Sri Sanatkumara-samhita
BY: SUN STAFF
Apr 18, CANADA (SUN) — Part One. Translated by Sriman Kusakratha dasa.
Text 1
ekada yamuna-tire
samasinam jagad-gurum
naradah pranipatyaha
deva-devam sadasivam
One day, bowing before Lord Lord Sadasiva, the master of both the demigods and the universe, who sat by the Yamuna's shore, Sri Narada said:
Text 2
sri-narada uvaca
deva-deva maha-deva
sarva-jna jagad-isvara
bhagavad-dharma-tattva-jna
krishna-mantra-vidam vara
Sri Narada said: O master of the demigods, O great Lord, O all-knowing one, O master of the universe, O sage wise in the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, O best of they who know the mantras glorifying Lord Krishna, . . .
Text 3
krishna-mantra maya labdha
saras-toye pituh pare
te sarve sadhita yatnan
mantra-rajadyo maya
. . . from my father I carefully learned the king of mantras and many other Krishna-mantras as we sat by the water.
Text 4
bahu-varsha-sahasreshu
saka-mula-phalasina
sushka-parnambu-vayv-adi-
bhogina ca nirasina
At first I ate only wild vegetables, roots, and fruits, then I ate only dry leaves, then I only drank water, then I only breathed air, and finally I neither ate, drank, nor breathed.
Text 5
strinam sandarsanalapa-
varjina bhumi-sayina
kamadi-sad-gunan jitva
bahyendriyan niyamya ca
I neither saw nor spoke to women. I slept on the ground. I conquered the six vices, beginning with lust, and I controlled the external senses.
Text 6
ananya-manasa nityam
krishna-dhyana-parena ca
tri-kala-snana-niratah
saucacara-parayanah
Without thinking of anything else, I always meditated on Lord Krishna. I bathed thrice daily. I was pure in all I did.
Text 7
tri-kalam arcayed devam
sanga-nyasa-vidhanatah
namani kirtayams tasya
tat-katha-sravanotsukah
Performing nyasas, one should worship the Lord thrice daily. One should chant the Lord's holy names and be eager to hear His glories.
Text 8
tad-gunan bhavayan nityam
japan mantram ahar-nisam
mantrasyartham bhavayams ca
premasru-pulakancitah
Day and night one should meditate on the Lord's qualities and chant mantras glorifying Him. Thinking of the meaning of the Lord's mantras, one should shed tears of love. The hairs of one's body should stand erect in ecstasy.
Text 9
evam-adi-gunir yukto
bahu-varsha-satam tatah
samsadhya vaishnavan mantran
nirvedam gatavan aham
Worshiping the Lord in this way for many hundreds of years, I learned many Vishnu-mantras. I gave up all attachment for the material world.
Text 10
na purascaranaih kascid
vinashtadasabhir manuh
kenapi sadhitah kvapi
maya drishto na bhu-tale
Someone somewhere may have attained the eighteen-syllable mantra without first performing purscarana, but I have not seen that person anywhere in the world.
Text 11
jiva-hino yatha dehah
sarva-karmasu na kshamah
purascarana-hino hi
tatha mantra-prakirtitah
As a lifeless body cannot act, so a person who has not performed purascarana cannot chant mantras.
Text 12
vina nyasam tatha mantro
japtah kalpa-satair api
na bhavet phaladah purvam
ity uktam me svayambhuva
Lord Brahma told me that a mantra chanted for hundreds of kalpas will not bring the proper result if not performed with the proper nyasas.
Text 13
kalau kila bhavishyanti
narah papa-parayanah
sv-alpayusha ca manda-bhagya
manda-prajnah ku-medhasah
In Kali-yuga the people will be sinful, short-lived, unfortunate, slow, and unintelligent.
Text 14
sva-dharma-rahita nityam
hari-bhakti-vivarjitah
asuddha-hridayah kshudrah
kamadi-vasa-vartinah
The people will not follow the duties of varnasrama. They will have no devotion for Lord Hari. Their hearts will be dirty. They will be foolish. They will be slaves to lust and a host of vices.
Text 15
putra-dara-rata nityam
hari-bhakti-vivarjitah
idrisas ca katham sadhyah
krishna-mantrah su-durlabhah
They will care only for their wives and children. They will not care to serve Lord Hari. How can people like this attain Krishna-mantras, which are so difficult to attain?
