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Chapter Twenty-two
Nitya-dharma O Sambandhabhidheya-prayojana (Prameyantar-gata
Prayojana-vicararambha)
Eternal Religion and Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana (The
Discussion of Prayojana Begins)
Today is ekadasi. Under the bakula tree in Srivasa's courtyard
the Vaishnavas are chanting the holy names of the Lord. Some
call out, "O Gauranga! O Nityananda!" and sigh. Our saintly
babaji was motionless, plunged in ecstatic love. Who knows what
he was thinking? After a few moments he said, "Alas!" and began
to weep. "Ah! Where is rupa? Where is Sanatana! Where is
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami! Where is my life's brother, Krishnadasa
Kaviraja? I cannot be with them. Today I am all alone. I cannot
be happy. The memory of Radha-kunda brings me pain. O my life,
now you are leaving me. I pray that Rupa and Raghunatha show
themselves to me and save my life. Even though I am separated
from you, still I remain alive. How pathetic is my life." Again
and again speaking in this way, he began to roll about in the
dust under the bakula tree in Srivasa's courtyard. The assembled
Vaishnavas said to him, "Babaji, be peaceful. Rupa and
Raghunatha are in your heart. Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda
are dancing before you. Saying, "Where? Where?" the babaji
jumped up. As he gazed at the Panca-tattva Deities before him,
his grief went far away. He said, "O glorious Mayapura! Only
Mayapura makes the sadness of Vraja go far away." Saying these
words, he danced for some moments and then sat down in his
cottage. At that moment Vijaya-kumara and Vrajanatha came and
offered dandavat obeisances. When he saw them, the babaji's
heart blossomed with happiness. He said, "How is your devotional
service progressing?" Folding their hands, the two disciples
humbly said, "O master, your mercy is the be-all-and-end-all of
our lives. In the past we must have performed many, many pious
deeds that we so easily have attained your fearless lotus feet.
Today is ekadasi. by your order we are fasting even from water.
We have come to see your sacred feet." The babaji replied, "You
are fortunate. Very soon you will attain bhava." Vijaya-kumara
asked, "O master, what is bhava?" Is there something called
'bhava' that you have not yet taught us?"
Babaji: Up till now I have taught you about sadhana-bhakti. By
practicing sadhana-bhakti again and again, one eventually comes
to the stage of spiritual perfection. The stage that immediately
precedes the perfect stage is called 'bhava' (ecstatic love).
The perfect stage is described in these words of the
Dasa-mula:
"When his sadhana-bhakti reaches maturity, the living entity
becomes aware of his original spiritual form. Then, by the power
of the Lord's hladini-shakti, the ecstatic love (bhava) of
madhura-rasa becomes manifested. Then the living entity bears in
his heart ecstatic love (bhava) for Sri Sri Radha-Krishna in
Vraja. Then he attains ecstatic love (priti) and bliss.
Gradually he attains happiness and good fortune that have no
equal anywhere in this world. He enters the Lord's pastimes.
There he attains direct service to the Lord. There is nothing
higher than that."
In this verse the final goal of life (prayojana), which is pure
love for the Lord, is described. The beginning stage of that
pure love is described in the final verse of the
Dasa-mula:
"Who is the Supreme Lord? Who is the individual spirit soul?
What is the material world? Considering these questions, a
devotee becomes learned in the scriptures. He shuns all
offenses, sins, material pious deeds, and aspirations to become
one with the Lord, and, thinking himself a servant of Lord Hari,
in the company of other devotees he drinks the blissful nectar
of Lord Hari's holy name."
What a wonderful poem is the Dasa-mula. In it the individual
souls find the essence of the teachings that have come from Lord
Mahaprabhu's sacred mouth.
Vijaya-kumara: I would like to hear a summary of the Dasa-mula's
glories?
Babaji: Then listen.
"A person who carefully studies this Dasa-mula becomes free of
ignorance. By associating with devotees, he attains spiritual
love and bliss."
Vijaya-kumara: O master, this wonderful Dasa-mula will become
the necklace we all wear. Every day we will recite this
Dasa-mula and offer dandavat obeisances to Lord Mahaprabhu. Now
please be merciful and explain the clear meaning of these
truths.
