First Ray of Light
Text 16
tatha karmana manasa vaca
sarva-bhavena cacyutam
bhajanti paraya bhaktya
labhante padam avyayam
tatha-in the same way; karmana/-by deeds; manasa-mind; vaca-and words; sarva-bhavena-in all respects; ca-also; acyutam-the infallible Personality of Godhead; bhajanti- worship; paraya-with supreme; bhaktya-devotion; labhante- they attain; padam-the destination; avyayam-transcendental and imperishable.
"One who unreservedly and with great devotion worships the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead with deeds, thoughts and words, attains the eternal spiritual world."
Text 17
sri-bhagavate parikshitam prati suka uvaca
tasmad bharata sarvatma
bhagavan isvaro harih
srotavyah kirtitavyas ca
smartavyas cecchatabhayam
sri-bhagavate-in Srimad-Bhagavatam; parikshitam prati-to Maharaja Parikshit; sukah-Srila Sukadeva Gosvami; uvaca-said; tasmat-for this reason; bharata-O descendant of bharata; sarvatma-the Supersoul; bhagavan-the Personality of Godhead; isvarah-the controller; harih-the Lord, who vanquishes all miseries; srotavyah-is to be heard; kirtitavyah-to be glorified; ca-also; smartavyah-to be remembered; ca-and; icchata-of one who desires; abhayam- freedom.
This is also described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.5), where Srila Sukadeva Gosvami says to Maharaja Parikshit:
"O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries."*
Text 18
tatha vishnu-dharmottare brihan-naradiye ca
paramartham aseshasya
jagatah prabhavapyayam
saranyam saranam gacchan
govindam navasidati
tatha-in the same way; vishnu-dharma-uttare-in the Vishnu-dharma Purana, Uttara-khanda; brihat-naradiye- in the Brihan-naradiya Purana; ca-also; parama-artham-the supreme goal; aseshasya-of the entire; jagatah-universe; prabhava-creation; apyayam-and dissolution; saranyam-the proper person to take shelter of; saranam-shelter; gacchan- taking; govindam-of Lord Govinda; va-does not; avasidati- perish.
This is also described in the following verse, which appears in both the Brihan-naradiya Purana and the Vishnu-dharma Purana's Uttara-khanda:
"Lord Govinda is the supreme goal to be attained by all living entities, the creater and destroyer of the entire universe, and the real shelter of everyone. One who takes shelter of Lord Govinda never perishes but is always protected in all circumstances."
Text 19
tatha brahme
kalpa-vriksham samasritya
phalani svecchaya yatha
grihnati purusho rajan
tatha krishnan manorathan
tatha-in the same way; brahme-in the Brahma Purana; kalpa-vriksham-of a kalpa-vriksha tree; samasritya-taking shelter; phalani-fruits; sva-icchaya-as he likes; yatha- just as; grihnati-takes; purushah-a person; rajan-O king; tatha-in that way; krishnat- from Sri Krishna; manorathan-desires.
This is also described in the following statement of the Brahma Purana:
"O king, just as a person can take whatever fruits he likes from a kalpa-vriksha tree, in the same way he can fulfill all his desires simply by approaching Lord Krishna."
Text 20
tatha sri-brahma-samhitayam:
dharman anyan parityajya
mam ekam bhaja visvasan
yadrisi yadrisi sraddha
siddhir bhavati tadrisi
tatha-in the same way; sri-brahma-samhitayam-in the Brahma-samhita; dharman-meritorious performance; anyan-all other; parityajya-having abandoned; mam-me; ekam-only; bhaja-serve; visvasan-faithfully; yadrisi yadrisi-of whatever nature is; sraddha-the faith; siddhih-desired result; bhavati-becomes; tadrisi-such.
This is also described in the following statement of Brahma- samhita (5.61):
"Abandoning all meritorious performances serve Me with faith. The realization will correspond to the nature of one's faith. The people of the world act ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal. By meditating on Me by means of those deeds one will obtain devotion characterized by love in the shape of the supreme service."**
Text 21
tathaikam sri-krishna-caranabjam bhajaniyam iti. yatha atharvopanishadi sri-gopala-tapaniye
eko vasi sarvagah krishna idya
eko 'pi san bahudha yo 'vabhati
tam pithastham ye tu yajanti dhiras
tesham sukham sasvatam netaresham
tatha-in that way; ekam-sole; sri-krishna-of Sri Krishna; carana-feet; abjam-lotus flower; bhajaniyam- worshippable; iti-thus; yatha-just as; atharva-of the Atharva Veda; upanisadi-in the Upanisad; sri-gopala-tapaniye-Sri Gopala-tapani; ekah-one; vasi-the supreme controller; sarvagah-all-pervading; krishnah-Lord Krishna; idyah- supremely worshippable; ekah-one; api-although; san-being; bahudha-in many forms; yah-who; avabhati-manifests; tam- Him; pithastham-in His transcendental abode; ye-those who; yajanti-worship; dhirah-intelligent; persons; tesham-of them; sukham-happiness; sasvatam-eternal; na-not; itaresham-of others.