Text 16
na caisham ca harau bhaktih
sravanadya bhavishyati
kamady-akula-cintanam
putra-dara-ratatmanam
They will not be interested in devotion to Lord Hari, which begins with hearing about His glories. They will be overcome by lust and a host of vices. They will care only for their wives and children.
Text 17
yac capi bhagavan-nama
su-labham syat kalau yuge
na purna-phala-dam tac ca
tasminn evaparadhinam
In the Kali-yuga the Lord's holy name is easy to attain. Still, the full result of the holy name does not come to they who commit offenses.
Text 18
aparadha-sahasrani
kritva krishne nirantaram
namasrayas taranty eva
tani sarvani manavah
They who commit thousands of offenses to Lord Krishna, but nevertheless take shelter of the Lord's holy name, cross beyond all those offenses.
Text 19
namni kritvaparadhams tu
yasyanti narakam dhruvam
ittham su-dushkara bhaktih
sukarapi janardane
They who commit offenses to the holy name go to hell. It is with the holy name's help that devotion to Lord Hari, which is otherwise so difficult to attain, is attained very easily.
Text 20
na ca bhaktim vina kincid
upayam vidyate param
yenaivanutishthenasu
gamishyanti hareh padam
No path but devotional service will quickly bring one to the transcendental abode of Lord Hari.
Text 21
dravya-desatmanam nityam
asuddhatvat kalau yuge
na karma-phala-dam kincid
ity ahus ca manishinah
Because in Kali-yuga objects, places, and people are all impure, one cannot easily attain the results of performing pious deeds. That is what the wise have said.
Text 22
jnanam ca dushkaram pumsam
kali-kale viseshatah
bahu-janma-satair
kasyacij jayate kvacit
In the Kali-yuga transcendental knowledge is especially difficult to attain. After many hundreds of births, someone somewhere will attain it.
Text 23
na ca tabhyam api jnana-
karmabhyam prapyate harih
tasmad etad dvayam vyartham
syad ity evam matam mama
One cannot attain Lord Hari by the cultivation of knowledge (jnana) or the performance of pious deeds (karma). These two are useless. That is my opinion.
Text 24
na jnanena karmana va
vairagyena tapasyaya
sreyobhir itarais capi
danadyair labhyate harih
One cannot attain Lord Hari by knowledge, pious deeds, renunciation, austerities, charity, or other auspicious activities.
Text 25
labhyate kevalam bhaktya
sa capi durlabha kalau
ittham cinta-kulad eva
tvam aham saranam gatah
Lord Hari is attained only by devotional service, service that in Kali-yuga is rare and difficult to attain. That is why I, pushed by a host of worries, now take shelter of you.
Text 26
tad upayam kincid adya
kali-kalocitam vada
yenanjasa gamishyanti
hari-lokam narah prabho
O master, please tell what method the people of Kali-yuga may adopt to easily attain the transcendental abode of Lord Hari.
Text 27
bhagavan kena mantrena
samsarottaranam nrinam
tan mayacakshasva tena
sarva-loka-hitam yatah
O Lord, what mantra will carry the people from this world of birth and death? So everyone may benefit, please tell it to me.
Text 28
ko mantrah sarva-mantranam
purascarana-varjitah
vina nyasair vina yogaih
samskaradayir vina prabho
O Lord, of all mantras what mantra needs no purascarana, no nyasa, no yoga, no samskara, and no other thing?
Text 29
sakrid uccaranan namnam
dadati phalam uttamam
yadi yogyo 'smi devesa
tan me karunaya vada
A single utterance of the Lord's holy name gives the highest result. O master of the demigods, if I am competent to hear it, please kindly tell me the Lord's holy name.
Text 30
sri-sadasiva uvaca
sadhu prishtham maha-bhaga
sarva-loka-hitaishana
su-gopyam api vakshyami
mantra-cintamanim tava
Lord Sadasiva said: O fortunate one, your question is excellent. O you who wish for the welfare of all, I will tell you the secret cintamani jewel of the mantras.
Text 31
rahasyanam rahasyam yad
guhyanam guhyam uttamam
na maya kathitam devyai
nagrajebhyah pura tava
I will tell you the secret of secrets, the most confidential of all confidential things. I will tell you what I have not told either the goddess or your elder brothers.
Text 32
vakshyami yugalam tubhyam
krishna-mantram anuttamam
mantra-cudamanir nama
yugalam svayam eva ca
I will tell you two peerless Krishna-mantras that are the crest-jewels of all mantras.
