Jiva Goswami Sri Bhakti Sandarbha

Sri Bhakfi-sandarbha
An Essay on DevofionaI Service

Some Words of AcknowIedgemenf
Siila Gopala llaiia Gosvami, ilc gicai plilosoplci liom ilc souilcin piovinccs
wlo gicaily plcascd Siila Rupa Gosvami and Siila Sanaiana Gosvami, lcli many
valuablc noics ilai dclcai vaiious plilosoplical misconccpiions. Sysicmaiically
aiianging ilcsc noics, and considciing ilcii conicni, Jiva Gosvami wiiics ilis
bool.
Anuccheda 1
1 ly ilc picvious loui sandaiblas ilc iclaiionslip (bciwccn Kisna and ilc
living cniiiics) was cxplaincd. Tlcic ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc Tiuil was dcsciibcd
as laving ilc claiaciciisiics ol pcilcciion, ciciniiy, and iiansccndcnial bliss, and
ilc Supicmc was also dcsciibcd as appcaiing in ilicc lcaiuics: lialman,
Paiamaima, and llagavan. Ol ilcsc llagavan was piovcd io bc ilc liglcsi. Tlc
incainaiions lcadcd by Loid Visnu and oilci incainaiions lcadcd by ilc loui
Kumaias wcic slown io bc His avaiaias. Also, Sii Kisna was piovcd io bc ilc
oiiginal loim ol llagavan. Also, in ilc dcsciipiion ol Paiamaima, wcic dcsciibcd
ilc sullciings in ilc maiciial woild ol ilc individual living cniiiics (jivas), wlo aic
ilc Loid's maiginal poicncy, wlo aic spiiiiual in naiuic, and wlo, bccausc ol
ignoiancc ol ilc bcginninglcss Supicmc Tiuil and bccausc ol ilc ciimc ol bcing
avcisc io Him lad ilc lnowlcdgc ol ilcii oiiginal spiiiiual idcniiiy covcicd by
illusion (maya) and wcic placcd in ilc maiciial woild ol ilc modcs ol goodncss,
passion and ignoiancc.
2 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam
11.22.3+):
"Tlc spcculaiivc aigumcni ol plilosoplcis - "Tlis woild is ical," "No, ii is
noi ical" - is bascd upon incomplcic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Soul and is simply
aimcd ai undcisianding maiciial dualiiics. Alilougl sucl aigumcni is usclcss,
pcisons wlo lavc iuincd ilcii aiicniion away liom Mc, ilcii own iiuc Scll, aic
unablc io givc ii up."¯¯¯
3 Ioi ilcii bcnclii (ilc Loid) vciy mcicilully icaclcs sciipiuics. Somc
individual spiiii souls wlo in picvious biiils pciloimcd icligious ccicmonics and
bccamc puiilicd in oidci io diiccily scc ilc Loid, and oilci individual spiiii souls
wlo aiiaincd ilc mcicy ol gicai souls by ilcii glancc oi in anoilci way, simply by
lcaiing ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc pcilcci qualiiics ol ilc Supicmc Tiuil, scc Him lacc-
io-lacc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (1.1.2):
"Tlis bcauiilul llagavaiam, compilcd by ilc gicai sagc Vyasadcva (in lis
maiuiiiy), is sullicicni in iiscll loi God icalisaiion. Wlai is ilc nccd ol any oilci
sciipiuic' As soon as onc aiicniivcly and submissivcly lcais ilc mcssagc ol
llagavaiam, by ilis culiuic ol lnowlcdgc ilc Supicmc Loid is csiablislcd wiilin
lis lcaii."¯
Tlis docs noi lappcn wiil any oilci icacling. Many oilci icaclings may
bc lcaid, bui ii is ilc lcaiing ol naiiaiions ilai bcgin wiil ilc Supicmc Tiuil's
pasiimcs ilai malcs onc ycain io iasic ilc ncciai ol ilc Loid. Sii Piallada and
oilci dcvoiccs aic cxamplcs lcic. Hcaiing aboui ilc Loid givcs ilc sccd (io scc
ilc Loid lacc-io-lacc), and ii also dcsiioys ilc sccd ol lusi and a losi ol viccs.
+ Sii Piallada cxplains (Siimad-llagavaiam 7.9.39)
"My dcai Loid ol ilc Vailunila plancis, wlcic ilcic is no anxiciy, my
mind is cxiicmcly sinlul and lusiy, bcing somciimcs so-callcd lappy and
somciimcs so-callcd disiicsscd. My mind is lull ol lamcniaiion and lcai, and ii
always sccls moic and moic moncy. Tlus ii las bccomc mosi polluicd and is
ncvci saiislicd in iopics conccining You. I am ilcicloic mosi lallcn and pooi. In
sucl a siaius ol lilc, low slall I bc ablc io discuss Youi aciiviiics'"¯
ly lollowing ilc cxamplc ol ilcsc woids ol Sii Piallada, wlo ilinls
Himscll vciy lallcn and lowly, many oilcis lavc also aiiaincd ilc Loid.
5 Tlis is cxplaincd in lialma-vaivaiia Puiana
"As mucl as ii is polluicd wiil sins, io ilai cxicni ilc lcaii cannoi placc
iis laiil in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics oi ilc bona-lidc spiiiiual masici.
6 "ly lcaiing ilc Vcdic sciipiuics in ilc associaiion ol sainily dcvoiccs lovc
loi ilc Loid is manilcsi. Tlai is ilc gicai icsuli ol laving pciloimcd many pious
dccds in many picvious biiils."
7 Now ilai ilc Supicmc Tiuil las bccn clcaily dcsciibcd accoiding io ilc
diicci dcsciipiions (ol ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic), (onc may asl:) "Wlai may bc said
(ablidlcya) aboui (ilc iclaiionslip bciwccn ilc Supicmc Tiuil and ilc
individual spiiii souls) and wlai is ilc linal goal (piayojana) ol ilai
(iclaiionslip)' Tlcsc iwo may bc cxplaincd accoiding io ilc indiicci dcsciipiions
(ol ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic). lccausc ii is ilc opposiic ol bcing avcisc io ilc Supicmc,
ilai iclaiionslip is onc ol iuining onc's lacc ol ilc Loid and ii is claiaciciiscd by
scivicc io ilc Loid. Iiom ilai scivicc lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid bccomcs manilcsicd.
Tlc linal goal is ilai scivicc is diiccily sccing ilc Loid and ilai is claiaciciiscd by
ilc Loid's maling Himscll visiblc wiilin and wiiloui. Wlcn ilai lappcns onc
bccomcs licc ol all sullciings. loil aic cxplaincd in an ancicni sioiy. Hcaiing
"Tlcic is a iicasuic (liddcn) in youi lousc", a povciiy siiiclcn man scaiclcd loi
ilc iicasuic and cvcniually lound ii. Tlcsc iwo ilings aic lilc ilai. Tlis sioiy is
iold io dispcl wcalncss (ol lcaii in ilc dcvoiccs). Lxplaining ilai bcing unwilling
io bc awaic ol ilc pcilcci and bcginninglcss Supicmc Tiuil is ilc causc ol
sullciing, (ilc sciipiuics) icacl scivicc io ilc Loid, wlicl is ilc mcdicinc io cuic
ilc discasc (ol maiciial lilc).
S (Tlis is cxplaincd in Siimad-llagavaiam 11.2.37):
"Wlcn ilc living cniiiy is aiiiacicd by ilc maiciial cncigy, wlicl is
scpaiaic liom Kisna, lc is ovcipowcicd by lcai. lccausc lc is scpaiaicd liom ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by ilc maiciial cncigy, lis conccpiion ol lilc is
icvciscd. In oilci woids, insicad ol bcing ilc cicinal scivicc ol Kisna, lc bccomcs
Kisna's compciiioi. Tlis is callcd vipaiyayo smiiil. To nullily ilis misialc, onc
wlo is aciually lcaincd and advanccd woislips ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad as lis spiiiiual masici, woisliplul Dciiy, and souicc ol lilc. Hc ilus
woislips ilc Loid by ilc pioccss ol unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc."¯
9 Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Tlc lcai lcic is cicaicd by ilc Loid's maiciial
cncigy. 'ludlal' mcans 'an iniclligcni pcison', and 'ablajci' mcans 'slould
woislip'. Icai is cicaicd by absoipiion (ablinivcsaial) in maiciial ilings
bcginning wiil ilc maiciial body. Ii is cicaicd by ilc lalsc-cgo ol idcniilying wiil
ilc maiciial body and oilci maiciial ilings. Ii is cicaicd bccausc ilc oiiginal
spiiiiual loim ol ilc living cniiiy is noi manilcsi. Wly docs ilc maiciial cncigy
(maya) do ilis' lccausc ilc living cniiiy las iuincd away liom ilc Supicmc Loid
(isad apciasya), ilc maiciial cncigy malcs lim loigci (asmiiil) and ilus lis own
oiiginal spiiiiual loim is no longci manilcsicd. Iiom ilis comcs ilc
misidcniilicaiion (vipaiyayal) ol ilinling 'I am ilis body'. Tlus, liom bcing
absoibcd in somciling oilci ilan ilc Supicmc Loid (dviiiyablinivcsaial) lcai
(blayam) is cicaicd. In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai lcai is cicaicd by ilc maiciial
cncigy (maya). Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll cxplains (llagavad-
giia 7.1+):
10 "Tlis divinc cncigy ol Minc, consisiing ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial
naiuic, is dilliculi io ovcicomc. lui ilosc wlo lavc suiicndcicd unio Mc can
casily cioss bcyond ii."¯
11 "Tlcicloic wiil unalloycd (claya) dcvoiion onc slould woislip ilc Loid.
In ilc woid 'Guiu-dcvaiaima' ilc woid 'dcvaia' mcans 'masici', and 'aima' mcans
'dcaimosi'. In ilis way ilc spiiiiual masici slould bc sccn. Tlai is ilc mcaning."
Tlis vcisc is spolcn by Sii Kavi io ilc ling ol Vidcla.
Anuccheda 2
1 Iuiilcimoic, Siimad-llagavaiam (2.2.6) cxplains:
"Tlus bcing lixcd, onc musi icndci scivicc unio ilc Supcisoul siiuaicd in
onc's own lcaii by His omnipoicncy. lccausc Hc is ilc Almigliy Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, cicinal and unlimiicd, Hc is ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc, and by
woislipping Him onc can cnd ilc causc ol ilc condiiioncd siaic ol cxisicncc."¯
2 Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Wlai, ilcn, slould bc donc' Loid Haii slould
bc scivcd. Hcic wiil woid 'cvam' (ilus) mcans 'bcing icnounccd'. In ilai way
onc slould scivc ilc Loid (iam blajcia). Tlc icasons wly Hc slould bc
woislippcd lollow: 1. Hc is siiuaicd in onc's lcaii by His omnipoicncy (sva-ciiic
svaia cva siddlal). 2. Hc is ilc Supcisoul (aima), 3. Hc is vciy dcai (piiyal), +.
Dcvoiional scivicc io Him, ilc dcai onc, is lull ol lappincss, 5. Hc is ilc uliimaic
icaliiy (aiilal), 6. Hc is noi lalsc, as ilai wlicl is noi aima is, 7. Hc is ilc Loid,
wlosc iiansccndcnial qualiiics aic woislipablc (blagavan), and S. Hc is cicinal
(ananial). lccausc Hc is lilc ilis, onc slould woislip Him (iam blajcia).
"'Niyaiaiilal' mcans 'ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc'. lccausc by sccing lim onc
bccomcs lull ol bliss, Hc is callcd 'niiviial' (bliss). As a icsuli ol pciloiming
dcvoiional scivicc, His blisslul loim is icvcalcd. Iuiilcimoic, wlcn (yaiia) ilcic
is dcvoiional scivicc, ilcn ilc ignoiancc ilai is ilc causc ol ilc condiiioncd siaic
ol cxisicncc (samsaia-lciol) is dcsiioycd (upaiamal)."
Iiom ilc woid "ca" lcic ilai aiiainmcni slould bc undcisiood. Siila
Suladcva Gosvami spcals ilis vcisc.
Anuccheda 3
1 Alilougl ilc spiiiiual aciiviiics ol jnana-yoga, wlicl bcgin wiil lcaiing
and mcdiiaiion malc onc lavouiablc iowaids ilc Supicmc bccausc ilcy givc onc
diicci pciccpiion ol His lialman lcaiuic, and alilougl sanllya-yoga, asianga-
yoga, and laima-yoga also, cacl in iis own way, malc onc also lavouiablc iowaids
ilc Supicmc, and alilougl ilcy do insiil, io a cciiain cxicni, somc dcvoiion loi
ilc Loid, laima-yoga by laving onc lollow ilc Loid's oidcis and malc ollciings io
ilc Loid, and jnana-yoga by laving onc, among oilci ilings, bccomc dciaclcd
liom cvciyiling bui ilc Loid, and alilougl ilcsc linds ol yoga aic ilcicloic ilc
liicnds ol dcvoiional scivicc, siill ilc picvious vciscs quoicd liom Siimad-
llagavaiam (11.2.37 and 2.2.6) wlicl cxplain "Onc slould woislip ilc Loid by
cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc", do noi considci ilcm vciy impoiiani. Tlcsc
vciscs say ilai onc slould woislip ilc Loid by diiccily cngaging in dcvoiional
scivicc, wlicl las many aciiviiics bcginning wiil lcaiing and claniing ol ilc
Loid's gloiics. Tlis, along wiil an cxplanaiion ol ilc icasons wly, is sccn in ilc
bcginning ol Sii Suia Gosvami icaclings, lound in Siimad-llagavaiam bcginning
wiil 1.2.6 and cnding wiil 1.2.22. Tlcic ii is said (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6):
2 "Tlc supicmc occupaiion (dlaima) loi all lumaniiy is ilai by wlicl mcn
can aiiain io loving dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc iiansccndcnial Loid. Sucl
dcvoiional scivicc musi bc unmoiivaicd and uniniciiupicd io complcicly saiisly
ilc scll."¯
3 In ilc bcginning ol ilc gicai Siimad-llagavaiam Puiana (1.1.11) ilc
qucsiion was aslcd: "Wlai is ilc csscncc ol all sciipiuics' Plcasc cxplain ii."
Tlai qucsiion is addicsscd in Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6 (wlicl was quoicd in ilc
picvious icxi). Tlcic ilc woid "yaial" mcans "by ilai occupaiion", and
"adlolsajc blaliil" mcans "aiiiaciion loi ilc aciiviiics (ol dcvoiional scivicc),
wlicl bcgin wiil lcaiing naiiaiions aboui ilc Loid" bccausc a liiilc laici ilc
opposiic (ol ilai aiiiaciion) will bc slown in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.2.S):
"Tlc occupaiional aciiviiics a man pciloims accoiding io lis own posiiion
aic only so mucl usclcss laboui il ilcy do noi piovolc aiiiaciion loi lcaiing ilc
mcssagc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
In Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6. (quoicd in ilc picvious icxi) ilc woids "sa
vai" mcan "cciiainly ilai". Tlc "ilai" mcniioncd lcic mcans "ilc bcsi ol all
occupaiional duiics, wlicl mcans ilai wlicl is donc ol ilc saiislaciion ol ilc
Loid." Tlis is so bccausc ii will bc said (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.13):
"Ii is ilcicloic concludcd ilai ilc liglcsi pcilcciion onc can aclicvc by
disclaiging ilc duiics picsciibcd loi onc's own occupaiion accoiding io casic
divisions and oidcis ol lilc is io plcasc ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
lccausc ii is noi avcisc io, oi apaii liom ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
dcvoiional scivicc is noi mcicly icnunciaiion. Tlis is cxplaincd by Naiada Muni
in ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.5.12):
"Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl liccd liom all maiciial alliniiy,
docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol ilc conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai, ilcn,
is ilc usc ol liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic naiuially painlul liom ilc vciy bcginning
and iiansicni by naiuic, il ilcy aic noi uiiliscd loi ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc
Loid'"¯
Tlis will bc dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.13. Tlc mcaning is ilai
unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi ol spiiiiual pails. ly ilis vcisc, ilcicloic,
ii is said ilai dcvoiional scivicc is bciici ilan ilc aciiviiics ol vainasiama-dlaima.
ncxi lc (Suia Gosvami) dcsciibcs ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc. Hc says ilai
bccausc dcvoiional scivicc is naiuially and sponiancously blisslul, ii is
unmoiivaicd (alaiiuli), wlicl mcans ii is dcvoid ol ilc scaicl loi any icsuli oilci
ilan ilc scivicc iiscll, and ii is uniniciiupicd (apiaiilaia), wlicl mcans bccausc ii
docs noi lind ciilci lappincss oi disiicss in anyiling oilci ilan dcvoiional
scivicc, ilcicloic ii cannoi bc sioppcd by anyiling. Wlcn dcvoiional scivicc is
claiaciciiscd by aiiiaciion (iuci) io (ilc Loid), ilcn dcvoiional scivicc in piaciicc
(sadlana-blalii), wlicl bcgins wiil lcaiing (aboui ilc Loid), las bcgun.
Anuccheda +
1 Siimad-llagavaiam (5.1S.12) cxplains:
"All ilc dcmigods and ilcii cxalicd qualiiics, sucl as icligion, lnowlcdgc,
and icnunciaiion, bccomc manilcsi in ilc body ol onc wlo las dcvclopcd
unalloycd dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Vasudcva."¯
Tlcicloic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid's loim and qualiiics naiuially biings
icnunciaiion ol cvciyiling clsc. Tlis is dcsciibcd (in Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.7):
2 "ly icndciing dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii
Kisna, onc immcdiaicly acquiics causclcss lnowlcdgc and dciaclmcni liom ilc
woild."¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai simply by biiclly lcaiing aboui Kisna (asu)
dcvoiional scivicc cicaics (janayaii) ilc lnowlcdgc icvcalcd in ilc Upanisads
(jnanam), wlicl is bcyond ilc splcic ol ilosc mcilods ilai bcgin wiil diy logic
(alaiiulam).
Anuccheda 5
1 Tlc icsuli ol ilc abscncc ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.S):
aic only so mucl usclcss laboui il ilcy do noi piovolc aiiiaciion loi ilc mcssagc
ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
2 Il (yadi) onc docs noi plcasc Loid Vasudcva, ilcn ilcic will noi bc (na
uipadayci) aiiiaciion (iaiim) io ilc dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid's vaiious
iiansccndcnial pasiimcs. Tlcn ilc only icsuli will bc usclcss laboui (siaml).
Tlis is said bccausc ol ilc gicai supciioiiiy and supicmc impoiiancc ol aiiiaciion
io lcaiing aboui ilc Loid. Hcic also is linicd a dcsciipiion ol aiiiaciion io
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc woid "cva" lcic mcans ilai ilc liuiis ol maiciial laboui
aic icmpoiaiy. Tlc woid "li" lcic is cxplaincd in Clandogya Upanisad (S1.16),
"Tlc icsidcncc in a lcavcnly maiciial planci ilai is aiiaincd by maiciially pious
woil is icmpoiaiy and will cnd." Tlc woid "lcvalam" is dclincd in Amaia-losa,
"Kcvalam mcans conclusion". Tlc conclusion lcic is ilai ilc cicinal bcnclii
cannoi bc aiiaincd by ciilci mcic pious icnunciaiion oi by spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc.
Lvcn wlcn ilcsc aic pcilccicd ilcy biing only a icmpoiaiy bcnclii. Tlis is linicd
lcic by ilc woid "li" and ii is also conliimcd by Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.23):
"Only unio ilosc gicai souls wlo lavc implicii laiil in boil ilc Loid and
ilc spiiiiual masici aic all ilc impoiis ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc auiomaiically
icvcalcd."¯
Ii is again conliimcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (1.5.12):
"Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl licc liom all maiciial alliniiy,
docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai, ilcn is
ilc usc ol liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic naiuially painlul liom ilc vciy bcginning
Loid."¯
Ii is again conliimcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (10.1+.+):
"My dcai Loid, dcvoiional scivicc unio You is ilc only auspicious pail. Il
onc givcs ii up simply loi spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc oi ilc undcisianding ilai ilcsc
living bcings aic spiiii souls and ilc maiciial woild is lalsc, lc undcigocs a gicai
dcal ol iioublc. Hc only gains iioublcsomc and inauspicious aciiviiics. His
cndcavouis aic lilc bcaiing a lusl ilai is alicady dcvoid ol iicc. Onc's laboui
bccomcs liuiilcss."¯
Ii is again conliimcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (10.2.32):
"O loius-cycd Loid, alilougl non-dcvoiccs wlo acccpi scvcic ausiciiiics
and pcnanccs io aclicvc ilc liglcsi posiiion may ilinl ilcmsclvcs libciaicd, ilcii
iniclligcncc is impuic. Tlcy lall down liom ilcii posiiion ol imagincd supciioiiiy
bccausc ilcy lavc no icgaid loi Youi loius lcci."¯
3 Tlcsc iwo vciscs slow ilai dcvoiional scivicc docs noi dcpcnd on anyiling
clsc. Indccd, spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc and diy icnunciaiion dcpcnd on dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlcicloic ii is ilc picscncc ol dcvoiional scivicc ilai malcs oilci
spiiiiual piaciiccs succcsslul.
Anuccheda 6
1 Somc ilinl ilc icsuli ol pciloiming icligious iiiuals oi occupaiional duiics
is ilc aiiainmcni ol cconomic dcvclopmcni , and ilc icsuli ol cconomic
dcvclopmcni is scnsc giaiilicaiion, and bccausc onc aiiains scnsc giaiilicaiion in
ilis way, onc is inclincd io pciloim icligious iiiuals and occupaiional duiics, in
ilai way siaiiing again ilc cyclc ol aciiviiics bcginning wiil icligious iiiuals and
occupaiional duiics. Tlai (ilc iiuil) is oilci ilan ilis is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.9-10):
2 "All occupaiional cngagcmcnis aic cciiainly mcani loi uliimaic libciaiion.
Tlcy slould ncvci bc pciloimcd loi maiciial gain. Iuiilcimoic, accoiding io
sagcs, onc wlo is cngagcd in ilc uliimaic occupaiional scivicc slould ncvci usc
maiciial gain io culiivaic scnsc giaiilicaiion."¯
3 "Lilc's dcsiics slould ncvci bc diiccicd iowaid scnsc giaiilicaiion. Onc
slould dcsiic only a lcalily lilc, oi scll-picscivaiion, sincc a luman bcing is
mcani loi inquiiy aboui ilc Absoluic Tiuil. Noiling clsc slould bc ilc goal ol
onc's woils."¯
+ Libciaiion is dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 5.19.19-20:
"Il onc's posiiion is ascciiaincd by a bona-lidc spiiiiual masici and onc is
piopcily iiaincd io cngagc in ilc scivicc ol Loid Visnu accoiding io ilc loui social
divisions (bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya, and sudia) and ilc loui spiiiiual divisions
(bialmacaii, gilasila, vanapiasila, and sannyasa), onc's lilc bccomcs pcilcci.
Alici many, many biiils, wlcn ilc icsulis ol onc's pious aciiviiics maiuic, onc
gcis an oppoiiuniiy io associaic wiil puic dcvoiccs. Tlcn onc is ablc io cui ilc
lnoi ol bondagc io ignoiancc, wlicl bound lim bccausc ol vaiicd liuiiivc
aciiviiics. As a icsuli ol associaiing wiil dcvoiccs, onc giadually icndcis scivicc io
Loid Vasudcva, wlo is iiansccndcnial, licc liom aiiaclmcni io ilc maiciial woild,
bcyond ilc mind and woids, and indcpcndcni ol cvciyiling clsc. Tlai blalii-
yoga, dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Vasudcva, is ilc ical pail ol libciaiion."¯
Accoiding io ilis piosc passagc ol ilc Iilil Canio dcvoiional scivicc is ilc
ical pail ol libciaiion. Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Slanda
Puiana, Rcva-llanda:
5 "O Loid Janaidana, unwavciing dcvoiional scivicc io You is ilc samc as
libciaiion. O Loid Visnu, O Loid Haii, Youi dcvoiccs aic alicady libciaicd."
6 Tlcsc passagcs dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc. Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis
(on Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.9-10 in icxis 2 and 3):
"Tlc woid 'aiila' lcic mcans 'loi maiciial gain', and 'nopalalpaic' mcans 'is
noi mcani'. Tlcicloic, ilc icgulai pciloimancc ol occupaiional duiics is noi (na
li) mcani loi maiciial gain (lamo lablaya). Tlis is dcsciibcd (smiial) by ilc
sagcs wlo lnow ilc iiuil. Tlc liuiis ol woil aic noi mcani loi maiciial plcasuics
(lamasya indiiya-piiiii lablal). Railci, as long as onc livcs (yavaia jivcia) onc
slould dcsiic (lamasya lablal) only a lcalily lilc, oi scll-picscivaiion (jivasya).
Onc slould noi usc ilc pciloimancc ol occupaiional duiics (laimablil ya ila) in
onc's lilc (jivasya) as a mcans io aiiain maiciial goals, sucl as aiiaining Svaigalola.
Railci, ilcy slould bc uscd loi inquiiy aboui ilc Absoluic Tiuil (iaiiva-jijnasa)."
In ilis way (Siila Siidlaia Svami) cxplains ilai lnowlcdgc ol ilc Absoluic
Tiuil is only a by-pioduci ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc main icsuli ol dcvoiional
scivicc is dcvoiional scivicc iiscll.
Wlai is ilc Absoluic Tiuil' Tlai is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing vcisc
(Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.11):
7 "Lcaincd iiansccndcnialisis wlo lnow ilc Absoluic Tiuil call ilis non
dual subsiancc lialman, Paiamaima oi llagavan."¯
S ly using ilc woid "advayam", wlicl lcic mcans "noi dividcd inio paiis",
and by ilus inicnding ilai (ilcsc ilicc aspccis ol ilc Supicmc) aic noi dillcicni
liom cacl oilci, ilc naiuic ol ilc Loid as ilc masici ol poicncics is acccpicd. Tlc
poicncy ol ilc lnowlcdgc ol oncncss, wlicl is bcyond ilc naiuic ol ilc oilci
poicncics, is iclaicd io ilc lialman lcaiuic (bialma sabdyaic). Tlc maiciial maya
poicncy and ilc cii poicncy ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc aic iclaicd io ilc
Supcisoul (paiamaima). Tlc bcsi ol all pcilcci poicncics is iclaicd io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (blagavan). Tlis las bccn cxplaincd in ilc picvious ilicc
sandaiblas.
Anuccheda 7
1 Tlai ilc ilicc-lold Absoluic Tiuil is diiccily icaliscd by dcvoiional scivicc
is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.12):
2 "Tlc sciiously inquisiiivc siudcni oi sagc, wcll cquippcd wiil lnowlcdgc
and dciaclmcni, icaliscs ilai Absoluic Tiuil by icndciing dcvoiional scivicc in
icims ol wlai lc las lcaid liom ilc Vcdania-siuii."¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans, "Wiil ilc gicai spiiiiual lovc (blaliya) boin liom
aiiiaciion io lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, ilcy scc (pasyanii) in ilcii puic lcaiis
(aimani) ilc Absoluic Tiuil (iai), wlicl was dcsciibcd in ilc picvious (quoic
liom Siimad-blagavaiam)." Wlai is ilc impoiiancc ol lnowlcdgc (in compaiison
io ilis') Tlcy diiccily scc (ilc Loid). Tlai is ilc mcaning. Wlai is ilc Loid
lilc' Hc is dcsciibcd wiil ilc woid "aimanam", wlicl mcans "ilc slclici ol ilc
poicncics namcs svaiupa (inicinal), jiva (individual living cniiiics), and maya
(maiciial illusion)."
"jnana-vaiiagya-yuliaya' mcans 'by dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is scivcd by
ilc lnowlcdgc and icnunciaiion ii las iiscll cicaicd." Tlc sagcs (munayal),
accoiding ilcii own individual dcsiics, diiccily scc (pasyanii) ilc Loid.
Tlc woids "siuia-giliiaya" (by lcaiing liom ilc Vcdania-siuii),
"munayal" (ilc sagcs), and "siaddadlanal" (sciiously inquisiiivc) icvcal ilai
dcvoiional scivicc is iaic and dilliculi io aiiain.
Il onc lcais liom a bona lidc spiiiiual masici ilc conclusions ol ilc all
Vcdic sciipiuics, wlicl bcgin wiil Vcdania suiia, lc will undcisiand ilai onc
absoluicly musi icndci dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 2.2.3+):
+ "Tlc gicai pcisonaliiy lialma, wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol
ilc mind, siudicd ilc Vcdas ilicc iimcs, and alici sciuiinizingly cxamining ilcm,
lc ascciiaincd ilai aiiiaciion loi Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna is ilc
liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion."¯
5 Il lc icnounccs wlai is opposcd io dcvoiional scivicc, and insicad cngagcs
in mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid and bccomcs aiiaclcd io ilc Loid, ilcn, by woislipping
ilc Loid, a laiillul pcison will aiiain dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is conliimcd in ilc
Siuii-sasiia, wlicl cxplains (lilad-aianyala Upanisad +.5.6.):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad slould bc sccn, lcaid ol, mcdiiaicd
on, and woislippcd."
Hcic ilc woid "nididlyasiiavyal" mcans "woislippcd". Tlai ilc Loid
slould bc sccn mcans ilai Hc will diiccily appcai bcloic onc's vision.
Anuccheda 8
1 ly pciloiming onc's own occupaiional duiics loi ilc plcasuic ol Loid Haii,
onc aiiains ilis iaic and dilliculi io aiiain dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcicloic ilc
uliimaic icsuli ol pciloiming onc's occupaiional duiics is bcing ablc io plcasc Loid
Haii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.13):
2 "O bcsi among ilc iwicc-boin, ii is ilcicloic concludcd ilai ilc liglcsi
pcilcci onc can aclicvc by disclaiging ilc duiics picsciibcd loi onc's own
occupaiion accoiding io casic divisions and oidcis ol lilc is io plcasc ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
3 Tlc woid "svanusiliiasya" lcic mcans ilai gicai clloiis io aiiain
insignilicani maiciial goals, sucl as ilc aiiainmcni ol Svaigalola, slould noi bc
donc. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Anuccheda 9
1 Il in ilis way ilc pciloimancc ol occupaiional duiics io plcasc Loid Haii
biings as iis icsuli dcvoiional scivicc, wlcic onc is aiiiacicd io ilc dcvoiional
aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, ilcn mcic lnowlcdgc,
icnunciaiion and oilci similai aciiviiics aic suboidinaic io dcvoiional scivicc, and
ii is dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl bcgins wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, ilai slould bc
pciloimcd. Wlai is ilc usc ol pciloiming ilcsc oilci (non-dcvoiional) aciiviiics'
All ilis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.1+):
2 "Tlcicloic, wiil onc-poinicd aiicniion, onc slould consianily lcai aboui,
gloiily, icmcmbci and woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc pioiccioi ol
ilc dcvoiccs."¯
3 Hcic "clcna" mcans "wiiloui ilosc aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil liuiiivc
woil." Insicad onc slould lcai aboui ilc Loid's namcs, qualiiics, and oilci
lcaiuics, and onc slould also gloiily ilcm.
Anuccheda 10
1 To dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl liom iis liisi io iis lasi siagc is casy io
pciloim, and wlicl cvcn in iis liisi siagc cicaics aiiiaciion loi lcaiing ilc iopics
ol Loid Haii and is licc ol ilc many iioublcs inlcicni in liuiiivc pious woil oi
oilci aciiviiics, Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.15) cxplains:
2 "Wiil swoid in land, iniclligcni mcn cui iliougl ilc binding lnois ol
icaciionaiy woil (laima) by icmcmbciing ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcicloic,
wlo will noi pay aiicniion io His mcssagc'"¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "lovidal" mcans "iniclligcni", "yulial" mcans "wiil a
coniiollcd mind", "anudlya" mcans "icmcmbciing Loid Haii", and "asi" mcans
"swoid". Wiil ilai swoid onc cuis (clindanii) ilc lnois (gianilim) ol
icaciionaiy woid (laima), wlicl aic ilc lalsc cgo ilai binds onc in vaiious
maiciial bodics. Wlo (lal) will (luiyai) noi (na) pay aiicniion (iaiim) io ilc
mcssagc (lailayam) ol ilc Loid wlo ilus liccs onc liom gicai sullciings'
Anuccheda 11
1 "Is ii noi so ilai ilc unloiiunaic mass ol pcoplc will noi bc aiiiacicd io
lcai ilc Loid's mcssagc'" Icaiing ilai somconc would iaisc ilis objcciion, in ilc
ncxi livc vciscs (1.2.16-20) (ilc spcalci ol Siimad-llagavaiam) says ilai
dcvoiional scivicc, cvcn up in iis liglcsi siagc ol unalloycd dcvoiion, is casy io
pciloim. Tlc liisi ol ilcsc vciscs (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.16) is givcn lcic:
2 "O iwicc-boin sagcs, by sciving ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic complcicly liccd
liom all vicc, gicai scivicc is donc. ly sucl scivicc, onc gains alliniiy loi lcaiing
ilc mcssagcs ol Vasudcva."¯
3 Siimad-llagavaiam 10.S7.35 cxplains:
"Sagcs licc liom piidc livc on ilis caiil by licqucniing ilc sacicd
pilgiimagc siics and ilosc placcs wlcic ilc Supicmc Loid displaycd His pasiimcs.
lccausc sucl dcvoiccs lccp You loius lcci wiilin ilcii lcaiis, ilc waici ilai
waslcs ilcii lcci dcsiioys all sins. Anyonc wlo cvcn oncc iuins lis mind iowaid
You, ilc cvci-blisslul soul ol all cxisicncc, no longci dcdicaics limscll io sciving
lamily lilc ai lomc, wlicl simply iobs a man ol lis good qualiiics."¯¯¯
Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on ilis vcisc:
"Tlc mosi impoiiani lcaiuic ol ilis vcisc is ilc dcsciipiion ol associaiion
wiil gicai dcvoiccs."
Taling inio considciaiion ilis vcisc and commcni, ilc vcisc quoicd in Tcxi
2 (1.2.16) slould bc undcisiood io mcan: "ly sciving ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic
complcicly liccd liom all vicc (punya-iiiila-niscvanai), gicai scivicc (malai-scva)
is donc. ly sucl scivicc, onc gains alliniiy loi lcaiing ilc mcssagcs ol Vasudcva
(vasudcva-laila-iucil syai)."
Tlis vcisc also mcans ilai by sccing, ioucling, convcising wiil, and in
oilci ways sciving ilc gicai souls wlo iiavcl io oi pcimancnily icsidc in ilc loly
placcs ol pilgiimagc, onc dcvclops laiil in ilc gicai souls. Onc ilcn ilinls, "Wly
do ilcy iall among ilcmsclvcs aboui ilc iopics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad' I slould also lcai aboui ilosc iopics." In ilis way ilc dcsiic io lcai
aboui ilc Loid is boin, and by lcaiing aboui Him onc bccomcs aiiiacicd io Him.
ly lcaiing in ilis way liom ilc gicai souls onc ai oncc aiiains ilc ical goal ol lilc.
Tlis is dcsciibcd by Loid Kapiladcva (Siimad llagavaiam 3.25.25):
"In ilc associaiion ol puic dcvoiccs, discussion ol ilc pasiimcs and
aciiviiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is vciy plcasing and saiislying io
ilc cai and ilc lcaii. ly culiivaiing sucl lnowlcdgc onc giadually bccomcs
advanccd on ilc pail ol libciaiion, and ilcicalici lc is liccd, and lis aiiiaciion
bccomcs lixcd. Tlcn ical dcvoiion and dcvoiional scivicc bcgin."¯
Anuccheda 12
1 Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.17) cxplains:
"Sii Kisna, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc Paiamaima (Supcisoul)
in cvciyonc's lcaii and ilc bcnclacioi ol ilc iiuillul dcvoicc, clcanscs dcsiic loi
maiciial cnjoymcni liom ilc lcaii ol ilc dcvoicc wlo las dcvclopcd ilc uigc io
lcai His mcssagcs, wlicl aic in ilcmsclvcs viiiuous wlcn piopcily lcaid and
clanicd."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai wlcn onc lcais aboui Him ilc Loid cnicis ilc lcaii
(anial-silal). Hc cnicis by walling ilcic on ilc pail ol (ilc dcvoicc's)
mcdiiaiion on Him. Tlc inauspicious ilings (abladiani) in ilc lcaii (lidi) aic
maiciial dcsiics.
Anuccheda 13
1 Tlcn Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.17) cxplains:
"ly icgulai aiicndancc in classcs on ilc llagavaiam and by icndciing ol
scivicc io ilc puic dcvoicc, all ilai is iioublcsomc io ilc lcaii is almosi
complcicly dcsiioycd, and loving scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
piaiscd wiil iiansccndcnial songs, is csiablislcd as an iiicvocablc laci."¯
2 Tlc woids "nasia-piaycsu" mcan "almosi complcicly dcsiioycd". Tlcy aic
noi dcsiioycd in ilis way by mcic culiivaiion ol impcisonal lnowlcdgc. In ilis
way ilc limiilcss powci ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd. Tlc woid "llagavaia"
lcic mcans ciilci "ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid" oi "ilc sciipiuic Siimad-
llagavaiam". ly sciving (scvaya) ilcm onc aiiains cicinal (naisilili) dcvoiional
scivicc (blaliil) wlcic onc mcdiiaics on ilc Loid.
Anuccheda 1+
"Tlc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic sougli cvcn by
ilc gicaicsi ol dcmigods, sucl as lialma and Siva, wlo lavc all acccpicd ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as ilcii lilc and soul. A puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid
can ncvci loigci ilosc loius lcci in any ciicumsianccs. Hc will noi givc up lis
slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid loi a singlc momcni-indccd, noi loi lall a
momcni-cvcn in cxclangc loi ilc bcncdiciion ol iuling and cnjoying ilc opulcncc
ol ilc cniiic univcisc. Sucl a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is io bc considcicd ilc bcsi ol
ilc Vaisnavas."¯¯¯
Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai wlcn all maiciial dcsiics aic dcsiioycd ilc lcaii
bccomcs plungcd inio puic goodncss. Ai ilai iimc ilc lcaii is qualilicd io icccivc
ilc diicci appcaiancc ol ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.19:
2 "As soon as iiicvocablc loving scivicc is csiablislcd in ilc lcaii, ilc cllccis
ol naiuic's modcs ol passion and ignoiancc, sucl as lusi, dcsiic and lanlciing,
disappcai liom ilc lcaii. Tlcn ilc dcvoicc is csiablislcd in goodncss, and lc
bccomcs complcicly lappy."¯
3 Tlc woid "blaval" lcic mcans ilai passion and ignoiancc aicilc causcs ol
lusi and ilc oilci viccs. Tlc woid "ciail" iclcis io ilcm. Tlai is ilc mcaning
lcic.
Anuccheda 15
1 Tlcn Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.20) cxplains:
Tlus csiablislcd in ilc modc ol unalloycd goodncss, ilc man wlosc mind
las bccn cnlivcncd by coniaci wiil dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid gains posiiivc
scicniilic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilc siagc ol libciaiion liom
all maiciial associaiion."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans, "As was picviously dcsciibcd (cvam) by cngaging in
dcvoiional scivicc onc bccomcs cnlivcncd (piasanna-manasal) and libciaicd liom
associaiion (mulia-sangasya) wiil lusi and oilci viccs. In ilai way is manilcsicd
(jayaic) posiiivc lnowlcdgc (jnanam), wlcic ilc Loid appcais in ilc lcaii, oi,
wiiloui ilc pioccss ol mcdiiaiion, appcais ouisidc ilc lcaii."
Anuccheda 16
1 Tlcn Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.21) dcsciibcs ilc icsuli obiaincd wlcn ilc
indcpcndcni and supicmcly blisslul Loid diiccily appcais:
2 "Tlus ilc lnoi in ilc lcaii is piciccd, and all misgivings aic cui io picccs.
Tlc clain ol liuiiivc aciions is iciminaicd wlcn onc sccs ilc scll as masici."¯
3 Hcic ilc pliasc "lnoi in ilc lcaii" (lidaya-gianili) iclcis io ilc maiciial
misidcniilicaiion ol lalsc cgo. Tlc woids "all misgivings aic cui io picccs" (saiva-
samsayal clidyanic) mcan ilai by cngaging in ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ilai bcgin
wiil lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid is diiccily sccn. Ai ilai iimc all doubis aic
dcsiioycd. ly lcaiing aboui ilc Loid all ilcoiics ilai opposc dcvoiional scivicc
aic cui io picccs and by mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid all mcdiiaiions ilai opposc
dcvoiional scivicc (aic cui io picccs). Wlcn ilc Loid pcisonally appcais (ilc
dcvoicc's pcisonal) disqualilicaiions (aic also cui io picccs). Tlc woid "lsiyanic"
mcans "complcicly dcsiioycd". Simply by ilc Loid's wisl noi ilc sliglicsi iiacc ol
ilcsc ilings icmains.
Anuccheda 17
1 Rcvcaling ilc dcvoiccs' aciiviiics, Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.22) concludcs
ilis iopic in ilcsc woids:
2 "Cciiainly ilcicloic sincc iimc immcmoiial, all iiansccndcnialisis lavc
bccn icndciing dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wiil
gicai dcligli, bccausc sucl dcvoiional scivicc is cnlivcning io ilc scll."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "aima-piasadanim" mcans "puiilicaiion ol ilc lcaii". Tlai,
lowcvci, is noi ilc only lcaiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai
dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd wiil gicai dcligli (paiamaya muda). Maiciialisiic
aciiviiics biing only sullciing. Wlcn ilcy aic pciloimcd ilcy biing sullciing and
wlcn onc aiiains ilc icsulis ilcy ollci again ilcic is only sullciing. Dcvoiional
scivicc, on ilc coniiaiy, biings only lappincss. Wlcn onc is aspiiing loi
advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc ilcic is lappincss and wlcn onc bccomc
pcilcci in dcvoiional scivicc ilcic is only lappincss.
Tlcsc vciscs liom Siimad-llagavaiam wcic spolcn by Sii Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 18
1 Ioi ilcsc icasons onc slould abandon liuiiivc woil, impcisonal
spcculaiion, and diy icnunciaiion and insicad cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Onc slould noi do any woil oilci ilan
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Tlis will bc dcsciibcd in ilc ncxi scvcn vciscs
(Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.23-29 quoicd in Anucclcdas 1S-21).
Wlai may bc said ol oilci woils' lccausc ilcy aic noi ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Visnu, wlo appcais as a guna-avaiaia, bccausc ilcy
aic noi in iclaiionslip wiil ilc modc ol goodncss, wlicl alonc can lclp spiiiiual
piogicss, and bccausc ilcy cxpand ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs ol passion and
ignoiancc, lialma and Siva aic noi woislippcd by ilcy wlo aspiic loi wlai is
aciually bcnclicial. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad-
llagavaiam 1.2.23-2+) wlicl wcic picviously quoicd in ilc Paiamaima-
sandaibla:
2 "Tlc iiansccndcnial Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is indiiccily associaicd wiil
ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic, namcly passion, goodncss and ignoiancc, and
jusi loi ilc maiciial woild's cicaiion, mainicnancc and dcsiiuciion Hc acccpis ilc
ilicc qualiiaiivc loims ol lialma, Visnu and Siva. Ol ilcsc ilicc, all luman
bcings can dciivc uliimaic bcnclii liom Visnu, ilc loim ol ilc qualiiy ol
goodncss."¯
3 "Iiicwood is a iiansloimaiion ol caiil, bui smolc is bciici ilan ilc iaw
wood. And liic is iill bciici, loi by liic wc can dciivc ilc bcncliis ol supciioi
lnowlcdgc (iliougl Vcdic saciiliccs). Similaily, passion (iajas) is bciici ilan
ignoiancc (iamas) bui goodncss (iaiiva) is bcsi bccausc by goodncss onc can comc
io icalisc ilc Absoluic Tiuil."¯
+ Hcic "saiiva-ianol" mcans "ilc poicncy ol goodncss", and "iiayimayal"
mcans :ilc many aciiviiics dcsciibcd in ilc ilicc Vcdas". Tlc "wood" is ilc modc
ol ignoiancc, ilc "smolc" is ilc modc ol passion, and ilc "liic" is ilc modc ol
goodncss. Tlc "ilicc ilings" wlcic ilcsc aic dcsciibcd aic ilc Vcdas. Smolc is
bciici ilan iaw wood, and liic is bciici ilan smolc. Raw wood is noi lilc liic. In
iaw wood ilc aciiviiics ol ilc ilicc Vcdas aic manilcsicd only vciy sliglily. In ilc
samc way passion is bciici ilan ignoiancc and goodncss is bciici ilan passion.
Ignoiancc is noi lilc liic. In ignoiancc ilc aciiviiics ol ilc ilicc Vcdas aic
manilcsicd only vciy sliglily. Howcvci, in liic ilc aciiviiics ol ilc ilicc Vcdas aic
manilcsi diiccily. Only in goodncss, and noi in ilc iwo oilci modcs ol naiuic, is
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad diiccily manilcsicd. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Tlai ilc gicai souls abandon oilci dciiics and cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd in (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.25):
5 "Picviously all ilc gicai sagcs icndcicd scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad duc io His cxisicncc abovc ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcy
woislippcd Him io bccomc licc liom maiciial condiiions and ilus dciivc ilc
uliimaic bcnclii. Wlocvci lollows sucl gicai auiloiiiics is also cligiblc loi
libciaiion liom ilc maiciial woild."¯
6 Hcic ilc woid "aila" mcans "loi ilis icason". "Saiivam visuddlam
blagavaniam" mcans "ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc loim ol ilc
modc ol puic goodncss." Tlai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is bcyond
maiciial goodncss las alicady bccn cxplaincd in Sii llagavai-sandaibla
(Anucclcda 100). Tlc woids "lscmaya lalpanic yc nu ian ila" mcan "Tlcy
woislippcd Him io dciivc ilc uliimaic bcnclii in ilis maiciial woild."
Anuccheda 19
1 Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi sccn ilai many oilcis woislip oilci
dciiics lcadcd by Loid Siva'"
I icply: Tlai is iiuc, bui ilcsc aic pcisons lillcd wiil maiciial dcsiics. Tlcy
wlo dcsiic libciaiion, wlai io spcal ol ilcy wlosc only goal in lilc is dcvoiional
scivicc io ilc Loid, do noi woislip anyonc bui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.26):
2 "Tlosc wlo aic sciious aboui libciaiion aic cciiainly non cnvious, and ilcy
icspcci all. Yci ilcy icjcci ilc loiiiblc and glasily loims ol ilc dcmigods and
woislip only ilc all-blisslul loims ol Loid Visnu and His plcnaiy poiiions."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "bluia-paiin" iclcis io ilc piias, piajapaiis and ilc oilci
dcmigods lilc ilcm. "Anasuyaval" mcans ilai ilc sainily dcvoiccs do noi ollcnd
ilcsc oilci dciiics.