That Sri Krishna's lotus feet are the supreme object of worship is also described in the following statement of the Gopala-tapani Upanishad (1.21-22), found in the Atharva Veda:
"Lord Krishna is the worshipable, all-pervading supreme controller, and although He is one, He manifests in many forms. They who are intelligent worship Him, who stays in His spiritual abode. Those persons attain the eternal transcendental happiness that is not available to others.
Text 22
nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam
eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman
tam pithagam ye 'nuyajanti vipras
tesham siddhih sasvati netaresham
nityah-eternal; nityanam-among the eternals; cetanah- living entity; cetananam-among living entities; ekah-one; bahunam-among the many; yah-who; vidadhati-grants; kaman-desires; tam-unto Him; pitha-gam-situated in His own abode; ye-those who; anuyajanti-worship; viprah-devotees; tesham-of them; siddhih-perfection; sasvati-eternal; na itaresham-to others.
"Of all living entities there is One who is the chief, and of all eternals, there is one who is the chief. It is that chief living entity who fulfills the desires of the others. Lord Krishna is that chief living entity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He always remains in His spiritual abode. Only the devotees who worship that same Supreme Lord can attain eternal spiritual perfection."
Text 23
iti jnatva vilambo na kartavyah. yatha sri-bhagavate ekadasa-skandhe navamadhyaye caturvimsati-guru-prasange brahmana uvaca
labdhva su-durlabham idam bahu-sambhavante
manushyam artha-dam anityam apiha dhirah
turnam yateta na pated anu-mrityu yavan
nihsreyasaya vishayah khalu sarvatah syat
iti-thus; jnatva-understanding; vilambah-delay; na- not; kartavyah-should be done; yatha-just as; sri- bhagavate-in Srimad-Bhagavatam; ekadasa-skandhe-in the Eleventh Canto; navama-adhyaye-in the Ninth Chapter; caturvimsati-twenty four; guru-spiritual masters; prasange- in connection; brahmanah-the avadhuta brahmana; uvaca- said; labdhva-having obtained; su-durlabham-that which is very difficult to obtain; idam-this; bahu-many; sambhava-births; ante-after; manusyam-human form of life; artha-dam-whidh awards great value; anityam-not eternal; api-although; iha-in this material world; dhirah-one who has sober intelligence; turnam-immediately; yeteta-should endeavor; na-not; patet- should fall; anu-mrityu-the cycle of repeated birth and death; yavat-as long as; nihsreysasaya-for ultimate liberation; visayah-sense; gratification; khau-always; sarvatah-in all conditions; syat-is possible.
For all these reasons one should immediately begin the devotional service of Lord Krishna, without any delay. This is also described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.9.29, where, in connection with the description of his 24 spiritual masters, the avadhuta brahmana says:
"Attaining after many births the rare human form of life which, although temporary, brings the highest perfection, a sober man should try for perfection and not fall down into the cycle of repeated birth and death. Sense gratification is available in every species of life."
Text 24
tatha daitya-balakan prati sri-prahlada-vacanam
kaumara acaret prajno
kharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
tatha-in the same way; daitya-demon; balakan prati-to the boys; sri-prahlada-of Prahlada; vacanam-the statement; sri-prahradah uvaca-Prahlada Maharaja said; kaumarah- in the tender age of childhood; acaret-should practice; prajnah-one who is intelligent; dharman-occupational duties; bhagavatan-which are devotional service to the Supreme Personality ofGodhead; iha-in this life; durlabham-very rarely obtained; manusam-human; janma-birth; tat-that; api-even; adhruvam-impermanent, temporary; artha-dam-full of meaning.