Texts 33 and 34
paryayas casya mantrasya
tatha panca-paditi ca
gopijaneti vallabheti
caranav iti ca kramat
saranam ca prapadyeti
tata etat pada-trayam
padam trayatmako mantrah
shod asaksha udahritah
One mantra is "Gopijana-vallabha-caranau saranam prapadye" (I take shelter of the feet of Him who is the gopi's beloved). This mantra has three compound words, five individual words, and sixteen syllables.
Text 35
namo gopijanety uktva
vallabhabhyam vadet tatah
yad dvayatmako mantro
dasarnah khalu kathyate
The second mantra is "Namo gopijana-vallabhabhyam" (Obeisances to the divine couple, who are dear to the gopis). This mantra has two words and ten syllables.
Text 36
etam panca-padim japtva
sraddhayasraddhaya sakrit
krishna-priya-vrinda-madhye
vasaty eva na samsayah
One who either with faith or without faith once chants this five-word mantra resides among Lord Krishna's gopi-beloveds. Of this there is no doubt.
Text 37
na purascaranapeksha
nasya nyasa-vidhi-kramah
na desa-kala-niyamo
nari-mitradi-sodhanam
In chanting these mantras there is no need of purscarana, nyasa, ari-suddhi, mitra-suddhi, or other kinds of purification. In chanting these mantras there is no restriction of time or place.
Text 38
sarve 'dhikarinas catra
candalanta munisvarah
striyah sudradayas capi
jada-mukandha-pungavah
All, from the lowest outcaste to the greatest sage, are eligible to chant this mantra. Women, sudras, and all others are eligible. The paralyzed, mute, blind, and lame are eligible.
Text 39
andhra hunah kiratas ca
pulindah pukkasas tatha
abhira yavanah kankah
khasadyah papa-yonayah
The Andhras, Hunas, Kiratas, Pulindas, Pukkasas, Abhiras, Yavanas, Kankas, Khasas, and all others born from sinful wombs are also eligible.
Text 40
dambhahankara-paramah
papa-paisunya-tat-parah
go-brahmananam hantaro
mahopapatakanvitah
They who are overcome with pride and ego, who are intent on committing sins, who are killers of cows and brahmanas, and who are the greatest of sinners, are also eligible.
Text 41
jnana-vairagya-rahitah
sravanadi-vivarjitah
ete canye ca sarve syur
asyadhikarino mune
They who have neither knowledge nor renunciation, they who have never studied the sruti-sastra and other scriptures, and all others, whoever they may be, are also all eligible to chant these mantras.
Text 42
yadi bhaktir bhaved esham
krishne sarvesvaresvare
tadadhikarinah sarve
nanyatha muni-sattamah
Anyone who has devotion for Lord Krishna, the master of all masters, is eligible to chant these mantras, but they who have no devotion, even they may be the greatest of sages, are not eligible.
Texts 43 and 44
yajniko dana-niratah
sarva-tirthopasevakah
satya-vadi yatir vapi
veda-vedanga-para-gah
brahma-nishthah kulino va
tapasvi vrata-tat-parah
sa cadhikari na bhavet
krishne bhakti-vivarjitah
They who have performed many yajnas, given charity, visited all holy places, been devoted to speaking the truth, accepted the renounced order, traveled to the farther shore of the Vedas and Vedangas, devotedly served the brahmanas, taken birth in good families, and performed austerities and vows, but are not devoted to Lord Krishna, are not eligible to chant these mantras.
Text 45
tasmad dharer abhaktaya
krita-ghnaya na manine
na ca sraddha-vihinaya
vaktavyam nastikaya ca
Therefore these mantras should not be spoken to one who is not devoted to Lord Hari, nor to one who is ungrateful, proud, or faithless, nor to an atheist or a blasphemer.
Texts 46-48
nasusruvam pratibruyan
nasamvatsara-vasinam
sri-krishne 'nanya-bhaktaya
dambha-lobha-vivarjine
kama-krodhadi-muktaya
deyam etat prayatnatah
sadasiva rishis cayam
gayatri-cchanda ucyate
devata ballavi-kanto
mantrasya prakirtitah
sa priyasya harer dasye
viniyoga udahritah
One should not speak these mantras to one who does not wish to hear them, nor to one who has not stayed for one year in the speaker's asrama. One should carefully give these mantras to one who is free of hypocrisy, greed, lust, anger, and other vices, and who is sincerely devoted to Lord Krishna. The sage of this mantra is Lord Sadasiva. The meter is Gayatri. The Deity is Lord Krishna, the beloved of the gopis. The purpose is to attain service to dear Lord Hari.