Annucheda 20
1 Hcic somconc may objcci: Il by woislipping Loid Naiayana onc aiiains
wlai is dcsiiablc, ilcn wly do ilcsc pcoplc woislip oilci dciiics'"
Tlc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.27) cxplains:
2 "Tlosc wlo aic in ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc woislip ilc
loiclailcis, oilci living bcings and ilc dcmigods wlo aic inclaigc ol cosmic
aciiviiics, loi ilcy aic uigcd by a dcsiic io bc maiciially bcncliiicd wiil womcn,
wcalil, powci and piogcny."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "sama-silal" mcans ilai ilcsc woislippcis lavc ilc samc
naiuic as ilc piias and oilci dcmigods, wlo aic also undci ilc inllucncc ol ilc
modcs ol passion and ignoiancc. lccausc ilcsc woislippcis lavc ilc samc naiuic
ilcy woislip ilcsc dcmigods.
Anuccheda 21
1 In ilis way ii is said ilai Loid Visnu slould bc woislippcd. Tlai ilis is
ilc conclusion ol all Vcdic sciipiuics is conliimcd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs
(Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.2S-29).
2 "In ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics, ilc uliimaic objcci ol lnowlcdgc is Sii Kisna,
ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc puiposc ol pciloiming saciilicc is io plcasc Him.
Yoga is loi icalising Him. All liuiiivc aciiviiics aic uliimaicly icwaidcd by Him
only. Hc is supicmc lnowlcdgc, and all scvcic ausiciiiics aic pciloimcd io lnow
Him. Rcligion (dlaima) is icndciing loving scivicc unio Him. Hc is ilc supicmc
goal ol lilc."¯
3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"In ilis way Loid Vasudcva is ilc uliimaic iopic dcsciibcd by ilc Vcdas.
Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc Vcdas dcsciibc vaiious yajnas' ilis
vcisc siaics ilai bccausc all mcilods ol woislip aic diiccicd io Him, ilcicloic ilc
Vcdic saciiliccs aic pciloimcd io plcasc Him. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do
noi ilc yoga-sasiias dcsciibc only ilc yogic aciiviiics, bcginning wiil siiiing
posiuics and bicail-coniiol'" ilis vcisc siaics ilai ilcsc aciiviiics aic mcilods
cmploycd io aiiain Loid Vasudcva. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc
jnana-sasiias dcsciibc iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc'" ilis vcisc siaics ilai Loid
Vasudcva is ilc liglcsi iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc. Wlai was said ol lnowlcdgc
may also bc said ol ausiciiiics. Icaiing ilai somconc may say, "Do noi ilc
dlaima-sasiias dcsciibc pious aciiviiics bcginning wiil claiiiy and vows, aciiviiics
by wlicl onc aiiains Svaigalola and oilci lcavcnly icalms'" ilis vcisc siaics ilai
ilcsc icsulis aic uliimaicly dcpcndcni on Loid Vasudcva. Tlc woid "gaiil"
(goal), wlicl comcs liom ilc vcib "gam" (io go), iclcis io ilc aiiainmcni ol
Svaigalola and ilc oilci lcavcnly plancis. Tlai goal is dcpcndcni on Loid
Vasudcva bccausc ii is manilcsicd liom a iiny poiiion ol His iiansccndcnial bliss.
Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai bccausc Loid Vasudcva is ilc iooi liom wlicl cvciyiling
las giown, cvciyiling is mcani loi Him. lcaiing ilai somconc may say, "Is ii noi
so ilai ilc Vcdas aic aboui many dillcicni ilings, sucl as saciiliccs, yoga, pious
dccds, and ilcy aic noi aboui onc iling only'" ilis vcisc cxplains ilai ilcsc
ilings bcginning wiil Vcdic saciiliccs aic dcpcndcni on and mcani loi Loid
Vasudcva."
+ Dcvoiional scivicc is ilc liicnd and guidc ol ilc ilings, bcginning wiil
yoga, mcniioncd lcic. Tlai is ilc piimaiy mcaning lcic. Tlc Vcdas cciiainly
dcsciibc pious liuiiivc aciions (laima-landa), bui in somc paiis ol ilc Vcdas ilc
supciioiiiy ol dcvoiional scivicc is also sccn. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Svciasvaiaia
Upanisad (6.23):
5 "Only io ilosc gicai souls wlo lavc implicii laiil in boil ilc Loid and ilc
spiiiiual masici aic all ilc impoiis ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc auiomaiically icvcalcd."¯
Anuccheda 22
1 Now ilai lc las slown ilai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd, (ilc
auiloi ol Siimad-llagavaiam) piovcs ilai ii is ilc conclusion ol all Vcdic
liiciaiuics. Hc bcgins lis cxplanaiion wiil ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam
1.2.30):
2 "In ilc bcginning ol ilc maiciial cicaiion, ilai Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad (Vasudcva), in His iiansccndcnial posiiion, cicaicd ilc cncigics ol causc
and cllcci by His own inicinal cncigy."¯
"Somconc may objcci, Is ii noi so ilai all Vcdic sciipiuics dcsciibc ilc
aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil naiuic's cicaiion, cniiancc inio, and coniiol ol ilc
maiciial univciscs' How can ii bc ilai ilc sciipiuics dcsciibc Loid Vasudcva' To
answci ilis objcciion ilc auiloi ol Siimad llagavaiam spcals ilcsc loui (1.2.30-
33) vciscs."
+ Hcic ilc woid "idam" iclcis io ilc maiciial woild bcginning wiil ilc
malai-iaiiva and icacling io ilc dcmigod lialma. Tlc aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil
(ilc Loid's) cniiancc inio ilc maiciial univcisc aic sccn in ilc vciscs lollowing
ilai quoic (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.30). Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Suia
Gosvami io Sii Saunala Rsi.
Anuccheda 23
1 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc in a convcisaiion, ilc
convcisaiion ilai was io givc biiil io Siimad-llagavaiam, bciwccn Sii Naiada and
Sii Vyasa, (Siimad-llagavaiam 1.5.12):
2 "Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl liccd liom all maiciial alliniiy,
docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai ilcn, is
Loid'"¯
3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Tlc woid 'naislaimyam' mcans
"lialman-lnowlcdgc. wlicl bccausc ol iis oncncss is licc liom liuiiivc aciions'.
'Niianjanam', wlicl is dciivcd liom ilc vcib 'aj', mcans 'licc liom maiciial
dcsignaiions'. Tlis lind ol lnowlcdgc, il dcvoid (vaijiiam) ol lovc (blava) loi ilc
inlalliblc Loid (acyuic) docs noi (alam na) lool wcll (soblaic). In ilis way ii is
noi possiblc io scc ilc Loid. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Iiuiiivc aciiviiics aic always
(sasvai), ilai is boil wlcn onc is woiling io aiiain a goal and wlcn ilc goal is
aiiaincd, painlul (abladiam). How can cvcn non-liuiiivc aciions, wlcn noi
ollcicd io ilc Loid, lool wcll' Tlis is so bccausc sucl aciions, duc io bcing
cxicinal and iiiclcvani, do noi puiily ilc scll."
+ In ilis way iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc and liuiiivc woil, il dcvoid ol
dcvoiional scivicc, aic boil usclcss. (Howcvci, dcvoiional scivicc is noi usclcss.
Siila Naiada Muni cxplains io Siila Vyasa, in Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.15-17):
"Tlc pcoplc in gcncial aic naiuially inclincd io cnjoy, and you lavc
cncouiagcd ilcm in ilai way in ilc namc ol icligion. Tlis is vciily condcmncd
and in quiic unicasonablc. lccausc ilcy aic guidcd undci youi insiiuciions, ilcy
will acccpi sucl aciiviiics in ilc namc ol icligion and will laidly caic loi
piolibiiions.¯
"Tlc Supicmc Loid is unlimiicd. Only a vciy cxpcii pcisonaliiy, iciiicd
liom ilc aciiviiics ol maiciial lappincss, dcscivcs io undcisiand ilis lnowlcdgc ol
spiiiiual valucs. Tlcicloic ilosc wlo aic noi so wcll siiuaicd, duc io maiciial
aiiaclmcni, slould bc slown ilc ways ol iiansccndcnial icalisaiion, by Youi
goodncss, iliougl dcsciipiions ol ilc iiansccndcnial aciiviiics ol ilc Supicmc
Loid."¯
5 "Onc wlo las loisalcn lis maiciial occupaiions io cngagc in ilc
dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid may somciimcs lall down wlilc in an immaiuic
siagc, yci ilcic is no dangci ol lis bcing unsucccsslul. On ilc oilci land, a non
dcvoicc, ilougl lully cngagcd in occupaiion duiics, docs noi gain anyiling."¯
"Considciing wlai may lappcn wlcn onc, ignoiing lis icgulai and spccial
maiciial duiics, cngagcs only in dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Haii, (Naiada) spcals
ilis vcisc.
"Hcic somconc may objcci: 'Il, alici abandoning lis maiciial occupaiional
duiics, onc bccomcs pcilcci in dcvoiional scivicc, and ilus aiiains ilc goal ol lilc
and bccomcs succcsslul, ilcn loi lim ilcic is no anxiciy. lui il onc dics bcloic lc
aiiains dcvoiional pcilcciion, oi il onc lalls down liom dcvoiional scivicc, ilcn lis
abandonmcni ol occupaiion duiics is a misialc."
"Icaiing ilai somconc migli say ilis, (Naiada Muni) says lcic ilai cvcn il
a dcvoicc lalls down liom dcvoiional scivicc oi dics (bcloic lc can aiiain
pcilcciion), siill, bccausc lc las iasicd ilc ncciai ol dcvoiional scivicc, ilcic is no
lcai ilai lc will bc pui inio disiicss bccausc lc abandoncd lis maiciial
occupaiional duiics. In ilis way (Naiada) spcals ilis vcisc. Tlc woid 'va' (oi)
lcic is in ilc scnsc ol a sccpiical glancc. Hc says, 'How can onc wlo las iasicd ilc
ncciai ol dcvoiional scivicc aiiain an inauspicious siiuaiion in a low biiil'' Tlc
mcaning lcic is ilai sucl a siiuaiion will ncvci lappcn. Tlis will noi lappcn
bccausc ol ilc dcsiic loi dcvoiional scivicc in lis lcaii. Tlai is ilc mcaning. lui
wlai will ilcy wlo do noi cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc gain liom ilcii
pciloimancc ol maiciial occupaiional duiics' Tlc woid 'ablajaiam' lcic is in ilc
posscssivc casc bccausc ii indicaics ilc iclaiionslip io anoilci woid."
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Naiada io Sii Vyasa.
Anuccheda 2+
1 Tlc siaicmcni "Dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd" is discusscd in ilc
convcisaiion ol Siila Suladcva Gosvami and Malaiaja Paiilsii. (Siila Suladcva
Gosvami said, in Siimad-llagavaiam 2.1.2):
2 "Tlosc pcisons wlo aic maiciially cngiosscd, bcing blind io ilc lnowlcdgc
ol uliimaic iiuil, lavc many subjcci maiicis loi lcaiing in luman sociciy, O
cmpcioi."¯
3 Tlc pliasc "gilcsu gila-mcdlinam" linis ilai ilc pcoplc dcsciibcd lcic
aic maiciialisis lai liom spiiiiual lilc. Tlc woid "aima-iaiivam" lcic mcans "ilc
iiuil ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad". Tlis is so bccausc ol wlai will bc
cxplaincd in ilc ncxi vcisc.
Anuccheda 25
1 Hc cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 2.1.5):
"O dcsccndcni ol King llaiaia. onc wlo dcsiics io bc licc liom all misciics
musi lcai aboui, gloiily, and also icmcmbci ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
ilc Supcisoul, ilc coniiollci, and ilc savioui liom all misciics."¯
2 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "ly using ilc woid 'saivaima' lcic ilc
spcalci says ilai ilc Loid is mosi dcai io cvciyonc. ly ilc woid 'isvaia' lc says
ilai ilc Loid's will cannoi bc ilwaiicd. ly ilc woid 'laiil' lc says ilai ilc Loid
icmovcs ilc bondagc (ol icpcaicd maiciial cxisicncc). Tlc pliasc 'ablayam
icclaia' lcic mcans 'ilcy wlo dcsiic libciaiion'."
Libciaiion mcans aiiaining ilc Loid and ilus bccoming licc ol all misciics.
Anuccheda 26
1 Alici ilis lc dcsciibcs mcdiiaiion on ilc univcisal loim ol ilc Loid, and
ilcn, spcaling againsi ilai mcdiiaiion, lc dcsciibcs dcvoiional scivicc (Siimad-
llagavaiam 2.1.39):
2 "Onc slould conccniiaic lis mind upon ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, wlo alonc disiiibuics Himscll in so many manilcsiaiions jusi as
oidinaiy pcisons cicaic ilousands ol manilcsiaiions in dicams. Onc musi
conccniiaic ilc mind on Him, ilc only all-blisslul Absoluic Tiuil. Oilciwisc onc
will bc mislcd and will causc lis own dcgiadaiion."¯
"Tlis vcisc mcans ilai onc slould conccniiaic lis mind on ilc Loid (iam
cva saiyam blajcia) wlo alonc disiiibuics Himscll in so many manilcsiaiions (sa
clal saiva-dli-viiiy-anubluia-saival). Onc slould noi bc aiiaclcd io anyonc oi
anyiling clsc (na anyaiia sajjci) bccausc liom ilai aiiaclmcni (yaial) onc lalls
(aima-paial) inio ilc maiciial woild ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail. Tlc Loid alonc
cxpciicnccs cvciyiling (anubluia-saival) wiil His scnscs. Tlc cxamplc is givcn
lcic ol wlai is sccn (ilsiia) by slccping pcisons (svapna-jananam). Somciimcs in
a dicam an oidinaiy living cniiiy cicaics many dillcicni bodics and is ablc io scc
ilcm all wiil lis scnscs. In ilc samc way ilc Supicmc Loid sccs cvciyiling wiil
His scnscs. lccausc Hc is ilc masici ol ilc poicncics ol iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvci bound oi limiicd (in His
lnowlcdgc)."
+ lccausc wiil ilc aciiviiics ol His mind ilc Loid sccs cvciyiling, Hc is
dcsciibcd wiil ilc woids "saiva-dli-viiiy-anubluia-saival". Tlc Siuii-sasiia
(lilad-aianyala Upanisad 1.2.5) cxplains ilai bcloic ilc cicaiion ol ilc maiciial
mind and scnscs "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad could scc." As a slccping
pcison can cicaic anyiling lc wislcs in lis dicam, so ilc Supicmc Loid, simply
by His wisl, can cicaic anyiling. ilai is wlai is said lcic.
5 lccausc ilc Loid is ilus awaic ol cvciyiling, Hc is callcd "Saiyam" (ilc
Supicmc Tiuil), and bccausc Hc is ilc cicaioi ol cvciyiling Hc slould bc
woislippcd (blajcia). Tlai is ilc mcaning. A yogi pcilcci in mcdiiaiion on ilc
Loid's univcisal loim, all lis lnowlcdgc-acquiiing scnscs lixcd on ilc univcisal
loim, sccs cvciyiling in ilc univcisal loim. In ilis way lc woislips (blajcia)
Loid Naiayana, wlo is ilc Supicmc Tiuil (saiyam), an occan ol bliss (ananda-
nidlim), ilc univcisal loim, and ilc Supcisoul picscni in cvciyonc's lcaii. Onc
slould noi (na) bccomc aiiaclcd (sajjci) io any bcncliis (anyaiia) obiaincd by
mcdiiaiing on ilc univcisal loim, loi ilai aiiaclmcni (yaial) will malc onc lall
(aima-paial) inio ilc cyclc ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail.
An cxamplc is givcn lcic io slow ilc Loid's bcing awaic ol cvciyiling. As
an oidinaiy living cniiiy may scc cvciyiling in a dicam so ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad sccs cvciyiling.
Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics:
"(lcloic ilc cicaiion) ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad saw
(cvciyiling)."
-lilad-aianyala panisad 1.2.5
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las all lnowlcdgc and powci."
-Svciasvaiaia Upanisad 6.S
In ilis way ilc Siuii-sasiia piovcs ilai ilc Supicmc Loid las
iiansccndcnial poicncics, bcginning wiil ilc poicncy ol lnowing cvciyiling.
Sii Vcdania-suiia cxplains:
"Tlc sciipiuics say ilai ilc Loid cicaicd ilc maiciial woilds as il in a
dicam."
3.2.1
"lccausc ii is noi manilcsicd by ilc Loid's spiiiiual poicncy, ilc maiciial
woild is manilcsicd by His illusoiy poicncy (maya).
3.2.3
In ilcsc quoics liom ilc Nyaya-sasiia ii is slown ilai ilc Loid's cicaiion ol
cvciyiling in a dicam is complcicly dillcicni liom ilc walclulncss, dicaming and
dicamlcss slccp cxpciicnccd by condiiioncd souls in ilc maiciial woild.
ly ilc iwo woids "saiyam" and "ananda-nidlim" ii slould bc undcisiood
ilai ilc pcison dcsciibcd lcic is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 27
1 In ilc ncxi clapici (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.1+) lc says:
"Unlcss ilc gioss maiciialisi dcvclops a scnsc ol loving scivicc unio ilc
Supicmc Loid, ilc scci ol boil ilc iiansccndcnial and maiciial woilds, lc slould
icmcmbci oi mcdiiaic upon ilc univcisal loim ol ilc Loid ai ilc cnd ol lis
picsciibcd duiics."¯
2 Alici ilc woid "paia" ilc woid "avaia" mcans "ilc placcs ol ilc living
cniiiics lcadcd by lialma." Wlo is ilcic' Tlc Supicmc Loid (visvcsvaic) wlo
sccs (diasiaii) cvciyiling, bui wlo, bccausc Hc is pcilccily spiiiiual icmains
invisiblc io ilc condiiioncd souls. Dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yogal) is dcsciibcd
in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.S):
"Oilcis conccivc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad icsiding wiilin ilc body in
ilc icgion ol ilc lcaii and mcasuiing only cigli inclcs, wiil loui lands caiiying
a loius, a wlccl ol a claiioi, a conclslcll and a club icspcciivcly."¯
In ilis way ilc way io malc spiiiiual advanccmcni is dcsciibcd. Tlc woid
"liiyavasanc" mcans "ai ilc cnd ol onc's picsciibcd duiics". Onc slould do ilis
uniil lc dcvclops a scnsc ol loving dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid (blalii-yogal).
Anuccheda 28
1 Alici dcsciibing in Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.15-21 and 2.2.22-32 ilc mcilod
ol lnowlcdgc and ilc mcilod ol yoga, by boil ol wlicl onc quiclly oi giadually
aiiains libciaiion, and alici cxplaining ilc supciioiiiy ol ilc loim ol dcvoiional
scivicc wlcic onc ollcis ilc liuiis ol lis woil io ilc Loid, (ilc spcalci ol Siimad
llagavaiam) dcclaics, "How mucl gicaici is diicci dcvoiional scivicc'" Hc says
(Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.33):
2 "Ioi ilosc wlo aic wandciing in ilc maiciial univcisc, ilcic is no moic
auspicious mcans ol dclivciancc ilan wlai is aimcd ai in ilc diicci dcvoiional
scivicc ol Loid Kisna."¯
3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "In ilc maiciial woild ilcic aic many
pcisons sccling ilc pail ol libciaiion by pciloiming ausiciiiics, yoga, and oilci
spiiiiual aciiviiics, bui ilcy aic noi ilc iigli pail. Tlai is conliimcd in ilis vcisc
by ilc woid "na li" (cciiainly noi). Tlan dcvoiional scivicc (yaio blalii-yogal)
no (na) oilci (anyal) pail is (blavci) ilai is auspicious (sival), ilai is io say
lappy and licc liom obsiaclcs."
+ Tlc aciiviiics ilai plcasc ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.2.6):
"Tlc supicmc occupaiion (dlaima) loi all lumaniiy is ilai by wlicl mcn
can aiiain io loving dcvoiional scivicc io ilc iiansccndcni Loid. Sucl dcvoiional
scivicc musi bc unmoiivaicd and uniniciiupicd io complcicly saiisly ilc scll."¯
Anuccheda 29
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc conclusion ol all ilc Vcdas is cxplaincd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.3+):
2 "Tlc gicai pcisonaliiy lialma, wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol
lc ascciiaincd ilai aiiiaciion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna is
ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "blagavan" mcans "ilc dcmigod lialma", and "luiasilal"
mcans "wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol ilc mind". Tlai is ilc mcaning.
"iiil" mcans "ilicc iimcs", "laisinycna" mcans "iloiouglly", "bialma" mcans
"ilc Vcdas", and "anvilsya" mcans "cxamining". In ilis way lc ascciiaincd
(manisaya adlyavasyai) ilai aiiiaciion (iaiil) loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad Sii Kisna (aimani), an aiiiaciion ilai is also callcd dcvoiional scivicc, (is
ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion).
Tlc woid "aimani" iclcis io Loid Haii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Taniias:
"lccausc Hc is all-pcivading (ai) and bccausc Hc is ilc supicmc moilci
(ma), ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Haii, is callcd aima."
Tlc woid "blagavan" lcic slows ilai ilc dcmigod lialma, wlo is ilc
masici ol ilc univcisc, las all-lnowlcdgc and a losi ol viiiucs. Ioi ilis icason lis
siudying ilc Vcdas ilicc iimcs is only a pasiimc. Hc mcicly imiiaicd ilc aciions
ol oilci siudcnis ol ilc Vcdas. Sccing ilai ilcy coniaincd ilc limiilcss gloiics ol
Vailunila and wcic siudicd by numbcilcss lialmas, ilc dcmigod lialma siudicd
ilc Vcdas. Tlc woid "luiasilal" mcans ilai wlilc lc was siudying lc manilcsicd
only onc loim.
Tlc Loid Himscll cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.21.+2):
+ "Wlai is ilc diicciion ol all Vcdic liiciaiuics' On wlom do ilcy sci locus'
Wlo is ilc puiposc ol all spcculaiion' Ouisidc ol Mc no onc lnows ilcsc
ilings."¯
5 Siila Suladcva Gosvami also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.+9):
"I ollci my obcisanccs io Loid Kisna, ilc Supicmc Pcison, wlo lilc a
bumblcbcc collccicd ilc loncy ol ilc csscncc ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc and, io dcsiioy
ilcii lcai ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail, madc His scivanis diinl ii."
Anuccheda 30
1 How docs aiiiaciion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcvclop'
Tlai is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing qucsiion and answci (Siimad llagavaiam
1.19.3S):
"Plcasc lci mc lnow wlai a man slould lcai, clani, icmcmbci and
woislip, and also wlai lc slould noi do. Plcasc cxplain all ilis io mc."¯
Tlc answci io ilis qucsiion is givcn in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
2.2.36):
2 "O King, ii is ilcicloic csscniial ilai cvciy luman bcing lcai aboui, gloiily
and icmcmbci ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, always and
cvciywlcic."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "ca" (and) linis ai a losi ol dcvoiional aciiviiics, bcginning
wiil sciving ilc Loid's lcci. Tlc icsuli obiaincd by cngaging wiil dcvoiional
aciiviiics, bcginning wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
+ "Tlosc wlo diinl iliougl auial icccpiion, lully lillcd wiil ilc ncciaican
mcssagc ol Loid Kisna, ilc bclovcd ol ilc dcvoiccs, puiily ilc polluicd aim ol lilc
lnown as maiciial cnjoymcni and ilus go bacl io Godlcad, io ilc loius lcci ol
Him (ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad)."¯
5 Tlc woid "punanii" (puiily) lcic slows ilai ilc picviously dcsciibcd pail
ol mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid's univcisal loim slould bc icjccicd. lccausc dcvoiional
scivicc iiscll biings gicai puiilicaiion, onc slould cngagc only in dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 31
1 Alici, in ilc picvious iwo clapicis (Siimad llagavaiam Canio Onc,
Clapicis Onc and Two), cxplaining ilai dcvoiional scivicc is bciici ilan liuiiivc
woil, yoga, and impcisonal spcculaiion, in ilc ncxi clapici (Canio Onc, Clapici
Tlicc) lc cxplains ilai dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid is bciici ilan ilc woislip ol
ilc dcmigods. Iiisi lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2.3-9):
"Onc wlo dcsiics io bc absoibcd in ilc impcisonal bialmajyoii cllulgcncc
slould woislip ilc masici ol ilc Vcdas (Loid lialma oi lilaspaii, ilc lcaincd
piicsi), onc wlo dcsiics powcilul scx slould woislip ilc lcavcnly ling, India,
and onc wlo dcsiics good piogcny slould woislip ilc gicai piogcniiois callcd ilc
piajapaiis. Onc wlo dcsiics good loiiunc slould woislip Duiga-dcvi, ilc
supciinicndcni ol ilc maiciial woild. Onc dcsiiing io bc vciy powcilul slould
woislip liic, and onc wlo aspiics only alici moncy slould woislip ilc Vasus.
Onc slould woislip ilc Rudia incainaiions ol Loid Siva il lc wani io bc a gicai
lcio. Onc wlo wanis a laigc siocl ol giains slould woislip Adiii. Onc wlo
dcsiics io aiiain ilc lcavcnly plancis slould woislip ilc sons ol Adiii. Onc wlo
dcsiics a woildly lingdom slould woislip Visvadcva, and onc wlo wanis io bc
populai wiil ilc gcncial mass ol populaiion slould woislip ilc Sadlya dcmigod.
Onc wlo dcsiics a long span ol lilc slould woislip ilc dcmigods lnows as ilc
Asvini-lumaias, and a pcison dcsiiing a siiongly buili body slould woislip ilc
caiil. Onc wlo dcsiics siabiliiy in lis posi slould woislip ilc loiizon and ilc
caiil combincd. Onc wlo dcsiics io bccomc bcauiilul slould woislip ilc
bcauiilul icsidcnis ol ilc Gandlaiva planci, and onc wlo dcsiics a good wilc
slould woislip ilc apsaias and ilc uivasi sociciy giils ol ilc lcavcnly lingdom.
Onc wlo dcsiics dominaiion ovci oilcis slould woislip Loid lialma, ilc lcad ol
ilc univcisc. Onc wlo dcsiics iangiblc lamc slould woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, and onc wlo dcsiics a good banl balancc slould woislip ilc dcmigod
Vaiuna. Il onc dcsiics io bc a gicaily lcaincd man lc slould woislip Loid Siva,
and il onc dcsiics a good maiiial iclaiion lc slould woislip ilc clasic goddcss
Uma, wilc ol Loid Siva."¯
2 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2.10):
"A pcison wlo las bioadci iniclligcncc, wlcilci lc bc lull ol all maiciial
dcsiic, wiiloui any maiciial dcsiic, oi dcsiiing libciaiion, musi by all mcans
woislip ilc supicmc wlolc, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
"Hcic ilc woid 'alamal' mcans 'puic dcvoicc', 'saiva-lamal' mcans 'onc
wlo las all dcsiics, wlcilci ilosc mcniioncd bcloic oi oilci dcsiics', and
'puiusam paiam' mcans 'ilc pcilcci and limiilcss Supicmc Pcison'."
"Tivicna" mcans "liimly", "naiuially" and "casily". Tlc dcvoicc's dcsiics
aic auiomaiically lullillcd. Tlis is cxplaincd in Malablaiaia:
+ "Tlc dcvoiccs cnjoy a gicai lcsiival ol scivicc io Loid Visnu. Tlcy scivc
Him and mcdiiaic on Him, givc claiiiy io Him and ollci ilc lood in ilcii lomcs io
Him. In ilis way ilcy aiiain a icsuli cvcn ilc dcmigods lcadcd by India cannoi
aiiain."
5 Tlc Supicmc Loid Himscll said io Sii Kaidama Muni (Siimad llagavaiam
3.21.2+):
"My dcai isi, O lcadci ol ilc living cniiiics, loi ilosc wlo scivc Mc in
dcvoiion by woislipping Mc, cspccially pcisona lilc you wlo lavc givcn up
cvciyiling unio Mc, ilcic is ncvci any qucsiion ol liusiiaiion."¯
6 Tlcicloic wlaicvci dcsiics onc may lavc, onc slould caincsily (iivicna)
woislip (yajcia) ilc Loid. Tlai woislip will cvcniually lcad io puic dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlai is claboiaicly iaugli lcic.
Wlo aic liglci: ilc puic dcvoiccs, oi onc wlo ycains loi impcisonal
libciaiion' Tlc answci is givcn in ilc woids "A pcison lull ol all maiciial dcsiics
(saiva-laima) slould siill woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad." Tlai is ilc linal
conclusion.
Anuccheda 32
1 Ii is also said (Siimad-llagavaiam 2.3.11):
"All ilc dillcicni linds ol woislippcis ol muliidcmigods can aiiain ilc
liglcsi pcilcciional bcncdiciion, wlicl is sponiancous aiiiaciion unllinclingly
lixcd upon ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, only by ilc associaiion ol ilc
puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid."¯
"Hcic lc cxplains low ilc picviously dcsciibcd woislippcis ol ilc many
dcmigods can aiiain dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc woislippcis (yajaiam) ol India and
ilc oilci dcmigods, by, in ilc couisc ol ilcii dcmigod-woislip (ila), associaiing
wiil (sangaial) dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid (blagavaia), aiiain unllincling (acalal)
dcvoiion (blaval) loi ilc Loid (blagavaii). In ilis way ilcy aiiain (udayal) ilc
supicmc goal ol lilc (nilsicyasa). All oilci ilings aic insignilicani in compaiison
io wlai ilcy aiiain."
3 In Siimad-llagavaiam 2.3.2-9 many icsulis, bcginning wiil cxpciiisc in
cnjoying ilc scnscs, wcic dcsciibcd. Laici ilc dcvoiion io ilc Loid ilai is aiiaincd
by associaiion wiil a dcvoicc is also dcsciibcd. In ilis way ilc woislippcis ol ilc
dcmigods aiiain a icsuli mucl gicaici ilan wlai is aiiaincd by maling ollciings on
a yupa ol lladiia wood.
Anuccheda 33
1 Laici, Sii Saunala Rsi conliimcd ilc impoiiancc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Hc
said (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.17):
2 "loil by iising and by sciiing, ilc sun dccicascs ilc duiaiion ol lilc ol
cvciyonc, cxccpi onc wlo uiiliscs ilc iimc by discussing iopics ol ilc all-good
3 In ilis vcisc "asau" mcans "ilc sun", "udyan" mcans iising, "asiam" mcans
"sciiing", and "laiaii" mcans "loicibly dcsiioys, bccausc ii malcs ii usclcss." Tlis
lappcns io ilc lilc (ayul) ol all cxccpi (iic) onc wlo uiiliscs ilc iimc )lsano
niial) by discussing iopics ol ilc all-good Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (uiiama-slola-
vaiiaya). Tlis is so bccausc (ilc laiici pcisons, ilc dcvoiccs), aiiain all succcss.
Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Anuccheda 3+
1 Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi so ilai ilis also lappcns io ilc lilc ol
ilc (dcvoiccs)' To answci ilis, lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.1S):
2 "Do ilc iiccs noi livc' Do ilc bcllows ol ilc blaclsmiil noi bicailc' All
aiound us, do ilc bcasis noi cai and disclaigc scmcn'"¯
3 "Na mclanii" mcans "Do ilcy noi cnjoy scx'" Tlinling ilc maiciialisiic
luman bcings io bc aciually animals, lc iclcis io ilcm wiil ilc woid "apaic"
(oilci animals).
Anuccheda 35
"Mcn wlo aic lilc gods, logs, camcls and asscs piaisc ilosc mcn wlo
ncvci lisicn io ilc iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol Loid Sii Kisna, ilc dclivcici liom
cvils."¯
2 Hcic lc dcsciibcs an animal lilc luman bcing (puiusal pausul) wlo is
piaiscd by lis lollowcis, wlo aic lilc dogs (sva) oi oilci animals. Il among ilcsc
pcisons somconc is vciy gicai oi powcilul lc is siill only a big animal. Tlai is ilc
mcaning.
Anuccheda 36
1 In ilc ncxi livc vciscs lc cxplains ilai ilc paiis ol sucl a pcison's body aic
all usclcss. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.20):
2 "Onc wlo las noi lisicncd io ilc mcssagcs aboui ilc piowcss and
maivcllous acis ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and las noi sung oi clanicd loudly
ilc woiily songs aboui ilc Loid is io bc considcicd io posscss cailolcs lilc ilc
lolcs ol snalcs and a ionguc lilc ilc ionguc ol a liog."¯
3 "Na sinvaial" mcans "noi lcaiing". Ol sucl a pcison ilc cais aic lilc
usclcss lolcs. "Dusia" lcic mcans "wiclcd".
Anuccheda 37
"Tlc uppci poiiion ol ilc body, ilougl ciowncd wiil a sill iuiban, is only
a lcavy buidcn il noi bowcd down bcloic ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wlo can
awaid mulii (liccdom). And ilc lands, ilougl dccoiaicd wiil gliiiciing banglcs,
aic lilc ilosc ol a dcad man il noi cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, Haii."¯
2 Hcic "paiia-liiiia-jusiam" may mcan ciilci "wcaiing a sill iuiban" oi
"wcaiing a ciown."
Anuccheda 38
1 Tlc lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.22):
"Tlc cycs wlicl do noi lool ai ilc symbolic icpicscniaiions ol ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Visnu (His loims, namc, qualiiy, cic.) aic lilc ilosc
piinicd on ilc plumcs ol ilc pcacocl and ilc lcgs wlicl do noi movc io ilc loly
placcs (wlcic ilc Loid is icmcmbcicd) aic considcicd io bc lilc iicc iiunls."¯
2 Tlcii biiil is lilc ilai ol ilc iiccs. Tlcy aic cqual io iiccs. Tlai is ilc
mcaning.
Anuccheda 39
"Tlc pcison wlo las noi ai any iimc icccivcd ilc dusi ol ilc lcci ol ilc
Loid's puic dcvoicc upon lis lcad is cciiainly a dcad body. And ilc pcison wlo
las ncvci cxpciicnccd ilc aioma ol ilc iulasi lcavcs liom ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid
is also a dcad body, alilougl bicailing."¯
2 Hcic "sii-visnu-padyal" mcans "clinging io His lcci."
Anuccheda +0
1 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.2+):
"Cciiainly ilai lcaii is siccl-liamcd wlicl, in spiic ol onc's claniing ilc
loly namc ol ilc Loid wiil conccniiaiion, docs noi clangc wlcn ccsiasy ialcs
placc, icais lill ilc cycs and ilc laiis siand on cnd."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "asma-saiam" (siccl-liamcd) mcans "vciy laid". Tlc
sympioms ol ccsiasy aic dcsciibcd in ilc pliasc bcginning wiil ilc woid "aila"
(ilus). Tlc vcisc says ilai wlcn (yada) ccsiasy (vilaial) is noi picscni ilcn icais
(jalam) do noi lill ilc cycs (nciic) and oilci ccsiaiic sympioms aic noi picscni in
oilci paiis ol ilc body. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc ling will conliim ilis wlcn lc
says (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S0.3-+):
"Tlc capaciiy loi ialling can bc pcilccicd only by dcsciibing ilc
iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Loid. Tlc capaciiy loi woiling wiil onc's lands
can bc succcsslul only wlcn onc cngagcs limscll in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid wiil
ilosc lands. Similaily onc's mind can bc pacilicd only wlcn lc simply ilings ol
Kisna in lull Kisna consciousncss. Hc sccs cvciywlcic ilc picscncc ol His
woislipablc Loid in His paiamaima lcaiuic. Tlc lunciion ol ilc cai can bc
pcilccicd by simply by cngagcmcni in lcaiing ilc iiansccndcnial aciiviiics ol ilc
Loid.¯
"Tlc lunciion ol ilc lcad can bc lully uiiliscd wlcn ilc lcad is cngagcd in
bowing down bcloic ilc Loid and His icpicscniaiivc. Il onc is ablc io do noiling
moic, lc can simply bow down bcloic ilc Loid and His icpicscniaiivc and diinl
ilc caianamiia, ilc waici ilai las waslcd ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid oi His
dcvoicc."¯
In ilis way, in ilc liisi ilicc clapicis ol Siimad-llagavaiam (Canio Onc,
Clapicis Onc, Two and Tlicc), ii is cxplaincd ilai onc slould cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid.
3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis in lis piclaccs io ilc Iiisi, Sccond and
Tliid Clapicis ol ilc Sccond Canio:
"In ilc liisi clapici mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's univcisal loim by cngaging in
dcvoiional aciiviiics bcginning wiil lcaiing and claniing aboui ilc Loid is
dcsciibcd."
+ "In ilc sccond clapici ilc mind's abandoning mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's
univcisal loim and acccpiing insicad mcdiiaiion on Loid Visnu, wlo is ilc wiincss
ol cvciyiling and ilc masici ol all, is dcsciibcd."
5 "In ilc iliid clapici ilc supciioiiiy ol scivicc io Loid Visnu, wlicl is
pciloimcd wiil gicai dcvoiion, and wlicl consisis ol many aciiviiics bcginning
wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, is dcsciibcd as ilc sagc lisicns."
Tlis vcisc is spolcn by Sii Saunala Rsi io Sii Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda +1
Also in ilc convcisaiion ol lialma and Naiada (Siimad llagavaiam 2.5.9):
"Loid lialma said: My dcai boy Naiada, bcing mcicilul io all (including
mc) you lavc aslcd all ilcsc qucsiions bccausc I lavc bccn inspiicd io scc inio ilc
piowcss ol ilc Almigliy Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
Anuccheda +2
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc conclusion ol all Vcdic sciipiuics is also
conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.5.15-16):
"Tlc Vcdic liiciaiuics aic madc by and aic mcani loi ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc
dcmigods aic also mcani loi sciving ilc Loid as paiis ol His body, ilc dillcicni
plancis aic also mcani loi ilc salc ol ilc Loid, and dillcicni saciiliccs aic
pciloimcd jusi io plcasc Him.¯
"All dillcicni iypcs ol mcdiiaiion oi mysiicism aic mcans loi icalising
Naiayana. All ausiciiiics aic aimcd ai aclicving Naiayana. Culiuic ol
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc is loi gciiing a glimpsc ol Naiayana and uliimaicly
salvaiion is cniciing ilc lingdom ol Naiayana."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai bccausc Loid Naiayana is ilc supicmc objcci ol
woislip ilcicloic Hc is ilc subjcci maiici dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas. Hcic somconc
may objcci: "Is ii noi so ilai ilc Vcdas also dcsciibc oilci dciiics wlo aic also
woiily ol woislip'" Tlai is iiuc. Tlcicloic ilis vcisc cxplains ilai ilc oilci
dciiics, ilc dcmigods, aic mcani loi sciving ilc paiis ol Loid Naiayana's body
(naiayanangajal). Tlc dillcicni plancis aic also mcani io aiiain His lcci, and ilc
dillcicni saciiliccs aic pciloimcd jusi io plcasc Him. Tlcsc ilings aic donc io givc
a liiilc plcasuic io Loid Naiayana. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Yoga, ilai is asianga-yoga
and sanllya-yoga, aic mcans io aiiain Him. Ausiciiiy, wlicl mcans conccniiaiion
ol ilc mind, is a mcans io aiiain Him, and ilc culiuic ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc
is a mcans io aiiain Him. Tlc culiuic ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, yoga, and
ausiciiiy aic mcans io aiiain Him. Wlai moic nccd bc said' Hc is ilc supicmc
goal (gaiil) io bc aiiaincd, ilc Supicmc lialman. Tlis is so bccausc all ilcsc
ilings aic manilcsicd liom Him and dcpcndcni on Him.
3 Tlcicloic Loid Maisyadcva said io Saiyaviaia (Siimad llagavaiam
S.2+.3S):
"You will bc iloiouglly adviscd and lavouicd by Mc, and bccausc ol youi
inquiiics, cvciyiling aboui My gloiics, wlicl aic lnown as paiam bialma, will bc
manilcsi wiilin youi lcaii. Tlus you will lnow cvciyiling aboui Mc."¯
Tlc liisi vcisc quoicd lcic was spolcn by Loid lialma io Sii Naiada
Muni.
Anuccheda +3
1 In ilc convcisaiion Viduia and Maiiicya ilc lollowing qucsiion was aslcd
(Siimad llagavaiam 3.5.+):
"Tlcicloic, O gicai sagc, plcasc givc mc insiiuciion on ilc iiansccndcnial
dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid, so ilai Hc wlo is siiuaicd in ilc lcaii ol cvciyonc
can bc plcascd io impaii liom wiilin, lnowlcdgc ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil in icims ol
ilc ancicni Vcdic piinciplcs dclivcicd only io ilosc wlo aic puiilicd by ilc
pioccss ol dcvoiional scivicc."¯
"Hcic ilc woids 'sam vaiima' mcan 'auspicious pail'."
"llalii-puic" mcans "puiilicd by lovc", and "sa-iaiivam jnanam" mcans
"lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid's manilcsiaiions, wlicl bcgins wiil lialman, llagavan
and Paiamaima." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Viduia io Sii Maiiicya.
Anuccheda ++
1 Tlc boin and unboin dcmigods piaycd (Siimad llagavaiam 3.5.+6-+7):
"O Loid, pcisons wlo, bccausc ol ilcii sciious aiiiiudc, aiiain ilc siagc ol
cnliglicncd dcvoiional scivicc aclicvc ilc complcic mcaning ol icnunciaiion and
lnowlcdgc and aiiain ilc Vailunilalola in ilc spiiiiual sly by diinling ilc ncciai
ol Youi iopics.¯
2 "Oilcis, wlo aic pacilicd by mcans ol iiansccndcnial scll-icalisaiion and
lavc conqucicd ovci ilc modcs ol naiuic by dini ol siiong powci and lnowlcdgc,
also cnici inio You, bui loi ilcm ilcic is mucl pain, wlcicas ilc dcvoicc simply
disclaigcs dcvoiional scivicc and ilus lccls no pain."¯
"Tlc woid 'alunila-dlisnyam' mcans 'Vailunilalola'."
"Visadasayal" mcans "abandoning all dupliciiy and acccpiing dcvoiional
scivicc as ilc only goal ol lilc." In ilc sccond ol ilcsc vciscs ilc inlciioiiiy ol
boil mcans and cnd ol ilcy wlo aic aiiaclcd io ilc pail ol plilosoplical
spcculaiion (jnana) is dcsciibcd. Tlc woid "apaic" (oilcis) lcic mcans "ilcy wlo
dcsiic libciaiion". Ioi ilcm ilcic is mucl laboui and iioublc (siamal). Howcvci,
loi ilcy wlo acccpi ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid as ilc only goal ol ilcii livcs ilcic is
no gicai laboui and iioublc. Tlcy always cxpciicncc gicai bliss as a icsuli ol ilcii
dcvoiional scivicc and ilcy also aiiain libciaiion as a by-pioduci ol ilai scivicc.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc boin and unboin dcmigods io ilc Supicmc Cicaioi.
Anuccheda +5
1 Tlcn Maiiicya Muni spolc ilc lollowing woids ol piaisc (Siimad
llagavaiam 2.3.1):
"Tlc ioyal dynasiy ol King Puiu is woiily io scivc ilc puic dcvoiccs
bccausc all ilc dcsccndanis ol ilai lamily aic dcvoicd io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. You aic also boin in ilai lamily, and ii is wondcilul ilai bccausc ol
youi aiicmpi ilc iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol ilc Loid aic bccoming ncwci and
ncwci ai cvciy momcni."¯
2 Iiom ilis ii is undcisiood ilai ilc dcvoiional scivicc dcsciibcd lcic is ilc
uliimaic good. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Maiiicya.
Anuccheda +6
1 Sii Kapila cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.25.19):
"Pcilcciion in scll-icalisaiion cannoi bc aiiaincd by any lind ol yogi unlcss
lc cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, loi ilai is
ilc only auspicious pail, callcd aluio-blaya. Tlcy aic doubilcss and lcailcss, and
ilcii cniiancc inio ilc spiiiiual lingdom is guaianiccd."¯
2 Tlc "pcilcciion in scll icalisaiion" (bialma-siddli) lcic is ilc diicci
appcaiancc ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil.
Anuccheda +7
1 Hc also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2+.++):
"Tlcicloic pcisons wlosc minds aic lixcd on ilc Loid cngagc in ilc
inicnsivc piaciicc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is ilc only mcans loi aiiainmcni ol
ilc linal pcilcciion ol lilc."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "iivicna" mcans "inicnsivc" and "puic bccausc ii is noi
mixcd wiil yoga, liuiiivc woil oi oilci ilings". (Tlc Loid says), "Wiil ilis
dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yogcna), wlicl consisis ol many aciiviiics, bcginning
wiil lcaiing, ilcy lix (aipiiam siliiam) ilcii minds (manal) on Mc (mayi). In
ilis way (ciavan) ilcy aiiain ilc linal pcilcciion ol lilc (nilsicyasa). In ilis woild
(asmin) dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi pail." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid
Kapiladcva.
Anuccheda +8
1 In ilc icacling ol Sanaiana Kumaia, alici lc lad alicady cxplaincd ilc pail
ol plilosoplical lnowlcdgc (Siimad llagavaiam +.22.39-+0):
"Tlc dcvoiccs wlo aic always cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc iocs ol ilc loius
lcci ol ilc Loid, can vciy casily ovcicomc laid-lnoiicd dcsiics loi liuiiivc
aciiviiics. lccausc ilis is vciy dilliculi, ilc non dcvoiccs - ilc jnanis and yogis -
alilougl iiying io siop ilc wavcs ol scnsc giaiilicaiion, cannoi do so. Tlcicloic
you aic adviscd io cngagc in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol Kisna, ilc son ol Vasudcva.¯
2 "Tlc occan ol ncscicncc is vciy dilliculi io cioss bccausc ii is inlcsicd wiil
many dangcious slails. Alilougl ilosc wlo aic non-dcvoiccs undcigo scvcic
ausiciiiics and pcnanccs io cioss ilai occan, wc iccommcnd ilai you simply ialc
slclici ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, wlicl aic lilc boais loi ciossing ilc occan.
Alilougl ilc occan is dilliculi io cioss, by ialing slclici ol His loius lcci you will
ovcicomc all dangcis."¯
3 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis (on Siimad llagavaiam +.22.37):
"In Siimad llagavaiam +.22.37, ilc Loid said, 'Plcasc iiy io undcisiand
(iam avcli) ilc iiuil I will icacl you.' Tlc Loid caiclully givcs ilai insiiuciion in
ilcsc iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam +.22.39-+0)."