This is again described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.6.1), where Prahlada Maharaja says to the sons of the demons:
"One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life, in other words, from the tender age of childhood, to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection."*
Text 25 (a)
yatha sri-devaki-stutih
martyo mrityu-vyala-bhitah palayan
lokan sarvan nirbhayam nadhyagacchat
tvat-padabjam prapya yadricchayadya
susthah sete mrityur asmad apaiti
yatha-just as; sri-devaki-of Srimati Devaki-devi; stutih-the prayer; martyah-the living entities who are sure to die; mrityu-vyala-bhitah-afraid of the serpent of death; palayan-running (as soon as a serpent is seen, everyone runs away, fearing immediate death); lokan-to the different planets; sarvan-all; nirbhayam-fearlessness; na adhyagacchat-do not obtain; tvat-pada-abjam-of Your lotus feet; prapya-obtaining the shelter; yadricchaya-by chance, by the mercy of Your Lordship and Your representative, the spiritual master (guru- kripa, krishna-kripa); adya-presently; su-sthah-being undisturbed and mentally composed; sete-are sleeping; mrityuh-death; asmat-from those persons; apaiti-flees.
This is also described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.3.27), where Srimati Devaki-devi offers the following prayer:
"No one in this material world has become free from the four principles birth, death, old age and disease, even by fleeing to various planets. But now that You have appeared, My Lord, death is fleeing in fear of You, and the living entities, having obtained shelter at Your lotus feet by Your mercy, are sleeping in full mental peace."*
Text 25 (b)
mrityur iti sad-asat-karmana yama-vaso bhutva tat-tat-karma- phalam bhuktva punar-jayata iti garbha-vasa-yatana Šprapyata iti mrityuh. etad eva sri-krishna-carana- parayananam naivam. etad bhautikam sariram ti tyakta nitya-siddha-deham prapya sri-krishna-dasa bhavantity amutreti.
mrityuh iti-the passage beginning with the word "mrityuh"; sat-pious; asat-and impious; karmana-by action; yama-of Yamaraja; v(?)sah-under the control; bhutva-having become; tat-tat-various; karma-of actions; phalam-the fruit; bhuktva-tasting; punah-jayate-takes birth again; iti-thus; garbha-in the womb; vasa-residence; yatana-distress; prapyate-is attained; iti-thus; mrityuh-death; etat-this; eva-indeed; sri-krishna-of Sri Krishna; carana-to the lotus feet; prayananam-of those who are devoted; na-not; evam-in this way; etat-this; bhautikam-made of matrial elements; sariram-body; te-they; tyaktva-having abandoned; nitya-eternally; siddha-perfect; deham-body; prapya- attaining; sri-krishna-of Sri Krishna; dasah-the derect servants; bhavanti-become; iti-thus; amutra-in the next life; iti-thus.
According to this verse an ordinary conditioned soul, subject to the judgment of Yamaraja, must experience the results of his pious and impious deeds. After his death he again enters the womb of a mother and suffers greatly. These sufferings, however, are not imposed on those who are devoted to Sri Krishna's lotus feet. When the devotees leave their material bodies, they attain eternally perfect spiritual bodies, and are reinstated as Sri Krishna's servants in the spiritual world.
Text 26
tasmat sri-krishna-carana-bhajanam kartavyam iti nanyat. tatha
yasyavatara-gunakarma-vidambanani
namani ye 'su-vigame vivasa grinanti
te 'naika-janma-samalam sahasaiva hitva
samyanty apavritamritam tam ajam prapadye
tasmat-therefore; sri-krishna-of Sri Krisna; carana-of the lotus feet; bhajanam-the worship; kartavyam- should be performed; na-not; anyat-another; tatha-therfore; yasya-whose; avatara-incarnations; guna-transcendental qualities; karma-activities; vidambanani-all mysterious; namani-transcendental names; ye-those; asu-vigame-while quitting this life; vivasah-automatically; grinanti-invoke; te-they; anaika-many; janma-births; samalam-accumulated sins; sahasa-immediately; eva-certainly; hitva-givingp; samyanti-obtain; apavrita-open; amritam-immortality; tam- Him; ajam-the unborn; prapadye-I take shelter.