Babaji: Pure love of God (prema) is like a sun. The pure rays of
that prema-sun are the spiritual state of 'suddha-sattva'. The
internal nature of 'suddha-sattva' is called "bhava". The
suddha-sattva manifestation called 'bhava' is also called by the
names 'rati' and 'premankura' (the sprouting of love). When the
all-enlightening svarupa shakti (internal potency) is manifested
in the activities called 'samvid' (knowledge), those activities
are called "suddha-sattva" (spiritual existence). These are not
activities of maya (material illusion). When the activities of
the samvit-shakti join with the activities of the
hladini-shakti, the result is the manifestation of bhava. The
activities of samvit-shakti bring knowledge. The activities of
hladini-shakti bring pleasure. In this way the activities of the
Lord's svarupa-shakti bring knowledge of the Absolute Truth, Sri
Krishna. The small knowledge potency (samvit-shakti) of the
individual souls (jiva-shakti) cannot bring understanding of the
Absolute Truth. By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Himself, or by the mercy of the Lord's devotee, the
Lord's svarupa-shakti (internal potency) will appear in a living
entity's heart. Then the svarupa-shakti's activities of
knowledge (samvit) can act in the living entity's heart. Then
knowledge of the spiritual world becomes manifested there. The
real form (svarupa) of the spiritual world is the state of
spiritual existence (suddha-sattva). The real form of the
material world is maya is gross matter, which is a mixture of
the three modes of material goodness, passion, and ignorance.
When knowledge of the spiritual world combines with the essence
(sara) of the hladini-shakti, the result is that one is able to
relish (asvada) the pleasures of the spiritual world. When the
relishing of the pleasures of the spiritual world reaches its
perfection and fullness (purna-svarupa), the result is called
'prema' (pure love of God). Prema is like a sun, and bhava is
the rays of that sun. That is the nature of bhava. The specific
nature of bhava is this: Ruci (attraction to Krishna) makes the
living entity's heart melt and become soft (masrna). Here the
word 'ruci' means 'the desire to attain Krishna, the desire to
please Krishna, and the desire to have a friendly relation with
Krishna". Bhava is said to be the first manifestation of the
splendour of prema. The word 'masrna' means 'the melting of the
heart'. In the Tantras it is said that bhava is the first
manifestation of prema. When bhava appears, the sattvika-bhava
ecstatic symptoms, such as the standing erect of the body's
hairs, become slightly manifested. In eternally liberated souls
these ecstatic symptoms appear spontaneously. In souls
imprisoned in the material world these ecstatic symptoms appear
as activities of the mind, and only gradually do they manifest
their original spiritual nature. Although these ecstatic
symptoms come of their own accord, they seem to be induced by
something external. The activities of sattvika-bhava ecstasy
reveal the true nature of Lord Krishna and His transcendental
pastimes. Manifested among the imprisoned souls as what seems to
be an activity of the mind, it seems to bring knowledge of
other, non-spiritual truths. The truth is that it enables one to
relish spiritual pleasures. In this way it enables the souls
imprisoned in the material world to relish the spiritual
pleasures of Lord Krishna and Lord Krishna's transcendental
pastimes.
Vijaya-kumara: Does bhava manifest any variety?
Babaji: Yes. Bhava is of two kinds, according to its place or
origin. Bhava may come from the practice of sadhana-bhakti, or
it may come from the mercy of Lord Krishna or the mercy of Lord
Krishna's devotee. Generally it comes from the practice of
sadhana-bhakti. It only rarely comes from mercy.
Vijaya-kumara: What is the nature of bhava produced by the
practice of sadhana-bhakti?
Babaji: There are two kinds of bhava created by the practice of
sadhana-bhakti. One is created by the practice of vaidhi bhakti
and the other by the practice of raganuga-bhakti. In the first
of these two kinds of bhava created by sadhana-bhakti, at the
beginning there is ruci (attraction to Krishna). From that comes
ashakti (attachment to Krishna). At the end comes rati (love for
Krishna). In the Puranas and the Natya-sastras it is said that
'rati' and 'bhava' are symptoms. I also say that they are
symptoms. Vaidhi bhakti first creates faith, and from faith
attraction to Krishna (ruci) follows. However, when one
practices raganuga-bhakti, ruci appears at once (without any
intervening stages).
Vijaya-kumara: What is the nature of bhava created by the mercy
of Lord Krishna or Lord Krishna's devotee?
Babaji: When bhava suddenly appears without its recipient having
practiced either vaidhi-bhakti or raganuga-bhakta, then bhava is
created by the mercy of Lord Krishna or Lord Krishna's
devotee.
Vijaya-kumara: What is the nature of bhava created by the mercy
of Lord Krishna?