Hc ilcn commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam +.22.39-+0):
"Hcic somconc may objcci: Docs noi ilc Siuii-sasiia (Taiiiiiiya Upanisad
2.1.2) say, 'Onc wlo undcisiands lialman aiiains ilc Supicmc'' How, ilcn, is ii
possiblc ilai ilc jnanis and yogis cannoi ovcicomc ilc laid-lnoiicd dcsiics loi
liuiiivc aciiviiics'
"To answci ilis objcciion, ilc Loid spcals ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam +.22.+0). In ilai vcisc ilc woid 'aplavcsam' mcans 'Tlcy wlo lavc
noi ialcn slclici ol ilc boai ilai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io cioss
ilc occan ol ncscicncc.' Tlis vcisc says ilcy lind ii vciy dilliculi io cioss ilai
occan. ly cngaging in ilc dilliculi piaciiccs ol yoga ilcy lopc io cioss ilai occan
lillcd wiil slails ilai aic ilc six scnscs. Onc slould ialc ilc boai (udupam) ol
ilc Loid's lcci io cioss ilai dilliculi io cioss occan (dusiaiainam).
+ Ol ilcsc iwo pails (dcvoiional scivicc and impcisonal spcculaiion), wlicl
boil lavc ilc samc goal (io cioss ilc occan ol ncscicncc), ilc pail ol impcisonal
spcculaiion is said io bc vciy dilliculi io lollow, wlcicas ilc pail ol dcvoiional
scivicc ol iis own accoid caiiics onc io ilc dcsiinaiion. Hcic ii is said ilai ilc
impcisonalisis only dcsiic io cioss ilc occan ol ncscicncc (iiiiisanii). Tlcy aic noi
ablc aciually io cioss ii. Tlai is ilc mcaning io bc undcisiood lcic. Tlis vcisc
was spolcn by Sii Sanai-lumaia io Sii Piilu.
Anuccheda +9
1 In ilis way (Sanai-lumaia) insiiucicd (King Piilu). Only wisling io
piovc ilc piaciical cllcciivcncss ol dcvoiional scivicc, King Piilu cngagcd in
dcvoiional aciiviiics. Siimad-llagavaiam (+.23.9-10) cxplains:
2 "Tlus ilc bcsi amongsi luman bcings, Malaiaja Piilu, lollowcd ilai pail
ol spiiiiual advanccmcni wlicl was adviscd by Sanai-lumaia. Tlai is io say, lc
woislippcd ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna."¯
3 "Malaiaja Piilu ilus cngagcd complcicly in dcvoiional scivicc, cxccuiing
ilc iulcs and icgulaiions siiicily accoiding io piinciplcs, iwcniy loui louis daily.
Tlis lis livc and dcvoiion unio ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna,
dcvclopcd and bccamc unllincling and lixcd."¯
+ Hcic ilc woid "icnaiva" mcans "in ilis way". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii
Maiiicya.
Anuccheda 50
1 In ilc song ol Loid Siva (Siimad-llagavaiam +.2+.69):
"My dcai sons ol ilc King, jusi cxccuic youi occupaiional duiy as lings
wiil a puic lcaii. Jusi clani ilis piayci lixing youi mind on ilc loius lcci ol ilc
Loid. Tlai will biing you all good loiiunc, loi ilc Loid will bc vciy mucl plcascd
wiil you."¯
2 Loid Siva coniinucd (Siimad llagavaiam +.2+.70):
"Tlcicloic, O sons ol ilc King, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii,
is siiuaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii. Hc is also wiilin youi lcaiis. Tlcicloic clani ilc
gloiics ol ilc Loid and always mcdiiaic upon Him coniinuously."¯
3 Hcic Loid Siva says, "You slould woislip (pujayadlvam) Loid Haii (iam).
Tlis mcans "Do noi pciloim oidinaiy maiciial duiics". "You slould gloiily
(ginanial) and mcdiiaic (dlyayanial) on Him, ilc Supcisoul siiuaicd in
cvciyonc's lcaii (aima-silam bluicsv avasiliiam aimanan). Don'i placc ilc
aciiviiics youi mind and woids in anyiling bui Him. Always (asalii) woislip
Him. Don'i iniciiupi ilai woislip wiil any oilci aciiviiy."
Anuccheda 51
1 Sii Naiada Muni claiilics ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc by dcsciibing
wlai slould and wlai slould noi bc donc. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam +.31.9-
13):
2 "Tlc gicai sagc Naiada said: Wlcn a living cniiiy is boin io cngagc in ilc
dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc supicmc
coniiollci, lis biiil, all lis liuiiivc aciiviiics, lis lilc-span, lis mind and lis woids
aic all laciually pcilcci.¯
3 "A civiliscd luman bcing las ilicc linds ol biiils. Tlc liisi biiil is by a
puic lailci and moilci, and ilis biiil is callcd biiil by scmcn. Tlc ncxi biiil
ialcs placc wlcn onc is iniiiaicd by ilc spiiiiual masici, and ilis biiil is callcd
saviiia. Tlc iliid biiil, callcd yajnila, ialcs placc wlcn onc is givcn ilc
oppoiiuniiy io woislip Loid Visnu. Dcspiic ilc oppoiiuniiics loi aiiaining sucl
biiils, cvcn il onc gcis ilc lilc-span ol a dcmigod, il onc docs noi aciually cngagc
in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid , cvciyiling is usclcss. Similaily, onc's aciiviiics may bc
mundanc oi spiiiiual, bui ilcy aic usclcss il ilcy aic noi mcani loi saiislying ilc
Loid.¯
+ "Wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc, wlai is ilc mcaning ol scvcic ausiciiiics, ilc
pioccss ol lcaiing, ilc powci ol spcccl, ilc powci ol mcnial spcculaiion, clcvaicd
iniclligcncc, siicngil and ilc powci ol ilc scnscs'¯
5 "Tiansccndcnial piaciiccs ilai do noi uliimaicly lclp onc icalisc ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic usclcss, bc ilcy mysiic yoga piaciiccs, ilc
analyiical siudy ol maiici, scvcic ausiciiiy, ilc acccpiancc ol sannyasa, oi ilc
siudy ol Vcdic liiciaiuic. All ilcsc may bc vciy impoiiani aspccis ol spiiiiual
advanccmcni, bui unlcss onc undcisiands ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
Haii, all ilcsc pioccsscs aic usclcss.¯
6 "Iaciually ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc oiiginal souicc ol all
scll-icalisaiion. Conscqucnily, ilc goal ol all auspicious aciiviiics - laima, jnana,
yoga and blalii - is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
"In ilcsc vciscs is dcsciibcd ilc icsuli ol sciving Loid Haii. Wiiloui
sciving Him, cvciyiling bccomcs woiillcss. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Hcic ilc woid
'janma' (biiil) mcans "ilc scminal biiil liom a puic lailci and moilci, iniiiaiion
wiil a sacicd ilicad ccicmony and iniiiaiion inio ilc pciloimancc ol Vcdic-
saciiliccs. Lvcn il onc gcis a lilc span as long as ilai ol ilc dcmigods, wlai is ilc
usc ol lis woids (vacoblil), powci ol mcnial spcculaiion (ciiia-viiiiblil), powci
ol ilc scnscs (indiiya-iadlasa), pciloimancc ol yoga (yogcna), analyiical siudy ol
maiici (sanllycna) oi oilci (sicyoblii anyail) auspicious aciiviiics, sucl as
icnunciaiion and lollowing vows, il lc docs noi scivc Loid Haii'
S Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam +.31.13:
"Hcic somconc may objcci: 'How can ii bc ilai ilc icsulis ol all spiiiiual
aciiviiics oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc aic woiillcss'' To answci ilis Naiada says
ilai Loid Haii (aima) is ilc goal (avadlil) ol all auspicious aciiviiics (sicyasam).
Tlis is iiuc (aiilaial) bccausc Hc is moic dcai (piiyal) ilan anyonc oi anyiling.
To ilis oui objccioi may icply: 'Tlai maya bc, bui wly is Loid Haii ilc
goal ol all auspicious aciiviiics."' To ilis Naiada icplics: 'Hc (aima), by casiing
asidc all ignoiancc, icvcals io cvciyonc (saivcsam) ilcii spiiiiual idcniiiy (aima-
dal). Anoilci inicipiciaiion ol ilc woid 'aima-dal' is ilai bcloic lali Malaiaja
and oilci dcvoiccs Hc appcaicd in His spiiiiual loim as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad and gavc Himscll as a gili io ilcm. Hc is also dcai (piiyal) bccausc His
loim is lull ol iiansccndcnial bliss."
9 Tlc pliasc "aima saivcsam api bluianam" mcans ilai Hc is ilc Supcisoul
in all puic living cniiiics. Tlis is so bccausc Hc is lilc ilc sun and ilcy aic lilc
ilc iays ol sunligli. Ioi ilis icason ii is said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.5+-55):
10 "Tlcicloic ii is lis own scll ilai is mosi dcai io cvciy cmbodicd living
bcing, and ii is simply loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilis scll ilai ilc wlolc maiciial
cicaiion ol moving and non moving cniiiics cxisi.¯¯¯
11 "You slould lnow Kisna io bc ilc oiiginal Soul ol all living cniiiics. Ioi
ilc bcnclii ol ilc wlolc univcisc, Hc las, oui ol His causclcss mcicy, appcaicd as
an oidinaiy luman bcing. Hc las donc ilis by ilc siicngil ol His inicinal
poicncy."¯
12 Tlc iwo "aimas" in ilis vcisc aic ilc individual living cniiiy and ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc woid "aima-dal" (Hc wlo givcs Himscll)
mcans ciilci ilai ilc Loid icvcals Himscll io His dcvoiccs oi ilai ilc Loid placcs
Himscll undci ilc coniiol ol His dcvoiccs. Tlai is Siila Siidlaia Svami's
inicipiciaiion.
Anuccheda 52
1 Iuiilcimoic (in Siimad llagavaiam +.31.1+ ii is said):
"As pouiing waici on ilc iooi ol a iicc cncigiscs ilc iiunl, bianclcs, iwigs
and cvciyiling clsc, and as supplying lood io ilc siomacl cnlivcns ilc scnscs and
limbs ol ilc body, simply woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
iliougl dcvoiional scivicc auiomaiically saiislics ilc dcmigods, wlo aic paiis ol
ilai Supicmc Pcisonaliiy."¯
"ly saiislying Loid Haii onc aiiains ilc samc icsuli as il lc las saiislicd ilc
many dcmigods wiil many pious dccds. Howcvci, by woislipping ilc dcmigods
onc docs noi aiiain ilc icsuli ol saiislying Loid Haii. Tlai is ilc cxamplc givcn in
ilis vcisc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Naiada io ilc Piaccias.
Anuccheda 53
1 In ilis maiici Loid Rsabladcva's insiiuciions io His sons slould bc
consulicd. Tlcic Hc said (Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.3 and 5.5.25):
"Tlosc wlo aic inicicsicd in icviving Kisna consciousncss and incicasing
ilcii lovc ol Godlcad do noi lilc io do anyiling ilai is noi iclaicd io Kisna. Tlcy
aic noi inicicsicd in mingling wiil pcoplc wlo aic busy mainiaining ilcii bodics,
caiing, slccping, maiing and dclcnding. Tlcy aic noi aiiaclcd io ilcii lomcs,
alilougl ilcy may bc louscloldcis. Noi aic ilcy aiiaclcd io wivcs, clildicn,
liicnds oi wcalil. Ai ilc samc iimc, ilcy aic noi indillcicni io ilc cxccuiion ol
ilcii duiics. Sucl pcoplc aic inicicsicd in collcciing only cnougl moncy io lccp
ilc body and soul iogcilci."¯
"I am lully opulcni, almigliy and supciioi io Loid lialma and India, ilc
ling ol ilc lcavcnly plancis. I am also ilc bcsiowci ol all lappincss obiaincd in
ilc lcavcnly lingdom and by libciaiion. Noncilclcss, ilc bialmanas do noi sccl
maiciial comloiis liom Mc. Tlcy aic vciy puic and do noi wani io posscss
anyiling. Tlcy simply cngagc in My dcvoiional scivicc. Wlai is ilc nccd ol ilcii
asling loi maiciial bcncliis liom anyonc clsc'"¯
2 Ai ilc cnd ol lis convcisaiion wiil King Ralugana, a bialmana said
"My dcai King Ralugana, you aic also a viciim ol ilc cxicinal cncigy,
bcing siiuaicd on ilc pail ol aiiiaciion io maiciial plcasuic. So ilai you may
bccomc an cqual liicnd io all living cniiiics, I now advisc you io givc up youi
lingly posiiion and ilc iod by wlicl you punisl ciiminals. Givc up aiiiaciion io
scnsc objccis and ialc up ilc swoid ol lnowlcdgc slaipcncd by dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlcn you will bc ablc io cui ilc laid lnoi ol illusoiy cncigy and cioss io
ilc oilci sidc ol ilc occan ol ncscicncc."¯
3 Tlc lnowlcdgc (jnana) lcic is lnowlcdgc ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Anuccheda 5+
1 Sii Ralugana icplicd (Siimad llagavaiam 5.13.21-22):
"Tlis biiil as a luman bcing is ilc bcsi ol all. Lvcn biiil among ilc
dcmigods in ilc lcavcnly plancis is noi as gloiious as biiil as a luman bcing on
ilis caiil. Wlai is ilc usc ol ilc cxalicd posiiion ol a dcmigod' In ilc lcavcnly
plancis, duc io piolusc maiciial comloiis, ilcic is no possibiliiy ol associaiing wiil
dcvoiccs.¯
2 "Ii is noi ai all wondcilul ilai simply by bcing covcicd by ilc dusi ol youi
loius lcci, onc immcdiaicly aiiains ilc plailoim ol puic dcvoiional scivicc io
Adlolsaja, wlicl is noi availablc cvcn io gicai dcmigods lilc lialma. ly
associaiing wiil you jusi loi a momcni, I am now liccd liom all aigumcni, lalsc
picsiigc and lacl ol disciiminaiion, wlicl aic ilc ioois ol cnianglcmcni in ilc
maiciial woild. Now I am licc liom all ilcsc pioblcms."¯
3 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by a bialmana io
King Ralugana.
Anuccheda 55
1 Ai ilc conclusion ol His insiiuciions io King Ciiialciu, Loid Sanlaisana
"ly ilc siicngil ol onc's disciiminaiion onc slould givc up ilc dcsiic loi
liuiiivc icsulis in ilc picscni lilc and in ilc ncxi. Tlus bccoming cxpciicnccd in
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, onc slould bccomc My dcvoicc."¯
2 In Piallada's icaclings io ilc sons ol ilc dcmons (Siimad llagavaiam
9.6.1-2):
"Onc wlo is sullicicnily iniclligcni slould usc ilc luman loim ol body
liom ilc vciy bcginning ol lilc - in oilci woids, liom ilc icndci agc ol clildlood -
io piaciicc ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, giving up all oilci cngagcmcnis.
Tlc luman body is mosi iaicly aclicvcd, and alilougl icmpoiaiy lilc oilci
bodics, ii is mcaninglul bccausc in luman lilc onc can pciloim dcvoiional scivicc.
Lvcn a sligli amouni ol sinccic dcvoiional scivicc can givc onc complcic
pcilcciion.¯
3 "Tlc luman loim ol lilc alloids onc a clancc io iciuin lomc, bacl io
Godlcad. Tlcicloic cvciy living cniiiy, cspccially in ilc luman loim ol lilc, musi
cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc loius lcci ol Loid Visnu. Tlis dcvoiional
scivicc is naiuial bccausc Loid Visnu, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is ilc
mosi bclovcd, ilc masici ol ilc soul, and ilc wcll-wislci ol all oilci living
bcings."¯
+ Tlcsc vciscs say "Hcic (ila), in ilis luman biiil, onc slould cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc (blagavaian dlaiman acaici). lccausc in a biiil among ilc
dcmigods ilcic is an abundancc ol scnsc giaiilicaiion, and bccausc in a biiil as an
animal ilcic is no powci ol disciiminaiion, onc slould noi wasic lis iimc wlcn lc
las aiiaincd a luman biiil. Tlcicloic lc says, "Iiom ilc bcginning ol clildlood
(laumaic) onc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc." Tlis is so bccausc ilis (iad
api) luman biiil is icmpoiaiy (adliuvam) and iaicly aclicvcd (duilablam). Tlc
Vcdic sciipiuics say ilai ilc luman biiil is ilc mosi valuablc, bccausc in ii onc
can cngagc in ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Onc slould undcisiand ilc
luman biiil in ilai way.
5 In ilc sccond vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 7.6.2) lc slows ilai ilc luman
biiil is appiopiiaic loi cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc. Hc says "Tlc luman loim
ol lilc (ila) alloids onc a clancc io iciuin lomc, bacl io Godlcad (puiusasya
visnol padopasaipanam). Tlis is so bccausc Loid Visnu is naiuially dcai (piiyal)
io ilc living cniiiics (bluianaam). Tlcy lovc Him and Hc lovcs ilcm. Hcic ilc
woid "aima" mcans "ilc Supcisoul", and ii is said ilc dcvoiccs aiiain His abodc
(padopasipanam). Hcic ilc Loid is callcd "isvaia" (ilc coniiollci) bccausc Hc las
ilc powci io do anyiling, undo anyiling and clangc anyiling. Hc is also callcd
"sulii" (ilc liicnd) bccausc Hc wislcs auspiciousncss loi cvciyonc.
6 Piallada Malaiaja concludcs (Siimad llagavaiam 7.6.26):
"Rcligion, cconomic dcvclopmcni and scnsc giaiilicaiion - ilcsc aic
dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas as iii-vaiga, oi ilicc ways io salvaiion. Wiilin ilcsc ilicc
caicgoiics aic cducaiion and scll-icalisaiion, iiiualisiic ccicmonics pciloimcd
accoiding io Vcdic injunciion, logic, ilc scicncc ol law and oidci, and ilc vaiious
mcans ol caining onc's livclilood. Tlcsc aic ilc cxicinal subjcci maiicis ol siudy
in ilc Vcdas, and ilcicloic I considci ilcm maiciial. Howcvci, I considci
suiicndci io ilc loius lcci ol Loid Visnu io bc iiansccndcnial."¯
7 Hcic ilc woid "ilsa" mcans "scll-icalisaiion". "Tad ciai nigamasya" mcans
"all ilc mcanings ol ilc Vcdas", and ilc woids "sulial paiamasya pumsal" iclci
io ilc Supcisoul, wlo siays in cvciyonc's lcaii. (Hcic Piallada Malaiaja says)
"Howcvci, I considci (manyc) suiicndci (svaimaipanam) io Him iiansccndcnial
(saiyam)." Tlis is so bccausc ii biings a iiansccndcnial icsuli. Oi, ii is so bccausc
ii biings a valuablc icsuli, wlcicas ilc icsuli ol pciloiming maiciial duiics and
oilci non dcvoiional aciiviiics is woiillcss. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Piallada Malaiaja io ilc sons ol ilc dcmons
Anuccheda 56
1 Hc also said (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.29):
"Ol ilc dillcicni pioccsscs iccommcndcd loi discnianglcmcni liom
maiciial lilc, ilc onc pcisonaliiy cxplaincd and acccpicd by ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad slould bc considcicd all-pcilcci. Tlai pioccss is ilc
pciloimancc ol duiics by wlicl lovc loi ilc Supicmc Loid dcvclops."¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilc picvious vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.2S) and ilis
vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.29) is: "Ol ilc many ilousands (salasianam) ol
dillcicni pioccsscs (upaya) loi buining ilc sccd ol liuiiivc aciiviiics (laima-bija-
niilaianam) Loid Sii Naiada (blagavaia) iaugli mc ilis onc. Tlis is ilc bcsi ol
ilc many ilousands ol ilcsc pioccsscs bccausc ii quiclly (anjas) and wiiloui
dilliculiy biings lovc (iaiil) loi ilc Supicmc Loid (isvaic blagavaii). Tlc buining
ol ilc sccd ol liuiiivc aciiviiics is a naiuial by-pioduci ol ilc dcvclopmcni ol ilai
lovc. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Anuccheda 57
1 Hc dcsciibcs ilc dillcicni paiis ol ilai pioccss in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.7.30):
"Onc musi acccpi ilc bona lidc spiiiiual masici and icndci scivicc unio
lim wiil gicai dcvoiion and laiil. Wlaicvci onc las in onc's posscssion slould
bc ollcicd io ilc spiiiiual masici, and in ilc associaiion ol sainily pcisons and
dcvoiccs onc slould woislip ilc Loid, lcai ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid wiil laiil,
gloiily ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics and aciiviiics ol ilc Loid, always mcdiiaic on
ilc Loid's loius lcci, and woislip ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid siiicily accoiding io ilc
injunciions ol ilc sasiia and guiu."¯
Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.33):
2 "ly ilcsc aciiviiics (as mcniioncd abovc) onc is ablc io cui down ilc
inllucncc ol ilc cncmics, namcly lusi, angci, giccd, illusion, madncss and jcalousy,
and wlcn ilus siiuaicd onc can icndci scivicc io ilc Loid. In ilis way onc suicly
aiiains ilc plailoim ol loving scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
3 Tlai is noi ilc only icsuli obiaincd by pciloiming ilc picviously dcsciibcd
aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil sciving ilc spiiiiual masici wiil laiil and dcvoiion. Onc
is also ablc io cui down ilc inllucncc ol ilc cncmics, namcly lusi, angci, giccd,
illusion, madncss and jcalousy, and ilcn onc can icndci scivicc (blaliil liiyaic)
io ilc Loid.
Anuccheda 58
1 In ilc bcginning ol lis dcsciipiion ol ilc duiics ol vainasiama-dlaima,
wlcic lc discusscs ilc duiics ol luman bcings in gcncial, (Sii Naiada Muni said
in Siimad llagavaiam 7.11.7):
2 "Tlc Supicmc lcing, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is ilc csscncc ol all Vcdic
lnowlcdgc, ilc iooi ol all icligious piinciplcs, and ilc mcmoiy ol gicai
auiloiiiics. O King Yudlisiliia, ilis piinciplc ol icligion is io bc undcisiood as
cvidcncc. On ilc basis ol ilis icligious piinciplc, cvciyiling is saiislicd, including
onc's mind, slould and cvcn onc's body."¯
3 Hcic ilc pliasc "ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc iooi ol
icligious piinciplcs (dlaimasya mulam blagavan) mcans ilai ilc Loid is ilc
auiloiiiy ilai csiablisl icligious piinciplcs. Hc is ilc auiloiiiy ilai suppoiis ilc
sciipiuics (smiiam) and ilcy wlo lnow ilc sciipiuics (iad-vidam). Ioi boil
ilcsc cxicinal ilings aic woiillcss. Tlcsc musi bc aboui dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Loid. Tlcicloic Sii Manu-samliia cxplains:
+ "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is all ilc Vcdas, ilc iooi ol icligion,
ilc mcmoiy and good claiacici ol ilcy wlo undcisiand ilc Vcdas, ilc spiiiiual
aciiviiics ol ilc sainily dcvoiccs, and saiislaciion ol ilc scll."
5 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (1.1.2):
"Complcicly icjcciing all icligious aciiviiics wlicl aic maiciially moiivaicd,
ilis llagavaia Puiana piopounds ilc liglcsi iiuil, wlicl is undcisiandablc by
ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic lully puic in lcaii. Tlc liglcsi iiuil is icaliiy
disiinguislcd liom illusion loi ilc wcllaic ol all. Sucl iiuil upioois ilc ilicclold
misciics. Tlis bcauiilul llagavaiam, compilcd by ilc gicai sagc Vyasadcva (in lis
maiuiiiy), is sullicicni in iiscll loi God Rcalisaiion. Wlai is ilc nccd ol any oilci
lis lcaii."¯
6 ly ilc icligion ol dcvoiional scivicc ilc "aima", ilai is ilc lcaii, mind, and
scll aic plcascd. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 1.2.6:
"Tlc supicmc occupaiion (dlaima) loi all lumaniiy is ilai by wlicl mcn
ilc scll."¯
lccausc ilc woid "su" wlicl lcic mcans :io ilc liglcsi dcgicc", is uscd
lcic, ilis vcisc dcsciibcs diicci dcvoiional scivicc, wlcic ilcic aic many aciiviiics,
bcginning wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid.
7 Ai ilc cnd ol ilis dcsciipiion ol icligious duiics is ilc sioiy ol Naiada
Muni. Tlcic ii is said ilai in lis liisi biiil, as a Gandlaiva, lc pciloimcd
dcvoiional scivicc by singing aboui ilc Loid. In lis sccond biiil, ilis iimc as a
sudia, lc lcaid ilc Loid's gloiics in ilc company ol sainily dcvoiccs. In ilis way
Naiada bccamc an iniimaic associaic ol ilc Loid. Hc did noi pciloim ilc duiics ol
vainasiama-dlaima.
S Tlcic is also ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 7.15.6S):
"O King Yudlisiliia, bccausc ol youi scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid, all ol
you Pandavas dclcaicd ilc gicaicsi dangcis poscd by numcious lings and
dcmigods. ly sciving ilc loius lcci ol Kisna, you conqucicd gicai cncmics, wlo
wcic lilc clcplanis, and ilus you collccicd ingicdicnis loi saciilicc. ly His giacc,
may you bc dclivcicd liom maiciial involvcmcni."¯
Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"Tlc common pcoplc lollow ilc duiics ol vainasiama-dlaima, bui loi ilc
dcvoiccs dcvoiional scivicc lullils all ilc goals ol ilcii livcs. Tlis is sccn in ilis
vcisc dcsciibing ilc Pandavas."
Tlc mcaning ol ilis is ilai ilc dcvoiccs cngagc in diicci dcvoiional scivicc
io ilc Loid.
9 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is supciioi io pciloimancc ol vainasiama-dlaima is
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.17):
"Onc wlo las loisalcn lis maiciial occupaiions io cngagc in dcvoiional
scivicc ol ilc Loid may somciimcs lall down wlilc in an immaiuic siagc, yci ilcic
is no dangci ol lis bcing unsucccsslul. On ilc oilci land, a non-dcvoicc, ilougl
lully cngagcd in occupaiional duiics, docs noi gain anyiling."¯
Laici in ilis bool (Siimad llagavaiam) ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc,
wlicl slould bc pciloimcd by all living cniiiics, and wlicl biing ilc gicaicsi
bcnclii, aic lisicd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.11.11):
"Tlcsc aic ilc gcncial piinciplcs...lcaiing aboui ilc aciiviiics and
insiiuciions givcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (wlo is ilc slclici ol
ilc sainily pcisons), claniing aboui ilcsc aciiviiics and insiiuciions, always
icmcmbciing ilcsc aciiviiics and insiiuciions, iiying io icndci scivicc, pciloiming
woislip, ollciing obcisanccs, bccoming a scivani, bccoming a liicnd and
suiicndciing onc's wlolc scll."¯
10 Sii Jada llaiaia's laiil in dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilis piosc
passagc (Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.9.3.):
"Duc io lis bcing cspccially gilicd wiil ilc Loid's mcicy, llaiaia Malaiaja
could icmcmbci ilc incidcnis ol lis pasi lilc. Alilougl lc icccivcd ilc body ol a
bialmana, lc was siill vciy mucl aliaid ol lis iclaiivcs and liicnds wlo wcic noi
dcvoiccs. Hc was always vciy cauiious ol sucl associaiion bccausc lc lcaicd ilai
lc would again lall down. Conscqucnily lc manilcsicd limscll bcloic ilc public
cyc as a madman-dull, blind, and dcal - so ilai oilcis would noi iiy io iall io lim.
In ilis way lc savcd limscll liom bad associaiion. Wiilin lc was always ilinling
ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid and claniing ilc Loid's gloiics, wlicl savc onc liom
ilc bondagc ol liuiiivc aciion. In ilis way lc savcd limscll liom ilc onslaugli ol
non dcvoicc associaics."
Sii Jada llaiaia undcisiood ilc loolislncss ol lis ollcnsivc bioilcis and lc
also undcisiood ilai ilc spiiiiual scicncc ol dcvoiional scivicc is supciioi io ilc
duiics ol vainasiama-dlaima. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing piosc passagc
"Alici ilc lailci dicd, ilc ninc sicpbioilcis ol Jada llaiaia, wlo
considcicd Jada llaiaia dull and biainlcss, abandoncd ilc lailci's aiicmpi io givc
Jada llaiaia a complcic cducaiion. Tlc sicpbioilcis ol Jada llaiaia wcic lcaincd
in ilc ilicc Vcdal-ilc Rg Vcda, Sama Vcda, and Yajui Vcdas - wlicl vciy mucl
cncouiagc liuiiivc aciiviiy. Tlc ninc bioilcis wcic noi ai all spiiiiually
cnliglicncd in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Conscqucnily ilcy could noi
undcisiand ilc liglly cxalicd posiiion ol Jada llaiaia."¯
11 Sii Nisimla Puiana cxplains:
"lialma cngagcd ilc sagcs lcadcd by Sanala in icnunciaiion, ilc sagcs
lcadcd by Maiica in liuiiivc woil, and Naiada Muni in unalloycd dcvoiional
scivicc."
12 Hcic ilc woid "icna" (by lim) iclcis io Loid lialma. Only an appiopiiaic
and loiccd cxplanaiion will placc ilc inicinal aciiviiics ol diicci dcvoiional scivicc,
wlicl bcgin wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, among ilc cxicinal aciiviiics ol
vainasiama-dlaima. In oilci placcs aic dcsciibcd ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional
scivicc wlcn ilcy aic mixcd wiil oilci aciiviiics. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii
Naiada io Sii Yudlisiliia.
Anuccheda 59
1 In ilc sioiy ol Jayania ilis qucsiion was aslcd (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.30):
"Tlcicloic, O complcicly sinlcss oncs, I asl you io lindly icll mc wlai ilc
supicmc good is. Alici all, cvcn lall a momcni's associaiion wiil puic dcvoiccs
wiilin ilis woild ol biiil and dcail is a piicclcss iicasuic loi any man."¯¯¯
Tlc answci is givcn in ilis vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.33);
2 "I considci ilai onc wlosc iniclligcncc is consianily disiuibcd by lis lalscly
idcniilying limscll wiil ilc icmpoiaiy maiciial woild can aclicvc ical liccdom
liom lcai only by woislipping ilc loius lcci ol ilc inlalliblc Supicmc Loid. in
sucl dcvoiional scivicc all lcai ccascs cniiicly."¯¯¯
+ Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"In ilc liisi vcisc lc cxplains wlai is ilc supicmc good."
Tlc qucsiion is aslcd (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.31):
"Plcasc spcal aboui low onc cngagcs in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, il you considci mc capablc ol piopcily lcaiing ilcsc iopics. Wlcn
a living cniiiy ollcis loving scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc Loid is immcdiaicly
saiislicd and in iciuin Hc will givc cvcn His own scll io ilc suiicndcicd soul."¯¯¯
Tlc answci is givcn (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.3+-36):
"Lvcn ignoiani living cniiiics can vciy casily comc io lnow ilc Supicmc
Loid il ilcy adopi ilosc mcans picsciibcd by ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll. Tlc
pioccss iccommcndcd by ilc Loid is io bc lnown as blagavaia-dlaima, oi
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.¯¯¯
"O ling, onc wlo acccpis ilis pioccss ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad will ncvci blundci on lis pail in ilis woild. Lvcn wlilc
iunning wiil cycs closcd, lc will ncvci iiip oi lall.¯¯¯
"In accoidancc wiil ilc paiiiculai naiuic onc las acquiicd in condiiioncd
lilc, wlaicvci onc docs wiil body, woids, mind, scnscs, iniclligcncc, oi puiilicd
consciousncss onc slould ollci io ilc Supicmc,, ilinling, 'Tlis is loi ilc plcasuic
ol Loid Naiayana.'"¯¯¯
Tlcn, alici saying ilis, lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.37):
"Wlcn ilc living cniiiy is aiiiacicd by ilc maiciial cncigy, wlicl is
scpaiaic liom Kisna, lc is ovcipowcicd by lcai. lccausc lc is scpaiaicd liom ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by ilc maiciial cncigy, lis conccpiion ol lilc is
icvciscd. In oilci woids, insicad ol bcing ilc cicinal scivani ol Kisna, lc
bccomcs Kisna's compciiioi. Tlis is callcd 'vipaiyayp smiiil'. To nullily ilis
misialc, onc wlo is aciually lcaincd and advanccd woislips ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as lis spiiiiual masici, woisliplul Dciiy, and souicc ol lilc.
Hc ilus woislips ilc Loid by ilc pioccss ol unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc."¯
In ilis vcisc ilc woid "blaliya" mcans "by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc
ilai consisis ol many aciiviiics bcginning wiil lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid's
gloiics and ilai is noi mixcd wiil impcisonal spcculaiion and oilci ilings."
"Llaya" mcans "wiiloui iniciiupiion and pciloimcd wiil lovc."
Anuccheda 60
"In accoidancc wiil ilc paiiiculai naiuic onc las acquiicd in condiiioncd
lilc, wlaicvci onc docs wiil body, woids, mind, scnscs, iniclligcncc oi puiilicd
consciousncss onc slould ollci io ilc Supicmc, ilinling "Tlis is loi ilc plcasuic
ol Loid Naiayana."¯¯¯
Iiom ilis ii is undcisiood ilai cvcn oidinaiy woil bccomcs dcvoiional
scivicc wlcn ollcicd io ilc Loid. Tlis pail, ilc pail ol always woiling loi ilc
Loid, sccms io bc opposcd io ilc pail ol always pciloiming ilc dcvoiional
aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid's gloiics. Aciually, ciilci
ol ilcsc pails may bc lollowcd wiil sicady conviciion. Tlis sicadincss is
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.3S):
2 "Alilougl ilc dualiiy ol ilc maiciial woild docs noi uliimaicly cxisi, ilc
condiiioncd soul cxpciicnccs ii as ical undci ilc inllucncc ol lis own condiiioncd
iniclligcncc. Tlis imaginaiy cxpciicncc ol a woild scpaiaic liom Kisna can bc
compaicd io ilc acis ol dicaming and dcsiiing. Wlcn ilc condiiioncd soul
dicams ai nigli ol somciling dcsiiablc oi loiiiblc, oi wlcn lc daydicams ol wlai
lc would lilc io lavc oi avoid, lc cicaics a icaliiy ilai las no cxisicncc bcyond
lis own imaginaiion. Tlc icndcncy ol ilc mind is io acccpi and icjcci vaiious
aciiviiics bascd on scnsc giaiilicaiion. Tlcicloic an iniclligcni pcison slould
coniiol ilc mind, icsiiiciing ii liom ilc illusion ol sccing ilings scpaiaic liom
Kisna, and wlcn ilc mind is ilus coniiollcd lc will cxpciicncc aciual
lcailcssncss."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "dvayal" mcans "ilc dualiiy ol maiciial cxisicncc, wlicl
bcgan wiil ilc piadlana, oi unmanilcsicd modcs ol naiuic." alilougl ilis dualiiy
docs noi cxisi (avidyamanal) in ilc lcaii ol onc wlo is puic, ii is manilcsi
(avablaii) in ilc mind (dliya) ol onc iapi in mcdiiaiion (dlyaiul) on ignoiancc.
In ilis way ii is manilcsi io ilc living cniiiy wlo is oiiginally puic. Ii is lilc
(yaila) a dicam (svapna) oi ilinling ol dcsiics (manoiaila). Tlai is ilc mcaning.
In ilis way ilc mind acccpis somc ilings and icjccis oilcis. Tlis aciiviiy ol ilc
mind slould bc coniiollcd. In ilai way, by cngaging in unwavciing dcvoiional
scivicc, onc bccomcs lcailcss. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Anuccheda 61
1 Icaiing ilai somconc may objcci, saying, "Is ii noi iiuc ilai wlcn onc
aiicmpis io coniiol ilc mind by icpcaicd piaciicc ol yoga iniciiupiions in lis
dcvoiional scivicc icmain'" I say ilai onc wlo cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc is
aiiaclcd io dcvoiional scivicc is succcsslul in coniiolling ilc mind. Tlc way ilis
is donc is cxplaincd in ilis sccond quoiaiion (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.39):
2 "An iniclligcni pcison wlo las coniiollcd lis mind and conqucicd lcai
slould givc up all aiiaclmcni io maiciial objccis sucl as wilc, lamily and naiion
and slould wandci liccly wiiloui cmbaiiassmcni, lcaiing and claniing ilc loly
namcs ol ilc Loid, ilc bcaici ol ilc claiioi wlccl. Tlc wlolc namcs ol Kisna aic
all-auspicious bccausc ilcy dcsciibc His iiansccndcnial biiil and aciiviiics, wlicl
Hc pciloims wiilin ilis woild loi ilc salvaiion ol ilc condiiioncd souls. Tlus ilc
loly namcs ol ilc Loid aic sung iliougloui ilc woild."¯¯¯
"Tlc woids 'janmani laimani namani iadaiilalani' mcan 'ilc Loid's biiils,
dccds and namcs'. Icaiing ilai somconc may say 'Ii is noi possiblc loi onc io
piopcily undcisiand ilc Loid's namcs', ilis vcisc says 'Onc slould wandci liccly,
lcaiing and claniing ilc lamous loly namcs ol ilc Loid.' Hcic ilc woid 'asangal'
mcans 'wiiloui maiciial dcsiic'."
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Kavi Vidcla.
Anuccheda 62
1 Rcjcciing liuiiivc woil and oilci aciiviiics, lc picsciibcs diicci dcvoiional
scivicc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.++-+7):
"Clildisl and loolisl pcoplc aic aiiaclcd io maiciialisiic, liuiiivc, alilougl
ilc aciual goal ol lilc is io bccomc licc liom sucl aciiviiics. Tlcicloic, ilc Vcdic
injunciions indiiccily lcad onc io ilc pail ol uliimaic libciaiion by liisi
picsciibing liuiiivc icligious aciiviiics, jusi as a lailci piomiscs lis clild candy so
ilai ilc clild will ialc lis mcdicinc.¯¯¯
2 "Il an ignoiani pcison wlo las noi conqucicd ilc maiciial scnscs docs noi
adlcic io ilc Vcdic injunciions, cciiainly lc will cngagc in sinlul and iiicligious
aciiviiics. Tlus lis icwaid will bc icpcaicd biiil and dcail.¯¯¯
3 "ly cxccuiing wiiloui aiiaclmcni ilc icgulaicd aciiviiics picsciibcd in ilc
Vcdas, ollciing ilc icsulis ol sucl woil io ilc Supicmc Loid, onc aiiains ilc
pcilcciion ol liccdom liom ilc bondagc ol maiciial woil. Tlc maiciial liuiiivc
icsulis ollcicd in ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics aic noi ilc aciual goal ol Vcdic
lnowlcdgc, bui aic mcani loi siimulaiing ilc inicicsi ol ilc pciloimci.¯¯¯
+ "Onc wlo dcsiics io quiclly cui ilc lnoi ol lalsc cgo, wlicl binds ilc
spiiiiual soul, slould woislip ilc Supicmc Loid, Kcsava, by ilc icgulaiions lound
in Vcdic liiciaiuics sucl as ilc ianiias.¯¯¯
5 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on 11.3.++:
Tlc woid 'paiolsa-vadal' mcans 'conccalmcni ol ilc ical naiuic ol
somciling by claiming ii is somciling dillcicni ilai wlai ii ically is'. Tlc Siuii-
sasiia (Aiiaicya Upanisad 1.3.1+) cxplains, 'Tlcy call ilc loui Vcdic piicsis caiui-
luia. In ilis way ilc dcmigods aic lond ol using paiolsa-vada'. In ilis vcisc ilc
paiolsa-vada is in ilc pliasc bcginning wiil ilc woids 'laima-molsaya'.
6 "Hcic somconc may objcci, 'Is ii noi iiuc ilai ilc aciiviiics (laimani) givcn
(dlaiic) in ilc Vcdas aic mcani noi loi uliimaic libciaiion bui only loi aiiainmcni
ol Svaigalola'' To answci ilis lc spcals ilc woids bcginning wiil 'balanam
anusasanam'. Hcic ilc cxamplc ol mcdicinc (agadam) is givcn. ly maling lim
dcsiic llana-laddu candics, a lailci malcs lis clild diinl mcdicinc. Iiisi lc
malcs ilc clild diinl ilc mcdicinc, and ilcn lc givcs lim ilc candy. Tlc goal
lcic is noi io givc ilc clild somc sandy. Tlc goal is io cuic lim ol ilc discasc. In
ilc samc way ilc Vcdas ollci many maiciial bcncliis only io givc aciiviiics by
wlicl ilc living cniiiics aiiain libciaiion."
7 Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+5:
"Hcic somconc may objcci, 'Is is noi iiuc ilai il libciaiion wcic ilc ical
goal ol lilc ilcn ilc spcalci lcic would liisi lavc icjccicd all liuiiivc woil'' To
answci ilis lc spcals ilis vcisc (11.3.+5)."
S Tlc woid "ajnal" is dclincd in ilis way: A pcison wlosc iniclligcncc is
lull ol laiil in ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid is a
wisc man (jna). A pcison wlo las no sucl laiil is a lool (ajna). Tlai is ilc
mcaning. In ilc samc way a pcison wlo las noi conqucicd lis maiciial scnscs
(ajiicndiiyal) cannoi aiiain icnunciaiion liom ilc losi ol maiciial plcasuics ilai
culminaic in ilc lappincsscs cxpciicnccd by ilc dcmigod lialma, and nciilci can
lc bc cagci io undcisiand ilc naiuic ol ilc Supicmc Spiiii. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
"As long as onc is noi saiiaicd by liuiiivc aciiviiy and las noi awalcncd lis
iasic loi dcvoiional scivicc by siavanam liiianam visnol, onc las io aci accoiding
io ilc icgulaiivc piinciplcs ol ilc Vcdic injunciions."¯¯¯
Tlis vcisc dcsciibcs a pcison wlo las nciilci laiil noi icnunciaiion.
10 ly woiling in dcliancc ol ilc Vcdic injunciions (vilaimana) a pcison
aiiains dcail alici dcail (miiyoi miiym upaiii) and lc aiiains ioiiuics as painlul
as dying. Tlai is ilc mcaning (in Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+5). Howcvci, by
somclow icnouncing all woil onc will noi aiiain libciaiion. Ii is by ollciing onc's
woil io ilc Loid ilai onc aiiains His mcicy. Tlis lind ol woil is dcsciibcd (in
Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+6) in ilc woid "vcdoliam" (ilc woils picsciibcd by ilc
Vcdas). Tlcicloic onc is noi loibiddcn io pciloim ilc woils picsciibcd by ilc
Vcdas (vcdoliam cva luivanal), loi by pciloiming ilcm onc aiiains ilc pcilcciion
ol liccdom liom ilc bondagc ol maiciial woil (naislaimyam lablaic siddlim).
11 Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi iiuc ilai by woiling in ilai way onc
will bccomc aiiaclcd io liuii ol ilai woil'" Hcic ilc icply is: No. ly woiling in
ilai way onc icmains unaiiaclcd (nilsangal) and aiiains liccdom liom ilc
bondagc ol maiciial woil (naislaimyam). Tlis lappcns bccausc ilc icsulis ol
woil aic ollcicd (aipiiam) io ilc Supicmc Loid (isvaic).
12 Hcic somconc may objcci: "Is ii noi iiuc ilai il onc woils bccausc ol
lcaiing in ilc Vcdas ol a cciiain icsuli, ilcn lc will cciiainly aiiain ilc icsuli ol
ilai woil'" Tlc answci givcn lcic is: No. Tlc Vcdas dcsciibc ilcsc icsulis only
io aiiiaci (iocanaiila) ilc pcoplc io pciloim ilcsc bcnclicial aciiviiics. Hcic ilc
cxamplc is givcn ol piomising llanda-laddu candics io convincc a clild io diinl
mcdicinc. In ilis way onc slould undcisiand ilc Vcdas' ollciing ol cciiain
aiiiaciivc icsulis loi pciloiming cciiain aciiviiics.
13 Sii lilad-aianyala Upanisad cxplains:
"Hc is a miscily man wlo docs noi solvc ilc pioblcms ol lilc as a luman
and wlo ilus quiis ilis woild lilc ilc cais and dogs, wiiloui undcisianding ilc
scicncc ol scll-icalisaiion."¯
3.S.10
"ly obsciving cclibacy and siudying ilc Vcdas, bialmanas iiy io
undcisiand ilc Supicmc."
+.+.22
Wlcn ilcy undcisiand ilc liglcsi lnowlcdgc lcaincd by pciloiming Vcdic
saciiliccs and oilci auspicious aciiviiics dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas, ilcy cngagc in
aciiviiics ilai biing no laimic icsuli.
Tlc sciipiuics say, "Dcsiiing io aiiain Svaigalola, onc pciloims saciiliccs."
Onc wlo dcsiics io aiiain Svaigalola is cciiainly noi dcsiiclcss. Siill, cvcniually by
pciloiming auspicious aciiviiics lc is auiomaiically piomoicd io bccomc licc liom
laimic icsulis. Il ilis is so, ilcn wlai can bc said ol aiiaining ilc Loid's mcicy by
ollciing io Him ilc liuiis ol onc's woil' Tlai is ilc mcaning.
1+ In ilis way onc giadually bccomcs licc ol laima. Siimad llagavaiam
(+.31.1+), lowcvci, cxplains:
Tlis vcisc dcsciibcs ilc way io quiclly saiisly all occupaiional duiics,
bccomc licc ol laimic icaciions, and cui ilc lnoi ol lalsc cgo in ilc lcaii. Tlis
way is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 11.3.+7):
"Onc wlo dcsiics io quiclly cui ilc lnoi ol lalsc cgo, wlicl binds ilc
spiiiiual soul, slould woislip ilc Supicmc Loid, Kcsava by ilc icgulaiions lound
in Vcdic liiciaiuics sucl as ilc ianiias.¯¯¯
Tlis vcisc mcans ilai onc wlo dcsiics io quiclly (asu) cui ilc lnoi ol lalsc
cgo in ilc lcaii (lidaya-gianilim), wlicl binds ilc spiiiiual soul (apaiaimanal),
slould abandon all oilci duiics and (and), woislip Loid Kcsava accoiding io ilc
icgulaiions lound in Vcdic liiciaiuics sucl as ilc ianiias (ianiiolicna).
Anuccheda 63
Onc slould noi scc ilc vaiious dcmigods as indcpcndcni ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.3.55):
"Tlus ilc woislippci ol ilc Supicmc Loid slould iccognisc ilai ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is all-pcivading and slould woislip Him iliougl His
picscncc in liic, ilc sun, waici and oilci clcmcnis, in ilc lcaii ol ilc gucsi onc
icccivcs in onc's lomc, and also in onc's own lcaii. In ilis way ilc woislippci
will vciy soon aclicvc libciaiion."¯¯¯
Hcic ilc woid "aimanam" mcans "ilc Supcisoul". Tlis vcisc was spolcn
by Sii Aviiloiia io Vidcla.