For this reason one should only worship Sri Krishna's lotus feet. One should not worship anyone save Lord Krishna. This is also described in the following statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.9.15):
"Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Him whose incarnations, qualities and activities are mysterious imitations of wordly affairs. One who invokes His transcendental names, even unconsciously, at the time he quits this life, is certainly washed immediately of the sins of many, many births and attains Him without fail."*
Text 27
yatha sri-vishnu-purane narasimhe ca yama uvaca
aham amara-ganarcitena dhatra
yama iti loka-hitaya sanniyuktah
hari-guru-vimukhan prasasya martyan
hari-carana-pranatan namaskaromi
yatha-just as; sri-vishnu-purane-in the Vishnu Purana; narasimhe-in the Narasimha Purana; ca-also; yamah-Yamaraja; uvaca-said; aham-I; amara-gana-by the demigods; arcitena-worshipped; dhatra-by Brahma; yama-Yama; iti-thus; loka-of the loving entities; hitaya-for the benefit; sanniyuktah-engaged; hari-to Lord Hari; guru-to the spiritual master; vimukhan-to those averse; prasasya- chastizing; martyan-conditioned souls; hari-of Lord Hari; carana-to th lotus feet; pranatan-who offer respectful obeisances; namaskaromi-I offer my respectful obeisances.
This is also described in the following verse, common to both the Vishnu Purana and Narasimha Purana, where Yamaraja says:
"Lord Brahma, who is worshiped by all the demigods, has appointed me to this post of Yama for the benefit of the conditioned souls. After I punish the conditioned souls opposed to Lord Hari and the spiritual master, I offer my respectful obeisances to they who bow down before the lotus feet of Lord Hari."
Text 28 (a)
tasmat sri-krishna-carana-bhajanam kartavyam iti nanyat. tatha
samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesham
tasmat-therefore; sri-krishna-of Sri Krishna; carana-of the lotus feet; bhajanam-the worship; kartavyam- should be performed; iti-thus; na-not; anyat-anyone else; tatha-just as; samasritah-who have fully accepted; ye- those; pada-pallava-of the lotus feet; plavam-the boat; mahat- padam-the shelter of the cosmic manifestation; punya-yasah- famous; murareh-of Murari, the enemy of the Mura demon; bhava-ambudhih-the ocean of the material world; vatsa-padam-a calf's hoofprint; param at every step; yat-which; vipadam-of dangers; na-not; tesam-for them.
For this reason one should worship Lord Krishna's lotus feet. One should not worship anyone save for Lord Krishna. This also described by the following statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.58):
"For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murari, the enemy of the demon Mura, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoofprint. His goal is param padam, or Vaikuntha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step."*
Text 28 (b)
tesam param padam bhavati tad iti sri-krishna- caranaravinda-paramananda-rase paripurno bhutva tishthati janma-mrityu-varjitah. yatha sri-bhagavad-gitasupanishatsu arjunam prati sri-bhagavan uvaca
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranasyati
tesam-of them; param-the supreme; padam-abode; bhavati- is; tat-therefore; iti-thus; sri-krishna-of Sri Krishna; carana-feet; aravinda-lotus flower; parama-transcendental; ananda-of bliss; rase-in the nectar; paripurnah-full; bhutva-having become; tishthati-stands; janma-birth; mrityu-and death; varjitah-without; yatha-just as; sri- bhagavat-gitasu-in the Bhagavad-gita; upanishatsu-in the Upanishad; arjunam prati-to Arjuna; sri-bhagavan-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; uvaca-said; kaunteya-O son of Kunti; pratijanihi-justly declare; na-never; me-Mine; bhaktah- devotee; pranasyati-perishes.
In this verse the pharase "tesham param padam" means that the devotees become filled with nectarean bliss by worshiping Sri Krishna's lotus feet, and in this way they become free from the cycle of repeated birth and death. That the devotees become free from birth and death is also confirmed in the Sri Bhagavad-gita Upanishad (9.31), where the Supreme Lord says to Arjuna:
"O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes."*
Text 29
tatha kasi-khande dhruva-carite
na cyavante 'pi yad-bhakta
mahatyam pralayapadi
ato 'cyuto 'khile loke
sa ekah sarvago 'vyayah
tatha-in that way; kasi-khande-in the kasi- khanda; dhruva-carita-in the Dhruva-carita; na-not; cyavante-are anihilated; api-even; yat-of whom; bhaktah-the devotees; mahatyam-of the world; pralaya-apadi-during the anihilation; atha-therefore; acyutah-the infallible Personality of Godhead; akhile-in the intire; loke-world; sah-He; ekah-alone; sarvagah-all-pervading; avyayah- imperishable.