Babaji: Lord Krishna's mercy is manifested in three ways: 1.
vacika (by His words), 2. aloka-dana (by a glance), and 3. harda
(by the mercy in His heart). Lord Krishna may give His mercy to
someone by saying, "O king of the brahmanas, may devotion to Me,
devotion that brings all transcendental bliss and is the crest
jewel of all auspicious things, appear within you." Simply by
the Lord's speaking these words, bhava suddenly appears in that
brahmana. The aborigines residing in the jungle had never seen
Krishna before. However, simply by seeing them they at once
attained bhava because of the compassion in Lord Krishna's
heart. That is called 'aloka-danaja-bhava (bhava created from a
glance). When feelings of compassion arise in Lord Krishna's
heart, they produce the bhava called 'harda'. This bhava is seen
in Sukadeva Gosvami and other devotees. When He descended to
this world, Lord Mahaprabhu granted these three kinds of bhava
from mercy on many occasions. Simply by seeing the Lord, many
people attained bhava. Jagai, Madhai, and many others attained
bhava because of the Lord's words. Srila Jiva Gosvami attained
bhava because of the mercy in Lord Krishna's heart.
Vijaya-kumara: What is the nature of bhava created by the mercy
of a devotee of Lord Krishna?
Babaji: Because of the mercy of Sri Narada Gosvami, auspicious
desires appeared in the hearts of Dhruva and Prahlada. By the
mercy of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami and their
associates, the desire to perform devotional service appeared in
the hearts of numberless persons.
Vijaya-kumara: What are the symptoms of bhava's
appearance?
Babaji: When the seed of ecstatic emotion (bhava) for Krishna
fructifies, the following nine symptoms are manifest in one's
behaviour: forgiveness, concern that time should not be wasted,
detachment, absence of false prestige, hope, eagerness, a taste
for chanting the holy name of the Lord, attachment to
descriptions of the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and
affection for those places where the Lord resides - that is a
temple or holy place like Vrindavan. These are all called
'anubhava', subordinate signs of ecstatic emotion. They are
visible in a person in whose heart the seed of love of God has
begun to fructify.*
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'forgiveness'?
Babaji: Forgiveness is when, even though there is ample reason
to become agitated and angry, one is not agitated and angry.
This is called 'forgiveness'. "Tolerance' is a synonym for
forgiveness.
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'concern that time should not be
wasted"?
Babaji: It means not to spend time in useless activities. To
always be engaged in devotional service to Lord Hari is called
'concern that time should not be wasted.'
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'detachment'?
Babaji: To find that one sees no pleasure in so-called material
sense pleasures is called 'detachment'.
Vijaya-kumara: When a person accepts sannyasa can he claim to
have attain 'detachment'?
Babaji: Sannyasa is a material convention in the material world.
When the heart finds its pleasure in the spiritual world, and
when the heart finds its pleasure in the material world grow
less and less until finally it disappears almost completely,
that is called 'detachment'. A person who is detached from the
material world and then accepts sannyasa to remove the obstacles
that prevent him from attaining bhava can claim to be a
'detached Vaishnava'. However, a person who accepts sannyasa
prematurely, before he has any understanding of the happiness of
spiritual life (bhava) is not properly initiated as a sannyasi.
He is not a true sannyasi. The Lord's punishment of Chota
Haridasa taught this to the entire world.
Vijaya-kumara: What is "absence of false-prestige"?
Babaji: Birth, varna, asrama, wealth, power, beauty, a high
statue in society, and many other things make a person proud. To
renounce the pride that comes from all these things is called
'absence of false prestige'. In the Padma Purana is written the
story of a great king who attained devotion to Lord Krishna.
Renouncing the pride that comes from royal opulence, this king
passed his life as a beggar performing madhukari in the capitol
city of the king that had been his rival and enemy. He always
offered respectful obeisances to everyone, not caring whether
they were brahmanas or candalas.
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'hope'?
Babaji: To engage in devotional service with firm conviction,
thinking "Lord Krishna will certainly be merciful to me", is
called hope."
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'eagerness?'
Babaji: Intense greed to attain what one desires is called
'eagerness'.
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'a taste for chanting the holy name of
the Lord?"
Babaji: Of all the different activities of devotional service,
chanting the holy name of the Lord is the best. To always chant
the holy name of the Lord." A taste for chanting the holy name
of the Lord fulfils all spiritual desires. You will learn more
about the holy name separately, at another time.