Anuccheda 6+
1 Tlcy wlo do noi woislip ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd in ilc passagc bcginning
wiil ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.1):
"My dcai Yogcndias, all ol you aic mosi pcilcci in lnowlcdgc ol ilc scicncc
ol ilc scll. Tlcicloic, lindly cxplain io mc ilc dcsiinaiion ol ilosc wlo loi ilc
mosi paii ncvci woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii, wlo aic
unablc io qucncl ilcii maiciial dcsiics and wlo aic noi in coniiol ol ilcii own
sclvcs."¯¯¯
2 Tlis qucsiion is answcicd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.2-3):
"Lacl ol ilc loui social oidcis, lcadcd by ilc bialmanas, was boin
iliougl dillcicni combinaiions ol ilc modcs ol naiuic, liom ilc lacc, aims, iligls
and lcci ol ilc Supicmc Loid in His univcisal loim. Tlus ilc loui spiiiiual oidcis
wcic also gcnciaicd.¯¯¯
3 "Il any ol ilc mcmbcis ol ilc loui vainas and loui asiamas lail io woislip
oi inicniionally disicspcci ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc souicc ol ilcii
own cicaiion, ilcy will lall down liom ilcii posiiion inio a lcllisl siaic ol
lilc."¯¯¯
+ Picviously, in Sii Diumila's insiiuciions, in ilc piaycis ilc dcmigods
ollcicd io Loid Naiayana, ii was said (Siimad llagavaiam 11.+.10):
"Tlc dcmigods placc many obsiaclcs on ilc pail ol ilosc wlo woislip You
io iiansccnd ilc icmpoiaiy abodcs ol ilc dcmigods and icacl Youi supicmc
abodc. Tlosc wlo ollci ilc dcmigods ilcii assigncd slaics in saciilicial
pciloimanccs cncounici no sucl obsiaclcs. lui bccausc You aic ilc diicci
pioiccioi ol Youi dcvoicc, lc is ablc io sicp ovci ilc lcad ol wlaicvci obsiaclcs
ilc dcmigods placc bcloic lim."¯¯¯
5 Tlis vcisc mcans: "Tlcy wlo ollci (dadaial) ilc dcmigods ilcii assigncd
slaics (sva-blagan) in saciilicial pciloimanccs cncounici no obsiaclcs liom ilc
dcmigods (suia-liial). Howcvci, oui ol cnvy ilc dcmigods do placc many
obsiaclcs bcloic ilcy wlo scivc You (ivam)." Tlc woid "yadi" lcic is uscd io
slow a conclusion, as in ilc siaicmcni "yadi vcdal piamanam" (Tlc Vcdas aic
ilc liglcsi auiloiiiy). Tlc conclusion lcic is "You (ivam) bccomc ilcii pioiccioi
(aviia). In ilis way onc wlo scivcs You placcs (dlaiic) lis looi (padam) on ilc
lcad (muidlni) ol any obsiaclc (viglna). Maling ilcsc obsiaclcs lilc a siaiiway,
ilc dcvoicc gocs io ilc Loid. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Hcaiing ol ilc laic ol ilc
condiiioncd souls in ilc maiciial woild, King Vidcla aslcd ilc qucsiion poscd in
Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.1. Sii Camasa Muni answcicd ilai qucsiion in Siimad
llagavaiam 11.5.2-3 and cspccially in ilc lasi linc ol Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.3,
by dcsciibing ilc iciiiblc condiiion ol ilc condiiioncd souls. Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Sii Camasa Muni io ilc King ol Vidcla.
Anuccheda 65
1 Now ilai ii is csiablislcd ilai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd, ilc
King ol Vidcla asls anoilci qucsiion (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.19):
"In wlai colouis and loims docs ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
appcai in cacl ol ilc dillcicni agcs, and wiil wlai namcs and by wlai iypcs ol
icgulaiivc piinciplcs is ilc Loid woislippcd in luman sociciy."¯¯¯
2 Tlc sagc answcicd (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.20):
"In cacl ol ilc loui yugas, oi agcs-Kiia, Ticia, Dvapaia and Kali - Loid
Kcsava appcais wiil vaiious complcxions, namcs and loims and is ilus
woislippcd by vaiious pioccsscs."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woids "nanaiva vidlina" mcan "by many dillcicni pails". Tlis
vcisc was spolcn by Sii Kaiablajana Muni io ilc ling ol Vidcla.
Anuccheda 66
1 Also, convcising wiil Uddlava, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad said
"Now you slould complcicly givc up all aiiaclmcni io youi pcisonal
liicnds and iclaiivcs and lix youi mind on Mc. Tlus bcing always conscious ol
Mc, you slould obscivc all ilings wiil cqual vision and wandci iliougloui ilc
caiil."¯¯¯
2 Tlc Loid Himscll said (Siimad llagavaiam 3.+.31):
"Uddlava is noi inlciioi io Mc in any way bccausc lc is ncvci allccicd by
ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcicloic lc may icmain in ilis woild in oidci io
disscminaic spccilic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
lccausc ilc Loid Himscll ilus dcsciibcd Uddlava as a pcilcci libciaicd
soul, ilc Loid's giving insiiuciion io Uddlava (Siimad llagavaiam 11.7.6) is noi
mcani loi Uddlava bui loi oilcis. In ilis way ilc vcisc slould bc undcisiood io
bc addicsscd io oilcis. Spcaling in an obliquc way, ilc Loid's inicniion lcic is io
say, "Iollowing youi pail, ilc dcvoiccs slould wandci ovci ilc caiil." Hcic ilc
woid "sama-dil" mcans "lcing nciilci icpcllcd noi cnamouicd by ilosc ilings
ilai lavc no iclaiionslip wiil Mc." Tlc woid "iu" (indccd) cmplasiscs ilai onc
slould icnouncc ilosc ilings ilai lavc no iclaiion io ilc Loid. Tlai is wlai ilc
Loid inicndcd io say lcic.
3 lcloic ilc Loid cvcn gavc ilis insiiuciion, Uddlava Himscll said (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.+.+6-+9):
"Simply by dccoiaiing ouisclvcs wiil ilc gailands, liagiani oils, cloilcs
and oinamcnis ilai You lavc alicady cnjoycd, and by caiing ilc icmnanis ol Youi
mcals, wc, Youi scivanis will indccd conquci Youi illusoiy cncigy."¯¯¯
+ "Nalcd sagcs wlo sciiously cndcavoui in spiiiiual piaciicc, wlo lavc
iaiscd ilcii scmcn upwaid, wlo aic pcacclul and sinlcss mcmbcis ol ilc
icnounccd oidci, aiiain ilc spiiiiual abodc callcd lialman."¯¯¯
5-6 "O gicaicsi ol mysiics, alilougl wc aic condiiioncd souls wandciing on ilc
pail ol liuiiivc woil, wc will cciiainly cioss bcyond ilc dailncss ol ilis maiciial
woild simply by lcaiing aboui Youi Loidslip in ilc associaiion ol Youi dcvoiccs.
Tlus wc aic always icmcmbciing and gloiilying ilc wondcilul ilings You do and
ilc wondcilul ilings You say. Wc ccsiaiically iccall Youi amoious pasiimcs wiil
Youi conlidcniial conjugal dcvoiccs and low You boldly smilc and movc aboui
wlilc cngagcd in sucl youillul pasiimcs. My dcai Loid, Youi loving pasiimcs aic
bcwildciingly similai io ilc aciiviiics ol oidinaiy pcoplc wiilin ilis maiciial
woild."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 67
1 Impcisonal lnowlcdgc (jnana-yoga) cannoi biing any good icsuli.
Dcvoiional scivicc, lowcvci, vciy casily biings onc io ilc dcsiicd goal. Rcal
lnowlcdgc is only manilcsicd in iclaiion io dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl iiscll biings
onc io ilc ical goal ol lilc. Tlc Loid dcsciibcs dcvoiional scivicc in ilcsc woids
2 "Ioi ilc puiposc ol mainiaining lis body, a libciaicd sagc slould noi aci,
spcal oi conicmplaic in icims ol maiciial good oi bad. Railci, lc slould bc
dciaclcd in all maiciial ciicumsianccs, and ialing plcasuic in scll-icalisaiion, lc
slould wandci aboui cngagcd in ilis libciaicd lilc-siylc, appcaiing lilc a iciaidcd
pcison io ouisidcis."¯¯¯
3 Alici ilus dcsciibing ilc jnana-yoga, ilc Loid in oidci io slow ilc naiuic
ol dcvoiional scivicc, cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.1S):
"Il iliougl mciiculous siudy onc bccomcs cxpcii in icading Vcdic
liiciaiuic bui malcs no cndcavoui io lix onc's mind on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, ilcn onc's cndcavoui is cciiainly lilc ilai ol a man wlo woils vciy laid
io ialc caic ol a cow ilai givcs no mill. In oilci woids, ilc liuiis ol onc's
laboiious siudy ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc will simply bc ilc laboui iiscll. Tlcic will bc
no oilci iangiblc icsuli."¯
+ Tlc woid "paia-bialman" mcans "ilc Absoluic Tiuil" and, considciing
Tlcm ilc samc, docs noi disiinguisl bciwccn ilc impcisonal lialman and ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Wlcn onc siudics ilc Vcdas lc musi also lix lis
mind on ilc paia-bialman. Tlai is said lcic. Il many millions ol iimcs onc
caiclully siudics ilc Upanisads and ilc oilci paiis ol ilc Vcdas lc will noi aiiain
laiil in ilc paia-bialman. lui il onc lixcs lis mind on ilc loim, pasiimcs, and
oilci lcaiuics ol ilc supicmcly opulcni Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilcn by siudying
ilc Vcdas lc will aiiain laiil in ilc impcisonal lialman and ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad boil.
5 Ioi ilis icason ii is said (Siimad llagavaiam 12.+.+0):
"Ioi a pcison wlo is sullciing in ilc liic ol counilcss misciics and wlo
dcsiics io cioss ilc insuimouniablc occan ol maiciial cxisicncc, ilcic is no
suiiablc boai cxccpi ilai ol culiivaiing dcvoiion io ilc iiansccndcnial iasic loi ilc
naiiaiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's pasiimcs."¯
6 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.+0):
onc givcs ii up simply loi spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc, oi ilc undcisianding ilai ilcsc
Anuccheda 68
Onc slould noi siudy cvcn Vcdic liiciaiuics ilai do noi coniain
dcsciipiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's iiansccndcnial pasiimcs.
Tlc Loid Himscll says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.19):
"My dcai Uddlava, ilai man is cciiainly mosi misciablc wlo ialcs caic ol a
cow ilai givcs no mill, an unclasic wilc, a body ioially dcpcndcni on oilcis,
usclcss clildicn oi wcalil noi uiiliscd loi ilc iigli puiposc. Similaily, onc wlo
siudics Vcdic lnowlcdgc dcvoid ol My gloiics is also mosi misciablc."¯¯¯
In ilis vcisc ilc woid "maya" (by Mc) mcans "by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad" and "linam" mcans "wiiloui dcsciipiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad's pasiimcs and lcaiuics."
Anuccheda 69
1 Tlc Loid cxplains ilc woids "maya linam" (wiiloui Mc) in ilc ncxi vcisc
"My dcai Uddlava, an iniclligcni pcison slould ncvci ialc io liiciaiuics
ilai do noi coniain dcsciipiions ol My aciiviiics, wlicl puiily ilc wlolc univcisc.
Indccd, I cicaic, mainiain and annililaic ilc cniiic maiciial manilcsiaiion. Among
all My pasiimc incainaiions, ilc mosi bclovcd aic Kisna and lalaiama. Any so-
callcd lnowlcdgc ilai docs noi iccognisc ilcsc aciiviiics ol Minc is simply baiicn
and is noi acccpiablc io ilosc wlo aic aciually iniclligcni."¯¯¯
"Tlis vcisc says 'Wlai is ilc usc ol a sciipiuic ilai docs noi coniain
dcsciipiions ol My pasiimcs, wlicl puiily ilc wlolc univcisc' In ilcsc pasiimcs I
cicaic, mainiain and annililaic ilc univcisc. Ioi ilai icason My pasiimcs puiily
ilc univcisc. As I ilinl ol My pasiimc-incainaiions I say ilai My biiil and
pasiimcs as Loid Rama and Loid Kisna aic ilc bcsi. Tlcy aic dcsiicd by ilc
woilds. Tlcy aic a gicai icscivoii ol spiiiiual lovc. Wiiloui ilcm cvcn ilc woids
ol ilc Vcdas aic woiillcss. A wisc man will noi siudy sucl woiillcss Vcdas.'"
3 Tlis is also conliimcd by Sii Naiada Muni in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.5.22):
"Lcaincd ciiclcs lavc posiiivcly concludcd ilai ilc inlalliblc puiposc ol ilc
advanccmcni ol lnowlcdgc, namcly ausiciiiics, siudy ol ilc Vcdas, saciilicc,
claniing ol lymns, and claiiiy, culminaics in ilc iiansccndcnial dcsciipiions ol
ilc Loid, wlo is dclincd in cloicc pociiy."¯
+ Ioi ilis icason Loid Caiianya Malapiablu, ilc avaiai ilai puiilics Kali-
yuga said:
"Tlc Ioui Vcdas and ilc Upanisads aic lai liom ilc ncciai dcsciipiions ol
Loid Haii. Tlai is wly ilcsc sciipiuics do noi malc ilc lcaii mcli, ilc body
iicmblc, ilc body's laiis siand cicci, and cycs bccomc lillcd wiil icais."
Anuccheda 70
1 Alici ilus cxplaining ilai by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains ilc
pcilcciion ol all lnowlcdgc, lc dcsciibcs ilc linal conclusion ol lollowing ilc pail
ol lnowlcdgc (jnana) in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.21):
2 "Coming io ilis conclusion ol all lnowlcdgc, onc slould givc up ilc lalsc
conccpiion ol maiciial vaiiciy ilai onc imposcs upon ilc soul and ilus ccasc onc's
maiciial cxisicncc. Tlc mind slould bc lixcd on Mc, sincc I am all-pcivading."¯¯¯
3 Tlc woid jijnasaya is cxplaincd in ilc bcginning ol ilis clapici (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.11.1):
"My dcai Uddlava, duc io ilc inllucncc ol ilc maiciial modcs ol naiuic,
wlicl aic undci My coniiol, ilc living cniiiy is somciimcs dcsignaicd as
condiiioncd and somciimcs libciaicd. In laci, lowcvci, ilc soul is ncvci ically
bound up oi libciaicd, and sincc I am ilc supicmc Loid ol Maya, wlicl is ilc
causc ol ilc modcs ol naiuic, I also am ncvci io bc considcicd libciaicd oi in
bondagc."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 71
1 Alici ilus dcsciibing dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil impcisonal lnowlcdgc,
in ilc ncxi loui vciscs, iicaiing ilai mixcd scivicc wiil conicmpi, lc dcsciibcs
puic dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl coniains pcilcci lnowlcdgc. Hc says (Siimad
2 "My dcai Uddlava, il you aic noi ablc io licc youi mind liom all maiciial
disiuibancc and ilus absoib ii complcicly on ilc spiiiiual plailoim, ilcn pciloim
all youi aciiviiics as an ollciing io Mc, wiiloui iiying io cnjoy ilc liuiis."¯
3 Tlis vcisc is lilc Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.1 wlicl says:
abodc. Tlosc wlo ollci ilc dcmigods ilcii assigncd slaics in saciilicial
pioiccioi ol Youi dcvoicc, lc is ablc io sicp ovci ilc lcad ol wlaicvci obsiaclc ilc
dcmigods placc bcloic lim."¯¯¯
Tlcy wlo dcsiic impcisonal lnowlcdgc aic aciually lilc ilc maiciialisis.
Assuming ilai Uddlava is lilc ilcm, Loid Kisna spcals ilis vcisc.
+ Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.+):
onc givcs ii up simply loi spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc, oi ilc undcisianding ilai ilcsc
On ilis cvidcncc Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.22 slould bc undcisiood io
mcan, "Ii is noi possiblc loi you io lix youi mind on lialman simply by lollowing
ilc pail ol impcisonal spcculaiion wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcicloic you
slould ialc slclici ol ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is scivcd by all ilc
viiiucs ol ilc pail ol lnowlcdgc and all oilci pails also."
Tlcn ilc Loid cxplains low io asccnd ilc siaiiway ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Hc says, "Pciloim all youi aciiviiics as an ollciing io Mc."
Tlis vcisc may also bc inicipicicd io mcan, "Il bccausc in youi picvious
biiils you lad noi cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc, you wisl io undcisiand
impcisonal lialman, and you aic noi ablc io lix youi mind on lialman, ilcn
pciloim all youi aciiviiics as an ollciing io Mc."
Hcic ilc woid "samacaia" mcans "ollci" and "niiapclsal" mcans "wiiloui
any oilci dcsiic".
Anuccheda 72
1 Tlcn ilc Loid says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.23-2+):
"My dcai Uddlava, naiiaiions ol My pasiimcs and qualiiics aic all-
auspicious and puiily ilc cniiic univcisc. A laiillul pcison wlo consianily lcais,
gloiilics and icmcmbcis sucl iiansccndcnial aciiviiics, wlo iliougl diamaiic
pciloimanccs iclivcs My pasiimcs, bcginning wiil My appcaiancc, and wlo ialcs
lull slclici ol Mc, dcdicaiing lis icligious, scnsual and occupaiional aciiviiics loi
My saiislaciion, cciiainly obiains unllincling dcvoiional scivicc io Mc, ilc cicinal
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
"In ilis vcisc ilc Loid dcsciibcs conlidcniial dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is
cvcniually aiiaincd by ollciing liuiis ol onc's woil io ilc Loid, and wlicl is
pciloimcd by a pcison in puic goodncss."
3 Hcic ilc woid "ablinayan" mcans "ilc dcvoiccs poiiiay ilc Loid's biiil
and pasiimcs in ilcaiiical pciloimanccs". Hcic "dlaima" mcans "pious aciiviiics,
sucl as giving cows in claiiiy", and "mad-aiilc" mcans "wlcn ilcsc pious
aciiviiics aic pciloimcd io cclcbiaic gicai lcsiivals in lonoui ol My biiilday and
oilci days sacicd io Mc." "Kama" mcans "ilc dcsiic io livc in a gicai palacc and
oilci dcsiics lilc ilai", and "mad-aiilc" mcans "wlcn ilai dcsiic is lullillcd by
living in My icmplc in oidci io scivc Mc". "Aiila" mcans "gicai wcalil in My
scivicc". "Mad-apasiayal" mcans "in onc's lcaii ialing slclici ol Mc and no onc
clsc". "Lablaic niscalam blaliim mayi" mcans "lc aiiains cicinally unwavciing
dcvoiional scivicc io Mc, scivicc ilai consisis ol many aciiviiics bcginning wiil
lcaiing aboui Mc". ly iasiing ilc lappincss ol dcvoiional scivicc onc iicais
impcisonal libciaiion and oilci ilings wiil conicmpi. Tlc objcci ol ilc dcvoiccs'
scivicc is cicinal and ncvci clangcs oi ccascs io cxisi. Ioi ilis icason ilc Loid
says Hc is "sanaianc" (cicinal).
Anuccheda 73
1 Icaiing ilai somconc may asl, "Wlai docs onc do on ilc pail ol
dcvoiional scivicc'' oi "How docs onc aiiain laiil in ilc pail ol dcvoiional
scivicc'" ilc Loid iclls wlai and low in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.11.25):
2 "Onc wlo las obiaincd puic dcvoiional scivicc by associaiion wiil My
dcvoiccs always cngagcs in woislipping Mc."¯
3 Hcic "blaliya" mcans "wiil aiiiaciion io dcvoiional scivicc", "sal" mcans
"ilc dcvoicc" and "mam upasiia" mcans "woislips Mc". Tlc Loid says, "In ilis
way ilc dcvoicc casily aiiains lnowlcdgc ol ilc spiiiiual loim ol Mc, ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."
Anuccheda 7+
1 Tlcn ilc Loid says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.25):
"Tlus lc vciy casily gocs io My abodc, wlicl is icvcalcd by My puic
dcvoiccs."¯
2 Hcic "anjasa" (vciy casily) mcans "by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc" and
"padam" mcans "My abodc". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.
Anuccheda 75
1 Tlc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc is mosi pcilcci, impoiiani, and ancicni
bccausc ii is pcisonally iaugli by ilc Loid. Oilci pails, bcing iaugli by vaiious
condiiioncd souls accoiding io ilcii own spcculaiions, aic insignilicani by
compaiison and iclaiivcly modcin. Tlis is conliimcd by Uddlava (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.1+.1-2):
2 "My dcai Kisna, ilc lcaincd sagcs wlo cxplain Vcdic liiciaiuic iccommcnd
vaiious pioccsscs loi pcilcciing onc's lilc. Considciing ilc vaiiciics ol vicwpoini,
my Loid, plcasc icll mc wlcilci all ilcsc pioccsscs aic cqually impoiiani, oi
wlcilci onc ol ilcm is supicmc.¯¯¯
3 "My dcai Loid, You lavc clcaily cxplaincd ilc pioccss ol unalloycd
dcvoiional scivicc, by wlicl a dcvoicc icmovcs all maiciial associaiion liom lis
lilc, cnablc lim io lix lis mind on You."¯¯¯
"Hcic ilc woid 'sicyamsi' mcans 'ilc mcans loi aiiaining ilc bcsi iling'.
Hcic lc asls 'Aic all ilcsc pioccsscs impoiiani, oi is onc ol ilcm supicmc'' To
csiablisl ilai onc ol ilcm aciually is supicmc, lc spcals ilc sccond ol ilcsc iwo
vciscs. Hcic lc says, 'Tlc oilci pails aic noi spolcn diiccily by You (ilc Loid),
bui ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc is diiccily spolcn by You. Oilcis claim ilai
ilcii mcilods aic ilc bcsi ways io aiiain pcilcciion. How can ilcy all bc ilc bcsi
ways io aiiain ii' How can ilcy all givc ilc samc icsuli' Onc ol ilcm musi bc
ilc bcsi.'"
Anuccheda 76
1 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad answcicd (Siimad llagavaiam
11.1+.3):
"ly ilc inllucncc ol iimc, ilc iiansccndcnial sound ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc
was losi ai ilc iimc ol annililaiion. Tlcicloic, wlcn ilc subscqucni cicaiion iool
placc, I spolc ilc Vcdic lnowlcdgc io lialma bccausc I Myscll am ilc icligious
piinciplcs cnunciaicd in ilc Vcdas."¯¯¯
lccausc ii biings ilc bcsi icsuli dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi. Tlc oilci
pails, cacl accoiding io iis own naiuic, biing icsulis insubsianiial as llowcis
imagincd io lloai in ilc sly, alilougl ilc lollowcis ilinl ilcii pail is ilc bcsi. To
disiinguisl bciwccn ilcsc dillcicni pails and io csiablisl ilc aciual mcssagc ol ilc
Vcdas, ilc Loid spcals ilcsc scvcn vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.3-9). Hcic
ilc woid "mad-aimalal" mcans "lc wlo lixcs lis ilouglis on Mc."
"Mad-aimalal" may also mcan "manilcsicd liom My iiansccndcnial loim".
Tlc Loid's loim is licc liom ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlis will bc piovcd
laici in ilis bool.
Anuccheda 77
1 Ncxi ilc Loid givcs ilc icason ilc lollowcis ol ilcsc dillcicni paila cacl
claim ilcii pail is ilc bcsi (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.9):
2 "O bcsi among mcn, ilc iniclligcncc ol luman bcings is bcwildcicd by My
illusoiy poicncy, and ilus, accoiding io ilcii own aciiviiics and wlims, ilcy spcal
in innumciablc ways aboui wlai is aciually good loi pcoplc."¯¯¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai accoiding io ilcii own naiuics ilcii iniclligcncc is
bcwildcicd by My illusoiy poicncy (man-maya-moliia-dliyal). In ilis way ilcy
pioclaim many dillcicni ilings (anclaniam) io bc ilc goal ol lilc (sicyal) and ilc
way io aiiain ilc goal ol lilc.
Anuccheda 78
Tlcn ilc Loid says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.20):
"My dcai Uddlava, nciilci iliougl asianga-yoga (ilc mysiic yoga-sysicm
io coniiol ilc scnscs), noi iliougl impcisonal monism oi an analyiical siudy ol
ilc Absoluic Tiuil, noi iliougl siudy ol ilc Vcdas, noi iliougl piaciicc ol
ausiciiiics, noi iliougl claiiiy, noi iliougl acccpiancc ol sannyasa can onc
saiisly Mc as mucl as onc can by dcvcloping unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc unio
Mc."¯
Anuccheda 79
1 Tlc Loid also says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.22):
"Nciilci icligious aciiviiics cndowcd wiil loncsiy and mcicy noi
lnowlcdgc obiaincd wiil gicai pcnancc can complcicly puiily onc's consciousncss
il ilcy aic bcicli ol loving scivicc io Mc."¯
2 Hcic "dlaima" mcans "icligious duiics pciloimcd wiiloui maiciial
moiivc", "vidya" mcans "ilc spiiiiual lnowlcdgc iaugli in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics",
and "iapal" mcans "ausiciiiics pciloimcd io bccomc ablc io scc ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad".
Anuccheda 80
1 Tlc Loid dcsciibcs dcvoiional scivicc in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.1+.26):
"Wlcn a discascd cyc is iicaicd wiil mcdicinal oinimcni ii giadually
iccovcis iis powci io scc. Similaily, as a conscious living cniiiy clcanscs limscll ol
maiciial coniaminaiion by lcaiing and claniing ilc pious naiiaiions ol My
gloiics, lc icgains lis abiliiy io scc Mc, ilc Absoluic Tiuil, in My subilc spiiiiual
loim."¯
"Somconc may objcci, 'Is ii noi iiuc ilai ilc Siuii-sasiia says:
Onc wlo lnows lialman aiiains ilc Supicmc.
-Taiiiiiiya Upanisad 2.1.2
and
ly undcisianding ilc Supicmc onc ciosscs bcyond dcail
- Svciasvaiaia Upanisad 3.S
and ilcicloic onc aiiains ilc Supicmc by aiiaining lnowlcdgc and
bccoming licc ol ignoiancc' Wlai is ilc nccd loi dcvoiional scivicc''
"Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.26 answcis ilis objcciion. Tlcic ilc woid
'aima' mcans 'ilc lcaii', and 'paiimijyaic' mcans 'bccomcs puiilicd'. Tlis occuis
by lcaiing (siavanal) My namcs and ilc sacicd songs aboui Mc (mai-punya-
gaila). Tlc pail ol lnowlcdgc is a sccondaiy aspcci ol dcvoiional scivicc. Ii is
noi complcicly scpaiaic liom dcvoiional scivicc."
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 81
1 Discussing ilc iclaiivc mciiis ol ilc yogas ol woil (laima-yoga),
lnowlcdgc (jnana-yoga), and dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yoga), in ilc ncxi livc
vciscs ilc Loid iicais lnowlcdgc and woil wiil conicmpi and dcclaics ilc
piimacy ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcic, io slow conicmpi loi ilc diligcni
pciloimancc ol ausiciiiics, Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.29):
2 "Wlcn an iniclligcni pcison cngagcs consianily in woislipping Mc
iliougl loving dcvoiional scivicc as dcsciibcd by Mc, lis lcaii bccomcs liimly
siiuaicd in Mc. Tlus all maiciial dcsiics wiilin ilc lcaii aic dcsiioycd."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "ma" mcans "io Mc".
Anuccheda 82
1 To slow conicmpi loi ilc diligcni puisuii ol lnowlcdgc ilc Loid says
"Tlus ilc lnoi in ilc lcaii is piciccd, and all misgivings aic cui io picccs.
Tlc clain ol liuiiivc aciions is iciminaicd wlcn I am sccn as ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad".¯
2 Tlc Loid is sccn (disic), ilai is Hc pcisonally appcais bcloic ilc dcvoicc,
by ilc powci ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Anuccheda 83
1 Tlcic ilc Loid also says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.31):
"Tlcicloic, loi a dcvoicc cngagcd in My loving scivicc, wiil mind lixcd on
Mc, ilc culiivaiion ol lnowlcdgc and icnunciaiion is gcncially noi ilc mcans ol
aclicving ilc liglcsi pcilcciion wiilin ilis woild."¯¯¯
"In ilis vcisc ilicc mcilods ol aiiaining spiiiiual icalisaiion aic dcsciibcd.
lccausc dcvoiional scivicc docs noi dcpcnd on any oilci mcilod, and bccausc
oilci mcilods dcpcnd on dcvoiional scivicc, dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi. Tlai is
ilc conclusion ol ilc ilicc vciscs ilai bcgin lcic. Hcic ilc woid 'mad-aimanal'
mcans 'onc wlosc mind is lixcd on Mc', and 'sicyal' mcans 'ilc bcsi mcilod ol
spiiiiual icalisaiion'."
3 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai loi ilcy wlo cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc ilcic is no
nccd loi diligcni piaciicc ol ausiciiiics and yoga. Somc lollow ilc pail ilai
immcdiaicly lcads io libciaiion and oilcis lollow a pail ilai giadually lcads io
libciaiion. Tlc Loid dcsciibcs ilc pail ilai giadually lcads io dcvoiional scivicc
(llagavad-giia 1S.5+):
"Onc wlo is ilus iiansccndcnially siiuaicd ai oncc icaliscs ilc Supicmc
lialman. Hc ncvci lamcnis oi dcsiics io lavc anyiling. Hc is cqually disposcd io
cvciy living cniiiy. In ilai siaic lc aiiains puic dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯
In puic lovc ol God, wlicl is ilc ling ol ilc icsulis aiiaincd by cngaging in
dcvoiional scivicc, ilcic is no scopc loi ilc culiivaiion ol impcisonal lnowlcdgc
oi ilc lollowing ol any oilci spiiiiual pail.
Anuccheda 8+
1 Wlaicvci good icsulis aic aiiaincd by lollowing ilc pail ol jnana and oilci
spiiiiual pails aic also aiiaincd by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc Loid
conliims ilis in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.32-33):
2-3 "Lvciyiling ilai can bc aclicvcd by liuiiivc aciiviiics, pcnancc, lnowlcdgc,
dciaclmcni, mysiic yoga, claiiiy, icligious duiics and all oilci mcans ol pcilcciing
lilc is casily aclicvcd by My dcvoicc iliougl loving scivicc unio Mc. Il somclow
oi oilci My dcvoicc dcsiics piomoiion io lcavcn, libciaiion, oi icsidcncc in My
abodc, lc casily aclicvcs sucl bcncdiciions."¯¯¯
+ Hcic ilc Loid says, "Anyiling (saivam) ilai may bc aiiaincd by oilci
(iiaiail) spiiiiual pails, sucl as going on pilgiimagc io loly placcs and lollowing
icligious vows, My dcvoicc (mad-blalial) aiiains (lablaic) by cngaging in My
dcvoiional scivicc (mad-blalii-yogcna). Hc aiiains ii casily (anjasa) and wiiloui
any gicai clloii." Wlai is ilc cvciyiling (saivam) mcniioncd lcic' Tlc Loid
answcis wiil ilc woids "svaigapavaigam" (piomoiion io Svaigalola oi libciaiion).
"Svaiga" mcans "maiciial lappincss" and "apavaiga" mcans "ilc lappincss ol
libciaiion, wlicl is aiiaincd by giadually bccoming siiuaicd in ilc plailoim ol
puic goodncss". Tlcn ilc Loid dcsciibcs a lappincss gicaici ilan cvcn ilc
lappincss ol impcisonal libciaiion. Hc says "mad-dlama" (My abodc), wlicl
iclcis io ilc icalm ol Vailunila. Somciimcs onc's maiciial dcsiics lclp lim aiiain
dcvoiional scivicc. King Ciiialciu's dcsiic io aiiain Svaigalola is an cxamplc ol
ilai. How lis maiciial dcsiic lclpcd lim aiiain dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.17.2-3):
5 "lcing piaiscd by gicai sagcs and sainis and by ilc inlabiianis ol
Siddlalola and Caianalola, Ciiialciu, ilc mosi powcilul mysiic yogi, wandcicd
aboui cnjoying lilc loi millions ol ycais. Wiil bodily siicngil and scnscs licc
liom dciciioiaiion, lc iiavcllcd wiilin ilc vallcys ol Sumciu Mouniain, wlicl is
ilc placc ol pcilcciion loi vaiious linds ol mysiic powci. In ilosc vallcys lc
cnjoycd lilc wiil ilc womcn ol Vidyadlaia-lola by claniing ilc gloiics ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, Haii."¯
6 Sii Suladcva Gosvami and oilci dcvoiccs dcsiic libciaiion. Ioi cxamplc,
only wlcn Loid Kisna Himscll piomiscd ilai ilc illusoiy poicncy maya would
siay lai away, was Suladcva Gosvami willing io lcavc lis moilci's womb. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in Sii lialma-vaivaiia Puiana.
7 Tlai ilc dcsiic loi libciaiion may also lclp onc aiiain dcvoiional scivicc is
cxplaincd by ilc Loid Himscll (llagavad-giia 1S.5+):
lialman. Hc ncvci lamcnis oi dcsiics io lavc anyiling. Hc is cqually disposcd io
cvciy living cniiiy. In ilai siaic lc aiiains puic dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯
S Tlcy wlo dcsiic io aiiain Vailunilalola and ilcic bccomc a pcisonal
associaicd ol ilc Loid and ilcy wlo wiil lovc dcsiic io diiccily scivc ilc Loid's
loius lcci aiiain ilcii dcsiics. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (3.15.25) in
ilcsc woids:
"Pcisons wlosc bodily lcaiuics clangc in ccsiasy and wlo bicailc lcavily
and pcispiic duc io lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid aic piomoicd io ilc lingdom ol
God, cvcn ilougl ilcy do noi caic loi mcdiiaiion and oilci ausiciiiics. Tlc
lingdom ol God is abovc ilc maiciial univciscs, and ii is dcsiicd by lialma and
oilci dcmigods."¯
Anuccheda 85
1 Ai ilc cnd ol ilc Llcvcnil Canio ilc Loid says (Siimad llagavaiam
11.29.22):
"Tlis pioccss is ilc supicmc iniclligcncc ol ilc iniclligcni and ilc
clcvcincss ol ilc mosi clcvci, loi by lollowing ii onc can in ilis vciy lilc malc usc
ol ilc icmpoiaiy and unical io aclicvc Mc, ilc cicinal icaliiy."¯¯¯
"Hcic ilc Loid says, 'Dcvoiional scivicc io Mc is aiiaincd by ilc piopci usc
ol iniclligcncc (buddli) and clcvcincss (manisa). Ii icvcals ilc cicinal icaliiy
(saiyam and amiiam). ly cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc in ilis biiil (ila) a
pcison using ilc icmpoiaiy (maiiycna) and unical (aniicna) luman body, wlicl
is subjcci io dcail, can aiiain Mc (ma)'. Tlai is ical iniclligcncc and clcvcincss.
Hcic 'buddli' mcans 'ilc iniclligcncc, oi ilc powci ol disciiminaiion and manisa
mcans clcvcincss".
3 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcscs woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.72.21):
"Many pcisons, sucl as Haiiscandia, Raniidcva, Unclaviiii, Mudgala, Sibi,
lali, and ilc lcgcndaiy lunici and pigcon, all aiiaincd ilc pcimancni woild by
uiilising ilcii icmpoiaiy asscis."¯¯¯
+ Tlc icason loi ilis is givcn in ilc picvious dcsciipiion ol dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 86
1 Ai ilc cnd ol Siila Suladcva Gosvami's icaclings ilc aciiviiics ol lcaiing
ilc Loid's gloiics aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 12.+.+0):
naiiaiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's pasiimcs."¯¯¯
"Tlc woids 'na anyal plaval' mcans ilai ilcic is no oilci way io cioss.
Tlcicloic, as lai as onc is ablc, onc slould lcai ilc dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid."
Ol all ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc lcaiing aboui ilc Loid is ilc liisi,
bccausc wiiloui ii is noi possiblc io pciloim ilc oilcis. Tlai is cxplaincd in
oilci clapicis ol Siimad llagavaiam and ii is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ai ilc
conclusion ol Siila Suladcva Gosvami's icaclings (Siimad llagavaiam 12.5.1):
3 "Tlis Siimad llagavaiam las claboiaicly dcsciibcd in vaiious naiiaiions
ilc Supicmc Soul ol all ilai bc-ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii-liom wlosc
saiislaciion lialma is boin and liom wlosc angci Rudia ialcs biiil."¯¯¯
+ Alici saying ilis, lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 12.5.13):
"lclovcd King Paiilsii, I lavc naiiaicd io you ilc iopics you oiiginally
inquiicd aboui-ilc pasiimcs ol Loid Haii, ilc Supicmc Soul ol ilc univcisc. Now,
wlai moic do you wisl io lcai'"¯
5 Hcic, ai ilc cnd ol Suladcva's icaclings, lc says ilai bccausc lcaiing ilc
picviously dcsciibcd pasiimcs ol ilc Loid is ilc bcsi ol spiiiiual aciiviiics,
ilcicloic dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl las ilai lcaiing among iis aciiviiics, is ilc bcsi
ol spiiiiual pails.
lcloic ilai conclusion, lowcvci, Suladcva Gosvami givcs a lcsson in jnana-
yoga. c says (Siimad llagavaiam 12.5.2):
"O King, givc up ilc animalisiic mcnialiiy ol ilinling, 'I am going io dic'.
Unlilc ilc body, you lavc noi ialcn biiil. Tlcic was noi a iimc in ilc pasi wlcn
you did noi cxisi and you aic noi aboui io bc dcsiioycd."¯¯¯
Wlcn ilis is undcisiood onc can lavc laiil in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcic
ilis icacling is inicndcd io malc onc sicady in dcvoiional scivicc. To His
unalloycd dcvoiccs ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad givcs ilc gicaicsi lind ol
libciaiion. Hc givcs ii io ilcm bccausc ilcy lavc laiil in Him and bccausc loi ilai
icason ilcy lavc givcn up all lcai ol dcail. Alici lcaiing ilc iiuil ol jnana-yoga,
King Paiilsii lad laiil in dcvoiional scivicc, as will bc dcsciibcd laici in ilc
Siimad llagavaiam.
6 Aciually King Paiilsii lad laiil in Loid Kisna liom ilc vciy liisi. Tlis is
sccn in ilc Iiisi Canio ol Siimad-llagavaiam (1.19.5):
"Malaiaja Paiilsii sai down on ilc banls ol ilc Gangcs io conccniiaic lis
mind in Kisna consciousncss, icjcciing all oilci piaciiccs ol scll-icalisaiion,
bccausc iiansccndcnial loving scivicc io Kisna is ilc gicaicsi aclicvcmcni,
supciscding all oilci mcilods."¯
Tlcic ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 1.19.7):
"Tlus ilc ling, ilc woiily dcsccndani ol ilc Pandavas, dccidcd oncc and
loi all and sai on ilc Gangcs' banl io lasi uniil dcail ad givc limscll up io ilc
loius lcci ol Loid Kisna, wlo alonc is ablc io awaid libciaiion. So, liccing limscll
liom all linds ol associaiions and aiiaclmcnis, lc acccpicd ilc vows ol a sagc."¯
lccausc lc lad laiil in Loid Kisna, King Paiilsii bccamc licc ol lcai. Hc
"O bialmanas, jusi acccpi mc as a complcicly suiicndcicd soul, and lci
moilci Gangcs, ilc icpicscniaiivc ol ilc Loid, also acccpi mc in ilai way, loi I
lavc alicady ialcn ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid inio my lcaii. Lci ilc snalc-biid-oi
wlaicvci magical iling ilc bialmana cicaicd-biic mc ai oncc. I only dcsiic ilai
you all coniinuc singing ilc dccds ol Loid Visnu."¯
Alici lcaiing ilc iiuils ol jnana-yoga, King Paiilsii bccamc liim in lis
laiil iowaid Loid Kisna. Tlcn, noi considciing ilc ilicc-vcisc insiiuciion in
jnana-yoga io bc vciy impoiiani, lc cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc by lcaiing aboui
ilc Loid. In ilai way lc aiiaincd ilc goal ol lilc. Tlcn lc said (Siimad
llagavaiam 12.6.2-+):
7 "I lavc now aclicvcd ilc puiposc ol my lilc, bccausc a gicai and mcicilul
soul lilc you las slown sucl lindncss io mc. You lavc pcisonally spolcn io mc
ilis naiiaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol godlcad, Haii, wlo is wiiloui
bcginning oi cnd."¯¯¯
S "I do noi considci ii ai all amazing ilai gicai souls sucl as youiscll, wlosc
minds aic always absoibcd in ilc inlalliblc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, slow mcicy io
ilc loolisl condiiioncd souls, ioimcnicd as wc aic by ilc pioblcms ol maiciial
lilc."¯¯¯
9 "I lavc lcaid liom you ilis Siimad-llagavaiam, wlicl is ilc pcilcci
summaiy ol all ilc Puianas and wlicl pcilccily dcsciibcs ilc Supicmc Loid,
Uiiamalslola."¯¯¯
10 Acccpiing ilc spiiiiual lnowlcdgc givcn by lis guiu, ilc ling cxplaincd
wly lc was noi aliaid ol ilc scipcni Talsala. Hc aslcd pcimission io clani ilc
Supicmc Loid's loly namcs, mcdiiaic on Him, and dcdicaic lis woids and
ilouglis io Him. Tlc ling said (Siimad llagavaiam 12.6.5-6):
11 "My Loid, I lavc no lcai ol Talsala oi any oilci living bcing, oi cvcn ol
icpcaicd dcails, bccausc I lavc absoibcd myscll in ilai puicly spiiiiual Absoluic
Tiuil, wlicl you lavc icvcalcd and wlicl dcsiioys all lcai."¯¯¯
12 "O bialmana, plcasc givc mc pcimission io icsign my spcccl and ilc
lunciions ol all my scnscs unio Loid Adlolsaja. Allow mc io absoib my mind,
puiilicd ol lusiy dcsiics, wiilin Him and io ilus givc up my lilc."¯¯¯
13 Tlcn, in anoilci vcisc, lc says, "Now I lavc ilc pcilcciions ol lnowlcdgc,
wlicl dispcls all ignoiancc and biings ilc lappincss in ilc lcaii ilai comcs liom
sccing ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad." Hc says (Siimad
llagavaiam 12.6.7):
1+ "You lavc icvcalcd io mc ilai wlicl is mosi auspicious, ilc supicmc
pcisonal lcaiuic ol ilc Loid. I am now lixcd in lnowlcdgc and scll-icalisaiion, and
my ignoiancc las bccn ciadicaicd."¯¯¯
15 Hcic ilc woid "pada" mcans "ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid". In ilc Iiisi
Canio ii was said (Siimad llagavaiam 1.1S.16):
"O Suia Gosvami, plcasc dcsciibc ilosc iopics ol ilc Loid by wlicl
Malaiaja Paiilsii, wlosc iniclligcncc was lixcd on libciaiion, aiiaincd ilc loius
lcci ol ilc Loid, wlo is ilc slclici ol Gaiuda, ilc ling ol biids. Tlosc iypcs wcic
vibiaicd by ilc son ol Vyasa (Siila Suladcva)."¯
16 Siila Suia Gosvami luiilci cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 1.1S.2 and +):
"Iuiilcimoic, Malaiaja Paiilsii was always consciously suiicndcicd io ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and ilcicloic lc was nciilci aliaid noi ovciwlclmcd by
lcai duc io a snalc-biid wlicl was io biic bccausc ol ilc luiy ol a bialmana
boy."¯
17 "Tlis was so bccausc ilosc wlo lavc dcdicaicd ilcii livcs io ilc
iiansccndcnial iopics ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ol wlom ilc Vcdic lymns
sing, and wlo aic consianily cngagcd in icmcmbciing ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid,
do noi iun ilc iisl ol laving misconccpiions cvcn ai ilc lasi momcni ol ilcii
livcs."¯
1S Iuiilci cxplanaiions aic lound in ilc Twcllil Canio Tliid Clapici and ilc
linal clapici ol ilc Iiisi Canio. In ilc Iiisi Canio King Paiilsii aslcd (Siimad
"You aic ilc spiiiiual masici ol gicai sainis and dcvoiccs. I am ilcicloic
bcgging you io slow ilc way io pcilcciion loi all pcisons, and cspccially loi onc
wlo is aboui io dic."¯
19 In answci io ilc ling's qucsiion, Siila Suladcva Gosvami iaugli lim aboui
mcdiiaiion on and gloiilicaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Hc said
(Siimad llagavaiam 12.3.+9-51):
20 "Tlcicloic, O King, cndcavoui wiil all youi migli io lix ilc Supicmc Loid
Kcsava wiilin youi lcaii. Mainiain ilis conccniiaiion upon ilc Loid, and ai ilc
iimc ol dcail you will cciiainly aiiain ilc supicmc dcsiinaiion.¯¯¯
21 "My dcai King, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc uliimaic coniiollci. Hc is
ilc supicmc soul and ilc supicmc slclici ol all bcings. Wlcn mcdiiaicd upon by
ilosc aboui io dic, Hc icvcals io ilcm ilcii own cicinal spiiiiual idcniiiy.¯¯¯
22 "My dcai King, alilougl Kali-yuga is an occan ol laulis, ilcic is siill onc
good qualiiy aboui ilis agc. Ii is ilai simply by claniing ilc Haic Kisna mala-
maniia, onc can bccomc licc liom maiciial bondagc and bc piomoicd io ilc
iiansccndcnial lingdom."¯
23 In ilcsc vciscs "iaial" mcans "on Loid Kcsava", "aviliial" mcans
"conccniiaiing youi ilouglis", and "aima-blavam" mcans "dcvoiion io ilc Loid".
Mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid is pciloimcd wiil gicai dilliculiy. Howcvci, gloiilying ilc
Loid is vciy casily donc. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
2+ Tlis is also siaicd in Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.33-2-3-1:
"Ioi ilosc wlo aic wandciing in ilc maiciial univcisc, ilcic is no moic
scivicc ol Loid Kisna.¯
"Tlc gicai pcisonaliiy lialma, wiil gicai aiicniion and conccniiaiion ol
ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol icligion.¯
"Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Loid Sii Kisna is in cvciy living bcing along
wiil ilc individual soul. And ilis laci is pciccivcd and lypoilcsiscd in oui acis ol
sccing and ialing lclp liom ilc iniclligcncc.¯
"O King, ii is ilcicloic csscniial ilai cvciy living bcing lcai aboui, gloiily
cvciywlcic.¯
"Tlosc wlo diinl iliougl auial icccpiion, lully lillcd wiil ilc ncciaican
mcssagc ol Loid Kisna, ilc bclovcd ol ilc dcvoiccs, puiily ilc polluicd aim ol lilc
Him (ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad).¯
"Sii Suladcva Gosvami said: Malaiaja Paiilsii, as you lavc inquiicd liom
mc as io ilc duiy ol ilc iniclligcni man wlo is on ilc ilicslold ol dcail, so I lavc
answcicd you."¯
In ilis way ilc conclusion ol ilc sciipiuics is ilai onc slould cngagc in
puic dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl las many dillcicni aciiviiics.
"Tlosc wlo diinl iliougl auial icccpiion, lully lillcd wiil ilc ncciaican
mcssagc ol Loid Kisna, ilc bclovcd ol ilc dcvoiccs,, puiily ilc polluicd aim ol lilc
Him (ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad)."¯
Iiom ilis ii may bc sccn ilai ilc siaicmcni ilai onc slould lcai ilc
naiiaiions ol ilc Supicmc Loid's iiansccndcnial pasiimcs is ilc linal, liglcsi
conclusion ol ilc sciipiuics.