Text 49
acakradyaih pancangani
tair eva karayor api
atha caitad dvayam vipra
bijenaiva samacaret
Beginning with the cakra one should perform the pancanga-nyasa and the kara-nyasa. O brahmana, one should perform them both with the bija-syllable.
Text 50
mantrasya prathama-varno
binduna parito 'ncitah
gamitveva bhaved bijam
namah saktir ihodita
The first syllable should be adorned with the bindu letter. That is the bija-syllable. The sakti is said to be the word {.sy 168}namah" (obeisances).
Text 51
antima dasangani
tenaiva ca tatharcanam
gandha-punyadibhis tac ca
janaih karyam anamatah
At the end should be the ten angas. Then the people should worship the Lord with scents, flowers, and other offerings.
Text 52
nyasa-puje ca nitye ca
kartavye hari-tushtaye
ata evasya mantrasya
nyaso nanye ca kascana
To please Lord Hari one should always perform worship and nyasa. Nyasa should be performed with this mantra. It should not be otherwise.
Text 53
sakrid uccaranad asya
krita-krityo na samsayah
tathapi dasadha nityam
japady-artham vibhavayan
By once chanting this mantra one attains success. Of this there is no doubt. Still, for the purpose of chanting japa one should chant this mantra ten times daily.
Text 54
atha dhyanam pravakshyami
mantrasyasya dvijottama
pitambaram ghana-syamam
dvi-bhujam vana-malinam
O best of brahmanas, now I will tell you the meditation of this mantra. I meditate on two-armed Lord Krishna, who is dark like a monsoon cloud, dressed in yellow garments, garlanded with forest flowers, . . .
Text 55
barhi-barhakrita-pidam
sasi-koti-nibhananam
ghurnayamana-nayanam
karnikaravatamsinam
. . . crowned with a peacock feather, and garlanded with lotus whorls, whose face is splendid like ten million moons, whose eyes move restlessly, . . .
Text 56
abhitas candanenatha
madhye kunkuma-binduna
racitam tilakam bhale
bibhratam mandalakritim
. . . whose forehead is marked with tilaka of sandal paste and musk, . . .
Text 57
tarunaditya-sankasam
kundalabhyam virajitam
gharmambu-kanika-rajad-
darpanabha-kapolakam
. . . who is splendid with earrings like two rising suns, whose perspiration-anointed cheeks are like two glistening mirrors, . . .
Text 58
priya-mukha-nyastapangam
lilaya yonnata-bhruvam
agra-bhaga-nyasta-mukta-
sphurad-ucca-su-nasikam
. . . who with raised eyebrows playfully glances at His beloved's face, the tip of whose graceful raised nose is decorated with a glistening pearl, . . .
Text 59
dasana-jyotsnaya rajat-
pakva-bimba-phaladharam
keyurangada-sad-ratna-
mudrikabhir lasat-karam
. . . whose bimba-fruit lips are splendid in the moonlight of His teeth, whose hands are splendid with bracelets, armlets, and jewel rings, . . .
Text 60
bibhratam muralim vame
padma-panau tathetare
kanci-dhama sphuran-madhyam
nupurabhyam lasat-padam
. . . who holds a flute in His left lotus hand, whose waist is splendid with a graceful belt, whose feet are splendid with graceful anklets, . . .
Text 61
rati-keli-rasavesa-
capalam capalekshanam
hasantam priyaya sardham
hasayantam ca tam muhuh
. . . whose eyes are restless with the nectar of amorous pastimes, who jokes with His beloved, making Her laugh again and again, . . .
Text 62
ittham kalpa-taror mule
ratna-simhasanopari
vrindaranye smaret krishnam
samsthitam priyaya saha
. . . and who stays with Her on a jewel throne under a kalpa-vriksha tree in Vrindavana forest. In this way one should meditate on Lord Krishna and His beloved.
Text 63
vama-parsve sthitam tasya
radhikam ca smaret tatah
nicina-nila-vasanam
druta-hema-sama-prabham
On the Lord's left side one should meditate on Sri Radha, who is dressed in blue garments, who is splendid like molten gold, . . .