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'attachment to descriptions of the
transcendental qualities of the Lord?"
Babaji: In Sri Krishna-karnamrta (verse 65) it is written:
"He is sweeter than sweetness personified. His youthfulness is
Kamadeva himself. He is more restless and playful than
restlessness and playfulness personified. Alas, He has stolen my
heart. What will I do now?"
One may hear again and again of Lord Krishna's transcendental
qualities, but one's desire to hear them will never be satiated.
Rather, one's attachment to hear of them will grow stronger and
stronger.
Vijaya-kumara: What is 'affection for those places where the
Lord resides?"
Babaji: When he circumambulates the holy Nabadwip, a devotee
will ask, "O residents of the Lord's sacred place, where did the
Lord take birth? Walking down what pathway did the Lord perform
sankirtana? Please tell me: where did the Lord enjoy pastimes
with the gopas in the morning?" The residents of the holy abode
may reply, "In Mayapura, in a raised tulasi-forest, the Lord
took birth. In Ganganagara, Simuliya, Gadigacha, Majida, and
many other villages He performed sankirtana. By drinking with
the cup of his ears these nectar words from the mouth of a
resident of the land of Gauda, a devotee will manifest ecstatic
symptoms, such as shedding tears and the hairs of his body
standing erect, as he circumambulates the holy place. This is
called 'affection for those places where the Lord
resides".
Vijaya-kumara: When this kind of emotion is present can we say
without doubt that "Krishna-rati" (pure love for Krishna) is
definitely present?
Babaji: No. When the heart is pure, then 'rati' arises within
it. The symptoms I have described may appear when other kinds of
devotional emotions are manifested. They are not manifested only
when there is rati.
Vijaya-kumara: Please be kind and give one or two examples so I
may understand.
Babaji: A person thirsty fro impersonal liberation may again and
again chant a dim reflection of Lord Hari's holy name
(namabhasa). Hearing that the holy name has the power to give
liberation, he may weep again and again and may fall down almost
unconscious. Still, one should not say that he has attained
Krishna-rati (love for Krishna) in the stage of bhava (ecstasy).
Such a person does not have sincere love for Lord Krishna.
Rather, he makes a show of ecstatic symptoms (bhavabhasa) only
because he is greedy to attain his own petty desire. A person
desiring material sense pleasures may worship Goddess Durga, and
after the worship may pray for many things, saying, "Please
grant me boons. Please give me wealth." Thinking of how the
goddess has the power to fulfil his desires, he may weep and
roll on the ground. Still, one cannot say that has attained
bhava. Perhaps one can say he has attained a glimpse of bhava
(bhavabhasa) or a mocking imitation of bhava (bhava-dauratmya).
Bhava does not appear in a person who is not a pure devotee of
Lord Krishna. When a person who desires material sense
gratification or impersonal liberation manifests a glimpse of
bhava (bhavabhasa), that is not true bhava. Rather it is only a
mocking imitation (bhava-dauratmya) of true bhava. As he stands
before the Deity of Lord Krishna, such a person may faint and
remain unconscious for twenty one hours. Even then, he does not
display true bhava. Ah, the eternally liberated souls and the
souls free from all material desires diligently search for
bhava. Still, bhava remains hidden from them. Even after a
person performs many devotional activities, Lord Krishna does
not very quickly or easily give him the gift of bhava. How can
pure love (rati) for Lord Krishna rise in a heart that does not
have pure devotion to the Lord, or in a heart crushed by desires
for material sense gratification or impersonal liberation?
Vijaya-kumara: O master, many times it is seen that, when they
participate in the chanting of Lord Hari's holy names
(hari-nama-sankirtana), persons who thirst for material sense
gratification or impersonal liberation may manifest the
previously described symptoms of bhava. What shall we call that
display?
Babaji: Only fools think that display is wonderful. Persons who
know the truth of bhava avoid these persons and say that outward
display is only a glimpse of bhava (bhavabhasa).
Vijaya-kumara: What are the different kinds of this glimpse of
bhava (bhavabhasa)?
Babaji: It is of two kinds: 1.pratibimba-raty-abhasa (the
reflection of ecstatic love), and 2. chaya-raty-abhasa (the dim
shadow of ecstatic love).