26 Ii was only io cicaic a siiuaiion wlcic laiil in dcvoiional scivicc could bc
manilcsicd ilai sainily Suladcva Gosvami said (Siimad llagavaiam 12.5.2):
"O King, givc up ilc animalisiic mcnialiiy ol ilinling, 'I am going io dic.'
Unlilc ilc body, you lavc noi ialcn biiil. Tlcic was noi a iimc in ilc pasi wlcn
you did noi cxisi, and you aic noi aboui io bc dcsiioycd."¯¯¯
Ioi ilis icason ii slould bc undcisiood ilai ilc linal conclusion ol
Suladcva Gosvami's icaclings is ilai onc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io
ilc Supicmc Loid.
27 Tlai King Paiilsii's qucsiions wcic inicndcd io biing icplics dcsciibing
dcvoiional scivicc and noiling clsc is conliimcd in Siimad llagavaiam 2.S.3.
wlcic ilc ling says:
"O gicaily loiiunaic Suladcva Gosvami, plcasc coniinuc naiiaiing Siimad
llagavaiam so ilai I can placc my mind upon ilc Supicmc Soul, Loid Kisna, and,
bcing complcicly liccd ol maiciial qualiiics, ilus iclinquisl ilis body."¯
2S Tlai onc slould lcai ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is
ilc linal conclusion ol ilc Vcdic sciipiuics is again conliimcd by Siimad
llagavaiam in ilcsc woids (12.5.1 and 12.+.+0):
"Tlis Siimad llagavaiam las claboiaicly dcsciibcd in vaiious naiiaiions
ilc Supicmc Soul ol all ilai bc-ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii liom wlosc
saiislaciion lialma is boin and liom wlosc angci Rudia ialcs biiil."¯¯¯
naiiaiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's pasiimcs."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 87
1 Ai ilc cnd ol lis insiiuciions, Sii Suia Gosvami spcals livc vciscs
dcsciibing dcvoiional scivicc. In ilc liisi ol ilcsc lc says (Siimad llagavaiam
12.12.53):
docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol ilc Inlalliblc (God). Wlai, ilcn, is
ilc usc ol cvcn ilc mosi piopcily pciloimcd liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic naiuially
painlul liom ilc vciy bcginning and iiansicni by naiuic, il ilcy aic noi uiiliscd loi
ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid'"¯
"Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl bcgins wiil lcaiing ilc
gloiics ol ilc Loid, is mucl moic impoiiani ilan spcculaiivc lnowlcdgc (jnana)
oi liuiiivc woil (laima). Hcic 'naislaimyam' mcans 'lialman', 'yaj-jnanam',
mcans 'ilc pail ilai icvcals lialman', and 'niianjanam' mcans 'licc liom maiciial
dcsignaiions'. Il a pail is dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol God (acyuia-blava-vaijiiam) ii
docs noi lool wcll (na soblaic). Tlai mcans ilai ilc Supicmc Loid will noi
bccomc icvcalcd by lollowing sucl a pail."
Anuccheda 88
1 Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 12.12.3+):
"Tlc gicai cndcavoui onc undcigocs in cxccuiing ilc oidinaiy social and
icligious duiics ol ilc vainasiama sysicm, in pciloiming ausiciiiics, and in lcaiing
liom ilc Vcdas, culminaics only in ilc aclicvcmcni ol mundanc lamc and
opulcncc. bui by icspcciing and aiicniivcly lcaiing ilc icciiaiion ol ilc
iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc lusband ol ilc goddcss ol
loiiunc, onc can icmcmbci His loius lcci."¯¯¯
"Tlc aciiviiics ol vainasiama-dlaima (vainasiamacaiadisu) aic pciloimcd
wiil gicai (paial) laboui (paiisiamal), bui siill ilcy biing only maiciial lamc
(yasal) and opulcncc (siiyam). Tlcy do noi biing ilc liglcsi goal ol lilc. Tlc
liglcsi goal ol lilc is io aiicniivcly lcai ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics (gunanuvada)
ol ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc lusband ol ilc goddcss ol loiiunc (siidlaia), and
icmcmbci (avismiiil) His loius lcci (pada-padmayol)."
Anuccheda 89
Tlcn lc says (Siimad llagavaiam 12.12.55):
"Rcmcmbiancc ol Loid Kisna's loius lcci dcsiioys cvciyiling inauspicious
and awaids ilc gicaicsi good loiiunc. Ii puiilics ilc lcaii and bcsiows dcvoiion
loi ilc Supicmc Soul along wiil lnowlcdgc cniiclcd wiil icalisaiion and
icnunciaiion."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 90
"O mosi cmincni ol bialmanas, you aic all indccd cxiicmcly loiiunaic,
sincc you lavc alicady placcd wiilin youi lcaiis Loid Sii Naiayana-ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc supicmc coniiollci and ilc uliimaic soul ol all
cxisicncc-bcyond wlom ilcic is no oilci good. You lavc undcviaiing lovc loi
Him, and ilus I icqucsi you io woislip Him."¯¯¯
"In ilcsc iwo vciscs lc addicsscs ilc lcaicis. Hc says, 'O mosi cmincni ol
lialmanas (dvijagiyal), plcasc always (sasvai) woislip (blajaia) Loid Naiayana
(sii-naiayanam), wlo las cnicicd (avivcsya) youi lcaiis (aimani).' Tlc vcib lcic
is icspccilully uscd in ilc impciaiivc mood. Tlc woid 'bluii-blagal' mcans ilai
ilcy lavc pciloimcd many pious dccds. Wlai is ilc Loid lilc' Hc is ilc
Supcisoul picscni in ilc lcaiis ol all (allilaima-bluiam), ilc Loid wlo slould bc
woislippcd by all (dcvam), ilc Supicmc Loid bcyond wlom ilcic is no oilci god
(adcvam). Wlai is Hc lilc' Hc is ilc supicmc coniiollci (isam). Tlcicloic 'You
(yuyam) wlo aic loiiunaic (bluii-blagal) bccausc you lavc pciloimcd many
ausiciiiics and oilci pious dccds, slould woislip (blajaia) Loid Naiayana
(naiayanam).'"
Siidlaia Svami's inicniion lcic is io say ilai by woislipping Loid
Naiayana onc aiiains ilc auspicious icsuli ol laving pciloimcd many ausiciiiics
and pious dccds.
Anuccheda 91
"I lavc also now bccn lully icmindcd ol ilc scicncc ol God, wlicl I
picviously lcaid liom ilc mouil ol ilc gicai sagc Suladcva Gosvami. I was
picscni in ilc asscmbly ol gicai sagcs wlo lcaid lim spcal io King Paiilsii as ilc
monaicl sai lasiing uniil dcail."¯¯¯
2 Hcic lc says "I lavc bccn icmindcd ol ilc Supicmc Tiuil (aima-iaiivam),
Loid Naiayana (naiayana) wlo is picscni in ilc lcaiis ol all (allilaima-bluiam).
Now I ycain io aiiain Him." Tlai is ilc mcaning. Hc says, "Iiom ilc mouil ol
ilc gicai sagc I (mc) lcaid (siuiam) aboui ilc Supicmc Tiuil (aima-iaiivam)."
Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by Siila Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 92
1 In ilis way, in ilis bcauiilul Puiana, in ilc icaclings ilai lavc comc liom
convcisaiions bciwccn guiu and disciplc, ilc iiuil ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc
liglcsi spiiiiual pail dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic is piovcd.
2 Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.22):
"Plcasc dcsciibc all ilcsc incidcnis il ilcy iclaic io ilc iopics ol Loid Kisna.
Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic accusiomcd io licling up ilc loncy availablc liom
ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid."¯
3 In all ilc Iiilasas ilcic aic many similai quoiaiions. Aliaid ol incicasing
ilc volumc ol ilis bool, I will noi quoic ilcm all. In oilci placcs ilcy may bc
sccn.
+ Siimad llagavaiam (6.3.22) cxplains:
"Dcvoiional scivicc, bcginning wiil ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc
Loid, is ilc uliimaic icligious piinciplc loi ilc living cniiiy in luman sociciy."¯
5 Hcic ilc woid "pumsam" mcans "ol ilc living cniiiics" and "paio
dlaimal" mcans "ilc icligion ol ilc cniiic woild". Tlcic is no icligion bciici
ilan ilis. Tlcn lc dcsciibcs ilc naiuic ol ilis icligion (ciavan). Hc says ii is
diicci dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yogal), wlicl bcgins wiil claniing ol ilc loly
namc ol ilc Loid (gialanadiblil). Tlc woid "cva" (indccd) lcic clcaily indicaics
ilai ii is dillcicni liom any oilci lind ol icligion. Il ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional
scivicc, bcginning wiil claniing ilc Loid's loly namc wcic mcani io aiiain ilc
samc icsulis aiiaincd by liuiiivc woil and oilci similai pails, ilcn dcvoiional
scivicc would noi bc supciioi. Wlcn onc is an ollcndci lc will usc dcvoiional
scivicc io aiiain ilcsc insignilicani goals. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlcicloic
dcvoiional scivicc is noi mcani io givc icsulis ilai aic icmpoiaiy. Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Sii Yama io lis soldicis.
Anuccheda 93
Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.1.17):
"Tlc pail lollowcd by puic dcvoicc, wlo aic wcll bclavcd and lully
cndowcd wiil ilc bcsi qualilicaiions, is cciiainly ilc mosi auspicious pail in ilis
maiciial woild. Ii is licc liom lcai, and ii is auiloiiscd by ilc sasiias."¯
Tlc pail lcic is ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Naiayana. Tlis
vcisc is spolcn by Sii Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 9+
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc icsuli aiiaincd by lcaiing all Vcdic sciipiuics
is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids, wlicl pioclaim "How mucl gicaici is dcvoiional
scivicc!" (Siimad llagavaiam 3.13.+):
"Pcisons wlo lcai liom a spiiiiual masici wiil gicai laboui and loi a long
iimc musi lcai liom ilc mouils ol puic dcvoiccs aboui ilc claiacici and
aciiviiics ol puic dcvoiccs. Puic dcvoiccs always ilinl wiilin ilcii lcaiis ol ilc
loius lcci ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo awaids His dcvoiccs libciaiion."¯
2 Hcic "pumsam siuiasya" mcans "ol ilc undcisianding ol ilc Vcdas",
mcaning, "aiilal" mcans "wlai slould bc donc", and "idiial" mcans "is
pioclaimcd". Wlai is ilai' Onc slould lcai (anusiavanam) aboui ilc claiacici
and aciiviiics (iai-iad-gunanam) ol puic dcvoiccs, wlo (ycsam) ilinl wiilin ilcii
lcaiis (liaycsu) ol ilc loius lcci (padaiavindam) ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, wlo awaids libciaiion (mulundasya). Tlai is ilc mcaning.
3 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.2S:
"In ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics, ilc uliimaic objcci ol lnowlcdgc is Sii Kisna,
ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc puiposc ol pciloiming saciilicc is io plcasc Him.
Yoga is loi icalising Him. All liuiiivc aciiviiics aic uliimaicly icwaidcd by Him
only. Hc is supicmc lnowlcdgc, and all scvcic ausiciiiics aic pciloimcd io lnow
Him. Rcligion (dlaima) is icndciing loving scivicc unio Him. Hc is ilc supicmc
goal ol lilc."¯
Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.3+ cxplains:
+ In ilc lilai-salasia-nama liom ilc Padma Puiana ii is said:
"Kisna is ilc oiigin ol Loid Visnu. Hc slould always bc icmcmbcicd and
ncvci loigoiicn ai any iimc. All ilc iulcs and piolibiiions mcniioncd in ilc
sasiias slould bc ilc scivanis ol ilcsc iwo piinciplcs."¯
5 In boil ilc Slanda Puiana Piablasa-llanda and ilc Linga Puiana ii is
said:
"ly sciuiinizingly icvicwing all ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics and judging ilcm
again and again, ii is now concludcd ilai Loid Naiayana is ilc Supicmc Absoluic
Tiuil and ilus Hc alonc slould bc woislippcd."¯
6 Tlc Vcdaipana-maniia (3.13) cxplains:
"My unboin Loid Visnu, wlo is ilc lailci ol ausiciiiics and lnowlcdgc and
ilc dclivcici liom iioublcs, and loi wlosc salc ilc lnowcis ol lialman pciloim
ausiciiiics, bccomc dcai io mc."
Anuccheda 95
1 Dcvoiional scivicc is ilc incompaiablc linal icsuli obiaincd by pciloiming
ilc aciiviiics ol vainasiama-dlaima picsciibcd by ilc Vcdic sciipiuics. Siimad
llagavaiam (10.+7.2+) cxplains:
2 "Dcvoiional scivicc unio Loid Kisna is aiiaincd by claiiiy, siiici vows,
ausiciiiics and liic saciiliccs, by japa, siudy ol Vcdic icxis, obscivancc ol icgulaiivc
piinciplcs and, indccd, by ilc pciloimancc ol many oilci auspicious
piaciiccs."¯¯¯
3 Tlc auspicious aciiviiics bcginning wiil giving claiiiy, dcsciibcd lcic
slould bc pciloimcd loi ilc saiislaciion ol Sii Kisna. Tlai slould bc undcisiood.
Siimad llagavaiam (+.31.9) cxplains:
"Wlcn a living cniiiy is boin io cngagc in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc supicmc coniiollci, lis biiil, all lis
liuiiivc aciiviiics, lis lilc-span, lis mind and lis woids aic all laciually pcilcci."¯
+ In Sii lilan-naiadiya Puiana ii is said:
"Tlcy wlo lavc puic dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
ilc dclivcici liom iioublcs, aiiain pious cicdiis ilai ialc many ilousands and
millions ol biiils io cain in oilci ways."
5 In ilc Agasiya-samliia ii is said:
"ly lollowing vows, lasiing, coniiolling ilc scnscs, and pciloiming many
saciiliccs loi many millions ol ycais onc aiiains dcvoiion io Loid Kisna, ilc
lusband ol ilc goddcss ol loiiunc."
6 Tlc supciioiiiy ol dcvoiional scivicc is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.2.S):
aic only so mucl usclcss laboui il ilcy do noi piovolc aiiiaciion loi ilc mcssagc
ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
Siimad llagavaiam (12.12.5+) says:
icligious duiics ol ilc vainasiama sysicm, in pciloiming ausiciiiics and in lcaiing
liom ilc Vcdas culminaics only in ilc aclicvcmcni ol mundanc lamc and
opulcncc. lui by icspcciing and aiicniivcly lcaiing ilc icciiaiion ol ilc
iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc lusband ol ilc goddcss ol
loiiunc, onc can icmcmbci His loius lcci."¯
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by Sii
Uddlava io ilc goddcsscs ol Viaja.
Anuccheda 96
1 Tlc culiivaiion ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc is also dcsciibcd in Siimad
llagavaiam. ly cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.5):
"O almigliy Loid, in ilc pasi many yogis in ilis woild aclicvcd ilc
plailoim ol dcvoiional scivicc by ollciing all ilcii cndcavouis unio You and
laiillully caiiying oui ilcii picsciibcd duiics. Tliougl sucl dcvoiional scivicc,
pcilccicd by ilc pioccsscs ol lcaiing and claniing aboui You, ilcy camc io
undcisiand You. O inlalliblc onc, onc could casily suiicndci io You and aclicvc
Youi supicmc abodc."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans: "O Loid (bluman), in ilis woild (ila) many yogis
(balavo pi yoginal), unablc io aiiain iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc by piaciicc ol
yoga, ollcicd (aipiia) io You (ivayi) ilcii oidinaiy picsciibcd duiics (nija-laima)
and in ilai way, by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc (blaliya), wlicl madc ilcm
bccomc aiiiacicd io lcaiing aboui You (lailopaniiaya) and ilus cnablcd ilcm io
appioacl You, ilcy casily (anjal) undcisiood (vibudlya) and diiccily cxpciicnccd
all lnowlcdgc, bcginning wiil lnowlcdgc ol ilc iiuc naiuic ol ilc scll, and
culminaiing in lnowlcdgc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and in ilis way ilcy
aiiaincd ilc supicmcly conlidcniial abodc (gaiim)."
3 In llagavad-giia 10.S-11, ilc Loid icvcalcd ilc naiuic ol puic dcvoiional
scivicc:
"I am ilc souicc ol all spiiiiual and maiciial woilds. Lvciyiling cmanaics
liom Mc. Tlc wisc wlo pcilccily lnow ilis cngagc in My dcvoiional scivicc and
woislip mc wiil all ilcii lcaiis.¯
"Tlc ilouglis ol My puic dcvoiccs dwcll in Mc, ilcii livcs aic suiicndcicd
io Mc and ilcy dciivc gicai saiislaciion and bliss cnliglicning onc anoilci and
convcising aboui Mc."¯
"Tlosc wlo aic consianily dcvoicd and woislip Mc wiil lovc, I givc ilc
undcisianding by wlicl ilcy can comc io Mc.¯
+ "To slow ilcm spccial mcicy, I, dwclling in ilcii lcaiis dcsiioy wiil ilc
slining lamp ol lnowlcdgc ilc dailncss boin ol ignoiancc."¯
Anuccheda 97
1 All oilci ways io aiiain oilci goals ol lilc aic also said io lavc ilcii ioois in
dcvoiional scivicc. Siimad llagavaiam (10.S1.19) cxplains:
2 "Tlc woislip ol His lcci is ilc iooi causc ol any pcison's aiiainmcni ol
lcavcn ol oi libciaiion, ol all soiis ol piospciiiy in ilc subiciiancan icgions oi on
ilc caiil, oi ol mysiic pcilcciions."¯
3 Siimad llagavaiam (S.23.16) cxplains:
"Tlcic may bc discicpancics in pionouncing ilc maniias and obsciving ilc
icgulaiivc piinciplcs, and, moicovci, ilcic may bc discicpancics in icgaid io iimc,
placc, pcison and paiaplcinalia. lui wlcn You Loidslip's loly namc is clanicd,
cvciyiling bccomcs laulilcss."¯
Siimad llagavaiam (11.5.2-3) again cxplains:
wcic also gcnciaicd."¯¯¯
"Il any ol ilc mcmbcis ol ilc loui vainas and loui asiamas lail io woislip
lilc."¯¯¯
In ilis way ii slould bc undcisiood ilai onc slould pciloim dcvoiional
scivicc always and in all ways. Tlc many ilings ilai cannoi bc aiiaincd by
cxicinal, non-dcvoiional aciiviiics, may bc aiiaincd by cngaging in dcvoiional
scivicc.
+ Slanda Puiana cxplains:
"Wlcn pciloimcd by ilcy wlo lavc no dcvoiion loi Loid Visnu, ilc pious
aciiviiics dcsciibcd in ilc Siuii and Smiii biing icsulis ilai ioiiuic ilc body,
icsulis lilc ilc sins ol piosiiiuics."
5 Sii Yudlisiliia cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 10.72.+):
"Puiilicd pcisons wlo consianily scivc ilc slippcis on Youi lcci, mcdiiaic
upon ilcm and gloiily ilcm as ilc dcsiioycis ol all inauspiciousncss aic suic io
icalisc ilc ccssaiion ol maiciial cxisicncc, O loius-navclcd onc. Lvcn il ilcy lavc
somc dcsiics, ilcy will obiain ilc lullilmcni ol ilcsc, wlcicas oilci pcison aic
ncvci saiislicd in ilc puisuii ol maiciial dcsiics."¯¯¯
6 Ii is said in lilan-naiadiya Puiana:
"As waici givcs lilc io cvciyonc, so dcvoiional scivicc givcs lilc io ilc
aiiainmcni ol dcsiics."
7 Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by Siidama-
vipial.
Anuccheda 98
1 In ilis way ii is slown ilai dcvoiional scivicc givcs lilc io ilcsc vaiious
mcilods by wlicl onc aiiains lis dcsiics. Tlcicloic, in all ilc Vcdas ii is said ilai
onc slould pciloim dcvoiional scivicc. Also, wiiloui cvcn pciloiming any oilci
aciiviiics onc can simply pciloim dcvoiional scivicc alonc. Tlis is slown in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.10):
"A pcison wlo las bioadci iniclligcncc, wlcilci lc bc lull ol maiciial
2 In Sii Visnu Puiana, Pulala Muni said:
"Wlai is noi aiiaincd wlcn ilc Supicmc Loid, wlo is ilc dclivcici liom
cvils, wlo in Vcdic yajnas is ilc Yajna-puiusa, and wlo in yoga is ilc Supicmc
Pcison, is plcascd'
3 "Wiiloui pciloiming any oilci aciiviiics, a pcison wlo ialcs slclici ol
Loid Naiayana auiomaiically aiiains ilc loui goals ol lilc."
+ Tlcicloic ilc icsuli ol lcaiing all ilc Vcdic sciipiuics is ilai onc comcs io
undcisiand ilai lc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid, wlo Himscll
conliims ilis in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.3):
5 Tlis bcing so, ilcy wlo aic noi vciy wisc woislip Loid Visnu in oidci io
aiiain ilc vaiious bcncliis oilciwisc aiiaincd by ilc oilci spiiiiual pioccsscs
bcginning wiil laima-yoga. lccausc ol commiiiing ollcnscs, ilcsc pcoplc's
woislip ol ilc Loid biings ilcm only ilc lullilmcni ol ilcsc dcsiics and noiling
moic. In ilis way onc nccd only cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io lullil ilcsc
dcsiics. Howcvci, mucl moic ilan ilis, dcvoiional scivicc givcs, ilc gicaicsi
bcnclii. Siimad llagavaiam (5.19.27) cxplains:
6 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad lullils ilc maiciial dcsiics ol a
dcvoicc wlo appioaclcs Him wiil sucl moiivcs, bui Hc docs noi bcsiow
bcncdiciions upon ilc dcvoicc ilai will causc lim io dcmand moic bcncdiciions
again. Howcvci, ilc Loid willingly givcs ilc dcvoicc slclici ai His own loius lcci,
cvcn ilougl sucl a pcison docs noi aspiic loi ii, and ilai slclici saiislics all lis
dcsiics. Tlai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy's spccial mcicy."¯
7 Tlis vcisc mcans "Hc cciiainly (saiyam) lullils ilc icqucsis (aiiliiam) ol
ilc luman bcings (ninam) wlo asl (aiiliial) Him." Hc ncvci givcs somciling
ilai will lcad onc asiiay. In ilai scnsc Hc is noi always "aiila-dal" (ilc bcsiowci
ol bcncdiciions). Hc only givcs bcncdiciions ilai, oncc givcn, ilc icccivci docs
noi iciuin. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlis mcans ilai bccausc ol lccling unlullillcd
wlcn ilc lappincss obiaincd in ilai bcncdiciion wancs, ilc pcison iciuins and
asls loi anoilci bcncdiciion. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 9.19.1+):
"As supplying buiici io a liic docs noi diminisl ilc liic bui insicad
incicascs ii moic and moic, ilc cndcavoui io siop lusiy dcsiics by coniinual
cnjoymcni can ncvci bc succcsslul. (In laci onc musi voluniaiily ccasc liom
maiciial dcsiics)."¯
S Tlc supicmcly mcicilul Loid, undcisianding ilis, givcs (vidlaiic) His loius
lcci (nija-pada-pallavam), wlicl saiisly all dcsiics (icclapidlanam), io ilc
dcvoiccs (blajaiam) wlo, bccausc ilcy do noi lnow ilc swccincss picscni in His
loius lcci, do noi dcsiic io aiiain ilcm (anicclaiam). Hc is lilc a moilci ilai
ialcs liom lci son's mouil ilc clay lc was caiing and givcs lim a candy insicad.
9 Tlc gicai powci ol dcvoiional scivicc is again slown in ilcsc woids
"A pcison wlo las bioadci iniclligcncc, wlcilci lc bc lull ol maiciial
10 In Gaiuda Puiana ii is said:
"Wlcn somconc mcdiiaics on Him, Loid Kisna givcs, cvcn ilougl
unaslcd, an unaiiainablc iaic iicasuic ilc mind cannoi cvcn compiclcnd."
11 Ii slould bc undcisiood ilai in ilis way ilc lnowcis ol lialman, wlo
lavc Sanala-lumaia as ilcii lcadci, aiiaincd ilc loius lcci by cngaging in
dcvoiional scivicc.
Anuccheda 99
1 Gloiilying dcvoiional scivicc and condcmning liuiiivc woil (laima),
Siimad llagavaiam cxplains ilai liuiiivc woil is painlul io pciloim and biings an
uncciiain icsuli, wlcicas dcvoiional scivicc is lind io ilc piaciiiionci, is casily
and lappily pciloimcd, and biings a cciiain icsuli. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.1S.12):
2 "Wc lavc jusi bcgun ilc pciloimancc ol ilis liuiiivc aciiviiy, a saciilicial
liic, wiiloui cciiainiy ol iis icsulis duc io ilc many impcilcciions in oui aciion.
Oui bodics lavc bccomc blacl liom ilc smolc, bui wc aic laciually plcascd by ilc
ncciai ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Govinda, wlicl you aic
disiiibuiing."¯
3 Tlc woids "asmin laimani" mcan "in ilis saciilicc" and "anasvasc" mcans
:wiiloui cciiainiy ol icsuli". Tlc icsuli is uncciiain bccausc ol ilc picscncc ol
many unlnown laciois. Tlc icsuli is uncciiain as, loi cxamplc, ii is in agiiculiuic
. Howcvci, ii is said lcic ilai ilc icsuli ol pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc is
cciiain. Tlc pliasc "dluma-dlumiaimanam" mcans "oui bodics and minds lavc
bccomc diiiicd by ilc smolc". Tlc woid lcic is in ilc gcniiivc casc. Ii mcans "ol
us". Tlai is ilc mcaning.
+ Hcic "pada-padmasavam" mcans "ilc ncciai ol ilc loius lcci" and
"madlu" mcans "loncy". Tlc iwo aciiviiics lcic aic: 1. ilc liuiiivc aciiviiy ol ilis
saciilicc and 2. dcvoiional scivicc, wlcic ilcic is lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid.
Tlc sagcs lcic say, "Tlcsc non-dcvoiional liuiiivc aciiviiics lavc madc us
unlappy". In ilis way ilc supciioiiiy ol dcvoiional scivicc is csiablislcd.
5 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (12.12.5+):
icligious duiics ol ilc vainasiama sysicm, in pciloiming ausiciiiics, and in lcaiing
liom ilc Vcdas culminaics only in ilc aclicvcmcni ol mundanc lamc and
opulcncc. lui by icspcciing and aiicniivcly lcaiing ilc icciiaiion ol ilc
iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc supicmc Loid, ilc lusband ol ilc goddcss ol
loiiunc, onc can icmcmbci His loius lcci."¯¯¯
Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.22) again cxplains:
"Cciiainly ilcicloic, sincc iimc immcmoiial, all iiansccndcnialisis lavc
6 In lialman-vaivaiia Puiana Loid Visnu iclls Loid Siva:
"Il ilc living cniiiics dcsiic io aiiain Mc ilcy slould ialc slclici ol Mc.
Tlcii lcaiis polluicd by Kali-yuga, ilc lollowcis ol vainasiama wasic ilcii livcs
and cvciyiling ilcy posscss. Tlis is noi iiuc loi ilcy wlo ialc slclici ol Mc.
Tlcy do noi wasic ilcii livcs."
Tlis vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by ilc sagcs
io Sii Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 100
1 Tlis is also cxplaincd in Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.17:
"Onc wlo las loisalcn lis maiciial obligaiions io cngagc in ilc dcvoiional
is no dangci ol lis bcing unsucccsslul. On ilc oilci land, a non dcvoicc, ilougl
2 ly pciloiming ilc aciiviiics ol laima-yoga (liuiiivc woil) and oilci
spiiiiual pails lilc ii, wlicl icquiic gicai clloii, gicai cxpcnsc and many oilci
ilings, onc aiiains only pailciically insignilicani icsulis, ol wlicl ilc aiiainmcni
ol Svaigalola is ilc mosi piomincni. Howcvci, by pciloiming ilc aciiviiics ol
dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl icquiic only sligli clloii, sligli cxpcnsc, and sligli usc
ol any oilci ilings, onc aiiains ilc gicaicsi icsuli. Tlcicloic ilc conclusion ol ilc
Vcdic liiciaiuics is ilai onc slould pciloim dcvoiional scivicc. Many Vcdic
sciipiuics dcclaic ilai onc slould pciloim dcvoiional scivicc and ilcicloi ilc
pciloimancc ol dcvoiional scivicc is ncvci donc in vain. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Iuiilcimoic, Siimad llagavaiam (7.9.10) cxplains:
3 "Il a bialmana las all iwclvc ol ilc bialmanical qualilicaiions (as ilcy aic
siaicd in ilc bool callcd Sanai-sujaia) bui is noi a dcvoicc and is avcisc io ilc
loius lcci ol ilc Loid, lc is cciiainly lowci ilan a dcvoicc wlo is a dog caici bui
wlo las dcdicaicd cvciyiling-mind, woids, aciiviiics,, wcalil, and lilc-io ilc
Supicmc Loid. Sucl a dcvoicc is bciici ilan sucl a bialmana bccausc ilc dcvoicc
can puiily lis wlolc lamily, wlcicas ilc so-callcd bialmana in a posiiion ol lalsc
picsiigc cannoi puiily cvcn limscll."¯
"Loid Haii is saiislicd by unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc. Noiling bui
dcvoiional scivicc saiislics Him. Tlai is siaicd in ilis vcisc.
5 "Piallada Malaiaja lad picviously mcniioncd ilc iwclvc bialmanical
qualiiics, bcginning wiil aiisiociaiic wcalil, in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
7.9.9.):
"Onc may posscss wcalil, an aiisiociaiic lamily, bcauiy, ausiciiiy,
cducaiion, scnsoiy cxpciiisc, lusiic, inllucncc, plysical siicngil, diligcncc,
iniclligcncc and mysiic yoga powci, bui I ilinl ilai cvcn all ilcsc qualilicaiions
onc cannoi saiisly ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Howcvci, onc can saiisly
ilc Loid simply by dcvoiional scivicc. Gajcndia did ilis, and ilus ilc Loid was
saiislicd wiil lim."¯
"Hcic lc says: 'I ilinl (manyc) ilai a dog caici (svapacam) wlo is a
dcvoicc is bciici (vaiisilam) ilan a bialmana (vipiai) wlo las ilcsc iwclvc (dvi-
sai) qualiiics."
6 Tlc Sanai-sujaia givcs ilis lisi, wlicl bcgins wiil piciy, ol ilc iwclvc
bialmanical qualiiics:
"Piciy, iiuillulncss, scnsc coniiol, ausiciiiy, non-cnviousncss, lumiliiy,
iolciancc, avcision io lauli linding, pciloimancc ol saciilicc, giving in claiiiy,
paiicncc, sclolaislip, and obscivancc ol vows aic ilc iwclvc qualiiics ol a
bialmana."
7 "Wlai is ilc bialmana (vipiai) mcniioncd lcic lilc' Hc is avcisc
(vimullai) io ilc loius lcci ol ilc louis-navclcd Loid (aiavinda-nabla-
padaiavinda). Wlai is ilc dog-caici (svapacam) lilc' Hc las dcdicaicd (aipiia)
lis mind (manal) and cvciyiling clsc io ilc loius-navclcd Loid. Hcic ilc woid
'iliiam' mcans 'woil'. Ioi ilis icason ilis lind ol dog-caici is bciici. Sucl a dog-
caici puiilics (punaii) lis cniiic lamily (lulam). Howcvci (iu), a pioud (bluii-
manal) bialmana cannoi puiily limscll, wlai io spcal ol lis lamily. Tlcicloic,
loi onc wlo docs noi cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc ilcsc bialmanical qualiiics only
lcad io piidc. Tlcy do noi lcad io laiil in ilc Loid."
S Tlc Muliaplala -iila cxplains:
"Tlc iwclvc (dvi-sad) qualiiics ol a bialmana aic givcn in a lisi bcginning
wiil aiisiociaiic wcalil (dlana) and ligl biiil (ablijana), oi, an alicinaic lisi is
also givcn in ilcsc woids:
"Pcacclulncss, scll-coniiol, ausiciiiy, puiiiy, iolciancc, loncsiy, wisdom,
lnowlcdgc, saiislaciion, iiuillulncss, and icligiousncss aic ilc iwclvc qualiiics ol a
bialmana."
9 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Naiada Muni cxplains:
"A pcison wlo, alilougl noi boin in an aiisiociaiic lamily and unawaic ol
ilc nicciics ol iclincd conduci, coniiols lis scnscs and cngagcs in unwavciing
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid, is lamous and gloiious among mcn.
Howcvci, a pcacclul, nobly boin bialmana, icligious and lcaincd in ilc cigliccn
scicnccs, bui wlo docs noi scivc ilc Loid, is noi gloiious ai all."
10 In ilc Kasi-llanda ii is said:
"A bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya, oi sudia cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc io
Loid Visnu, is ilc gicaicsi ol pcisons."
11 In lilan-naiadiya Puiana:
"Tlcy wlo do no dcvoicdly scivc Loid Visnu aic ouicasics. Ouicasics wlo
scivc Him wiil dcvoiion aic ilc bcsi ol mcn."
12 In ilc lilan-naiadiya Puiana:
"O King, a dog-caici ilai is a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu is gicaici ilan a
bialmana. A bialmana ilai las no dcvoiion loi Loid Visnu is lowci ilan a dog-
caici."
13 In ilc vcisc quoicd in ilis scciion ii was said ilai a dcvoicc puiilics
(punaii) lis lamily (lulam). Tlis piovcs ilai lc also gicaily puiilics limscll.
Siimad llagavaiam (2.+.1S) cxplains:
1+ "Kiiaia, Huna, Andlia, Pulinda, Pullasa, Abliia, Sumbla, Yavana,
mcmbcis ol ilc Klasa iaccs and cvcn oilcis addicicd io sinlul acis can bc puiilicd
by ialing slclici ol ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid, duc io His bcing ilc supicmc powci.
I bcg io ollci my icspccilul obcisancc unio Him."¯
15 Tlis liisi quoic was spolcn by Piallada Malaiaja io Loid Nisimla.
Anuccheda 101
1 Tlc bialmanas cngagcd in pciloiming saciiliccs said (Siimad llagavaiam
10.23.+0):
"To lcll wiil oui ilicclold biiil, oui vow ol cclibacy, and oui cxicnsivc
lcaining! To lcll wiil oui aiisiociaiic baclgiound, and oui cxpciiisc in ilc iiiuals
ol saciilicc! Tlcsc aic all condcmncd bccausc wc wcic inimical io ilc
iiansccndcnial Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
"Tlc woid 'iiivii' iclcis io ilicc biiils: 1. iniiiaiion, 2. acccpiancc ol ilc
sacicd ilicad, and 3. iniiiaiion in ilc pciloimancc ol Vcdic saciiliccs. Tlc woid
'viaiam' mcans 'ilc vow ol cclibacy', and ilc woid 'liiya-dalsyam' mcans
'cxpciiisc in pciloiming iiiuals'."
3 Siimad llagavaiam (+.31.10) also cxplains:
"A civiliscd luman bcing las ilicc linds ol biiils. Tlc liisi biiil is by a
puic lailci and moilci and ilis biiil is callcd biiil by scmcn. Tlc ncxi biiil
ialcs placc wlcn onc is iniiiaicd by ilc spiiiiual masici, and ilis biiil is callcd
saviiia. Tlc iliid biiil, callcd yajnila, ialcs placc wlcn onc is givcn ilc
oppoiiuniiy io woislip Loid Visnu. Dcspiic ilc oppoiiuniiics loi aiiaining sucl
biiils, cvcn il onc gcis ilc lilc-span ol a dcmigod, il onc docs noi aciually cngagc
in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid, cvciyiling is usclcss. Similaily, onc's aciiviiics may bc
mundanc oi spiiiiual, bui ilcy aic usclcss il ilcy aic noi mcani loi saiislying ilc
Loid."¯
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by ilc
bialmans cngagcd in pciloiming saciiliccs.
Anuccheda 102
1 Lvcn ollciing io ilc Loid ilc liuiis ol woil is noi iicaicd wiil mucl
icspcci in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.1+):
"Tlcicloic, wiil onc-poinicd aiicniion, onc slould consianily lcai aboui,
ilc dcvoiccs."¯
2 Il onc is noi ablc io cngagc in ilc diicci dcvoiional scivicc ol lcaiing and
claniing ilc Loid's gloiics lc slould ollci io ilc Loid ilc liuiis ol lis woil. Tlc
Loid cxplains ilis in llagavad-giia (12.S-11):
"Jusi lix youi mind upon Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and
cngagc all youi iniclligcncc in Mc. Tlus you will livc in Mc always wiiloui a
doubi.¯
3 "My dcai Aijuna, O winnci ol wcalil, il you cannoi lix youi mind upon Mc
wiiloui dcviaiion, ilcn lollow ilc icgulaiivc piinciplcs ol blalii-yoga. In ilis
way dcvclop a dcsiic io aiiain Mc.¯
+ "Il you cannoi piaciicc ilc icgulaiions ol blalii-yoga, ilcn jusi iiy io woil
loi Mc, bccausc by woiling loi Mc you will comc io ilc pcilcci siagc.¯
5 "Il, lowcvci, you aic unablc io woil in ilis consciousncss ol Mc, ilcn iiy
io aci giving up all icsulis ol youi woil and iiy io bc scll-siiuaicd.¯
6 In ilc Padma Puiana, Kaiiiila-malaimya, ii is said:
7 "A bialmana namcd Visnu dasa compcicd wiil ilc ling ol Cola-dcsa. Tlc
bialmana puicly woislippcd and scivcd ilc Supicmc Loid, and lc ilcn aiiaincd
ilc Loid. Tlc ling ollcicd many Vcdic saciiliccs io ilc Loid, bui lc did noi aiiain
ilc Loid. Sccing ilai ilc bialmana lad aiiaincd ilc Loid, ilc ling icnounccd lis
saciilicial aciiviiics and said:
S "I compcicd wiil lim by pciloiming many saciiliccs and giving wcalil in
claiiiy, and yci ii was lc, ilc bialmana ilai aiiaincd a spiiiiual loim lilc Loid
Visnu and wcni io ilc abodc ol Vailunila.
9 "Tlcicloic Loid Visnu is noi plcascd by many saciiliccs and mucl giving in
claiiiy. Hc is plcascd by dcvoiional scivicc."
10 "Tlcn lc said io Mudgala Muni:
"Sianding bcloic ilc saciilicial aicna, ilc ling loudly callcd ilicc iimcs:
'Givc mc cicinal cngagcmcni, wiil my mind, woids, body and dccds, in dcvoiional
scivicc io Loid Visnu!'"
11 "Alici saying ilis, ilc ling lumbly and sicadily acccpicd ilc pail ol puic
dcvoiional scivicc. Giving up lis body ai ilc saciilicial aicna, lc ilcn aiiaincd ilc
Loid."
12 Holding ilc piaciicc ol yoga in low csiccm Siimad llagavaiam (10.51.60)
cxplains:
"Tlc minds ol non-dcvoiccs wlo cngagc in sucl piaciiccs as pianayama aic
noi lully clcanscd ol maiciial dcsiics. Tlus, O ling, ilc maiciial dcsiics aic again
sccn io aiisc in ilcii minds."¯¯¯
13 Hcic ilc woid "uiiliiam" mcans "inclincd io scnsc giaiilicaiion". Tlc
vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io King Muculunda.
Anuccheda 103
1 Siimad llagavaiam (1.6.35) again cxplains :
"Ii is iiuc ilai by piaciicing icsiiaini ol ilc scnscs by ilc yoga sysicm onc
can gci iclicl liom ilc disiuibanccs ol dcsiic and lusi, bui ilis is noi sullicicni io
givc saiislaciion io ilc soul, loi ilis (saiislaciion) is dciivcd liom dcvoiional
scivicc io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
2 Tlc Loid vciy cloqucnily says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.20):
"My dcai Uddlava, nciilci iliougl asianga-yoga (ilc mysiic yoga sysicm
ausiciiiics, noi iliougl claiiiy, noi iliougl acccpianccs ol sannyasa can onc
Mc."¯
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis scciion was spolcn by Sii Naiada
io Sii Vyasa.
Anuccheda 10+
1 Now ilc inlciioi posiiion ol ilc impcisonalisis spcculaiivc scaicl loi
lnowlcdgc (jnana) will bc dcsciibcd. lccausc sucl lnowlcdgc is aiiaincd only
wiil gicai dilliculiy ilc pail ol impcisonal lnowlcdgc is inlciioi. Tlis is sccn in
ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 3.5.+5-+6):
"O Loid, pcisons wlo, bccausc ol ilcii sciious aiiiiudc, aiiain ilc siagc ol
cnliglicncd dcvoiional scivicc aclicvc ilc complcic mcaning ol icnunciaiion and
lnowlcdgc and aiiain ilc Vailunilalola in ilc spiiiiual sly simply by diinling
ilc ncciai ol Youi iopics.¯
"Oilcis, wlo aic pacilicd by mcans ol iiansccndcnial scll icalisaiion and
lavc conqucicd ovci ilc modcs ol naiuic by dini ol siiong powci and lnowlcdgc,
also cnici inio You. lui loi ilcm ilcic is mucl pain, wlcicas ilc dcvoicc simply
disclaigcs dcvoiional scivicc and ilus lccls no sucl pain."¯
2 In ilc icacling ol ilc loui Kumaias ii is said (Siimad llagavaiam +.22.+0):
"Tlc occan ol ncscicncc is vciy dilliculi io cioss bccausc ii is inlcsicd wiil
many dangcious slails. Alilougl ilosc wlo aic non-dcvoiccs undcigo scvcic
ausiciiiics and pcnanccs io cioss ilai occan, wc iccommcnd ilai you simply ialc
slclici ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, wlicl aic lilc boais loi ciossing ilc occan.
Alilougl ilc occan is dilliculi io cioss, by ialing slclici ol His loius lcci you will
ovcicomc all dangcis."¯
3 Also, in Sii llagavad-giia (12.1-5):
"Aijuna inquiicd: Wlicl aic considcicd io bc moic pcilcci, ilosc wlo aic
always piopcily cngagcd in Youi dcvoiional scivicc oi ilosc wlo woislip ilc
impcisonally lialman, ilc unmanilcsicd'¯
+ "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad said: Tlosc wlo lix ilcii minds on
My pcisonal loim and aic always cngagcd in woislipping Mc wiil gicai and
iiansccndcnial laiil aic considcicd by Mc io bc mosi pcilcci.¯
5-6 "lui ilosc wlo lully woislip ilc unmanilcsicd, ilai wlicl lics bcyond ilc
pciccpiion ol ilc scnscs, ilc all-pcivading, inconccivablc, unclanging, lixcd and
immovablc-ilc impcisonal conccpiion ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil-by coniiolling ilc
vaiious scnscs and bcing cqually disposcd io cvciyonc, sucl pcisons, cngagcd in
ilc wcllaic ol all, ai lasi aclicvc Mc.¯
7 "Ioi ilosc wlosc minds aic aiiaclcd io ilc unmanilcsicd, impcisonal
lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc, advanccmcni is vciy iioublcsomc. To malc piogicss in
ilai disciplinc is always dilliculi loi ilosc wlo aic cmbodicd."¯
S A pcison docs noi bccomc laiigucd by lollowing ilc pail ol dcvoiional
scivicc. Also, by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains ilc unpicccdcnicd
icsuli ol biining ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad undci onc's coniiol. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.3):
9 "My dcai Loid, ilosc dcvoiccs wlo lavc iliown away ilc impcisonal
conccpiion ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil and lavc ilcicloic abandoncd discussing
cmpiiic plilosoplical iiuils slould lcai liom scll-icaliscd dcvoiccs aboui Youi
loly namc, loim, pasiimcs and qualiiics. Tlcy slould complcicly lollow ilc
piinciplcs ol dcvoiional scivicc and icmain licc liom illicii scx, gambling,
inioxicaiion and animal slauglici. Suiicndciing ilcmsclvcs lully wiil body,
woids, and mind, ilcy can livc in any asiama oi social siaius. Indccd, you aic
conqucicd by sucl pcisons, alilougl You aic always unconquciablc."¯
10 In ilis vcisc "udapasya" mcans "cvcn doing only sliglily", "silanc siliial"
mcans "siaying wiil ilc dcvoiccs", "san-mullaiiiam blavadiya-vaiiam" mcans
"ilc ncws aboui You, wlicl is icpcaicdly spolcn by ilc dcvoiccs", "siuii-gaiam"
mcans "by associaiing wiil ilc dcvoiccs onc lcais ilc ncws ol ilc Loid",
"piayasal" mcans "almosi always", and "ianu-van-manoblii namanio yc jivanii"
mcans "woislipping You wiil ilcii body, woids, and mind, ilcy livc ilcii livcs."
Alilougl ilcy do noi do anyiling moic ilan ilai, ilcy conquci You, cvcn ilougl
You aic always unconquciablc by oilcis (iiilolyam ajiio pi jiial).
11 In Sii Nisimla Puiana ii is said:
"ly ollciing Him a liuii, a lcal, a llowci, oi somc waici, ilc dcvoiccs casily
aiiain ilc ancicni Supicmc Pcison. Wly would ilcy wani io siiugglc io aiiain
impcisonal libciaiion'"
Anuccheda 105
1 Siimad llagavaiam (10.1+.+) cxplains:
2 Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"Tlis vcisc mcans ilai wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc docs noi bccomc pcilcci. Tlc woid "icyal" lcic mcans "maiciial
piospciiiy and libciaiion", "siiim" mcans "a pail, lilc ilc pail ialcn by a swilily
moving mouniain siicam", "ic" mcans "ol You", and "blaliim udasya" mcans
"laving abandoncd ilc bcsi pail, wlicl is dcvoiional scivicc." Ioi ilcsc pcoplc
(icsam) ilcic aic indccd (cva) only iioublcs (llcsalal). Tlis vcisc mcans ilai il
onc icjccis a small amouni ol iicc and insicad bcai cmpiy lusls ilai lavc no iicc
wiilin, lc will noi gci any icsuli. In ilc samc way, pcisons wlo considci
dcvoiional scivicc unimpoiiani laboui io aiiain iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc (lcvala-
bodla-labdlayc), bui ilcy do noi gain any icsuli."
3 Hcic ilc woids "viblo" and "lcvala", wlicl mcans "O puic onc", aic in
ilc vocaiivc casc. "Asau" mcans "ilc iling bcing loolcd ai" and "llcsalal" mcans
"iioublcsomc bccausc ol ilc nccd io acccpi sannyasa and do many oilci ilings".