Text 64
patancalenavritardha-
su-smeranana-pankajam
kanta-vaktre nyasta-nrityac-
cakori-cancalekshanam
. . . who with the edge of Her garment covers Her graceful lotus smile, whose restless cakori-bird eyes dance on Her beloved's face, . . .
Text 65
angushtha-tarjanibhyam ca
nija-priya-mukhambuje
arpayantim puga-phalim
parna-curna-samanvitam
. . . who with her forefinger and thumb places beletnuts and crushed betelleaves in Her beloved's lotus mouth, . . .
Text 66
mukta-hara-sphurac-caru-
pinonnata-payodharam
kshina-madhyam prithu-sronim
kinkini-jala-sobhitam
. . . whose full, raised breasts are decorated with a glistening pearl-necklace, whose waist is slender, whose broad hips are decorated with tinkling ornaments, . . .
Text 67
ratna-tatanka-keyura-
mudra-valava-dharinim
ranat-kataka-manjira-
ratna-padanguriyakam
. . . who is decorated with jewel earrings, fingerrings, toerings, bracelets, armlets, and tinkling golden anklets, . . .
Text 68
lavanya-sara-mugdhangim
sarvavayava-sundarim
ananda-rasa-sammagnam
prasannam nava-yauvanam
. . . whose limbs are graceful with the best of beauty, who is in always in the prime of youth, and who is always plunged in the nectar of bliss.
Text 69
sakhyas ca tasya viprendra
tat-samana-vayo-gunah
tat-sevana-para bhavyas
camara-vyajanadibhih
O king of brahmanas, Her friends, whose age and qualities are like Hers, devotedly serve Her with camaras, fans, and other articles.
Texts 70 and 71
atha tubhyam pravakshyami
mantrartham srinu narada
bahirangaih prapancasya
svamsair mayadi-saktibhih
antarangais tatha nitya-
vibhutais tais cid-adibhih
gopanad ucyate gopi
radhika krishna-vallabha
Please hear, O Narada, and I will tell you the meaning of these mantras. The material world is manifested by the Lord's maya potency and other external potencies. The spiritual world is manifested by the Lord's cit potency and other internal and everlasting spiritual potencies. The protector of these potencies is said to be the gopi Sri Radha, who is Lord Krishna's beloved.
Text 72
devi krishnamayi prokta
radhika para-devata
sarva-lakshmi-svarupa sa
krishnahlada-svarupini
The transcendental goddess Sri Radha is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She is the pleasure-potency of Lord Krishna.
Text 73
tatah sa procyate vipra
hladiniti manishibhih
tat-kala-koti-koty-amsa
durgadyas tri-gunatmikah
The wise say that She is the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. Durga and the other goddesses in the world of the three modes are a million-millionth part of one of Her expansions.
Text 74
sa tu sakshan maha-lakshmih
krishno narayanah prabhuh
na tayor vidyate bhedah
sv-alpo 'pi muni-sattama
She is directly Goddess Maha-Lakshmi and Lord Krishna is Lord Narayana. O best of sages, there is not the slightest difference between Them.
Text 75
bahuna kim muni-sreshtha
vina tabhyam na kincana
cid-acil-lakshana-sarvam
radha-krishna-mayam jagat
O best of sages, what more can I say? Nothing can exist without Them. This universe made of spirit and matter together is Their potency.
Text 76
iyam durga hari rudrah
krishnah sakra iyam saci
savitriyam harir brahma
dhumondhasau yamo harih
She is Durga and Lord Hari is Siva. Lord Krishna is Indra and She is Saci. She is Savitri and Lord Hari is Brahma. She is Dhumorna and Lord Hari is Yama.
Text 77
ittham sarvam tayor eva
vibhutim viddhi narada
na saktyate maya vaktum
tat tu varsha-satair api
O Narada, please know that everything is Their potency. Even if I had many hundreds of years, I could not describe all Their glories.
Text 78
trailokye prithivi dhanya
jambudvipo yatah param
tatrapi bharatam varsham
tatrapi mathura puri
In the three worlds the most fortunate place is the earthly planets. The best of them is Jambudvipa. In Jambudvipa the best place is Bharata-varsha. In Bharata-varsha the best place is Mathura-puri.