Babaji: A person who desires impersonal liberation may think he
can easily attain that liberation by attaining bhava for Lord
Krishna. Thus desiring the happiness of impersonal liberation,
he puts on a false show of the symptoms of bhava. This is called
'pratibimba-raty-abhasa. An impersonalist may think, "Attaining
knowledge of impersonal Brahman is the only way to attain
impersonal liberation. There is no other way. However, the
process by which one attains that impersonal knowledge is very
difficult and troublesome. If by chanting the holy names of Lord
Hari one can easily attain liberation, that must mean that by
chanting the holy names one may easily attain knowledge of
impersonal Brahman." Hoping to easily get impersonal liberation,
such a person may then make an outward display of ecstatic
symptoms, such as shedding tears and standing erect of the
bodily hairs. All this is only a glimpse (abhasa) of true
bhava.
Vijaya-kumara: Why is it called pratibimba (a reflection)?
Babaji: When they engage in chanting the Lord's holy names or in
other devotional activities, persons who thirst after material
sense gratification or impersonal liberation may by destiny
attain the association of true devotees. When the moon of true
bhava arises in the hearts of these true devotees, that moon
becomes reflected in the hearts of the hedonist or impersonalist
pretenders. That is why their bhava is called pratibimba (a
reflection). Pure bhava does not appear as long as one thirsts
after material sense gratification or impersonal liberation.
However, when a person sees pure devotees (suddha-bhakta) of the
Lord, the devotees' bhava becomes reflected on him. That is
called pratibimba-bhavabhasa (a reflection of true bhava).
Pratibimba-bhavabhasa does not bring eternal auspiciousness to
the soul. As soon as the pretender attains his goal of sense
gratification or liberation, his devotional activities stop.
Therefore this pratibimba-bhavabhasa is said to be one of the
offenses against the holy name. It is not praiseworthy.
Vijaya-kumara: What is chaya-bhavabhasa (the dim shadow of
ecstatic love).
Babaji: An honest neophyte devotee not very learned in the
science of spiritual life may come into contact with activities,
times, places, or persons that are dear to Lord Hari, and by
this contact they may attain a small, pleasant, suffering
removing, flickering shadow of true love (rati) for the Lord.
That is called "chaya-raty-abhasa". When a person has a small
quantity of pure devotion to the Lord, but that devotion is not
very strong, then this kind of shadow devotion (raty-abhasa) is
manifested. This shadow of devotion may appear in a person
because in the past he performed many pious deeds. This shadow
of devotion may gradually bring more and more auspiciousness to
the person who obtains it. By the mercy of a pure devotee of
Lord Hari, this shadow love can be transformed into genuine pure
love for the Lord (suddha-bhava). However, if one commits
offenses to pure Vaishnavas, this shadow love may gradually
diminish, like the waning of the moon in the dark fortnight.
This is not said only of the shadow of love. Even pure love
(suddha-bhava) for Lord Krishna can be destroyed (abhava) if one
commits offenses to Lord Krishna's devotees. Or that pure love
may gradually become changed into shadow love, or it may be
reduced to a lower level of love. If one closely associates with
impersonalists, then his love for Krishna may also become
changed into shadow love, or else one may become an
impersonalist himself, and become convinced that he himself is
the worshipable Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is because of
this bad association that new devotees (navya-bhakta) sometimes
have impersonalist ideas and think they have become god as they
dance in Krishna-kirtana or perform other devotional activities.
This is sometimes seen. Unaware of the consequences, new
devotees, may sometimes associate with impersonalists. That bad
association beings many troubles. Therefore new devotees should
carefully avoid the association of impersonalists. Sometimes
bhava may suddenly appear in a person who has not performed any
devotional activities (sadhana). this means that the person
involved performed many very good devotional activities in his
previous births. Because of certain obstacles, the results of
those activities were not immediately manifested. Now that the
obstacles are removed, the results are suddenly manifested. If
the highest kind of love (bhava), which is all powerful and
wonderful to everyone, suddenly becomes manifested, it should be
said that it was produced by the mercy of Lord Krishna. Even if
you see some faults in his activities, you should not become the
enemy of a person who has natural love (bhava) for the Lord. Why
not? A person who has attained love for the Lord has made his
life a complete success. A devotee will never commit a sin.
However, if it is seen that somehow or other a devotee has
committed a sin, the one should think of this in two ways: 1. by
accident a great soul has somehow committed a sin, but that sin
will not stay, 2. This sin is only the reflection of a previous
misdeed (purva-papabhasa). The devotee's spiritual love (bhava)
will quickly destroy that sin. Very quickly it will be
destroyed. In this way in one's heart one should not see the
faults of the devotees. To see that devotees have faults is one
of the offenses against the holy name. In the Nrsimha-Purana it
is written:
"If a person has completely engaged his mind, body, and
activities in the service of the Supreme Godhead, but externally
he is found to be engaged in some abominable activities, those
abominable activities will surely be very quickly vanquished by
the influence of his staunch devotional service. On the full
moon there are some spots, which may appear to be pockmarks.