+ Tlcsc aic dcsciibcd in llagavad-giia (13.S-11), wlcic ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad said:
"Humiliiy, piidclcssncss, non violcncc, iolciancc, simpliciiy, appioacling a
bona lidc spiiiiual masici, clcanlincss, sicadincss, scll-coniiol, icnunciaiion ol ilc
objccis ol scnsc giaiilicaiion, abscncc ol lalsc cgo, ilc pciccpiion ol ilc cvil ol
biiil, dcail, old agc and discasc, dciaclmcni, liccdom liom cnianglcmcni wiil
clildicn, wilc, lomc and ilc icsi, cvcn mindcdncss amid plcasani and unplcasani
cvcnis, consiani and unalloycd dcvoiion io Mc, aspiiing io livc in a soliiaiy placc,
dciaclmcni liom ilc gcncial mass ol pcoplc, acccpiing ilc impoiiancc ol scll-
icalisaiion, and plilosoplical scaicl loi ilc Absoluic Tiuil-all ilcsc I dcclaic io
bc lnowlcdgc, and bcsidcs ilis wlaicvci ilcic may bc is ignoiancc."¯
5 Tlcic is no ical lnowlcdgc wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is ilc
mcaning lcic. Tlc Loid Himscll says (llagavad-giia 13.19):
"Tlus ilc licld ol aciiviiics (ilc body), lnowlcdgc and ilc lnowablc lavc
bccn summaiily dcsciibcd by Mc. Only My dcvoiccs can undcisiand ilis
iloiouglly and ilus aiiain io My naiuic."¯
6 Tlc Loid also says (llagavad-giia 9.3):
"Tlosc wlo aic noi laiillul in ilis dcvoiional scivicc cannoi aiiain Mc, O
conqucioi ol cncmics. Tlcicloic ilcy iciuin io ilc pail ol biiil and dcail in ilis
maiciial woild."¯
7 In an cailici passagc ol llagavad-giia, ilc Loid lad also dcsciibcd
dcvoiional scivicc in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 9.1+):
"Always claniing My gloiics, cndcavouiing wiil gicai dciciminaiion,
bowing down bcloic Mc, ilcsc gicai souls pcipciually woislip Mc wiil
dcvoiion."¯
Lvcn ilougl Mudgala and oilcis aic noi clcaily dcsciibcd as laving
pciloimcd dcvoiional scivicc, ii slould bc undcisiood ilai ilcy pciloimcd ilc
bcginning aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc (sadlana-blalii) ai lcasi.
Anuccheda 106
1 Tlc aiicmpi io bc indcpcndcni ol ilc Loid oi io ialc slclici ol somconc
oilci ilan ilc Loid is iicaicd wiil conicmpi in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
6.9.22):
"Iicc liom all maiciial conccpiions ol cxisicncc and ncvci wondcisiiucl by
anyiling, ilc Loid is always jubilani and lully saiislicd by His own spiiiiual
pcilcciion. Hc las no maiciial dcsignaiions, and ilcicloic Hc is sicady and
unaiiaclcd. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc only slclici ol cvciyonc.
Anyonc dcsiiing io bc pioiccicd by oilcis is cciiainly a gicai lool wlo dcsiics io
cioss ilc sca by lolding ilc iail ol a dog."¯
2 Tlc woid "avismiiam" mcans "bccausc ilcic is noiling ilai Hc docs noi
alicady lnow, ilc Loid is ncvci suipiiscd by anyiling." "Avismiiam" may also bc
inicipicicd io mcan ilai ilc Loid is cicinally smiling". "Svcnaiva lablcna
paiipuina-lamam" mcans "by His own aciiviiics His dcsiics aic lullillcd." Tlc
Loid docs noi nccd anyonc clsc io lullil His dcsiics. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
"Samam" mcans "Hc is cquipoiscd in all ciicumsianccs", "piasaniam" mcans "Hc
is pcacclul bccausc His lcaii is licc ol all impuiiiy", "balisal" mcans "a lool wlo is
noi dcai io ilc Loid", and "aiiiiiaiii" mcans "dcsiics io cioss".
3 Tlcsc lools aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.27):
"Tlosc wlo aic in ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc woislip ilc
loiclailcis, oilci living bcings and ilc dcmigods wlo aic in claigc ol cosmic
aciiviiics, loi ilcy aic uigcd by a dcsiic io bc maiciially bcncliicd wiil womcn,
wcalil, powci and piogcny."¯
+ In Slanda Puiana in ilc convcisaiion ol lialma and Naiada, ii is said:
"Onc wlo ncglccis Loid Vasudcva and woislips somconc clsc ncglccis lis
moilci and bows down bcloic a dcgiadcd woman."
5 In anoilci placc in ilc Slanda Puiana ii is also said:
"Onc wlo iuins liom Loid Vasudcva and woislips somconc clsc is a
bcwildcicd lool ilai iuins liom ncciai and diinls ilc violcni poison lalalala."
6 In ilc Malablaiaia ii is said:
"Onc wlo iuins liom Loid Visnu and woislips somconc clsc is a pcison
ilai icjccis a pilc ol gold and ialcs insicad a pilc ol dusi."
7 Sii Saiyaviaia Muni iclls ilc Loid (Siimad llagavaiam S.2+.+9):
"Nciilci all ilc dcmigods, noi ilc so-callcd guius noi all oilci pcoplc,
ciilci indcpcndcnily oi iogcilci, can ollci mcicy ilai cquals cvcn on icn-
ilousandil ol Youis. Tlcicloic I wisl io ialc slclici ol Youi loius lcci."¯
S Tlai boil lialma and Siva aic dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu and cngagc in His
dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam. Aboui Loid lialma ii is
said (Siimad llagavaiam 2.9.5-9):
"Loid lialma, ilc liisi spiiiiual masici, supicmc in ilc univcisc, could noi
iiacc oui ilc souicc ol lis loius scai, and wlilc ilinling ol cicaiing ilc maiciial
woild, lc could noi undcisiand ilc piopci diicciion loi sucl cicaiivc woil, noi
could lc lind oui ilc pioccss loi sucl cicaiion."¯
"Wlilc ilus cngagcd in ilinling, in ilc waici lialmaji lcaid iwicc liom
ncaiby iwo syllablcs joincd iogcilci. Onc ol ilc syllablcs was ialcn liom ilc
sixiccnil and ilc oilci liom ilc iwcniy liisi ol ilc spaisa alplabcis and joincd io
bccomc ilc wcalil ol ilc icnounccd oidci ol lilc.¯
"Wlcn lc lcaid ilc sound, lc iiicd io lind ilc spcalci, scaicling on all
sidcs. lui wlcn lc was unablc io lind anyonc bcsidcs limscll lc ilougli ii wisc
io sii down on lis loius scai liimly and givc lis aiicniion io ilc cxccuiion ol
pcnancc, as lc was insiiucicd.¯
"Loid lialma undciwcni pcnanccs loi onc ilousand ycais by ilc
calculaiions ol ilc dcmigods. Hc lcaid ilis iiansccndcnial vibiaiion liom ilc sly,
and lc acccpicd ii as divinc. Tlus lc coniiollcd lis mind and scnscs, and ilc
pcnanccs lc cxccuicd wcic a gicai lcsson loi ilc living cniiiics. Tlus lc is lnown
as ilc gicaicsi ol ascciics.¯
"Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, bcing ilus vciy mucl saiislicd wiil ilc
pcnancc ol Loid lialma, was plcascd io manilcsi His pcisonal abodc, Vailunila,
ilc supicmc planci abovc all oilcis. Tlis iiansccndcnial abodc ol ilc Loid is
adoicd by all scll-icaliscd pcisons liccd liom all linds ol misciics and lcai ol
illusoiy cxisicncc."¯
Loid Siva is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 12.13.16):
"As ilc Gangcs is ilc bcsi ol iivcis, inlalliblc Loid Kisna is ilc bcsi ol
dciiics and Siva is ilc bcsi ol ilc woislippcis ol Loid Visnu, so Siimad
llagavaiam is ilc bcsi ol Puianas."
9 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Twcllil Canio, wlcic Mailandcya Muni says
io Loid Siva (Siimad llagavaiam 12.10.3+):
"lui I do icqucsi onc bcncdiciion liom you, wlo aic lull ol all pcilcciion
and ablc io slowci down ilc lullilmcni ol all dcsiics. I asl io lavc unlailing
dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and loi His dcdicaicd dcvoiccs,
cspccially you."¯¯¯
10 Tlc woids "iaila ivayi" lcic slow ilai Siva is a gicai dcvoicc ol Loid
Visnu. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
In ilc Ligli Canio ilc Piajapaiis piay io Siva (Siimad llagavaiam S.7.33):
"Lxalicd, scll-saiislicd pcisons wlo picacl io ilc cniiic woild ilinl ol
youi loius lcci consianily wiilin ilcii lcaiis. Howcvci, wlcn pcison wlo do noi
lnow youi ausiciiiy scc you moving wiil Uma, ilcy misundcisiand you io bc
lusiy, oi wlcn ilcy scc you wandciing in ilc cicmaioiium ilcy misialcnly ilinl
ilai you aic lciocious and cnvious. Cciiainly ilcy aic slamclcss. Tlcy can noi
undcisiand youi aciiviiics."¯
11 In ilc Iouiil Canio ilc Piaccias say io cigli-aimcd Loid Visnu (Siimad
llagavaiam +.30.3S):
"Dcai Loid, by viiiuc ol a momcni's associaiion wiil Loid Siva, wlo is vciy
dcai io You and wlo is Youi mosi iniimaic liicnd, wc wcic loiiunaic io aiiain You.
You aic ilc mosi cxpcii plysician, capablc ol iicaiing ilc incuiablc discasc ol
maiciial cxisicncc. On accouni ol oui gicai loiiunc, wc lavc bccn ablc io ialc
slclici ai Youi loius lcci."¯
12 A pcison wlo ilinls Loid Visnu is cqual io oilci dciiics cannoi aiiain
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai idca is a gicai impcdimcni io dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc Vaisnava Taniia:
13 "Alilougl lc may mcdiiaic on ilc Loid wiil unbiolcn ilouglis, ilc dull-
wiiicd pcison wlo ilinls Loid Visnu cqual io oilci dciiics docs noi aiiain
unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Haii.
1+ "Onc wlo ilinls ilc dcmigods lcadcd by lialma and Siva aic cqual io
Loid Naiayana is a gicai ollcndci io ilc Loid."
15 Tlc impcisonalisis and ilc dcvoiccs in sania-iasa ilinl oilci dciiics aic
cqual io Loid Naiayana. An cxamplc ol ilis is givcn in ilc sioiy ol Mailandcya
Muni, wlcic Siva says (Siimad llagavaiam 12.10.20-22):
16-17 "Tlc inlabiianis and iuling dcmigods ol all plancis, along wiil Loid
lialma, ilc Supicmc Loid Haii, and I, gloiily, woislip and assisi ilosc
bialmanas wlo aic sainily, always pcacclul, licc ol maiciial aiiaclmcni,
compassionaic io all living bcings, puicly dcvoicd io us, dcvoid ol laiicd and
cndowcd wiil cqual vision."¯
1S "Tlcsc dcvoiccs do noi dillcicniiaic bciwccn Loid Visnu, Loid lialma and
mc, noi do ilcy dillcicniiaic bciwccn ilcmsclvcs and oilci living bcings.
Tlcicloic, bccausc you aic ilis lind ol sainily dcvoicc, wc woislip you."¯
19 Tlc mcaning may also bc inicipicicd: "Wc woislip (imali) you (yusman),
ilc puic dcvoiccs lcadcd by Mailandcya".
20 "You aic all dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid, and as sucl I appicciaic ilai you aic as
icspcciablc as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll. I lnow in ilis way
ilai ilc dcvoiccs also icspcci mc and ilai I am dcai io ilcm. Tlus no onc can bc
as dcai io ilc dcvoiccs as I am."¯
21 In anoilci passagc ii is said (by Loid Siva in Siimad llagavaiam S.7.+0):
"My dcai gcnilc wilc llavani, wlcn onc pciloims bcncvolcni aciiviiics loi
oilcis, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii, is vciy plcascd. And wlcn ilc
Loid is plcascd, I am also plcascd, along wiil all oilci loving cicaiuics. Tlcicloic,
lci mc diinl ilis poison, loi all living cniiiics may ilus bccomc lappy bccausc ol
mc."¯
22 Tlai Mailandcya Muni is a puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid lad bccn picviously
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (ol Loid Siva in Siimad llagavaiam 12.10.6):
"Suicly ilis sainily bialmana docs noi dcsiic any bcncdiciion, noi cvcn
libciaiion iiscll, loi lc las aiiaincd puic dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc incxlausiiblc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
23 Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid Siva io Mailandcya Muni. ly appcaiing
bcloic lim, Loid Siva biolc ilc mcdiiaiivc iiancc ol Mailandcya Muni. In ilis
way lc appcaicd bcloic ilc sagc.
2+ Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (12.10.13):
"Sii Mailandcya saw Loid Siva suddcnly appcai wiilin lis lcaii. Loid
Siva's goldcn laii icscmblcd liglining, and lc lad ilicc cycs, icn aims and a iall
body ilai slonc lilc ilc iising sun. Hc woic a iigci slin, and lc caiiicd a iiidcni,
a bow, aiiows, a swoid and a slicld, along wiil piayci bcads, a damaiu dium, a
slull and an ax. Asionislcd, ilc sagc camc oui ol lis iiancc and ilougli, 'Wlo is
ilis, and wlcic las lc comc liom''"¯¯¯
25 Ai liisi dcsciibing ilc idca ol ilc cqualiiy ol lialma, Visnu and Siva, and
ilcn alliiming Loid Visnu's supciioiiiy, Siva says (Siimad llagavaiam 12.10.20-
21):
"Tlc inlabiianis and iuling dcmigods ol all plancis, along wiil Loid
lialma, Loid Haii, wlo is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll, and I,
gloiily, woislip and assisi ilosc bialmanas wlo aic sainily, always pcacclul, licc
ol maiciial aiiaclmcni, compassionaic io all living bcings, puicly dcvoicd io us,
dcvoid ol laiicd and cndowcd wiil cqual vision."
26 Tlai Loid Visnu is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.2+-26):
"Iiicwood is a iiansloimaiion ol caiil, bui smolc is bciici ilan ilc iaw
wood. And liic is siill bciici, loi by liic wc can dciivc ilc bcncliis ol supciioi
lnowlcdgc (iliougl Vcdic saciiliccs). Similaily, passion (iajas) is bciici ilan
ignoiancc (iamas), bui goodncss (saiiva) is bcsi bccausc by goodncss onc can
comc io icalisc ilc Absoluic Tiuil.¯
"Picviously all ilc gicai sagcs icndcicd scivicc io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad duc io His cxisicncc abovc ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcy
woislippcd Him io bccomc licc liom maiciial condiiions and ilus dciivc ilc
uliimaic bcnclii. Wlocvci lollows sucl gicai auiloiiiics is also cligiblc loi
libciaiion liom ilc maiciial woild.¯
"Tlosc wlo aic sciious aboui libciaiion aic cciiainly non-cnvious and ilcy
27 Tlis is conliimcd by Loid Siva in ilc lialma Puiana:
"A pcison wlo ycains io scc mc oi io scc giandlailci lialma slould ycain
io scc all-powcilul Loid Vasudcva."
2S Tlis is so bccausc by undcisianding Loid Visnu cvciyiling is undcisiood.
Tlis is also conliimcd in ilcsc woids ol Saivablauma, wlo was iniiiaicd by
Ciniamani:
29 "I lavc givcn my lcaii io Kisna, wlo wcais a gailand ol loicsi llowcis. I
lavc noi givcn ii in ilc samc way io Loid Siva, wlo wcais a gailand ol slulls. I am
lilc a pcacocl ilai icjoiccs wlcn a dail cloud comcs bui docs noi icjoicc wlcn
ilc clouds aic wliic.
30 Tlc dcmigods aic lalcs, ilc dcmigoddcsscs iivcis, and Loid Visnu, ilc
masici ol ilc univciscs, is an occan. Siill, only ilc dail cloud ol Loid Kisna can
icmovc ilc iliisi ol ilis ciniamani caiala biid."
31 Tlcicloic, bccausc Hc is a Vaisnava, Loid Siva slould bc woislippcd.
Somc Vaisnavas say ilai il ilc woislip ol Loid Siva is compulsoiy, siill onc can
woislip ilc Supicmc Loid Visnu insicad ol Loid Siva. Tlai is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing sioiy liom ilc lasi paii ol ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana:
A puic dcvoicc bialmana namcs Visvalscna uscd io livc on ilc caiil. Onc
day lc sai down ai ilc cdgc ol a loicsi. Tlcn ilc son ol a villagc lcadci
appioaclcd lim and said, "Wlo aic you'" Wlcn ilc bialmana lad iold lis sioiy
ilc lcadci's son said io lim, "Today I lavc a lcadaclc and ilcicloic ii is noi
possiblc loi mc io woislip Loid Siva. You plcasc woislip lim in my placc. Ai
ilai poini ilcic is ilc lollowing passagc ol onc and a lall vciscs:
32 "Wlcn ilis was said, lc icplicd, 'Wc aic puic dcvoiccs ol Loid Haii. Only
Loid Haii, wlo cxpands in loui loims, oi His dcvoicc, slould bc woislippcd. Wc
will woislip no onc clsc. Go away."
33 Tlcn ilc lcadci's son iool a swoid and iaiscd ii io cui oll ilc bialmana's
lcad. Siunncd and noi wisling io dic in ilai way, ilc bialmana ilougli loi a
momcni and said, "Vciy wcll, I will go ilcic." In lis mind ilc bialmana ilougli,
"lccausc lc dcsiioys ilc univcisc and cxpands ilc modc ol ignoiancc, Loid Siva is
ilc dciiy ol ignoiancc. Howcvci, bccausc Loid Nisimladcva lills ilc dcmons
siiuaicd in ilc dailncss ol ignoiancc, and bccausc Hc ilus dispcls ilc dailncss ol
ignoiancc, Loid Nisimladcva is lilc a sun iiscn io dispcl ilc dailncss ol
ignoiancc. Tlcicloic, insicad ol woislipping Loid Siva, I will woislip Loid
Nisimladcva io dispcl ignoiancc."
Tlcn, ialing a landlul ol llowcis, ilc bialmana said, "Obcisanccs io Loid
Nisimla!" Iillcd wiil angci, ilc villagc lcadci's son ai oncc iaiscd lis swoid. Ai
ilai momcni ilc Siva-linga opcncd and Loid Nisimladcva appcaicd and lillcd ilc
villagc lcadci's son and lis associaics. Tlis Siva-linga, lamous by ilc namc "Linga-
sploia" (ilc linga ilai opcncd), is siiuaicd in ilc souilcin piovinccs.
3+ Tlc puic Vaisnavas givc all lonoui io Loid Siva bccausc lc is a puic
Vaisnava also. Somciimcs somc pcoplc bccomc Vaisnavas by woislipping Loid
Siva. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc Adi-vaiala Puiana:
35 ly woislipping Loid Siva loi many ilousands ol biiils a pcison bccomc
wisc and licc liom all sins. Tlcn lc bccomcs a Vaisnava."
36 lciwccn ilc dcvoiccs ol Loid Nisimla and Loid Siva ilcic is a vciy closc
conncciion. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Sii Nisimla-iapani Upanisad (1.5.10):
"A lundicd bialmacaiis cqual onc gilasila. A lundicd gilasilas cqual
onc vanapiasila. A lundicd vanapiasilas cqual onc sannyasi. A lundicd
sannyasis cqual onc clanici ol Siva-maniias. A lundicd clanicis ol Siva-maniias
cqual onc icaclci ol ilc Ailaiva-angiiasa paii ol ilc Vcdas. A lundicd icaclcis ol
ilc Ailaiva-angiiasa paii ol ilc Vcdas cqual onc clanici ol ilc ling ol maniias."
Tlc "ling ol maniias" lcic is ilc maniia gloiilying Loid Nisimladcva.
37 lccausc ilc dcvoiccs ol Loid Siva ilougli Loid Siva is indcpcndcni ol Loid
Visnu, lligu Muni's cuisc could noi bc ovcicomc. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilcsc
woids ol ilc Iouiil Canio (Siimad llagavaiam +.2.27-2S):
3S-39 "Wlcn all ilc lcicdiiaiy bialmanas wcic ilus cuiscd by Nandisvaia, ilc
sagc lligu, as a icaciion, condcmncd ilc lollowcis ol Loid Siva wiil ilis vciy
siiong bialmanical cuisc. Onc wlo ialcs a vow io saiisly Loid Siva oi wlo
lollows sucl piinciplcs will cciiainly bccomc an ailcisi and bc divciicd liom
iiansccndcnial sciipiuial injunciions."¯
+0 Tlc mcilods ol woislipping Loid Siva is dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas aic
piopci, bui ilc mcilods ol Siva-woislip dcsciibcd in oilci, non-Vcdic, bools aic
ollcnsivc and noi piopci. Siimad llagavaiam and oilci bools ilai opposc ilcsc
non-Vcdic bools aic auiloiiscd Vcdic sciipiuics. Tlc Suia-samliia and similai
bools ilai suppoii ilc non-Vcdic sciipiuics aic noi auiloiiscd sciipiuics.
Tlcicloic ilc lauli (ol Loid Siva's lollowcis in ilis vcisc) is ilai ilcy ilougli Loid
Siva is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad indcpcndcni ol Loid Visnu. Ii is Loid
Visnu wlo is ilc iooi liom wlicl ilc Vcdic sciipiuics lavc giown. Tlai is
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.2.31):
+1 "Tlc Vcdas givc ilc cicinal icgulaiivc piinciplcs loi auspicious
advanccmcni in luman civilisaiion wlicl lavc bccn iigidly lollowcd in ilc pasi.
Tlc siiong cvidcncc ol ilis piinciplc is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo
is callcd Janaidana, ilc wcll-wislci ol all living cniiiics."¯
+2 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "yai-piamanan" mcans ilai Loid Visnu is ilc iooi ol
ilc Vcdas. Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.23-26 also conliims ilc impoiiancc ol
dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Visnu.
+3 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Haii-vamsa, wlcic Loid Siva says:
"O bialmanas lcaincd in ilc iiansccndcnial sciipiuics, you slould always
mcdiiaic on Loid Haii. Always icciic ilc maniias gloiilying Loid Visnu and
always mcdiiaic on Loid Kcsava."
++ Dcvoiion io Loid Siva las ilai naiuic. Tlc Vaisnava sciipiuics dcsciibc ilc
mcilods ol woislipping iiansccndcnial Dciiics bcyond ilc maiciial naiuic wiil a
mcilod ol woislip ilai is also bcyond ilc covciings ol ilc cxicinal maiciial
woild. Tlc Loid's associaics, wlo manilcsi lumanlilc pasiimcs as ilc Loid also
docs, pciloim Vcdic saciiliccs and oilci linds ol woislip only io plcasc ilc Loid.
In ilis way King Yudlisiliia pciloimcd ilc iajasuya saciilicc and oilci dcvoiccs
also pciloimcd oilci similai aciiviiics. Ii slould bc undcisiood ilai ilc dcmigods
woislippcd in ilcsc iiiuals aic woislippcd as icpicscniaiivcs ol ilc Loid's gicai
poicncics. Tlis is cxplaincd by Piallada Malaiaja in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam (7.10.32):
+5 "Piallada Malaiaja ilcn woislippcd and ollcicd piaycis io all ilc
dcmigods, sucl as lialma, Siva and ilc Piajapaiis, wlo aic all paiis ol ilc Loid."¯
+6 Sii Yudlisiliia said io ilc Loid (Siimad llagavaiam 10.72.3):
"O Govinda, I wisl io woislip Youi loly cxpansions by ilc Rajasuya
saciilicc, ilc ling ol Vcdic pciloimanccs. Plcasc giani ilai wc may do ilis, my
Loid."¯¯¯
+7 Tlc dcmigods aic ilcicloic manilcsicd by ilc Loid's poicncics. In ilc
Padma Puiana, Kaiiiila-malaimya, ilc Loid Himscll cxplaincd ilis io Sii
Saiyablama:
+S "Tlc woislippcis ol Suiya, Siva, Gancsa, Visnu, and Salii cvcniually aiiain
Mc as iivcis aiiain ilc occan.
+9 "Alilougl I am onc I appcai in livc ways. As a pcison namcd Dcvadaiia
may by ilc son ol somconc and lavc oilci iclaiionslips wiil oilci pcoplc and
ilis way manilcsi dillcicni lcaiuics and namcs in dillcicni ciicumsianccs, so I
appcai wiil dillcicni namcs and pasiimcs."
50 In iiuil, ilc Vaisnavas aic ilc bcsi ol all. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
vcisc, wlicl appcais in ilc Slanda Puiana in ilc convcisaiion bciwccn Naiada
and lialma, and also in ilc Piallada-samliia in ilc dcsciipiion ol lccping a vigil
duiing cladasi:
51 "Nciilci a dcvoicc ol Suiya, a dcvoicc ol Siva, a dcvoicc ol lialma, a
dcvoicc ol Salii, noi a dcvoicc ol any oilci dcmigod is cqual io a dcvoicc ol
Visnu."
52 Tlc dcvoiccs ol Suiya and ilc dcvoiccs ol oilci dcmigods do noi aiiain ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by woislipping ilc dcmigods. Only wlcn ilcy
pciloim puic dcvoiional scivicc, donc only io plcasc ilc Loid, oi wlcn ilcy dic in
a placc sacicd io ilc Loid, do ilcy aiiain Him. In naiiaiing ilc sioiy ol Dcvasaima
and Canmdiasaima, wlo boil woislippcd ilc dcmigod Suiya, ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcsciibcd ilis wlcn Hc said:
53 "lccausc ol ilc spiiiiual powci ol living in My loly placc, and bccausc ol
ilcii pious conduci, ilcsc iwo dcvoiccs ol Minc wcic biougli by My associaics io
Loid Visnu's iiansccndcnial abodc.
5+ "As long as ilcy livcd ilcy woislippcd ilc dcmigod Suiya and pciloimcd
many pious dccds. I bccamc vciy plcascd wiil ilcii aciions."
55 Tlc loly placc lcic is Mayapuii. Wlcn ilc Loid dcsccndcd io ilc woild
ilcsc iwo dcvoiccs bccamc Saiiajii and Aliuia. In ilc samc way ilc dcvoicc
namcd Pundaiila also aiiain ilc Loid by woislipping ilc Piias.
56 Tlai only by dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is noi dcpcndcni on any oilci
spiiiiual piaciicc, onc aiiains ilc Loid, is piovcd in ilc Loid's own woids in
llagavad-giia (9.23-25):
57 "Tlosc wlo aic dcvoiccs ol oilci gods and wlo woislip ilcm wiil laiil
aciually woislip only mc, O son ol Kunii, bui ilcy do so in a wiong way.¯
5S "I am ilc only cnjoyci and masici ol all saciiliccs. Tlcicloic, ilosc wlo do
noi iccognisc My iiuc iiansccndcnial naiuic lall down.¯
59 "Tlosc wlo woislip ilc dcmigods will ialc biiil among ilc dcmigods,
ilosc wlo woislip ilc anccsiois go io ilc anccsiois, ilosc wlo woislip glosis
and spiiiis will ialc biiil among sucl bcings, and ilosc wlo woislip Mc will livc
wiil Mc."¯
60 ly woislipping Loid Visnu onc aiiains all viiiucs and sluns laulis, wlicl
bcgin wiil blasplcmy. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.3.26):
"Onc slould lavc liim laiil ilai lc will aclicvc succcss in lilc by lollowing
ilosc sciipiuics ilai dcsciibc ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
llagavan. Ai ilc samc iimc, onc slould avoid blasplcming oilci sciipiuics. Onc
slould iigidly coniiol lis mind, spcccl and bodily aciiviiics, always spcal ilc
iiuil and biing ilc mind and scnscs undci lull coniiol."¯¯¯
61 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc Padma Puiana:
"All ilc gicai dcmigods slould always woislip Loid Haii. Tlcy slould
ncvci disicspcci lialma, Siva oi ilc oilci gicai souls."
62 In ilc Gauiamiya Taniia also:
"A pcison wlo woislips Loid Gopala bui disicspccis oilci diciics lills ilc
picscni and picvious pious cicdiis lc las caincd."
63 Tlc piopci aioncmcni loi ilai ollcnsc is icciiaiion ol ilc lollowing piayci
liom ilc Naiayana-lavaca (Siimad llagavaiam 6.S.17):
"Hayasiisa mam paili dcva-lclanai" (May Loid Hayagiiva pioicci mc liom
bcing an ollcndci by ncglcciing io ollci icspccilul obcisanccs io ilc Supicmc Loid
and ilc dcmigods).
6+ In ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana ilc lollowing sioiy is iccounicd: In ancicni
iimcs King Ambaiisa woislippcd ilc Loid by pciloiming ausiciiiics loi many
days. Ai ilc conclusion ol lis ausiciiiics ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
assuming ilc loim ol King India and iiding on Gaiuda, wlo lad bccn iiansloimcd
inio Aiiavaia, appcaicd bcloic lim and ollcicd lim a bcncdiciion. Sccing ilc loim
ol India, King Ambaiisa bowcd bcloic Him and ollcicd Him all icspcci. Howcvci,
lc did noi wisl any bcncdiciion liom King India. Hc said, "Tlc Loid wlom I
woislip will givc mc bcncdiciions. I will noi acccpi bcncdiciions liom any onc
clsc. Tlcn India said, "Wlaicvci bcncdiciion Hc can givc I can givc also". Wlcn
King Ambaiisa siill did noi wisl any bcncdiciion, India iaiscd lis ilundci-boli
wcapon io siiilc lim, bui siill King Ambaiisa would noi acccpi any bcncdiciion
liom Him. Ai ilai momcni ilc Loid bccamc plcascd. No longci appcaiing as
India, ilc Supicmc Pcison now slowcd His ical loim and gavc His mcicy io King
Ambaiisa.
65 An insuli io Loid Siva is a gicai sin. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Iouiil Canio
(Siimad llagavaiam +.2.2+) wlcic Nandisvaia ollcis ilc lollowing cuisc:
"Tlosc wlo lavc bccomc as dull as maiici by culiivaiing maiciialisiic
cducaiion and iniclligcncc aic ncscicnily involvcd in liuiiivc aciiviiics. Sucl mcn
lavc puiposcly insulicd Loid Siva. May ilcy coniinuc in ilc cyclc ol icpcaicd
biiil and dcail."¯
66 Svayambluva Manu said io Dliuva Malaiaja (Siimad llagavaiam
+.11.33):
"My dcai Dliuva, you ilougli ilai ilc Yalsas lillcd youi bioilci, and
ilcicloic you lavc lillcd gicai numbcis ol ilcm. lui by ilis aciion you lavc
agiiaicd ilc mind ol Loid Siva's bioilci Kuvcia, wlo is ilc iicasuici ol ilc
dcmigods. Plcasc noic ilai youi aciions lavc bccn vciy disicspccilul io Kuvcia
and Loid Siva."¯
Alici ilis, considciing ilai Kuvcia was Loid Siva's liicnd, Dliuva aslcd
liom lim ilc bcncdiciion ol always and in all ciicumsianccs bcing a puic dcvoicc
ol Loid Visnu. Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai a dcvoicc only asls loi ilc bcncdiciion ol
sciving ilc Loid.
67 In ilc Kuima Puiana ilc Loid says:
"A pcison wlo always woislips Mc wiil unalloycd lovc bui also insulis
Loid Siva gocs io lcll."
6S Tlis is also sccn in ilc sioiy ol King Ciiialciu.
69 Loid Kapiladcva ciiiiciscd disicspcci iowaid cvcn oidinaiy living cniiiics,
wlai io spcal ol disicspcci io gicai souls lilc Himscll. Hc said (Siimad
70 "I am picscni in cvciy living cniiiy as ilc Supcisoul. Il somconc ncglccis
oi disicgaids ilai Supcisoul cvciywlcic and cngagcs limscll in ilc woislip ol ilc
Dciiy in ilc icmplc, ilai is simply imiiaiion."¯
71 Hcic ilc woid "bluicsu" mcans "ilc living cniiiics, down cvcn io ilc
loims ol lilc ilai do noi cvcn bicailc, in wlom ilc Supicmc Loid appcais as ilc
Supcisoul, and wlo will bc dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vciscs", "bluiaima" mcans
"ilc Supcisoul in ilc lcaii", "iam mam avajnaya" mcans "by disicspcciing ilc
living cniiiics onc also disicspccis Mc, wlo am siaying in ilcii lcaiis", "luiuic
aica" mcans "woislip ol My loim as ilc dciiy", and "vidambanam" mcans "a
mocling imiiaiion". Tlai is ilc mcaning. Loid Kapiladcva ilcn says (Siimad
72 "Onc wlo woislips ilc Dciiy ol Godlcad in ilc icmplcs bui docs noi
lnow ilc Supicmc Loid as Paiamaima, is siiuaicd in cvciy living cniiiy's lcaii,
musi bc in ignoiancc and is compaicd io onc wlo ollcis oblaiions inio aslcs."¯
73 Hcic ilc woid "maudlyai" mcans "oui ol ilc misialcn idca ilai ilc Dciiy
is madc ol sionc oi wood", "saiva-bluicsu isvaiam mama liiva" mcans "noi
undcisianding ilai I am ilc Supcisoul in all bcings", and "aicam luiuic" mcans
"woislips My Dciiy loim". Sucl a pcison ollcis Mc waici and oilci ilings
ilinling I am an oidinaiy pcison and My Dciiy loim is madc ol maiici.
In ilc Agni Puiana, in lis lamcni loi lis dcad son, King Dasaiaila says:
7+-75 "Did I ilinl Loid Haii's Dciiy loim was madc ol sionc' In My lcaii did I
lail io ollci icspcci wlcn I saw on ilc ioad a Vaisnava dccoiaicd wiil ilc signs ol
ilc Loid' Is ilai wly, as a icsuli ol my misdccds, I now sullci loi ilc loss ol my
son'"
76 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Padma Puiana:
"Onc wlo ilinls ilc Dciiy loim ol Loid Visnu is madc ol sionc, ilc
spiiiiual masicis aic oidinaiy mcn, a Vaisnava bclongs io a paiiiculai casic by
biiil, ilc waici ilai las waslcd ilc loius lcci ol Loid Visnu oi ilc Vaisnavas and
ilai dcsiioys ilc sins ol Kali-yuga is oidinaiy waici, ilc maniia ol Loid Visnu's
loly namc, wlicl dcsiioys all sins, is an oidinaiy sound, and Loid Visnu is
anoilci dcmigod lilc ilc oilcis, alicady livcs in lcll."
77 Tlc vcisc quoicd in icxi 72 mcans ilai ilc Supicmc Loid says: "A lool, noi
sccing My picscncc wiilin, docs noi icspcci all living cniiiics. lccausc ol ilis
dclcci lis spiiiiual aciiviiics aic lilc ollciing oblaiions inio aslcs. Sucl a laiillcss
pcison docs noi gci any good icsuli loi lis clloiis." Tlai is ilc mcaning.
7S In llagavad-giia (17.1-3) ilis is cxplaincd:
"Aijuna inquiicd: O Kisna, wlai is ilc siiuaiion ol ilosc wlo do noi lollow
ilc piinciplcs ol sciipiuic bui woislip accoiding io ilcii own imaginaiion' Aic
ilcy in goodncss, in passion oi in ignoiancc'¯
"Tlc Supicmc Loid said: Accoiding io ilc modcs ol naiuic acquiicd by ilc
cmbodicd soul, onc's laiil can bc ol ilicc linds - goodncss, passion oi ignoiancc.
Now lcai aboui ilcsc.¯
"Accoiding io onc's cxisicncc undci ilc vaiious modcs ol naiuic, onc
cvolvcs a paiiiculai lind ol laiil. Tlc living bcing is said io bc ol a paiiiculai laiil
accoiding io ilc modcs lc las acquiicd."¯
In ilis way onc wlo las only ilc small laiil posscsscd by oidinaiy pcoplc
is considcicd a ncoplyic dcvoicc. Tlis lind ol dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+1):
79 "A dcvoicc wlo laiillully cngagcs in ilc woislip ol ilc Dciiy in ilc icmplc
bui docs noi bclavc piopcily iowaid oilci dcvoiccs oi pcoplc in gcncial is callcd a
pialiia-blalia, a maiciialisiic dcvoicc, and is considcicd io bc in ilc lowcsi
posiiion."¯¯¯
S0 Sucl a ncoplyic dcvoicc will cvcniually gci ilc icsuli ol lis dcvoiional
scivicc, bui lc will noi gci ii immcdiaicly. Tlis will bc cxplaincd in ilcsc woids
"Pciloiming lis picsciibcd duiics, onc slould woislip ilc Dciiy ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad uniil onc icaliscs My picscncc in lis own lcaii
and in ilc lcaiis ol oilci living cniiiics as wcll."¯
S1 In ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.23) ilc Loid dcsciibcs ilc icsuli
obiaincd by ilcy wlo ollcnd oilcis:
"Onc wlo ollcis Mc icspcci bui is cnvious ol ilc bodics ol oilcis and is
ilcicloic a scpaiaiisi ncvci aiiains pcacc ol mind, bccausc ol lis inimical
bclavioui iowaids oilci living cniiiics."¯
S2 Hcic ilc woid "blinna-daisinal" mcans "a pcison wlo sccs ilc Supcisoul
picscni cvciywlcic and in cvciyonc's lcaii". Tlc opposiic ol lim is callcd
"ablinna-daisi", wlicl mcans a pcison wlo sccs Sii Kisna, ilc supicmcly gloiious
son ol Viaja's ling, picscni cvciywlcic. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc loimci lind ol
pcison is dcsciibcd by ilc woids "maninal" (icspccilul io ilc Supicmc Loid) and
"baddla-vaiiasya" (inimical io oilci living cniiiics).
S3 Loid Kisna ai oncc givcs His mcicy io a pcison wlo docs noi iioublc
oilcis and wlo is lind io ilcm as a lailci is io lis son."
S+ Loid Kapiladcva again cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.2+):
"My dcai Moilci, cvcn il lc woislips wiil piopci iiiuals and
paiaplcinalisa, a pcison wlo is ignoiani ol My picscncc in all living cniiiics ncvci
plcascs Mc by ilc woislip ol My Dciiics in ilc icmplc."¯
S5 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "avamanial" mcans "disicspccilul". Ii is lilc ilc
woid "dvisaial (inimical) uscd (in Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.23, wlicl was quoicd
in icxi S1).
S6 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 11.23.3):
"Slaip aiiows wlicl picicc onc's clcsi and icacl ilc lcaii do noi causc as
mucl sullciing as ilc aiiows ol laisl, insuliing woids ilai bccomc lodgcd wiilin
ilc lcaii wlcn spolcn by unciviliscd mcn."¯
S7 In ilis quoic ii is said ilai onc iling is woisc ilan ilc oilci. Ii is noi ilc
opposiic. Tlc violcncc lcic is noi ilc samc as ilc violcncc (dvisaial) mcniioncd
picviously (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.23, quoicd in icxi S1).
SS In ilcsc vciscs ilc lauli ol noi laving laiil in ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad bccausc ol ignoiancc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is
dcsciibcd. In ilc lollowing vcisc Loid Kapiladcva alliims ilai Dciiy woislip
pciloimcd accoiding io onc's own picsciibcd duiics by a pcison wlo undcisiands
ilc naiuic ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and bccausc ol ilai lnowlcdgc
las laiil in Him docs noi go in vain. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.25):
S9 "Pciloiming lis picsciibcd duiics, onc slould woislip ilc Dciiy ol Tlc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad uniil onc icaliscs My picscncc in lis own lcaii
and in ilc lcaiis ol oilci living cniiiics as wcll."¯
90 Tlis vcisc mcans: "Pciloiming lis picsciibcd duiics (sva-laima-lii), onc
slould woislip (aicayci) ilc Dciiy (aicadau) ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad as long as (iavai) onc docs noi (na) icalisc (vcda) My picscncc (mam) in
ilc lcaiis ol all living cniiiics (saiva-bluicsu)." Tlis aciiviiy (ol Dciiy woislip) is
lclplul loi a pcison wlo, bccausc lc las noi aiiaincd puic dcvoiional scivicc, docs
noi lavc lull laiil in ilc Loid.
91 Tlis will also bc conliimcd in ilc lollowing woids spolcn by ilc Loid
Himscll (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.27-2S):
"Having awalcncd laiil in ilc naiiaiions ol My gloiics, bcing disgusicd
wiil all maiciial aciiviiics, lnowing ilai all scnsc giaiilicaiion lcads io misciy, bui
siill bcing unablc io icnouncc all scnsc cnjoymcni, My dcvoicc slould icmain
lappy and woislip mc wiil gicai laiil and conviciion. Lvcn ilougl lc is
somciimcs cngagcd in scnsc cnjoymcni, My dcvoicc lnows ilai all scnsc
giaiilicaiion lcads io a misciablc icsuli, and lc sinccicly icpcnis sucl aciiviiics.¯¯¯
"Wlcn an iniclligcni pcison cngagcs consianily in woislipping Mc
iliougl loving dcvoiional scivicc as dcsciibcd by Mc, lis lcaii bccomcs lully
siiuaicd in Mc. Tlus all maiciial dcsiics wiilin ilc lcaii aic dcsiioycd.¯¯¯
"Tlc lnoi in ilc lcaii is piciccd, all misgivings aic cui io picccs and ilc
clain ol liuiiivc aciions is iciminaicd wlcn I am sccn as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
92 Tlcicloic lull laiil in ilc Loid is liglci ilan mcic lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid.
A laiillul pcison wlo pciloims lis picsciibcd duiics nccd noi woislip ilc Dciiy
oi pciloim similai aciiviiics. Howcvci, uniil onc comcs io ilai siagc onc slould
laiillully woislip ilc Dciiy and pciloim similai aciiviiics.
93 Tlis will also bc piovcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.9):
iasic loi dcvoiional scivicc by siavanam liiianam visno, onc las io aci accoiding
io ilc icgulaiivc piinciplcs ol ilc Vcdic injunciions.¯¯¯
Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai onc slould noi abandon Dciiy woislip.
9+ Tlis is so bccausc ilc Hayasiisa-pancaiaiia loibids ilc abandonmcni ol
Dciiy woislip:
"As long as onc livcs lc slould noi abandon Dciiy woislip, bui slould
coniinuc io woislip ilc Dciiy. Onc slould coniinuc uniil lc givcs up lis lilc oi
uniil lis lcad is scvcicd.
95 A pcison wlo, alilougl pciloiming lis picsciibcd duiics and woislipping
ilc Dciiy, is noi lind io oilci living cniiiics, docs noi aiiain pcilcciion. Tlc Loid
conliims ilis (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.26):
96 "As ilc blazing liic ol dcail, I causc gicai lcai io wlocvci malcs ilc lcasi
disciiminaiion bciwccn limscll and oilci living cniiiics bccausc ol a dillcicniial
ouilool."¯
97 In ilis vcisc ilc Loid says: "A pcison wlo malcs disiinciions (aniaiodaiam
laioii) bciwccn limscll and oilcis docs noi scc ilai I lavc madc all living cniiiics
io bc cquals. Sccing lungci and oilci nccds, lc lills only lis own bclly. As dcail
(miiyul) I causc ilc gicai (ulbanam) lcai (blayam) ilai is icsidcncc in ilc
maiciial woild ol biiil and dcail io sucl a pcison, wlo sccs a dillcicncc bciwccn
limscll and oilcis (blinna-disal)".
9S Tlc Loid ilcn cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.27):
"Tlcicloic, iliougl claiiiablc gilis and aiicniion, as wcll as iliougl
liicndly bclavioui and by vicwing all io bc alilc, onc slould piopiiiaic Mc, wlo
abidc in all cicaiuics as ilcii vciy Scll."¯
99 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "aila" mcans "loi ilis icason", "dana-manablyam"
mcans "by giving claiiiy as lai as onc is ablc, oi in ilc abscncc ol giving claiiiy by
slowing icspcci". Tlc woids "ablinna-calsusa" lavc alicady bccn cxplaincd.
Tlc Loid ol Vailunila iclls ilc sagcs lcadcd by Sanala Kumaia (Siimad
100 Tlc bialmanas, ilc cows and ilc dclcncclcss cicaiuics aic My own body.
Tlosc wlosc laculiy ol judgcmcni las bccn impaiicd by ilcii own sin lool upon
ilcsc as disiinci liom Mc. Tlcy aic jusi lilc luiious scipcnis, and ilcy aic angiily
ioin apaii by ilc bills ol ilc vuliuiclilc mcsscngcis ol Yamaiaja, ilc
supciinicndcni ol sinlul pcisons."¯
101 Tlc vision ol sccing ilc living cniiiics as dillcicni, wlcic onc sccs somc as
supciioi and somc as ilc bcsi ol all, is dcsciibcd in a gcncial way in ilc lollowing
woids, wlcic Loid Kapiladcva says (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.2S-33):
102 "Living cniiiics aic supciioi io inanimaic objccis, O blcsscd moilci, and
among ilcm, living cniiiics wlo display lilc sympioms aic bciici. Animals wiil
dcvclopcd consciousncss aic bciici ilan ilcm, and bciici siill aic ilosc wlo lavc
dcvclopcd scnsc pciccpiion.¯
103 "Among ilc living cniiiics wlo lavc dcvclopcd scnsc pciccpiion, ilosc
wlo lavc dcvclopcd ilc scnsc ol iasic aic bciici ilan ilosc wlo lavc dcvclopcd
only ilc scnsc ol ioucl. lciici ilan ilcm aic ilosc wlo lavc dcvclopcd ilc scnsc
ol smcll, and bciici siill aic ilosc wlo lavc dcvclopcd ilc scnsc ol lcaiing.¯
10+ "lciici ilan ilosc living cniiiics wlo can pciccivc sound aic ilosc wlo can
disiinguisl bciwccn onc loim and anoilci. lciici ilan ilcm aic ilosc wlo lavc
dcvclopcd uppci and lowci scis ol iccil, and bciici siill aic ilosc wlo lavc many
lcgs. lciici ilan ilcm aic ilc quadiupcds, and bciici siill aic ilc luman bcings.