That the Lord's devotees never perish is confirmed by the following statement of Kasi-khanda, Dhruva-carita:
"Even the devotees of the Personality of Godhead are not annihilated during the period of the entire annihilation of the material world, not to speak of the Lord Himself. The Lord is ever-existent in all three stages of material change."*
Text 30
tatha dasame brahma-stutih
tatha na te madhava tavakah kvacid
bhrasyanti marigat tvayi baddha-sauhridah
tvayabhigupta vicaranti nirbhaya
vinayakanikapa-murdhasu prabho
tatha-in the same way; dasame-in the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam; brahma-of Lord Brahma; stutih-the prayer; tatha-like them (the nondevotees); na-not; te-they (the devotees); madhava-O Lord, husband of the goddess of fortune; tavakah-the followers of the devotional path, the devotees; kvacit-in any circumstances; bhrasyanti-fall down; margat-from the path of devotional service; tvayi-unto You; baddha-sauhridah-because of being fully attached to Your lotus feet; tvaya-by You; abhiguptah-always protected from all dangers; vicaranti-they move; nirbhayah-without fear; vinayaka-anikapa-the enemies who maintain paraphernalia to oppose the bhakti cult; murdhasu-on their heads; prabho-O Lord.
This is also confirmed by the following verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.33), where Lord Brahma prays:
"O Madhava, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord of the goddess of fortune, if devotees completely in love with You sometimes fall from the path of devotion, they do not fall like nondevotees, for You still protect them. Thus they fearlessly traverse the heads of their opponents and continue to progress in devotional service."*
Text 31
mahabharate sri-bhagavantam praty uddhava uvaca
pratijna tava govinda
na me bhaktah pranasyati
iti samsmritya samsmritya
pranan sandharayamy aham
mahabharate-in the Mahabharata; sri-bhagavantam prati- to the Supreme Prsonality of Godhead; uddhavah-Uddhava; uvaca- said; pratijna-promise; tava-Your; govinda-O Govinda; na- not; me-My; bhaktah-devotee; pranasyati-will perish; iti- thus; samsmritya samsmritya-constantly remembering; pranan-life; sandharayami-maintain; aham-I.
This is also confirmed in the Mahabharata, where Uddhava says to the Supreme Personality of Godhead:
"O Govinda, I constantly remember Your promise 'My devotees shall never perish', and in this way I maintain my life."
Text 32 (a)
ity evam sri-bhagavad-bhaktanam napada iti jnapaniyam. tatah sarvan anyan vihaya sri- krishnacandra-caranaravinda-bhajanenaiva sreyo 'nanya- bhaveneti.
iti-thus; evam-in this way; sri-bhagavat-of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktanam-of the devotees; na-not; apadah-calamity; iti-thus; jnapaniyam-should be proclaimed; tatah-therefore; sarvan-all; anyan-others; vihaya-abandoning; sri-krishnacandra-of Sri Krishnacandra; carana-feet; aravinda-lotus flower; bhajanena-by the worship; eva-certainly; sreyah-the supreme benefit; ananya-bhavena-exclusive; iti-thus.
In this way it may be declared that the devotees of the Lord remain always free from misfortune. By abandoning all other objects of worship and simply worshiping Lord Krishnacandra's lotus feet with undivided attention, one attains the supreme auspicious benefit.
Text 32 (b)
etac chri-hari-pada-padma-bhajanoddesojjvalam nirmalam
vajram ratnam idam samasta-tanubhrid-dhrid-dhvanta- vidhvamsanam
jnatvanena kurushva sadarataya karnavatamsam sudhir
dhirasyapi nivedanam srinu mama sri-raghavasyasakrit
etat-this; sri-hari-of Sri-Hari; pada-of the feet; padma-lotus; bhajana-of the worship; uddesa-with the instruction; ujjvalam-splendid; nirmalam-pure; vajram-deamond; ratnam-jewel; idam-this; samasta-all; tanubhrit-of living entities; hrit-in the heart; dhvanta-the darkness; vidhvamsanam-destroying; jnatva-having understood; anena- by this; kurush va-just do; sa-adarataya-with reverence; karna-avatamsam-the earring; sudhih-intelligent; dhirasya-of one who is thoughtful; api-also; nivedanam- explanation; srinu-just hear; mama-my; sri-raghavasya- Sri Raghava Pandita Gosvami; asakrit-repeatedly.
This book describing devotional service to Lord Hari's lotus feet is a splendid, pure diamond that illuminates the darkness in the hearts of all living entities. O intelligent reader, please accept this diamond as your earring. O thoughtful reader, please continually hear the instructions that I, Raghava Gosvami, present in this book.