Still, the illumination spread by the full moon cannot be
checked."*
One should not think that this instruction means that the
devotees of the Lord are always committing sins. The truth is
that when a person has faith in devotional service, he no longer
desires to commit sins. However, as long as the material body is
present, there may be some accidental slip into a sinful action.
Devotional service, however, which is like a blazing fire, at
once burns all these sins into ashes, and after than the devotee
is cautious not to sin again. When unalloyed devotional service
appears in someone, the ignorance that is the root of sin is
flung far away from such a devotee. If it is seen that a person
commits sins again and again, one should not be under the
misunderstanding that he possesses unalloyed devotion to Lord
Krishna. Why not? To commit sins with the hope that his
devotional activities will nullify his sins is an offense.
Devotees do not commit that offense.
Love (rati) for Krishna makes one desire to please Krishna more
and more. It is filled with warmth and power. It is sweet like
millions of moons.
Hearing these explanations of ecstatic love (bhava), Vrajanatha
and Vijaya-kumara became stunned. Their hearts were filled with
love. Even after the babaji had finished speaking, they both
remained for a while stunned and silent. Finally they said, "O
master, the nectar of your teachings have brought a flood of
love to our burnt-out hearts. Ah, what will we do? Where will we
go? We are not able to be steady and calm. We are filled with
pride because we were born in brahmana families. In our hearts
is not the slightest bit of humbleness. The hope of one day
attaining ecstatic love (bhava) for the Lord is very far from
us. Our only hope is that you, a personal associate of the Lord,
a devotee filled with pure spiritual love (prema), may place a
single drop of spiritual love (prema) in our hearts. Then our
lives will become a great success. Because of our relationship
with you, the bird of hope now lives in our hearts. We are very
poor and lowly and worthless. You are a great king among the
true devotees of the Lord. You are very merciful. Please be
merciful to us and explain to us what our duties should be. In
my heart I yearn to renounce the material world and household
life and become a servant of your feet." Then Vijaya-kumara took
this opportunity to say, "O master, Vrajanatha is still a boy.
His mother wishes that he become a householder. However, in his
heart he does not see the same way she does. Please be merciful
and say what is to be done."
Babaji: Lord Krishna has given His mercy to you. Your
householder life will be Lord Krishna's household life, for you
will render service to Lord Krishna there. Our Lord Mahaprabhu
taught the entire world, and the world should follow His
teachings. In this material world there are two kinds of
situations: 1. household life, and 2. sannyasa. As long as one
is not qualified to become a sannyasi, he should remain as a
householder and serve Lord Krishna in that asrama. In the first
twenty four years of His pastimes, the Lord set the example of
ideal Vaishnava household life, and in the second twenty four
years of His pastimes, the Lord set the example of ideal
Vaishnava sannyasa life. Householders should follow the Lord's
example. It is my opinion that for the present you should act as
He did. In your heart do not think that in the householder
asrama you cannot attain the highest stage of pure love for Lord
Krishna (Krishna-prema). The devotees who received the greatest
mercy from Lord Mahaprabhu were all householders. The Vaishnava
sannyasis offer prayers to these householders and respectfully
touch the dust from their feet.
It was late at night. In the company of the Vaishnavas,
Vijaya-kumara and Vrajanatha sang songs glorifying Hari again
and again. In that way they passed the night in Srivasa's
courtyard. The next morning they washed, bathed, performed
various duties, sang the holy names with the Vaishnavas and
accepted a maha-prasadam breakfast. In the afternoon they slowly
walked to Bilva-puskarini. As they thought about it, both uncle
and nephew decided that they should serve Lord Krishna within
the householder asrama. That would be best. Vijaya-kumara said
to his sister, "Vrajanatha has decided to marry. You make all
the arrangements. I will go to Modadruma for a few days. When I
hear news that Vrajanatha's wedding day is coming, I will come
with all the relatives to celebrate the happy day. Tomorrow I
will sent Kanistha Harinatha to help with the arrangements."
Vrajanatha's mother and grandmother were flooded with bliss. The
gave garments and other gifts to Vijaya-kumara and bade him
farewell.
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