105 "Among ilc luman bcings, ilc sociciy wlicl is dividcd accoiding io
qualiiy and woil is bcsi, and in ilai sociciy, ilc iniclligcni mcn, wlo aic
dcsignaicd as bialmanas, aic bcsi. Among ilc bialmanas, onc wlo las siudicd
ilc Vcdas is ilc bcsi, and among ilc bialmanas wlo lavc siudicd ilc Vcdas, onc
wlo lnows ilc aciual puipoii ol Vcda is ilc bcsi.¯
106 "lciici ilan ilc bialmana wlo lnows ilc puiposc ol ilc Vcdas is lc wlo
can dissipaic all doubis, and bciici ilan lim is onc wlo siiicily lollows ilc
bialmanical piinciplcs. lciici ilan lim is onc wlo is libciaicd liom all maiciial
coniaminaiion, and bciici ilan lim is a puic dcvoicc, wlo cxccuics dcvoiional
scivicc wiiloui cxpcciaiion ol icwaid.¯
107 "Tlcicloic I do noi lind a gicaici pcison ilan lc wlo las no inicicsi
ouisidc ol Minc and wlo ilcicloic cngagcs and dcdicaics all lis aciiviiics and all
lis lilc-cvciyiling-unio Mc wiiloui ccssaiion."¯
10S Tlcsc vciscs slow ilc liciaicly ol living cniiiics, cacl gioup bciici ilan
ilc picvious onc. Hcic ilc woid "adogdla dlaiman" mcans "a pcison wlo acis
wiiloui maiciial dcsiics", "niianiaial" mcans "dcvoiional scivicc ilai is noi
mixcd wiil impcisonal lnowlcdgc oi any oilci iling", "alaiiul" mcans
"dcvoiional scivicc wlcic onc suiicndcis io ilc Loid and docs noi woil loi onc's
own mainicnancc." In ilai condiiion, bccausc onc is licc ol lalsc piidc, lc
undcisiands ilai lc is complcicly dcpcndcni on ilc Loid. "Sama-daisanai" mcans
"lc ilinls ol ilc wcllaic ol oilcis bccausc lc lnows ilai ilc Loid las cicaicd all
living cniiiics io bc cqual." Tlc vciscs quoicd in ilis passagc (Siimad llagavaiam
3.29.33) dcsciibc ilc disiinciions bciwccn dillcicni linds ol living cniiiics. Tlc
conclusion is ilai ilc Loid says: "onc musi ollci gicai icspcci io My dcvoiccs, and
io oilcis onc musi also ollci icspccis as ii is appiopiiaic and as onc is ablc". Tlai
is ilc mcaning.
109 Tlcn Loid Kapiladcva cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.3+):
"Sucl a pcilcci dcvoicc ollcis icspccis io cvciy living cniiiy bccausc lc is
undci ilc liim conviciion ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las cnicicd
ilc body ol cvciy living cniiiy as ilc Supcisoul oi coniiollci."¯
110 Tlc woid "jiva-lalaya" lcic mcans "ilc Supcisoul, wlo is picscni in ilc
lcaiis ol all living cniiiics". Hcic ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Loid in llagavad-
giia (9.29) slould bc icmcmbcicd:
"I cnvy no onc, noi am I paiiial io anyonc. I am cqual io all. lui wlocvci
icndcis scivicc unio Mc in dcvoiion is a liicnd, is in Mc, and I am also a liicnd io
lim."¯
In ilis way ilc ncoplyic dcvoiccs slould icspcci all living cniiiics, and ilc
advanccd dcvoiccs, wlo lavc lull laiil in ilc Loid, slould scc ilc Loid picscni
cvciywlcic.
111 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Slanda Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"O lunici, good qualiiics lilc non violcncc, wlicl lavc dcvclopcd, aic noi
vciy asionisling, loi ilosc wlo aic cngagcd in ilc Loid's dcvoiional scivicc aic
ncvci inclincd io givc pain io oilcis bccausc ol cnvy."¯
112 As will bc cxplaincd laici, ilc puic dcvoiccs, by lollowing ilc cxamplc ol
ilc pcilcci icsidcnis ol Golula, aiiain ilc samc viiiucs as ilc Loid. In ilis way
ilcy naiuially bccomc boil icnounccd and non violcni. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.1S.22):
113 "Scll-coniiollcd pcisons wlo aic aiiaclcd io ilc Supicmc Loid Sii Kisna
can all ol a suddcn givc up ilc woild ol maiciial aiiaclmcni, including ilc gioss
body and subilc mind, and go away io aiiain ilc liglcsi pcilcciion ol ilc
icnounccd oidci ol lilc, by wlicl non violcncc and icnunciaiion aic
conscqucniial."¯
11+ Tlc pcilcci dcvoiccs aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.+5):
"Tlc mosi advanccd dcvoiccs sccs wiilin cvciyiling ilc soul ol all souls,
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii Kisna. Conscqucnily lc sccs cvciyiling
in iclaiion io ilc Supicmc Loid and undcisiands ilai cvciyiling ilai cxisis is
cicinally siiuaicd wiilin ilc Loid."¯¯¯
115 Tlc dcvoiccs aspiiing io bccomc pcilcci aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam +.31.1+-15):
In ilis way ilc woislip ol ilc vaiious dcmigods and ilc woislip ol ilc
indcpcndcni Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic dcsciibcd.
116 In ilis way ilc woislip ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc
oiiginal cicaioi, is dcsciibcd. In ilcsc woids ii is piovcd ilai ilc woislip ol ilc
Loid is unavoidablc and musi bc pciloimcd. In oilci placcs in ilc sciipiuics ii is
also cxplaincd ilai in oidci io bccomc licc liom maiciial aiiiaciion and avcision
onc slould woislip ilc Loid.
Oui ol puic compassion loi a living cniiiy llaiaia Malaiaja abandoncd lis
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. In ilai way compassion bccamc an obsiaclc io lis
dcvoiional scivicc. ly ilai cxamplc ilc idca ilai compassion loi ilc living
cniiiics, and noi ilc woislip and scivicc ol ilc Loid, is ilc mosi impoiiani iling,
is icluicd.
Tlcicloic onc slould always cngagc in ilosc aciiviiics ilai aic lavouiablc
loi puic dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is bcyond ilc maiciial modcs. Tlis is cxplaincd
in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.15):
"A dcvoicc musi cxccuic lis picsciibcd duiics, wlicl aic gloiious, wiiloui
maiciial piolii. Wiiloui cxccssivc violcncc, onc slould icgulaily pciloim onc's
dcvoiional aciiviiics."¯
117 Hcic ilc woid "aii" (wiiloui cxccssivc violcncc) mcans ilai in pciloiming
liiya-yoga dcvoiional scivicc accoiding io ilc icgulaiions ol ilc Pancaiaiias ilcic
may somciimcs bc somc violcncc, as loi cxamplc wlcn onc picls lcavcs oi llowcis.
Onc slould noi disicspcci oilci dciiics, bui iailci onc slould lonoui
ilcm bccamc ol ilcii iclaiionslip wiil ilc Supicmc Loid. Woislip ol ilc
dcmigods as il ilcy wcic indcpcndcni ol ilc Supicmc Loid is cloqucnily and
vclcmcnily icjccicd in ilcsc woids:
"Iicc liom all maiciial conccpiions ol cxisicncc, and ncvci wondcisiiucl
by anyiling, ilc Loid is always jubilani and lully saiislicd by His own spiiiiual
pcilcciion. Hc las no maiciial dcsignaiions and ilcicloic Hc is sicady and
unaiiaclcd. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc only slclici ol cvciyonc.
Anyonc dcsiiing io bc pioiccicd by oilcis is cciiainly a gicai lool wlo dcsiics io
cioss ilc sca by lolding ilc iail ol a dog."¯
11S Tlc vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 6.9.22( quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis
anucclcda was spolcn by ilc dcmigods io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 107
1 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.+S.26):
"Wlai lcaincd pcison would appioacl anyonc bui You loi slclici, wlcn
You aic ilc allcciionaic, giaiclul and iiuillul wcll wislci ol Youi dcvoiccs' To
ilosc wlo woislip You in sinccic liicndslip You icwaid cvciyiling ilcy dcsiic,
cvcn Youi own scll, yci You ncvci incicasc oi diminisl."¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "sulidal" mcans "bccausc You aci loi ilc wcllaic",
"liiajni" mcans "bccausc You icspond wiil gicai lonoui io cvcn ilc sliglicsi
assisiancc", "blajaiaj" mcans "cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc", "saivan laman"
mcans "all dcsiics", and :abli dadaii" mcans "complcicly givcs". To plcasc Youi
liicnds (sulidal) You givc (dadaii) cvcn Youiscll (aimanam) io ilcm. Lvcn
ilougl You ilus givc cvciyiling io many gicai dcvoiccs lilc ilis, siill You ncvci
diminisl. Tlai is ilc mcaning ol ilc woid "upacaya".
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Aliuia io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 108
1 Tlc non dcvoiccs aic ciiiiciscd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
3.15.2+):
"My dcai dcmigods, ilc luman loim ol lilc is ol sucl impoiiancc ilai wc
also dcsiic io lavc sucl lilc, loi in ilc luman loim onc can aiiain pcilcci icligious
iiuil and lnowlcdgc. Il onc in ilis luman loim ol lilc docs noi undcisiand ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and Hs abodc, ii is io bc undcisiood ilai lc is
vciy mucl allccicd by ilc inllucncc ol cxicinal naiuic."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "yaiia" mcans "in ilai luman loim ol lilc", "dlaimal"
mcans "icligious piinciplcs ilai culminaic in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid",
"iaiivasya jnanam" mcans "lnowlcdgc ilai culminaics in lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid",
"yc naiadlanam blagavaio viiaianii" mcans "ilcy wlom do noi cngagc in ilc
Loid's dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is ilc iooi liom wlicl all pious aciiviiics and
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc lavc giown", and "ic sammoliial" mcans "ilcy aic
bcwildcicd".
Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.20):
"Onc wlo las noi lisicncd io ilc mcssagcs aboui ilc piowcss and
maivcllous acis ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and las noi sung oi clanicd loudly
ilc woiily songs aboui ilc Loid is io bc considcicd io posscss cailolcs lilc ilc
lolcs ol snalcs and a ionguc lilc ilc ionguc ol a liog."¯
3 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lialma-vaivaiia Puiana:
"Tlcy wlo aiiain ilc univcisally dcsiicd and vciy iaic luman biiil, bui do
noi ialc slclici ol Loid Kisna, clcai ilcmsclvcs again and again.
+ "ly wandciing iliougl S +00 000 spccics ol lilc onc linally aiiains a luman
biiil.
5 "Tlcy wlo do noi ialc slclici ol Loid Kisna's lcci, cvcn ilougl ilcy may
bc vciy pioud ilcmsclvcs, aic only unimpoiiani lools wlo wasic ilcii luman
lilc."
6 Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii
lialma io ilc dcmigods.
Anuccheda 109
1 Siimad llagavaiam (5.1S.12) cxplains:
"All ilc dcmigods and ilcii cxalicd qualiiics, sucl as icligion, lnowlcdgc
unalloycd dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Vasudcva. On ilc
oilci land, a pcison dcvoid ol dcvoiional scivicc and cngagcd in maiciial
aciiviiics las no good qualiiics. Lvcn il lc is adcpi ai ilc piaciicc ol mysiic yoga
oi ilc loncsi cndcavoui ol mainiaining lis lamily and iclaiivcs, lc musi bc diivcn
by lis own mcnial spcculaiions and musi cngagc in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid's
cxicinal cncigy. How can ilcic bc any good qualiiics in sucl a man'"¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "alincanal" mcans "dcsiiclcss", "guanil" mcans "wiil ilc
viiiucs ilai bcgin wiil lnowlcdgc and icnunciaiion", "suial" mcans "all ilc
dcmigods lcd by Siva and lialma", and "asaic" mcans "aic picscni".
Tlis vcisc is spolcn by Piallada Malaiaja io Loid Nisimladcva.
Anuccheda 110
1 Sagcs wlo lavc aiiaincd pcilcciion in lollowing vaiious non dcvoiional
pails aic condcmncd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.10):
2 "Sucl non dcvoiccs cngagc ilcii scnscs in vciy iioublcsomc and cxicnsivc
woil and ilcy sullci insomnia ai nigli bccausc ilcii iniclligcncc consianily bicals
ilcii slccp wiil vaiious mcnial spcculaiions. Tlcy aic liusiiaicd in all ilcii
vaiious plans by supcinaiuial powci. Lvcn gicai sagcs, il ilcy aic againsi Youi
iiansccndcnial iopics, musi ioiaic in ilis maiciial woild."¯
3 In ilis vcisc aic dcsciibcd ilc living cniiiics, avcisc io You (ilc Loid), wlo
icsidc in ilc maiciial woild. Wlai ol ilcm' Lvcn sagcs (isayo pi) pcilcci in
vaiious non dcvoiional pails, wlo aic avcisc io You (yusmai-piasanga-vimullal)
musi livc in ilc maiciial woild (ila samsaianii). Oi ilc inicipiciaiion may bc: il
gicai sagcs aic avcisc io You ilcy musi livc in ilc maiciial woild. Wlai is ilc
naiuic ol ilc sainis and sagcs wlo aic conlincd io ilc maiciial woild' Tlcy aic
dcsciibcd in ilis vcisc. Tlc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 10.2.32) also
dcsciibcs ilcm:
"O loius-cycd Loid, alilougl non dcvoiccs wlo acccpi scvcic ausiciiiics
+ Sii Yamaiaja cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.19-22):
"Rcal icligious piinciplcs aic cnacicd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Alilougl lully siiuaicd in ilc modc ol goodncss, cvcn ilc gicai isis
wlo occupy ilc iopmosi plancis cannoi ascciiain ilc ical icligious piinciplcs, noi
can ilc dcmigods oi ilc lcadcis ol Siddlalola, io say noiling ol ilc asuias,
oidinaiy luman bcings, Vidyadlaias and Caianas.¯
5-6 "Loid lialma, llagavan Naiada, Loid Siva, ilc loui Kumaias, Loid Kapila
(ilc son ol Dcvaluii), Svayambluva Manu, Piallada Malaiaja, Janala Malaiaja,
Giandlailci llisma, lali Malaiaja, Suladcva Gosvami, and I myscll lnow ilc ical
icligious piinciplc. My dcai scivanis, ilis iiansccndcnial icligious piinciplc,
wlicl is lnown as blagavaia-dlaima, oi suiicndci unio ilc Supicmc Loid and
lovc loi Him, is unconiaminaicd by ilc maiciial modcs ol naiuic. Ii is vciy
conlidcniial and dilliculi loi oidinaiy luman bcings io undcisiand, bui il by
clancc onc loiiunaicly undcisiands ii, lc is immcdiaicly libciaicd and ilus lc
iciuins lomc, bacl io Godlcad.¯
7 "Dcvoiional scivicc, bcginning wiil ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc
Loid is ilc uliimaic icligious piinciplc loi ilc living cniiiy in luman sociciy."¯
S Hcic Yamaiaja cxplains: "Wc, ilc icaclcis ol icligion, undcisiand
(vijanimal) wlai is ical icligion in ilis way. Wc do noi cxpound oui own
ilcoiics in sciipiuics wc ouisclvcs lavc wiiiicn. Rcal icligion is vciy conlidcniial
(gulyam) and noi casily undcisiood (duibodlam) by non dcvoiccs. Ii is vciy
conlidcniial bccausc wlcn onc undcisiands (jnaiva) ii, lc aiiains libciaiion
(amiiam) as ilc linal icsuli.
9 Ii is also said (Sii llalii-iasamiia-sindlu 1.1.3S):
"Il bialmananda, ilc iiansccndcnial bliss dciivcd liom undcisianding
impcisonal lialman, wcic muliiplicd a million iimcs, sucl a quaniiiy ol
bialmananda could noi compaic wiil cvcn an aiomic poiiion ol ilc plcasuic
iclislcd in puic dcvoiional scivicc."¯
In ilis way ilc supciioiiiy ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd.
10 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.33.39):
"Anyonc wlo laiillully lcais oi dcsciibcs ilc Loid's playlul allaiis wiil ilc
young gopis ol Vindavana will aiiain ilc Loid's puic dcvoiional scivicc. Tlus lc
will quiclly bccomc sobci and conquci lusi, ilc discasc ol ilc lcaii."¯¯¯
11 Tlc sciipiuics also cxplain :
"ly iasiing ilc ncciai ilai comcs liom Loid Kisna's lips, ilcy aiiain
pcilcciion."
In ilis way ilcy bccamc puiilicd. Tlc lollowing cxplanaiion will also bc
givcn (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.25):
"lccausc ilcy aic bcwildcicd by ilc illusoiy cncigy ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Yajnavallya and Jaimini and oilci compilcis ol ilc
icligious sciipiuics cannoi lnow ilc sccici, conlidcniial icligious sysicm ol ilc
iwclvc malajanas. Tlcy cannoi undcisiand ilc iiansccndcnial valuc ol
pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc oi claniing ilc Haic Kisna maniia. lccausc ilcii
minds aic aiiiacicd io ilc iiiualisiic ccicmonics mcniioncd in ilc Vcdas, cspccially
ilc Yajui Vcda, Sama Vcda, and Rg Vcda, ilcii iniclligcncc las bccomc dull. Tlus
ilcy lavc bccomc busy collcciing ilc ingicdicnis loi iiiualisiic ccicmonics ilai
yicld only icmpoiaiy bcncliis, sucl as clcvaiion io Svaigalola loi maiciial
lappincss. Tlcy aic noi aiiiacicd io ilc sanliiianan movcmcni. Insicad ilcy aic
inicicsicd in dlaima, aiila,, lama and molsa."¯
12 Tlc iwclvc malajanas mcniioncd lcic aic vciy viiiuous. Tlcy aic dillcicni
liom ilc non dcvoicc sagcs mcniioncd in Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.10, ilc quoic in
ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda.
Anuccheda 111
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid is ilc bcsi ol all spiiiiual pails is also
conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in llagavad-giia (6.+6-+7):
"A yogi gicaici ilan ilc ascciic, gicaici ilan ilc cmpiiicisi and gicaici ilan
ilc liuiiivc woilci. O Aijuna, in all ciicumsianccs, bc a yogi."¯
2 "And ol all yogis, ilc onc wiil gicai laiil wlo always abidcs in Mc, ilinls
ol Mc wiilin limscll, and icndcis iiansccndcnial loving scivicc io Mc-lc is ilc
mosi iniimaicly uniicd wiil Mc in yoga and is ilc liglcsi ol all. Tlai is My
opinion."¯
3 Hcic, in llagavad-giia 6.+7, ilc gcniiivc casc (ol) is uscd in ilc scnsc ol
ilc ablaiivc casc (ilan). (In ilis way ilc pliasc "bcsi ol all yogis" mcans "bciici
ilan all yogis). In ilis way, llagavad-giia 6.+6-+7 cxplains ilai ilc dcvoiccs aic
ilc bcsi ol all yogis. Tlc oilci yogis iclciicd io in ilc pliasc "all yogis" aic
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia +.25):
"Somc yogis pcilccily woislip ilc dcmigods by ollciing dillcicni saciiliccs
io ilcm, and somc ol ilcm ollci saciiliccs in ilc liic ol ilc Supicmc lialman."¯
Tlcsc aic ilc dillcicni mcilods ol yoga ilai wcic picviously dcsciibcd in
llagavad-giia. lccausc ilc oilci linds ol yoga aic ciiiiciscd lcic, ilis vcisc
piovcs ilai dcvoiional scivicc is cicinally supciioi io all oilci linds ol yoga.
+ Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi ol all yogas and ilai ii slould bc
pciloimcd by all ilc vainas and asiamas is also conliimcd by Loid Kisna Himscll.
Tlc Loid said io Uddlava (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1S-+2-+3):
"Tlc main icligious duiics ol a sannyasi aic cquanimiiy and non violcncc,
wlcicas loi ilc vanapiasila ausiciiiy and plilosoplical undcisianding ol ilc
dillcicncc bciwccn ilc body and soul aic piomincni. Tlc main duiics ol a
louscloldci aic io givc slclici io all living cniiiics and pciloim saciiliccs, and ilc
bialmacaii is mainly cngagcd in sciving ilc spiiiiual masici.¯¯¯
"A louscloldci may appioacl lis wilc loi scx only ai ilc iimc picsciibcd
loi bcgciiing clildicn. Oilciwisc, ilc louscloldci slould piaciicc cclibacy,
ausiciiiy, clcanlincss ol mind and body, saiislaciion in lis naiuial posiiion, and
liicndslip iowaid all living cniiiics. Woislip ol Mc is io bc piaciiccd by all
luman bcings, icgaidlcss ol social oi occupaiional divisions."¯¯¯
5 Tlis is also conliimcd by Sii Naiada Muni wlo, in ilc couisc ol dcsciibing
ilc duiics ol ilc dillcicni vainas, says (Siimad llagavaiam 7.11.11):
"Lvciyonc slould bc cngagcd in lcaiing aboui ilc aciiviiics and
insiiuciions givcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (wlo is ilc slclici ol
ilc sainily pcisons), claniing aboui ilosc aciiviiics and insiiuciions, iiying io
icndci scivicc, pciloiming woislip, ollciing obcisanccs, bccoming a scivani,
bccoming a liicnd, and suiicndciing onc's wlolc scll."¯
6 Onc is sciiously ai lauli il lc lails io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.2-3):
wcic also gcnciaicd.¯¯¯
"Il any ol ilc mcmbcis ol ilc loui vainas and loui asiamas lail io woislip
lilc."¯¯¯
7 Tlis is also conliimcd in Malablaiaia:
"A pcison wlo docs noi woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo
cicaics and dissolvcs ilc univciscs and also pioiccis ilcm as il Hc wcic ilcii
moilci, slould bc considcicd as sinlul as a bialmana-lillci."
S Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll alliims in llagavad-giia
(7.15):
"Tlosc miscicanis wlo aic giossly loolisl, wlo aic lowcsi among
manlind, wlosc lnowlcdgc is siolcn by illusion and wlo paiialc ol ilc ailcisiic
naiuic ol dcmons do noi suiicndci unio Mc."¯
9 Iailuic io woislip ilc Loid is also ciiiiciscd in ilis passagc, wlicl appcais
in boil ilc Agni Puiana and ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana:
"Tlcic aic iwo classcs ol mcn in ilc cicaicd woild. Onc consisis ol ilc
dcmonic and ilc oilci ol ilc godly. Tlc dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu aic ilc godly,
wlcicas ilosc wlo aic jusi ilc opposiic ol ilai aic callcd dcmons."¯
10 Tlis is luiilci cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
7.9.10):
"Il a bialmana las all iwclvc ol ilc bialmanical qualilicaiions (as ilcy aic
siaicd in ilc bool callcd Sanai-sujaia) bui is noi a dcvoicc and is avcisc io ilc
loius lcci ol ilc Loid, lc is cciiainly lowci ilan a dcvoicc wlo is a dog-caici bui
wlo las dcdicaicd cvciyiling-mind, woids, aciiviiics, wcalil and lilc-io ilc
Supicmc Loid. Sucl a dcvoicc is bciici ilan sucl a bialmana bccausc ilc dcvoicc
can puiily lis wlolc lamily, wlcicas ilc so-callcd bialmana in a posiiion ol lalsc
picsiigc cannoi puiily cvcn limscll.
Tlc Naiada Puiana also cxplains:
"O King, a dog caici wlo bccomcs a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is lai bciici ilan a
non dcvoicc bialmana."
11 "A pcison wlo, cvcn il lc lnows ilc mcanings ol all ilc sciipiuics and lad
iiavcllcd io ilc cnd ol all ilc Vcdas, is noi a dcvoicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, slould bc considcicd ilc lowcsi ol mcn."
12 Tlis is also conliimcd in ilc lilan-naiadiya Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"Tlcy wlo laic ilc Vcdas, bialmanas, and cows, and wlo do noi woislip
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, aic considcicd dcmons."
13 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing piayci (Spolcn by ilc dcmigods io
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in Siimad llagavaiam 10.2.32):
1+ Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai ilc non dcvoiccs' iniclligcncc is impuic
(avisuddla-buddlayal) bccausc ilcy do noi cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc (ivayy
asia-blavai).
15 Tlc Supicmc Loid conliims ilc impoiiancc ol dcvoiional scivicc in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.22):
il ilcy aic bcicli ol loving scivicc io Mc."¯¯¯
16 Taling slclici ol ilc pail ol impcisonal spcculaiion, ilc non dcvoiccs
ilinl ilcmsclvcs supciioi io all oilcis. Howcvci, ilcy aic ciiiiciscd by ilc Loid
Himscll in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 12.5):
"Ioi ilosc wlosc minds aic aiiaclcd io ilc unmanilcsicd impcisonal
lcaiuic ol ilc Supicmc, advanccmcni is vciy iioublcsomc. To malc piogicss in
ilai disciplinc is always dilliculi loi ilosc wlo aic cmbodicd."¯
Siimad llagavaiam 10.2.32 cxplains ilai alilougl wiil gicai dilliculiy
(licclicna) ilc impcisonalisis aiiain impcisonal libciaiion (paiam padam) cvcn in
ilis lilc, ilcy lall down (paianiy adlal) again and ilcii spiiiiual advanccmcni
pciislcs.
17 Wly do ilcy lall down' Tlc dcmigods say ilcy lall down bccausc ilcy do
noi woislip (anadiia) ilc Loid's loius lcci. lccausc ilcy noi cngagc in dcvoiional
scivicc, ilcy bccomc uniniclligcni, bccausc ilcy aic uniniclligcni ilcy do noi
woislip ilc Loid, and bccausc ilcy do noi woislip ilc Loid ilcy cannoi bccomc
licc liom ilc maiciial woild. Lvcn ilougl ilcy may lavc buincd away all ilcii
picvious sinlul icaciions, bccausc ilcy disicspcci ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilcy cannoi bccomc licc liom coniinucd icsidcncc in ilc
maiciial woild ol biiil and dcail.
1S Tlc llagavai-paiisisia ol ilc Vasana-blasya cxplains:
"Lvcn il ilcy imaginc ilai ilcy lavc bccomc libciaicd in ilis lilc, ilc
impcisonalisi yogi icmain lillcd wiil maiciial dcsiics. Only ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc
Loid aic uniouclcd by maiciial aciiviiics."
19 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing dcsciipiion ol ilc Railayaiia
lcsiival lound in ilc Visnu-blalii-candiodaya poiiion ol ilc Slanda Puiana:
"Lvcn ilougl lis pasi laima may lavc alicady bccn buincd up by ilc liic
ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, a pcison wlo oui ol illusion lails io lollow ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as Hc iiavcls in His Railayaiia lcsiival bccomcs
in lis ncxi lilc a bialma-ialsasa dcmon."
20 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing piayci addicsscd io ilc Loid
(Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.+):
"Tlis picscni loim, oi any iiansccndcnial loim cxpandcd by ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii Kisna, is cqually auspicious loi all ilc univciscs.
Sincc You lavc manilcsicd ilis cicinal pcisonal loim upon wlom Youi dcvoiccs
mcdiiaic, I ilcicloic ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio You. Tlosc wlo aic
dcsiincd io bc dispaiclcd io ilc pail ol lcll ncglcci Youi pcisonal loim bccausc ol
spcculaiing on maiciial iopics."¯
21 Tlc Loid Himscll also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.19.5):
"Tlcicloic, My dcai Uddlava, iliougl lnowlcdgc you slould undcisiand
youi aciual scll. Tlcn, advancing by clcai icalisaiion ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc, you
slould woislip Mc in ilc mood ol loving dcvoiion."¯¯¯
22 Iiom all ilis ii may bc undcisiood ilai dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is cicinal and ii is ilc bcsi ol all spiiiiual pails. Tlc
Siimad llagavaiam vcisc (10.2.32) discusscd lcic was spolcn by ilc dcmigods io
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 112
1 Loving dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all pasi laima. Tlc Loid Himscll
dcsciibcs ilis in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.25):
"Jusi as gold, wlcn smclicd in liic, givcs up iis impuiiiics and iciuins io iis
puic biilliani siaic, similaily, ilc spiiii soul, absoibcd in ilc liic ol blalii-yoga, is
puiilicd ol all coniaminaiions causcd by picvious liuiiivc aciiviiics and iciuins io
iis oiiginal posiiion ol sciving Mc in ilc spiiiiual woild."¯¯¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans: "Wiil lovc slaling away (vidluya) pasi laima, ilc
dcvoicc aiiains lis oiiginal puic spiiiiual loim and ilcn cngagcs in sciving
(blajaii) Mc (mam)."
Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siidlaia Svami's commcniaiy on Siimad
llagavaiam 10.S7.21:
"Tlc libciaicd souls lavc spiiiiual loims so ilcy may assisi ilc Loid in His
pasiimcs. In ilc libciaicd siaic ilcy scivc ilc Loid."
Anuccheda 113
1 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Rcva-llanda, a dcvoicc piays:
"O Kisna, il youi aic plcascd wiil lim, a dog caici can bccomc India, Siva,
lialma oi ilc gicaicsi bialmana.
2 "O inlalliblc Loid, il ilcy bccomc avcisc io You, ilc gicai dcmigods lcadcd
by lialma and Siva will lall down and bccomc lowci ilan dogcaicis."
3 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all pasi laima is conliimcd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2S.22):
"Tlc blcsscd Loid Siva bccomcs all ilc moic blcsscd by bcaiing on lis lcad
ilc loly waicis ol ilc Gangcs, wlicl las iis souicc in ilc waici ilai waslcd ilc
Loid's loius lcci. Tlc Loid's lcci aci lilc ilundcibolis luilcd io slaiici ilc
mouniain ol sin sioicd in ilc mind ol ilc mcdiiaiing dcvoicc. Onc slould
ilcicloic mcdiiaic on ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid loi a long iimc."¯
+ Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Iiom ilis ii slould bc undcisiood ilai
bccausc ii is cicinal, dcvoiional scivicc is ilc spiiiiual pail ilai slould bc
acccpicd.
Tlc condiiion ol ilc libciaicd souls is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 10.S7.20):
"Tlc individual living cniiiy, cvcni ilougl lc livcs wiilin maiciial bodics
by lis laima, is aciually spiiiiual and bcyond boil gioss and subilc maiici. O
Loid, O Masici ol all poicncics, ilc Vcdas say lc is Youi paii and paiccl. Awaic
ilai ilis is ilc naiuic ol ilc living cniiiics, ilc gicai sagcs laiillully woislip Youi
lcci, wlicl aic woislippcd in Vcdic yajnas, and wlicl giani libciaiion."
Anuccheda 11+
1 Ii may also bc said ilai dcvoiional scivicc las six dillcicni aspccis. Onc ol
ilcsc aspccis is mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid, wlicl is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam
liom bcginning io cnd. Ioi cxamplc, ilc liisi vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.1.1)
dcsciibcs mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid in ilcsc woids:
"I mcdiiaic upon Loid Sii Kisna bccausc Hc is ilc Absoluic Tiuil and ilc
piimcval causc ol all causcs ol ilc cicaiion, susicnancc and dcsiiuciion ol ilc
manilcsicd univciscs. Hc is diiccily and indiiccily conscious ol all manilcsiaiions,
and Hc is indcpcndcni bccausc ilcic is no oilci causc bcyond Him. Ii is Hc only
wlo liisi impaiicd ilc Vcdic lnowlcdgc unio ilc lcaii ol lialmaji, ilc oiiginal
living bcing. ly Him cvcn ilc gicai sagcs and dcmigods aic placcd inio illusion, as
onc is bcwildcicd by ilc illusoiy icpicscniaiions ol waici sccn in liic, oi land sccn
on waici. Only bccausc ol Him do ilc maiciial univciscs, icmpoiaiily manilcsicd
by ilc icaciions ol ilc ilicc modcs ol naiuic, appcai laciual, alilougl ilcy aic
unical. I ilcicloic mcdiiaic upon Him, Loid Sii Kisna, wlo is cicinally cxisicni in
ilc iiansccndcnial abodc, wlicl is loicvci licc liom ilc illusoiy icpicscniaiions ol
ilc maiciial woild. I mcdiiaic upon Him, loi Hc is ilc Absoluic Tiuil."¯
2 Two dillcicni linds ol mcdiiaiion aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing passagc ol
llagavad-giia (12.1-2):
"Aijuna inquiicd: Wlicl aic considcicd io bc moic pcilcci, ilosc wlo aic
always piopcily cngagcd in Youi dcvoiional scivicc oi ilosc wlo woislip ilc
impcisonal lialma, ilc unmanilcsicd'¯
Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad said: Hc wlosc mind is lixcd on My
pcisonal loim, always cngagcd in woislipping Mc wiil gicai and iiansccndcnial
laiil is considcicd by Mc io bc ilc mosi pcilcci."¯
Mcdiiaiion on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is moic casily
pciloimcd and is also ilc bcsi lind ol mcdiiaiion.
Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and noi ilc impcisonal lialman is
ilc piopci objcci ol mcdiiaiion and woislip. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc Loid
Himscll in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 7.7. and 1+.27):
"O conqucioi ol wcalil, ilcic is noi iiuil supciioi io Mc. Lvciyiling icsis
upon Mc, as pcails aic siiung on a ilicad."¯
"I am ilc basis ol ilc impcisonal lialman, wlicl is immoiial,
impciislablc and cicinal and is ilc consiiiuiional posiiion ol uliimaic
lappincss."¯
Tlc conclusion, ilcn, is ilai ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad is ilc bcsi objcci ol mcdiiaiion. Tlcicloic, bccausc Hc is all-lnowing,
bccausc Hc is ilc masici ol all poicncics, and bccausc lc is ilc cicaioi, mainiainci
and dcsiioyci ol ilc maiciial univciscs, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc
bcsi objcci ol mcdiiaiion.
Tlc vciscs quoicd lcic (Siimad llagavaiam 1.1.1 and 12.13.19) aic also
discusscd in Sii Paiamaima-sandaibla (anucclcda 105).
3 Mcdiiaiion on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 12.13.19):
"I mcdiiaic upon ilai puic and spoilcss supicmc Absoluic Tiuil, wlo is
licc liom sullciing and dcail and wlo in ilc bcginning pcisonally icvcalcd ilis
incompaiablc ioiclligli ol lnowlcdgc io lialma. lialma ilcn spolc ii io ilc
sagc Naiada, wlo naiiaicd ii io Kisna-dvaipayana Vyasa. Siila Vyasa icvcalcd ilis
llagavaiam io ilc gicaicsi ol sagcs, Suladcva Gosvami and Suladcva mcicilully
spolc ii io Malaiaja Paiilsii."¯¯¯
+ In ilis way ii is clcai ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc bcsi
objcci ol mcdiiaiion. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also ilc oiiginal
spcalci ol Siimad llagavaiam. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.1.1):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad liisi impaiicd ilc Vcdic lnowlcdgc
unio ilc lcaii ol lialmaji, ilc oiiginal living bcing."¯
Many ilings ilai lad bccn picviously dcsciibcd again and again, and many
oilci ilings ilai lad ncvci bccn dcsciibcd bcloic, aic icvcalcd in Siimad
llagavaiam.
5 An cxamplc ol somciling picviously unlnown ilai was icvcalcd in Siimad
llagavaiam is lound in ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 1.7.6), in iclaiion
io Sii Vyasadcva's vision in a mcdiiaiivc iiancc:
"Tlc maiciial misciics ol ilc living cniiiy, wlicl aic supcilluous io lim,
can bc diiccily miiigaicd by ilc linling pioccss ol dcvoiional scivicc. lui ilc
mass ol pcoplc do noi lnow ilis, and ilcicloic ilc lcaincd Vyasadcva compilcd
ilis Vcdic liiciaiuic wlicl is in iclaiion io ilc Supicmc Tiuil."¯
6 In ilis way ilc siaicmcni ilai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd is
icpcaicd again and again in many dillcicni placcs in ilc sciipiuics. Tlc linal
conclusion is givcn in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.37):
"Wlcn ilc living cniiiy is aiiiacicd by ilc maiciial cncigy ilai is scpaiaic
liom Kisna, lc is ovcipowcicd by lcai. lccausc lc is scpaiaicd liom ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by ilc maiciial cncigy, lis conccpiion ol lilc is icvciscd.
In oilci woids, insicad ol bcing ilc cicinal scivani ol Kisna, lc bccomcs Kisna's
compciiioi. Tlis is callcd vipaiyayal asmiiil. To nullily ilis misialc, onc wlo is
aciually lcaincd and advanccd woislips ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as
lis spiiiiual masici, woisliplul Dciiy and souicc ol lilc. Hc ilus woislips ilc
Loid by ilc pioccss ol unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc."¯
7 Lvciyonc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. Tlis is
conliimcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.22):
advanccmcni ol lnowlcdgc, namcly ausiciiiy, siudy ol ilc Vcdas, saciilicc,
claniing ol lymns and claiiiy, culminaics in ilc iiansccndcnial dcsciipiions ol
S Tlis is also conliimcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.5.12):
"Youi liicnd ilc gicai sagc Kisna-dvaipayana Vyasa las alicady dcsciibcd
ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Loid in lis gicai woil ilc Malablaiaia. lui
ilc wlolc idca is io diaw ilc aiicniion ol ilc mass ol pcoplc io Kisna-laila
(llagavad-giia) iliougl ilcii siiong alliniiy loi lcaiing mundanc iopics."¯
Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlc Siimad llagavaiam vcisc quoicd in
ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii Viduia.
Anuccheda 115
1 Dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.1.2):
maiuiiiy) is sullicicni in iiscll loi God icalisaiion. Wlai is ilc nccd ol any oilci
lis lcaii."¯
2 Tlc icn iopics ol Siimad llagavaiam aic lisicd in ilis vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam 2.10.1):
"Sii Suladcva Gosvami said: In ilc Siimad llagavaiam ilcic aic icn
divisions ol siaicmcnis icgaiding ilc lollowing: ilc cicaiion ol ilc univcisc, sub
cicaiion, planciaiy sysicms, pioicciion by ilc Loid, ilc cicaiivc impcius, ilc
clangc ol Manus, ilc scicncc ol God, iciuining lomc, bacl io Godlcad,
libciaiion and ilc summum bonum."¯
In ilis way ilc iiansccndcnial scicncc ol dcvoiional scivicc is lisicd as onc
ol ilc iopics ol Siimad llagavaiam.
3 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd is also siaicd in Siimad
llagavaiam 2.9.36, onc ol ilc loui sccd vciscs (2.9.33-36) ol Siimad llagavaiam.
Tlai vcisc (2.9.36) siaics:
+ "A pcison wlo is scaicling alici ilc supicmc Absoluic Tiuil, ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, musi cciiainly scaicl loi ii up io ilis, in all
ciicumsianccs, in all spacc and iimc and boil diiccily and indiiccily."¯
5 In ilc picvious ilicc vciscs iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, conlidcniial
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, and ilc dillcicni aspccis ol ilai lnowlcdgc wcic
cxplaincd. In ilis, ilc louiil vcisc, ilis siaicmcni is givcn. Tlc liisi ilicc ol
ilcsc loui vciscs lavc alicady bccn cxplaincd in Sii llagavai-sandaibla (in
anucclcda 95). In Siimad llagavaiam 2.9.31 ilc woid "ialasya" iclcis io ilc
advanccd siagc ol lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (picma-blalii),
and ilc woid "iad-anga" iclcis io dcvoiional scivicc in piaciicc (sadlana-blalii).
Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"Tlc woid 'ialasya' mcans 'oui dcvoiional scivicc' and ilc woid 'iad-anga'
mcans 'dcvoiional scivicc in piaciicc (sadlana-blalii).'"
6 Tlc Vcdic sciipiuics aic manilcsicd again and again. Tlis is dcsciibcd in
ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.3):
piinciplcs cnunciaicd in ilc Vcdas."¯
7 Tlcicloic, in ilis, ilc louiil (2.9.36) ol ilc sccd vciscs ol Siimad
llagavaiam, ilc Supicmc Loid dcsciibcs dcvoiional scivicc in piaciicc (sadlana-
blalii).
S Tlc lollowing cxplanaiions may bc also givcn. In Siimad llagavaiam
2.9.36 ilc woid "aimanal" mcans "ol Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad",
"iaiiva-jijnasuna" mcans "by onc wlo dcsiics io undcisiand ilc sccici ol puic lovc
loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad", "ciavad cva" mcans "onc slould inquiic
liom ilc lcci ol ilc spiiiiual masici". Wlai slould onc do' Tlai is cxplaincd in
ilc woids "anvaya-vyaiiiclablyam yai". "Anvaya" mcans "by pciloiming
picsciibcd aciiviiics", and "vyaiiicla" mcans "by avoiding loibiddcn aciiviiics."
9 Tlc woid "anvaya" is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
7.7.55):
"In ilis maiciial woild, io icndci scivicc io ilc loius lcci ol Govinda, ilc
causc ol all causcs, and io scc Him cvciywlcic, is ilc only goal ol lilc. Tlis mucl
alonc is ilc uliimaic goal ol luman lilc, as cxplaincd by all ilc icvcalcd
sciipiuics."¯
"Anvaya" is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 9.3+ and 1S.65):
"Lngagc youi mind always in ilinling ol Mc, bccomc My dcvoicc, ollci
obcisanccs io Mc and woislip Mc. lcing complcicly absoibcd in Mc, suicly you
will comc io Mc."¯
10 Tlc woid "vyaiiicla" is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.5.2-3):
"Iiom ilc mouil ol bialma, ilc bialmanical oidci las comc inio
cxisicncc. Similaily, liom lis aims ilc lsaiiiyas lavc comc, liom lis waisi ilc
vaisyas lavc comc, and liom lis lcgs ilc sudias lavc comc. Tlcsc loui oidcis and
ilcii spiiiiual counicipaiis (bialmacaiya, gilasila, vanapiasila and sannyasa)
combinc io malc luman sociciy complcic.¯
11 "Il onc simply mainiains an ollicial posiiion in ilc loui vainas and asiamas
bui docs noi woislip ilc Supicmc Loid Visnu, lc lalls down liom lis pullcd-up
posiiion inio a lcllisl condiiion."¯
12 "Vyaiiicla is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 7.15):
"Tlosc miscicanis wlo aic giossly loolisl, wlo aic lowcsi among
manlind, wlosc lnowlcdgc is siolcn by illusion, and wlo paiialc ol ilc ailcisiic
naiuic ol dcmons do noi suiicndci unio Mc."¯
13 "Vyaiiicla" is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Padma Puiana:
"Il a pcison in ilis woild docs noi diinl ilc ncciai dcsciipiions ol Loid
Visnu, wlicl aic ilc swccicsi ol all ncciais, ilcn many lundicds ol iimcs lc musi
ialc biiil in dillcicni maiciial bodics and sullci ilc misciics ol biiil, old agc, and
dcail."
1+ Wlcic slould onc scaicl loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad' Siimad
llagavaiam 2.9.36 says "saivaiia" (onc slould scaicl loi Him cvciywlcic, in all
iimc and spacc). "Lvciywlcic" mcans "in all sciipiuics, pciloimcis ol aciiviiics,
placcs, scnscs, ilings, aciiviiics, duiics and icsulis."
Tlai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad slould bc sougli in all sciipiuics
is dcsciibcd in Slanda Puiana, in a convcisaiion bciwccn lialma and Naiada in
ilcsc woids:
15 "In ilc maiciial woild, wlicl is lull ol dailncss and dangcis, combincd
wiil biiil and dcail and lull ol dillcicni anxiciics, ilc only way io gci oui ol ilc
gicai cnianglcmcni is io acccpi loving iiansccndcnial dcvoiional scivicc io Loid
Vasudcva. Tlis is acccpicd by all classcs ol plilosoplcis."¯
16 "Anvaya" (pciloimancc ol picsciibcd duiics) in iclaiion io ilc Vcdic
sciipiuics is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.3+):
17 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc lollowing vcisc lound in boil Slanda and
Padma Puianas:
"ly sciuiinizingly icvicwing all ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics and judging ilcm
Tiuil, and ilus Hc alonc slould bc woislippcd."¯
1S "Anvaya" (avoidancc ol loibiddcn aciiviiics) is dcsciibcd in ilc Gaiuda
Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"Lvcn ilougl onc may lavc gonc io ilc oilci sidc ol all ilc Vcdas, and
cvcn ilougl onc is wcll vciscd in all ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics, il onc is noi a dcvoicc
ol ilc Supicmc Loid, lc musi bc considcicd ilc lowcsi ol manlind."¯
19 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad slould bc
sougli among all linds ol pciloimcis ol aciion is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 2.7.+6):
"Suiicndcicd souls, cvcn liom gioups lcading sinlul livcs, sucl as womcn,
ilc labouici class, ilc mouniainccis and ilc Sibciians, oi cvcn ilc biids and
bcasis, can also lnow aboui ilc scicncc ol Godlcad and bccomc libciaicd liom ilc
cluiclcs ol ilc illusoiy cncigy by suiicndciing unio ilc puic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid
and by lollowing in ilcii looisicps in dcvoiional scivicc."¯
20 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc Gaiuda Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"Lvcn ilc woims, biids, and bcasis aic assuicd ol clcvaiion io ilc liglcsi
pcilcciional lilc il ilcy aic complcicly suiicndcicd io ilc iiansccndcnial loving
scivicc ol ilc Loid, so wlai io spcal ol ilc plilosoplcis among ilc luman
bcings'"¯
21 All pcoplc, wlcilci wcll-bclavcd, ill-bclavcd, lcaincd, ignoiani,
icnounccd, aiiaclcd, dcsiiing libciaiion, alicady libciaicd, pcilcci in dcvoiional
scivicc, oi noi yci pcilcci in dcvoiional scivicc, aic cligiblc io bccomc ilc Loid's
pcisonal associaics. Ioi ilis icason a dcvoicc sccs cvciyonc, cvcn ilougl ilcy
many noi yci lavc ilc Loid's pcisonal associaiion, cqually, loi ilcy aic all cligiblc
io bccomc ilc Loid's associaics. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
(llagavad-giia 9.30):
22 "Lvcn il onc commiis ilc mosi abominablc aciion, il lc is cngagcd in
dcvoiional scivicc, lc is io bc considcicd sainily bccausc lc is piopcily siiuaicd in
lis dciciminaiion."¯
Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is: "Il ilis is ilc iiuil aboui ilc ill-bclavcd wlo
aic cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc, ilcn wlai can bc said ol ilc wcll-bclavcd wlo
aic cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc'"
23 Tlc Loid alliims ilai boil ilc lcaincd and unlcaincd aic cqually cligiblc io
bccomc His dcvoiccs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.33):
"My dcvoiccs may oi may noi lnow cxacily, bui il ilcy woislip Mc wiil
unalloycd lovc, ilcn I considci ilcm io bc ilc bcsi ol dcvoiccs."¯
2+ Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc lilan-naiadiya Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"As liic buins wlaicvci ii iouclcs, so Loid Haii buins away ilc sins ol
cvcn ilc lools."
25 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad alliims ilai boil ilc icnounccd and
ilc maiciially aiiaclcd aic cqually cligiblc io bccomc His dcvoiccs. Hc says
(11.1+.1S):
"My dcai Uddlava, il My dcvoicc las noi lully conqucicd lis scnscs, lc
may bc laiasscd by maiciial dcsiics, bui bccausc ol lis unllincling dcvoiion loi
Mc, lc will noi bc dclcaicd by scnsc giaiilicaiion."¯¯¯
26 Tlis vcisc mcans: "Il ilis is so, ilcn ilcy wlo aic noi laiasscd by maiciial
dcsiics will cciiainly ncvci bc dclcaicd by scnsc giaiilicaiion." IN ilis way ilis
vcisc is lilc llagavad-giia 9.30.