Text 79
tatra vrindavanam nama
tatra gopi-kadambakah
tatra radha-sakhi-vargas
tatrapi radhika para
The best place in Mathura-puri is called Vrindavana. In Vrindavana stay the supreme Goddess, Sri Radha, and Her many gopi friends.
Text 80
sannidhyadhikyatas tasya
adhikyam syad yathottaram
prithivi-prabhritinam tu
nanyat kincid ihoditam
Beginning with the earthly planets, each realm described here is more or less exalted relative to its nearness to Sri Radha.
Text 81
saisha hi radhika gopi-
janas tasyah sakhi-janah
tasya sakhi-samuhasya
vallabhau prana-nayakau
The gopis are the friends of Sri Radha. Sri Sri Radha-Krishna are the hero and heroine dear to the gopis.
Text 82
radha-krishnatayoh padan
saranam syad ihasrayam
prapadye gatavan asmi
jivo 'ham mati-duhkhitah
I take shelter of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna's feet. I, an individual spirit soul unhappy at heart, surrender to Them.
Text 83
so 'ham yah saranam prapto
mama tasya vadanti ca
sarvam tabhyam tad-artham hi
tad-bhogyam na tu ye mama
The wise say, "I surrender to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. Whatever is mine is in truth Their property. Everything is for Their sake. Everything is meant for Their enjoyment. It is not meant for me."
Text 84
ity asau kathito vipra
mantrasyarthah samasatah
yugalarthas tatha nyasah
prapattih saranagatih
O brahmana, thus I have briefly described the meaning of these mantras. Therefore one should perform nyasas to please the divine couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. One should take shelter of Them and surrender to Them.
Text 85
atmarpanam me panca-
paryasas te mayoditah
ayam eva cintaniyo
diva-naktam atandritaih
Thus I have described to you five ways to offer oneself to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. You should think of these ways of surrender day and night, and never become tired of thinking of them.
Text 86
atha diksha-vidhim vakshye
srinu narada tattvatah
sravanad eva mucyante
vina yasya vidhanatah
O Narada, please hear and I will tell you about spiritual initiation. Simply by hearing of this, even without following this description, the people become liberated.
Texts 87 and 88
a-virincaj jagat sarvam
vijnaya nasvaram budhah
adhyatmikadi-tri-vidham
duhkham evanubhuya ca
anityatvac ca sarvesham
sukhanam muni-sattama
duhkha-pakshe vinikshipya
tani tebhyo virajyate
O best of sages, aware that every place in the material world, from Brahmaloka down, is temporary and destined for destruction, directly feeling the three kinds of material suffering, beginning with sufferings caused by one's own body and mind, and also seeing that all material happinesses come to an end and finally lead only to pain, a wise person renounces the world. No longer is he interested in the things of this world.
Text 89
virajya samsriter hanau
sadhanani vicintayet
anuttama-sukhasyapi
sampraptau bhrisam duhkhitah
When a person no longer desires to enjoy the things of this world, he should consider how to finally sever all connection with this world. Only when he succeeds in that will such a person, unhappy with the world, attain peerless happiness.
Text 90
saranam dushkaratvam hi
vijnaya ca maha-matih
bhrisam artas tato vipra
sri-gurum saranam vrajet
O brahmana, a wise person, aware that the shelter of the Lord is very difficult to attain, and distressed by material life, should take shelter of a bona-fide spiritual master.
Texts 91-93
santo vimatsarah krishna-
bhakto 'nanya-prayojanah
ananya-sadhanah sriman
krodha-lobha-vivarjitah
sri-krishna-rasa-tattva-jnah
krishna-mantra-vidam varah
krishnasrayo nityam
mantra-bhaktah sada-sucih
sad-dharma-sadhako nityam
sad-acara-niyojakah
sampradayi kripa-purno
viragi gurur ucyate
It is said that a bona-fide spiritual master should be peaceful, non-envious, devoted to Lord Krishna, not interested in things that have no relation to Lord Krishna, not engaged in activities that have no relation to Lord Krishna, filled with spiritual virtues, free of anger and greed, learned in the science of the nectar mellows of Lord Krishna, expert in the mantras glorifying Lord Krishna, always surrendered to Lord Krishna and always taking shelter of Lord Krishna, devoted to chanting the mantras glorifying Lord Krishna, always pure, always pious and religious, always engaged in devotional service to the Lord, a teacher who shows his disciples how to serve the Lord, himself a disciple in the sampradaya (disciplic succession), filled with mercy, and renounced.
