence.

TEXT 102

na tathā me priya-tama

ātma-yonir na śaṅkaraḥ

na ca saṅkarṣaṇo na śrīr

naivātmā ca yathā bhavān

SYNONYMS

na tathā—not so much; me—My; priya-tamaḥ—dearmost; ātma-yoniḥ—Lord Brahmā; na śaṅkaraḥ—nor Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva); na ca—nor; saṅkarṣaṇaḥ—Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa; na—nor; śrīḥ—the goddess of fortune; na—nor; eva—certainly; ātmā—My self; ca—and; yathā—as; bhavān—you.

TRANSLATION

"O Uddhava! Neither Brahmā, nor Śaṅkara, nor Saṅkarṣaṇa, nor Lakṣmī, nor even My own self is as dear to Me as you."

PURPORT

This text is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.15).