Text 94
evam-adi-gunah prayah
susrushur guru-padayoh
gurau nitanta-bhaktas ca
mumukshuh sishya ucyate
It is said that a bona-fide disciple should have qualities like these also. He should have faith in his spiritual master's feet, be devoted to his spiritual master, and have the attainment of liberation as the goal of his life.
Text 95
yat sakshat sevanam tasya
premna bhagavato bhavet
sa mokshah procyate prajnai
r
veda-vedanga-vedibhih
Service to the spiritual master is the same as direct loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The wise, who are learned in the Vedas and Vedangas, declare that this service is the path to liberation.
Text 96
trayasva bho jagan-natha
guro samsara-vahnina
dagdham ca kala-dashtam ca
trahi mam bhava-sagarat
O spiritual master of all the worlds, please rescue me, for I am burning in the fire of repeated birth and death! I am bitten by the black snake of time! Please rescue me from the ocean of birth and death!
Text 97
sri-nanda-nandanah krishnah
sarva-deva-siro-manih
padambujaika-bhag eka-
diksha prokta manishibhih
Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda, is the crest jewel of all Deities. One should worship His lotus feet alone. One time only should one accept initiation to the worship of His lotus feet. This is said by the wise.
Text 98
agatya ca guroh pade
nija-vrittam nivedayet
sa-sandehanam prahvatya
bodhayitva punah punah
One should approach the spiritual master's feet, offer service to them, and learn the truth by asking questions again and again.
Text 99
sva-pada-pranatam santam
susrushum nija-padayoh
ati-hrishta-manah sishyam
gurur adhyapayen manum
Happy at heart, the spiritual master then teaches the sacred mantra to the disciple who is peaceful, who has faith in his spiritual master's feet, and who is surrendered to his spiritual master's feet.
Text 100
candanena mrida vapi
vilikhet bahu-mulayoh
vama-dakshinayor vipra
sankha-cakre yatha kramam
O brahmana, using sandal paste or clay, the spiritual master should draw a conchshell and cakra on the left and right shoulders.
Text 101
urdhva-pundram tatah kuryad
bhaladishu vidhanatah
tato mantra-dvayam tasya
daksha-karne vinirdiset
Then the spiritual master should draw Vaishnava tilaka on the forehead and other places, and then he should speak the two mantras in the disciple's right ear.
Text 102
mantrartham ca vadet tasmai
yathavad anupurvasah
dasa-sabda-yutam nama
dhayya tasya prayatnatah
Then he should explain the meaning of the mantras, and then he should give the disciple a name, a name ending with the word "dasa" (servant).
Text 103
tato 'ti-bhaktya sa-sneham
vaishnavan bhojayed budhah
sri-gurum pujayec capi
vastralankaranadibhih
Then the wise disciple should affectionately and devotedly feast the Vaishnavas, and then he should worship the spiritual master with garments, ornaments, and other gifts.
Text 104
sarvasvam gurave dadyat
tad-ardham va maha-mune
sva-deham api nikshiptam
puras tishthed akincanah
O great sage, then the disciple should offer all his wealth to his spiritual master, or he may offer half his wealth, or, being penniless, he may offer his body in the spiritual master's service.
Text 105
ya etaih pancabhir vidvan
samskaraih samskrito bhavet
dasya-bhagi sa krishnasya
nanyatha kalpa-kotibhih
With these five samskaras (purificatory rituals) one becomes purified. He becomes a servant of Lord Krishna. Even in ten million kalpas he will not renounce that service.
Text 106
ankanam cordhva-pundram ca
mantra-nama-vidharanam
pancami yaga ity uktam
samskaram purva-suribhih
The previous sages say these five samskaras are: 1. the marking, 2. tilaka, 3. mantra, 4. name, and 5. yajna.
Text 107
ankanam sankha-cakradyaih
sac-chidra-pundra ucyate
dasa-sabda-yutam nama
mantro yugala-samjnakam
The marking is the marking of the conchshell, disc, and other signs. The tilaka is Vaishnava tilaka. The name is the name to which the word "da sa" (servant) is added. The mantra is the two mantras already described.
Text 108
guru-vaishnavayoh puja
yaga ity abhidhiyate
ete parama-samskara
maya te parikirtitah
The yajna is the worship of the spiritual master and the Vaishnavas. Thus I have described these great samskaras to you.