27 Tlai ilcy wlo dcsiic libciaiion and ilcy wlo lavc alicady aiiain libciaiion
aic boil cligiblc io bccomc dcvoiccs is conliimcd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs. Tlc
liisi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.26) dcsciibcs ilcy wlo aspiic io aiiain
libciaiion:
"Tlosc wlo aic sciious aboui libciaiion aic cciiainly non cnvious, and ilcy
2S Tlc sccond vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 1.7.10) dcsciibcs ilcy wlo aic
alicady libciaicd:
"All dillcicni vaiiciics ol aimaiamas (ilosc wlo ialc plcasuic in aima, oi
spiiii scll), cspccially ilosc csiablislcd on ilc pail ol scll-icalisaiion, ilougl liccd
liom all linds ol maiciial bondagc, dcsiic io icndci unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc
unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis mcans ilai ilc Loid posscsscs
iiansccndcnial qualiiics and ilcicloic can aiiiaci cvciyonc, including libciaicd
souls."¯
29 Tlai boil ilcy wlo lavc aiiaincd pcilcciion in dcvoiional scivicc and ilcy
wlo lavc noi yci aiiaincd pcilcciion in dcvoiional scivicc aic boil cligiblc io scivc
ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs. Tlc liisi vcisc dcsciibcs ilcy
wlo lavc alicady aiiaincd pcilcciion in dcvoiional scivicc (Siimad llagavaiam
6.1.15):
"Only a iaic pcison wlo las adopicd complcic, unalloycd dcvoiional
scivicc io Kisna can upiooi ilc wccds ol sinlul aciions wiil no possibiliiy ilai
ilcy will icvivc. Hc can do ilis simply by disclaiging dcvoiional scivicc, jusi as
ilc sun can immcdiaicly dissipaic log by iis iays."¯
30 Tlc sccond vcisc dcsciibcs ilcy wlo lavc noi yci aiiaincd pcilcciion in
dcvoiional scivicc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.53):
can ncvci loigci ilosc loius lcci in any ciicumsiancc. Hc will noi givc up lis
slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid loi a singlc-momcni-indccd, noi loi lall a
momcni-cvcn in cxclangc loi ilc bcncdiciion ol iuling and cnjoying ilc opulcncc
ilc Vaisnavas."¯
31 Tlcsc dcvoiccs bccomc ilc Loid's pcisonal associaics. Tlis is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 9.+.67):
"My dcvoiccs wlo aic always saiislicd io bc cngagcd in My loving scivicc,
aic noi inicicsicd cvcn in ilc loui piinciplcs ol libciaiion (salolya, saiupya,
samipya and saisii), alilougl ilcsc aic auiomaiically aclicvcd by ilcii scivicc.
Wlai ilcn is io bc said ol sucl pciislablc lappincss as clcvaiion io ilc liglci
planciaiy sysicms'"¯
32 Tlcy bccomc ilc Loid's cicinal associaics. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
"Tlc goddcsscs ol loiiunc woislip ilc Loid in ilcii own gaidcns by
ollciing iulasi lcavcs on ilc coial-pavcd banls ol iiansccndcnial icscivoiis ol
waici. Wlilc ollciing woislip io ilc Loid, ilcy can scc on ilc waici ilc icllcciion
ol ilcii bcauiilul laccs wiil iaiscd noscs, and ii appcais ilai ilcy lavc bccomc
moic bcauiilul bccausc ol ilc Loid's lissing ilcii laccs."¯
33 In Siimad llagavaiam and oilci Vcdic liiciaiuics ii is said ilai by cngaging
in dcvoiional scivicc in any coniincni, planci, oi univcisc, onc may aiiain
pcilcciion. In ilis way ii slould bc undcisiood ilai in any couniiy onc may aiiain
pcilcciion by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc.
3+ Tlai dcvoiional scivicc may bc pciloimcd wiil all ilc scnscs is dcsciibcd
in ilcsc woids:
"Woislipping Loid Haii wiilin ilcii minds, ilc gicai souls aiiain Him, ilc
Loid wlo is bcyond woids and ilc mind."
35 Tlis vcisc piovcs ilai wiil ilc mind, woids, oi cxicinal scnscs, onc may
woislip ilc Loid.
36 Tlc Loid Himscll cxplains ilai onc may woislip Him wiil anyiling. Hc
says (llagavad-giia 9.26):
"Il onc ollcis Mc wiil lovc and dcvoiion a lcal, a llowci, liuii oi waici, I
will acccpi ii."¯
37 All linds ol aciiviiics may bc cmploycd in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid, as
is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.12):
"Puic dcvoiional scivicc icndcicd io ilc supicmc Loid is spiiiiually so
poicni ilai simply by lcaiing aboui sucl iiansccndcnial scivicc, by claniing iis
gloiics in icsponsc, by mcdiiaiing on ii, by icspccilully and laiillully acccpiing ii,
oi by piaising ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol oilcis, cvcn pcisons wlo laic ilc
dcmigods and all oilci living bcings can bc immcdiaicly puiilicd."¯¯¯
3S Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 9.27):
"Wlaicvci you do, wlaicvci you cai, wlaicvci you ollci oi givc away, and
wlaicvci ausiciiiics you pciloim-do ilai, O son ol Kunii as an ollciing io Mc."¯
39 In ilis way, cvcn by cngaging in wlai is only a dim sladow ol ical
dcvoiional scivicc, and cvcn wlcn commiiiing many ollcnscs wlilc cngaging in
sucl a dim sladow ol ical dcvoiional scivicc, onc can siill aiiain ilc ical icsuli ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Ajamila, Musila and many oilcis aic cxamplcs ol ilis.
+0 All linds ol duiics may also bc cmploycd in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc Slanda Puiana:
"I ollci my obcisanccs unio Him, ilc inlalliblc, bccausc simply by ciilci
icmcmbciing Him oi vibiaiing His loly namc onc can aiiain ilc pcilcciion ol all
pcnanccs, saciiliccs oi liuiiivc aciiviiics, and ilis pioccss can bc univcisally
lollowcd."¯
+1 All dcsiics io aiiain cciiain icsulis can also bc cmploycd in dcvoiional
scivicc. Siimad llagavaiam (2.3.10) cxplains:
"A pcison wlo las bioadci iniclligcncc, wlcilci lc bc lull ol all dcsiics,
wiiloui any maiciial dcsiic, oi dcsiiing libciaiion, musi by all mcans woislip ilc
supicmc wlolc, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
+2 ly sciving ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad onc auiomaiically saiislics
all ilc dcmigods. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
+.31.1+):
and cvciyiling clsc and, as supplying lood io ilc siomacl cnlivcns ilc scnscs and
Also in ilc Slanda Puiana, in a convcisaiion bciwccn lialma and Naiada,
ii is said:
+3 "Wlcn ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo caiiics in His
lands, a conclslcll, wlccl, club, and loius llowci, is woislippcd, cciiainly all
oilci dcmigods aic woislippcd auiomaiically, bccausc Haii, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, is all pcivading."¯
++ Tlcicloic onc wlo diiccily cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc, onc wlo donaics
cows oi vaiious ilings so ilcy may piovidc somciling io ollci ilc Loid, onc io
wlom somciling is givcn so ilai gili may bc plcasing io ilc Loid, onc wlo ialcs
mill and oilci ilings liom cows oi oilci living cniiiics io ollci loods io ilc Loid,
and onc in wlosc couniiy oi lamily dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd, all aiiain ilc
pcilcciion ol cngagcmcni in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is sccn in ilc siaicmcnis ol
ilc Puianas. In ilis way an cxamplc las bccn givcn loi cacl ol ilc cascs cmploycd
in Sansliii giammai. In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc
pciloimcd cvciywlcic and in all ciicumsianccs ("saivaiia" as cxplaincd in Siimad
llagavaiam 2.9.36):
+5 Dcvoiional scivicc is cicinally manilcsi. Tlis is conliimcd in Siimad
llagavaiam 2.9.36 in ilc woid "saivada" (always). Dcvoiional scivicc is
manilcsicd ai ilc bcginning ol ilc univcisc's cicaiion. Tlai is conliimcd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.3), wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad Himscll says:
piinciplcs cnunciaicd in ilc Vcdas."¯
Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is manilcsicd duiing ilc middlc pciiod, wlcn ilc
univciscs aic manilcsicd, is conliimcd in many passagcs ol ilc Vcdic liiciaiuics.
+6 Dcvoiional scivicc is picscni cvcn duiing and alici ilc loui linds ol
annililaiions ol ilc maiciial univcisc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing qucsiion
spolcn by Viduia, a qucsiion ilai alliims ilai ilc Loid is scivcd cvcn alici ilc
maiciial univcisc is annililaicd (Siimad llagavaiam 3.7.37):
"Plcasc dcsciibc low many dissoluiions ilcic aic loi ilc clcmcnis ol
maiciial naiuic and wlo suivivcs alici ilc dissoluiions io scivc ilc Loid wlilc Hc
is aslccp."¯
+7 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is picscni in all loui yugas is conliimcd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 12.3..52):
"Wlaicvci icsuli was obiaincd in Saiya-yuga by mcdiiaiing on Visnu, in
Ticia yuga by pciloiming saciiliccs, and in Dvapaia yuga by sciving ilc Loid's
loius lcci can bc obiaincd in Kali yuga simply by claniing ilc Haic Kisna mala-
maniia."¯
+S Wlai moic nccd bc said' Tlc Visnu Puiana cxplains:
"Il cvcn loi a momcni icmcmbiancc ol Vasudcva, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad, is misscd, ilai is ilc gicaicsi loss, ilai is ilc gicaicsi illusion, and
ilai is ilc gicaicsi anomaly."¯
+9 Dcvoiional scivicc may bc pciloimcd in any ciicumsiancc. Lvcn wlilc in
ilc womb Sii Piallada cngagcd in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol lcaiing ilc Loid's
gloiics clanicd by Sii Naiada. In clildlood Sii Dliuva and many oilci cngagcd
in dcvoiional scivicc. In youil Ambaiisa and many oilcis cngagcd in dcvoiional
scivicc. In old agc Dliiaiasiia and many oilcis cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc. Ai
ilc momcni ol dcail Ajamila and many oilcis cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc. In
boil ilc lcavcnly and lcllisl maiciial woilds Ciiialciu and many oilcis cngagcd
in dcvoiional scivicc.
50 Tlc Nisimla Puiana cxplains:
"As ilcy bcgan claniing ilc loly namc ol Loid Haii, ilc icsidcnis ol lcll
suddcnly dcvclopcd loving dcvoiion loi Him. Ai ilai momcni ilcy wcic
iianspoiicd io ilc spiiiiual woild."
51 Tlai claniing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid dclivcis onc liom lcll is also
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids spolcn by Duivasa Muni (Siimad llagavaiam 9.+.62):
"O my Loid, O supicmc coniiollci, wiiloui lnowlcdgc ol Youi unlimiicd
piowcss I lavc ollcndcd Youi mosi dcai dcvoicc. Vciy lindly savc mc liom ilc
icaciion ol ilis ollcnsc. You can do cvciyiling, loi cvcn is a pcison is lii loi lcll,
You can dclivci lim simply by awalcning wiilin lis lcaii ilc loly namc ol Youi
Loidslip."¯
52 Tlc gloiics ol claniing ilc Loid's loly namc aic also dcsciibcd in ilcsc
"O King, consiani claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid alici ilc ways ol
ilc gicai auiloiiiics is ilc doubilcss and lcailcss way ol succcss loi all, including
ilosc wlo aic licc liom all maiciial dcsiics, ilosc wlo aic dcsiious ol all maiciial
cnjoymcni, and also ilosc wlo aic scll-saiislicd by dini ol iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc."¯
53 "Vyaiiicla (avoiding wlai is loibiddcn) is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
passagc liom boil ilc lilan-naiada Puiana and ilc Padma Puiana:
"Wlai is ilc usc ol siudying ilc Vcdas' Wlai is ilc usc ol siudying oilci
sciipiuics' Wlai is ilc usc ol going on pilgiimagcs' Wlai is ilc usc ol piaciicing
ausiciiiics' Wlai is ilc usc ol pciloiming saciiliccs' Wlai is ilc usc ol ilcsc
ilings io ilcy wlo lavc no dcvoiion io Loid Visnu'
"Wlai is ilc usc ol siudying many sciipiuics' Wlai is ilc usc ol
pciloiming many saciiliccs' Wlai is ilc usc ol pciloiming a ilousand vajapcya-
yajnas' Wlai is ilc usc ol ilcsc ilings io a pcison lillcd wiil dcvoiion io Loid
Kisna, ilc savioui liom misciics'"
5+ Tlai all linds ol spiiiiual aciiviiics aic usclcss wiiloui dcvoiional scivicc is
also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.+.17):
"Lci mc ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio ilc all-auspicious Loid Sii
Kisna again and again bccausc ilc gicai lcaincd sagcs, ilc gicai pciloimcis ol
claiiiy, ilc gicai woilcis ol disiinciion, ilc gicai plilosoplcis and mysiics, ilc
gicai clanicis ol ilc Vcdic lymns and ilc gicai lollowcis ol Vcdic piinciplcs
cannoi aclicvc any liuiilul icsulis wiiloui dcdicaiion ol sucl gicai qualiiics io ilc
scivicc ol ilc Loid."¯
55 Tlai is also conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.19.23):
"An iniclligcni pcison docs noi ialc inicicsi in a placc, cvcn in ilc iopmosi
planciaiy sysicm, il ilc puic Gangcs ol iopics conccining ilc Supicmc Loid's
aciiviiics docs noi llow ilcic, il ilcic aic noi dcvoiccs cngagcd in scivicc on ilc
banls ol sucl a iivci ol piciy, oi il ilcic aic no lcsiivals ol sanliiiana-yajna io
saiisly ilc Loid (cspccially sincc sanliiiana yajna is iccommcndcd in ilis agc)."¯
56 Tlai is again conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.59.+1):
"Lvcn alici India lad bowcd down io Loid Acyuia, iouclcd His lcci wiil
ilc iips ol lis ciown and bcggcd ilc Loid io lullil lis dcsiic, ilai cxalicd dcmigod
laving aclicvcd lis puiposc, closc io ligli wiil ilc Supicmc Loid. Wlai
ignoiancc ilcic is among ilc gods! To lcll wiil ilcii opulcncc!"¯¯¯
57 Tlai ilc dcvoiccs aic inicicsicd only in dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in
"A puic dcvoicc docs noi acccpi any lind ol libciaiion-salolya, saisii,
samipya, saiupya oi claiva-cvcn ilougl ilcy aic ollcicd by ilc Supicmc
5S Tlai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is plcascd only by dcvoiional
scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.52):
"My dcai liicnds, O sons ol ilc dcmons, you cannoi plcasc ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by bccoming pcilcci bialmanas, dcmigods, oi gicai sainis
oi by bccoming pcilccily good in ciiquciic oi vasi lcaining. Nonc ol ilcsc
qualilicaiions can awalcn ilc plcasuic ol ilc Loid. Noi by claiiiy, ausiciiiy,
saciilicc, clcanlincss oi vows can onc saiisly ilc Loid. Tlc Loid is plcascd only il
onc las unllincling, unalloycd dcvoiion io Him. Wiiloui sinccic dcvoiional
scivicc, cvciyiling is simply a slow."¯
59 Tlai only dcvoiional scivicc las valuc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.5.12):
Loid'"¯
60 Tlai ilc dcvoiccs aic inicicsicd only in dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.15.+S):
"Pcisons wlo aic vciy cxpcii and mosi iniclligcni in undcisianding ilings
as ilcy aic cngagc in lcaiing naiiaiions ol ilc auspicious aciiviiics and pasiimcs ol
ilc Loid, wlicl aic woiil claniing and woiil lcaiing. Sucl pcisons do noi caic
cvcn loi ilc liglcsi maiciial bcncdiciion, namcly libciaiion, io say noiling ol
oilci lcss impoiiani bcncdiciions lilc ilc maiciial lappincss ol ilc lcavcnly
lingdom."¯
61 Tlc siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam 2.9.36, ilai onc slould always
(saivada) and cvciywlcic (saivaiia) cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc, is conliimcd by
ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.36):
"O King, ii is ilcicloic csscniial ilai cvciy luman bcing lcai aboui, gloiily
cvciywlcic."¯
62 Tlc siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam 2.9.36, ilai onc slould cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc by pciloiming picsciibcd aciiviiics (anvaya) and avoiding
loibiddcn aciiviiics (vyaiiicla), is luiilci cxplaincd by ilcsc woids liom ilc
Padma Puiana:
63 Tlc siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam 2.9.36, ilai onc slould cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc always (saivada) and cvciywlcic (saivaiia) by pciloiming
picsciibcd aciiviiics (anvaya) and avoiding loibiddcn aciiviiics (vyaiiicla), is
luiilci cxplaincd by ilcsc woids liom Siimad llagavaiam (2.2.33 and 2.2.36):
"Ioi ilosc wlo aic wandciing in ilc maiciial univcisc, ilcic is no moic
scivicc ol Loid Kisna."¯
6+ "O King, ii is ilcicloic csscniial ilai cvciy luman bcing lcai aboui, gloiily
cvciywlcic."¯
65 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "ninam" mcans "ol ilc living cniiiics". Tlc living
cniiiics aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.20):
"Tlc individual living cniiiy, cvcn ilougl lc livcs wiilin maiciial bodics
cicaicd by lis laima, is aciually spiiiiual and bcyond boil gioss and subilc maiici.
O Loid, O masici ol all poicncics, ilc Vcdas say lc is Youi paii and paiccl. Awaic
ilai ilis is ilc naiuic ol ilc living cniiiics, ilc gicai sagcs laiillully woislip Youi
lcci, wlicl aic woislippcd in Vcdic yajnas, and wlicl giani libciaiion."
Tlc living cniiiy aiiains dillcicni dcsiinaiions as a icsuli ol lis aciiviiics.
ly cngaging in liuiiivc aciiviiics (laima), lc aiiains anoilci maiciial body. ly
cngaging in yoga lc aiiains mysiic pcilcciions. ly cngaging in ilc siudy ol
sanllya plilosoply lc aiiains lnowlcdgc ol ilc spiiii soul. ly cngaging in jnana-
yoga lc aiiains impcisonal libciaiion. In ilis way, by pciloiming dillcicni
aciiviiics dcsciibcd in ilc sciipiuics, lc aiiains dillcicni icsulis.
ly always (saivada) and cvciywlcic (saivaiia) cngaging in dcvoiional
scivicc by pciloiming picsciibcd aciiviiics (anvaya) and avoiding loibiddcn
aciiviiics (vyaiiicla), lc aiiains a gloiious sccici (ialasya) ilai is liddcn liom ilc
pciccpiion ol ilcy wlo aic cngagcd in jnana-yoga.
66 Tlai ilc living cniiiics slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc is conliimcd by
ilc lollowing woids. As Sii Naiada was aboui io cxplain ilc scicncc ol Siimad
llagavaiam, Sii lialma gavc lim ilc lollowing insiiuciion (Siimad llagavaiam
2.7.52):
"Plcasc dcsciibc ilc scicncc ol Godlcad wiil dciciminaiion and in a
mannci by wlicl ii will bc quiic possiblc loi ilc luman bcing io dcvclop
iiansccndcnial dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Haii, ilc
Supcisoul ol cvciy living bcing and ilc summum bonum souicc ol all cncigics."¯
67 Hcic ilc woid "blavisyaii" mcans "will incviiably bc", "iii" iclcis io ilc
pail ol dcvoiional scivicc, and "sanlalpya" mcans "by acccpiing cciiain
icsiiiciions". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii lialma io Sii Naiada.
Anuccheda 116
1 In oidci ilai ilc gicai Puiana (Siimad llagavaiam) bc icvcalcd, Sii Naiada
gavc ilc lollowing insiiuciion (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.13):
"O Vyasadcva, youi vision is complcicly pcilcci. Youi good lamc is
spoilcss. You aic liim in vow and siiuaicd in iiuillulncss. And ilus you can
ilinl ol ilc pasiimcs ol ilc Loid in iiancc loi ilc libciaiion ol ilc pcoplc in
gcncial liom all maiciial bondagc."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "ailo" mcans "ilcicloic". Tlis vcisc immcdiaicly lollows
"Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcni ilougl licc liom all maiciial alliniiy,
Loid'"¯
In Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.13 ilc woids "anusmaia iad-viccsiiiam"
(ilinling ol ilc pasiimcs ol ilc Loid) dcsciibc puic and unbiolcn dcvoiional
scivicc.
Anuccheda 117
1 Ai ilc conclusion ol ilis insiiuciion io Vyasa, Sii Naiada said (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.5.+0):
"Plcasc, ilcicloic, dcsciibc ilc Almigliy Loid's aciiviiics wlicl you lavc
lcaincd by youi vasi lnowlcdgc ol ilc Vcdas, loi ilai will saiisly ilc lanlciings ol
gicai lcaincd mcn and ai ilc samc iimc miiigaic ilc misciics ol ilc masscs ol
common pcoplc wlo aic always sullciing liom maiciial pangs. Indccd, ilcic is no
oilci way io gci oui ol sucl misciics."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "vidam" mcans "ol gicai lcaincd mcn". Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Sii Naiada io Sii Vyasa.
Anuccheda 118
1 In ilc bcginning ol Siimad llagavaiam, Sii Vyasa dcclaicd dcvoiional
scivicc io bc ilc liglcsi good. In a vision lc lad duiing a mysiic iiancc, a vision
ilai las alicady bccn discusscd in ilc Taiiva-sandaibla, lc also saw ilc iiuil ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Wlai lc saw is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.7.+):
"Tlus lc lixcd lis mind, pcilccily cngaging ii by linling ii in dcvoiional
scivicc (blalii-yoga) wiiloui any iingc ol maiciialism, and ilus lc saw ilc
Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad along wiil His cxicinal cncigy, wlicl was undci
lull coniiol."¯
2 In Siimad llagavaiam 11.19.30 Uddlava aslcd ilc Loid, "Wlai is ilc
gicaicsi aiiainmcni'" and ilc Loid icplicd, "Dcvoiion io Mc is ilc gicaicsi
aiiainmcni." Tlc mcaning ol ilcsc vciscs is clcai. Tlc lasi vcisc was spolcn by
Anuccheda 119
1 (Tlc impoiiancc ol dcvoiional scivicc is also sccn in ilc ncxi vcisc.
Unlappy cvcn alici compiling ilc Vcdas), Vyasadcva icllccis on (wlai may lavc
bccn ilc causc ol His unlappincss). Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 1.+.31):
"Tlis may bc bccausc I did noi spccilically poini oui ilc dcvoiional scivicc
ol ilc Loid, wlicl is dcai boil io pcilcci bcings and ilc inlalliblc Loid."¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Ii was spolcn by Sii Vyasa.
Anuccheda 120
1 ly ilis insiiuciion ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc icaclci ol all,
says ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc mosi cxalicd ol all spiiiiual pails. Tlis is also
conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.16.+0):
"O unconquciablc onc, wlcn You spolc aboui blagavaia-dlaima, wlicl is
ilc unconiaminaicd icligious sysicm loi aclicving ilc slclici ol Youi loius lcci,
ilai was Youi vicioiy. Pcisons wlo lavc no maiciial dcsiics, lilc ilc Kumaias,
wlo aic scll saiislicd sagcs, woislip You io bc libciaicd liom maiciial
coniaminaiion. In oilci woids, ilcy acccpi ilc pioccss ol blagavaia-dlaima io
aclicvc slclici ai Youi loius lcci."¯
2 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "jiiam" mcans "conqucicd by You", and "ala" mcans
"You spolc." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Ciiialciu io Sii Sanlaisana.
Anuccheda 121
1 In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai onc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc. In
many placcs in ilc sciipiuics dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil liuiiivc woil oi oilci
aciiviiics is dcsciibcd. Tlis is donc so ilai ilcy wlo lavc laiil in ilcsc oilci
spiiiiual pails may comc inio coniaci wiil dcvoiional scivicc and ilus aiiain ilc
ical goal ol lilc. Wlcn ilcy ilus iasic ilc ncciai lappincss ol sciving ilc Loid
ilcy will bccomc dcvoiccs and always cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc.
Picviously wc lad cxplaincd ilc gloiics ol dcvoiional scivicc and
dcmonsiiaicd ilai ii slould bc pciloimcd in all siiuaiions. Now wc will cxplain
ilai dcvoiional scivicc slould bc pciloimcd by cvciyonc, ilai ilc dcvoiccs slould
do dcvoiional scivicc only and noi anyiling clsc, ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc
liglcsi icligion, and ilai dcvoiional scivicc lullils all dcsiics.
2 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc liglcsi icligion is conliimcd by ilc lollowing
3 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc lullils all dcsiics is conliimcd by ilcsc woids
+ Tlc cxalicd naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids,
wlcic ilc Loid Himscll says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.15.35):
"My dcai Uddlava, I am ilc causc, ilc pioiccioi and ilc Loid ol all mysiic
pcilcciions, ol ilc yoga sysicm, ol analyiic lnowlcdgc, ol ilc puic aciiviiics ol
dcvoiional scivicc, and ol ilc communiiy ol lcaincd Vcdic icaclcis."
5 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc liglcsi icligion is conliimcd in ilc Slanda
Puiana, wlcic in a convcisaiion bciwccn Sanai-lumaia and Mailandcya Muni ii is
said:
"Tlc icligion ol woislipping Loid Visnu is ilc bcsi ol all icligions.
Woislipping Loid Visnu biings a icsuli many millions ol iimcs gicaici ilan onc
can aiiain by pciloiming all yajnas, ausiciiiics and lomas, and by bailing in all
loly placcs. Tlcicloic onc slould, wiil all lis cncigy, woislip Loid Naiayana in
ilis woild."
6 Again in ilc Slanda Puiana, in a convcisaiion bciwccn lialma and
Naiada, ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is givcn:
"A pcison wlo pciloims many ilousands ol ilousands ol asvamcdla-
yajnas docs noi aiiain ilc samc icsuli aiiaincd by My dcvoiccs."
7 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all inauspiciousncss is cxplaincd by ilcsc
"Tlc pail lollowcd by puic dcvoiccs, wlo aic wcll bclavcd and lully
cndowcd wiil ilc bcsi qualilicaiions, is cciiainly ilc mosi auspicious pail in ilis
maiciial woild. Ii is licc liom lcai, and ii is auiloiiscd by ilc sasiias."¯
S Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis: "Dcvoiional scivicc is noi lilc ilc pail ol
impcisonal spcculaiion (jnana), wlicl biings onc lcai by convincing onc noi io
scivc ilc Loid. Noi is dcvoiional scivicc lilc ilc pail ol liuiiivc woil (laima)
wlicl biings lcai bccausc ii caiiics wiil ii cnvy and a losi ol oilci viccs."
9 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all inauspiciousncss is also alliimcd by ilc
Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids liom ilc Slanda Puiana, Dvaiala-malaimya:
"Tlcy wlo cngagc in My dcvoiional scivicc will ncvci lind
inauspiciousncss , ciilci in ilis woild oi ilc ncxi. Indccd, ilcy pcisonally caiiy
many millions ol ilcii lamily mcmbcis io ilc spiiiiual woild."
10 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all inauspiciousncss is also dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids ol ilc Visnu Puiana:
"I always ialc slclici ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Haii,
wlo is ilc abodc ol all auspiciousncss."
11 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all obsiaclcs io spiiiiual advanccmcni is
conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.2.33):
"O Madlava, Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid ol ilc goddcss ol
loiiunc, il dcvoiccs complcicly in lovc wiil You somciimcs lall liom ilc pail ol
dcvoiion, ilcy do noi lall lilc non dcvoiccs, loi You siill pioicci ilcm. Tlus ilcy
lcailcssly iiavcisc ilc lcads ol ilcii opponcnis and coniinuc io piogicss in
dcvoiional scivicc."¯
12 Tlc vcisc immcdiaicly picccding ilis cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam
10.2.32):
Tlis mcans ilai cvcn ilougl ilcy may aiiain impcisonal libciaiion,
bccausc ilcy do noi woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ilc
impcisonalisis aic liusiiaicd in aiiaining ilc supicmc goal ol lilc. Tlc dcvoiccs,
lowcvci, aic noi liusiiaicd in ilcii aiicmpi io aiiain ilc ical goal ol lilc. Tlis
vcisc says; "Lvcn ilougl ilc impcisonalisis may asccnd io impcisonal lialman
icalisaiion, ilcy lowcvci, again lall down. O Loid, Youi dcvoiccs, lowcvci, do
noi lall down liom ilcii cngagcmcni in ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc io You.
How can ilcy abandon You, ilc goal ol ilcii livcs'" Tlai is ilc mcaning.
13 Ii may bc obscivcd ilai Viiia, Gajcndia, llaiaia, and many oilcis lcll
down liom an cxalicd lilc in dcvoiional scivicc. Howcvci, bccausc ilcii dcsiic io
cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc lollowcd ilcm io ilcii ncxi biiil, ilcy uliimaicly
aiiaincd succcss.
Tlc impcisonalisis, lowcvci, do noi iciain ilc dcsiic loi spiiiiual
advanccmcni wlcn ilcy lall down. Tlcii dcsiics bccomc maiciial. Tlcii posiiion
is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids liom ilc Vasana-blasya:
"Alici ilcy aiiain lialman libciaiion ilc impcisonalisis again lall down,
loi ilcy aic ollcndcis io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc maici ol
all inconccivablc poicncics."
1+ In ilis way ilc impcisonalisis bccomc lillcd wiil maiciial dcsiics and lall
down liom lialman libciaiion. Tlai is clcaily dcsciibcd in ilis vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam 10.2.32). Tlis vcisc implics, "O Loid, Youi dcvoiccs, lowcvci, do
noi lall down." Tlai ilc impcisonalisis do lall down and ilc dcvoiccs do noi lall
down aic boil lacis ol cqual cciiainiy. Tlcy aic iiuc wiiloui doubi. Tlis vcisc
implics, "O Loid, bccausc ilc dcvoiccs lovc You, and bccausc ilcy lavc laiil in
ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc (sadlana-blalii), ilcy do noi lall down."
15 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all obsiaclcs io spiiiiual piogicss is also
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.+.10):
abodc. Tlosc wlo ollci ilc dcmigods ilcii assigncd slaic in saciilicial
pioiccioi ol Youi dcvoicc, lc is ablc io sicp ovci ilc lcad ol wlaicvci obsiaclc ilc
dcmigods placc bcloic lim."¯¯¯
16 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all obsiaclcs io spiiiiual piogicss is again
"O King, onc wlo acccpis ilis pioccss ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc
iunning wiil cycs closcd, lc will ncvci iiip oi lall."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 122
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all obsiaclcs io spiiiiual piogicss is
conliimcd by ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
3.21.2+):
"My dcai isi, O lcadci ol ilc living cniiiics, loi ilosc wlo scivc Mc in
dcvoiion by woislipping Mc, cspccially pcisons lilc you wlo lavc givcn up
cvciyiling unio Mc, ilcic is ncvci any qucsiion ol liusiiaiion."¯
2 Hcic ilc woids "mayi sangibliiaimanam" mcan "ilcii lcaiis aic lixcd on
Mc".
Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all obsiaclcs io spiiiiual piogicss is again
conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1S):
"My dcai Uddlava, il My dcvoicc las noi lully conqucicd lis scnsc, lc may
bc laiasscd by maiciial dcsiics, bui bccausc ol lis unllincling dcvoiion loi Mc, lc
will noi bc dclcaicd by scnsc giaiilicaiion."¯
3 Tlc woid "badlayamanal" in Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1S mcans ilai ilc
ncoplyic dcvoicc somciimcs icmcmbcis ilc Loid and bccomcs aiiiacicd io Him.
Tlai is wlai slould bc undcisiood lcic.
Tlai ilc dcvoicc is noi dclcaicd in lis aiicmpis ai spiiiiual advanccmcni is
also, conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.20.27):
wiil all maiciial aciiviiics, lnowing ilai all scnsc-giaiilicaiion lcads io misciy, bui
lappy and woislip Mc wiil gicai laiil and conviciion. Lvcn ilougl lc is
giaiilicaiion lcads io a misciablc icsuli, and lc sinccicly icpcnis sucl
aciiviiics."¯¯¯
In ilis way ilc dcvoicc lumbly piays io ilc Loid and pciscvcics in lis
aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis
anucclcda was spolcn by Sii Suladcva io Sii Kaidama.
Anuccheda 123
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all lcais obiaincd liom wiclcd living
cniiiics oi oilci souiccs ol lcai is conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
7.5.+3-++):
"Hiianyalasipu could noi lill lis son by iliowing lim bcncail ilc lcci ol
big clcplanis, iliowing lim among lugc, lcailul snalcs, cmploying dcsiiuciivc
spclls, luiling lim liom ilc iop ol a lill, conjuiing up illusoiy iiicls,
adminisiciing poison, siaiving lim, cxposing lim io scvcic colds, winds, liic and
waici, oi iliowing lcavy sioncs io ciusl lim. Wlcn Hiianyalasipu lound ilai lc
could noi in any way laim Piallada, wlo was complcicly sinlcss, lc was in gicai
anxiciy aboui wlai io do ncxi."¯
2 In ilc Visnu Puiana, Sii Piallada limscll said:
"Llcplanis wiil iusls laid as ilundcibolis aiiaclcd mc, bui I icmaincd
unluii."
Also in Siimad llagavaiam (10.6.3) ii is said:
"My dcai King, wlcicvci pcoplc in any posiiion pciloim ilcii occupaiional
duiics ol dcvoiional scivicc by claniing and lcaiing (siavanam liiianam visnol),
ilcic cannoi bc any dangci liom bad clcmcnis. Tlcicloic ilcic was no nccd loi
anxiciy aboui Golula wlilc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad was pcisonally
picscni."¯
3 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Sii lilan-naiada
Puiana:
"No obsiaclcs can siop onc wlo woislips Loid Visnu. Nciilci lings, noi
ilicvcs, noi discascs can iioublc lim. Picias, pisacas, lusmandas, gialas,
balagialas, dalinis, and ialsasas cannoi laim lim."
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii
Naiada io Sii Yudlisiliia.
Anuccheda 12+
1 Tlai ilcy wlo aic cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc aic always licc ol lcais is
again conliimcd by ilc lollowing ilcioiical qucsiion (Siimad llagavaiam
3.22.37):
"Tlcicloic, O Viduia, low can pcisons complcicly undci ilc slclici ol
Loid Kisna in dcvoiional scivicc bc pui inio misciics pciiaining io ilc body, ilc
mind, naiuic, and oilci mcn and living cicaiuics'"¯
2 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Gaiuda Puiana:
"Nciilci Duivasa's cuisc noi India's ilundciboli lavc ilc powci io laim a
dcvoicc wlo lccps Loid Kisna in lis lcaii."
Maiiicya io Sii Viduia.
Anuccheda 125
1 Dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys boil ilc sullciings cicaicd by sins alicady
commiiicd and ilc dcsiic io commii sins in ilc luiuic. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilcsc
"My dcai Uddlava, jusi as a blazing liic iuins liicwood inio aslcs,
similaily, dcvoiion unio Mc complcicly buins io aslcs sins commiiicd by My
dcvoiccs."¯
"Tlis vcisc mcans, "As (yaila) a gicai blazing liic (agnil) buins liicwood
io aslcs, so dcvoiional scivicc io Mc (mad-visaya blaliil), wlicl I lavc now
dcsciibcd buins away all sins." In ilis way ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
dcsciibcs ilc gloiy and wondci ol dcvoiional scivicc. Hc says, "O Uddlava, plcasc
lcai ilis gicai wondci."
3 Hcic ilc cxamplc ol a gicai liic is givcn. In ilis cxamplc ilc liic is gicai.
Howcvci, cvcn il ilc liic ol dcvoiional scivicc is noi vciy gicai ii will siill buin
away all sins.
+ In ilc Padma Puiana, Paiala-llanda, Vaisalla-malaimya ii is also said:
"As a blazing liic buins liicwood io aslcs, so in a singlc momcni dcvoiional
scivicc io ilc Loid buins away all sins."
5 Tlis is again conliimcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.2.15):
"Il onc clanis ilc loly namc ol Haii and ilcn dics bccausc ol an accidcnial
misloiiunc, sucl as lalling liom ilc iop ol a lousc, slipping and sullciing biolcn
boncs wlilc iiavclling on ilc ioad, bcing biiicn by a scipcni, bcing alllicicd wiil
pain and ligl lcvci, oi bcing injuicd by a wcapon, onc is immcdiaicly absolvcd
liom laving io cnici lcllisl lilc, cvcn ilougl lc is sinlul."¯
Hcic ilc poicniial mood (vidli-lin) is undcisiood alilougl noi cxpicsscd.
Tlc scnicnccs bcginning "pusa piapisila-blagal", and "yad agncyo siala-palo
blavaii" (liom ilc Yajui Vcda) aic cxamplcs ol ilc poicniial bcing undcisiood
alilougl noi cxpicsscd.
6 Tlc valuc ol lcaiing aboui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also
"O dcsccndcni ol King llaiaia, onc wlo dcsiics io bc licc liom all misciics
musi lcai aboui, gloiily, and also icmcmbci ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
ilc Supcisoul, ilc coniiollci, and ilc savioui liom all misciics."¯
7 Tlc woid "iasmai" lcic indicaics ilc icason loi lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc
Loid. Ii would bc wiong io say ilcic is no icason io lcai ilcm. Tlc bcnclii
dciivcd liom lcaiing ilc Loid's gloiics is noi dcpcndcni on lollowing a losi ol
iulcs and icgulaiions. ly iis own naiuic, ilc lcaiing ol ilc Loid's gloiics biings
ilc gicai bcnclii dcsciibcd lcic, jusi as by iis own naiuic, a liic buins liicwood io
aslcs. Tlis was dcsciibcd in ilc Siimad llagavaiam vcisc quoicd in ilc
bcginning ol ilis anucclcda.
S Tlai ilc pciloimancc ol dcvoiional scivicc is noi dcpcndcni on caiclul
aiicniion io a losi ol iulcs and icgulaiions is also sccn in ilcsc woids (Siimad
9 Tlc Siimad llagavaiam vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda
also icluics ilc idca ilai a long dclay siands bciwccn ilc bcginning ol dcvoiional
scivicc and ilc aiiainmcni ol iis icsulis. Tlai ilcic is no sucl dclay is also
conliimcd in ilc quoic liom Padma Puiana in icxi +, wlicl says "iai-lsanai"
(dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all sins in a singlc momcni).
Anuccheda 126
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc biings immcdiaic icsulis is also conliimcd in ilcsc
"Only a iaic pcison wlo las adopicd complcic, unalloycd dcvoiional
scivicc io Kisna can upiooi ilc wccds ol sinlul aciions wiil no possibiliiy ilai
ilcy will icvivc. Hc can do ilis simply by disclaiging dcvoiional scivicc, jusi as
ilc sun can immcdiaicly dissipaic log by iis iays."¯
"Tlis vcisc dcsciibcs a iaic and cxalicd siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc
woid 'lcvalaia' mcans 'noi mixcd wiil ilc aciiviiics ol ilc pail ol ausiciiiy oi any
oilci spiiiiual pail'. 'Vasudcva-paiayana' mcans 'noi laving laiil in any oilci
pail.' Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic."
3 Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai as ilc sun (blaslaial) dissipaics log (nilaiam)
wiil iis iays, so a dcvoicc (vasudcva-paiayanal) upioois ilc wccds ol sinlul
aciions by pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc (blaliya).
Anuccheda 127
1 Tlai onc bccomcs puiilicd by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in
"My dcai King, il a sinlul pcison cngagcs in ilc scivicc ol a bona lidc
dcvoicc ol ilc Loid and ilus lcains low io dcdicaic lis lilc unio ilc loius lcci ol
Kisna, lc can bc complcicly puiilicd. Onc cannoi bc puiilicd mcicly by
undcigoing ausiciiiy, pcnancc, bialmacaiya and ilc oilci mcilods ol aioncmcni I
lavc picviously dcsciibcd."¯
"Tlis vcisc alliims ilai dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid is bciici ilan ilc
pail ol impcisonal spcculaiion. Onc is noi puiilicd by lollowing ilc pail ol
spcculaiion (na iaila puyaic). Howcvci a pcison wlo las dcdicaicd lis lilc io
Loid Kisna is puiilicd by sciving ilc Supicmc Loid (iai-puiusa-niscvaya)."
3 Aioncmcni aiiaincd by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc is bciici ilan
aioncmcni aiiaincd by impcisonal spcculaiion. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 6.1.11):
"My dcai King, sincc acis mcani io ncuiialisc impious aciions aic also
liuiiivc, ilcy will noi iclcasc onc liom ilc icndcncy io aci liuiiivcly. Pcisons wlo
subjcci ilcmsclvcs io ilc iulcs and icgulaiions ol aioncmcni aic noi ai all
iniclligcni. Indccd, ilcy aic in ilc modc ol dailncss. Unlcss onc is liccd liom ilc
modc ol ignoiancc, iiying io couniciaci onc aciion iliougl anoilci is usclcss
bccausc ilis will noi upiooi onc's dcsiics. Tlus cvcn ilougl onc may supcilicially
sccm pious, lc will undoubicdly bc pionc io aci impiously. Tlcicloic ical
aioncmcni is cnliglicnmcni in pcilcci lnowlcdgc, Vcdania, by wlicl onc
undcisiands ilc Supicmc Absoluic Tiuil."¯
Tlcsc woids aic claboiaicly cxplaincd in Siila Siidlaia Svami's
commcniaiy.
+ Siimad llagavaiam (6.13.17) cxplains:
"India's sins wcic diminislcd by ilc inllucncc ol Rudia, ilc dcmigod ol all
diicciions. lccausc India was pioiccicd by ilc goddcss ol loiiunc, Loid Visnu's
wilc, wlo icsidcs in ilc loius clusicis ol Manasa-saiovaia Lalc, India's sins could
noi allcci lim. India was uliimaicly iclicvcd ol all ilc icaciions ol lis sinlul dccds
by siiicily woislipping Loid Visnu. Tlcn lc was callcd bacl io ilc lcavcnly
plancis by ilc bialmanas and icinsiaicd in lis posiiion."¯
Tlis mcans ilai by mcdiiaiing on Loid Visnu, India bccamc liccd liom ilc
impious icsuli aiiaincd by lilling ilc bialmana Viiiasuia.
Siimad llagavaiam (6.13.1S) ilcn cxplains:
"O ling, wlcn Loid India icaclcd ilc lcavcnly plancis, ilc sainily
bialmanas appioaclcd lim and piopcily iniiiaicd lim inio a loisc saciilicc
(asvamcdla-yajna) mcani io plcasc ilc Supicmc Loid."¯
Wc may noic ilai oidinaiy pcoplc ilinl onc musi pciloim an asvamcdla-
yajna io bccomc gcnuincly liccd liom ilc icsulis ol sins.
5 Hcic somconc may asl: "Wly is ii by woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad India was ablc io bccomc liccd liom ilc sin ol lilling ilc gicai
dcvoicc Viiiasuia, wlo was siiuaicd in ilc plailoim ol puic lovc loi ilc Loid' Ii
is gcncially undcisiood ilai onc bccomcs liccd liom a gicai ollcnsc only by ciilci
cxpciicncing ilc punislmcni ilai is iis piopci icsuli, oi by iccciving ilc mcicy ol
ilc Loid ol His dcvoicc."
Tlis objcciion is answcicd in ilc lollowing woids: Tlc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad oidcicd India io lill Viiia, and ilcicloic ilcic is aciually
no lauli on India's paii. Woislipping ilc Loid was ilcicloic sullicicni aioncmcni
loi India. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad oidcicd India io lill Viiia so
Viiia could bccomc liccd liom laving a dcmon's body. Tlcicloic India is noi ai
lauli lcic.
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Siila
Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 128
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs ilc icsulis ol pasi sins is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 3.33.6-7):
"To say noiling ol ilc spiiiiual advanccmcni ol pcisons wlo scc ilc
Supicmc Pcison lacc io lacc, cvcn a pcison boin in a lamily ol dog-caicis
immcdiaicly bccomcs cligiblc io pciloim Vcdic saciiliccs il lc oncc uiicis ilc loly
namc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad oi clanis aboui Him, lcais aboui
His pasiimcs, ollcis Him obcisanccs oi cvcn icmcmbcis Him."¯
2 "Ol, low gloiious aic ilcy wlosc iongucs aic claniing Youi loly namc!
Lvcn il boin in ilc lamilics ol dog-caicis, sucl pcisons aic woislippablc. Pcisons
wlo clani ilc loly namc ol Youi Loidslip musi lavc cxccuicd all linds ol
ausiciiiics and liic saciiliccs and aclicvcd all ilc good manncis ol ilc Aiyans. To
bc claniing ilc loly namc ol Youi Loidslip, ilcy musi lavc bailcd ai loly placcs
ol pilgiimagc, siudicd ilc Vcdas and lullillcd cvciyiling icquiicd."¯
3 Tlc woid 'svadal' lcic mcans 'a mcmbci ol ilc dogcaici-casic'. Tlc
diciionaiy dclincs ilc woid 'svadal' as 'a pcison wlo picscnily cais dog's llcsl, as
cainivoious animals cai ilc llcsl ol vaiious cicaiuics'. Tlc woid 'svadal' lcic,
lowcvci, iclcis io a pcison wlo in ilc pasi aic dog's llcsl, pciloimcd aioncmcni
loi ilai sin, and docs noi cai dog's llcsl in ilc picscni. Tlis sccond mcaning is
ilc common usagc ol ilc woid 'svadal'. Tlc iulc 'iudlii yogam apalaiaii'
(cusiomaiy usagc ialcs picccdcncc ovci diciionaiics and ciymology), lcic cclipscs
ilc diciionaiy dcliniiion. In ilis way ilc woid 'svadal' is dclincd lcic.
+ Hcic ilc woid 'savanaya' iclcis io ilc soma-yajna. Simply by oncc lcaiing
ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid onc bccomcs licc liom pasi sins and ilc low biiil ilcy
lavc biougli and bccomcs qualilicd io pciloim ilc soma-yajna. Tlai is ilc
mcaning lcic.
5 Il ilis is iiuc cvcn loi dogcaicis ilai bccomc dcvoiccs, ilcn low mucl
moic iiuc is ii loi dcvoiccs ilai comc liom pious baclgiounds' Siimad
llagavaiam (11.1+.21) cxplains:
"Only by piaciicing unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc wiil lull laiil in Mc can
onc obiain Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. I am naiuially dcai io My
dcvoiccs, wlo ialc Mc as ilc only goal ol ilcii loving scivicc. ly cngaging in sucl
puic dcvoiional scivicc, cvcn ilc dogcaicis can puiily ilcmsclvcs liom ilc
coniaminaiion ol ilcii low biiil."¯
6 ly cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc a dogcaici bccomcs puiilicd ol ilc
coniaminaiion biougli by lis pasi sins and lc also aiiains ilc qualiiics nccdcd io
pciloim a yajna. In ilis way lc is qualilicd io pciloim a yajna. A boy boin in a
bialmana lamily is noi auiomaiically qualilicd io pciloim yajnas. Hc is only
qualilicd wlcn lc aiiains sainily qualiiics and wlcn lc is piopcily iniiiaicd. A
pcison boin in a bialmana lamily ilus musi undcigo an claboiaic pioccduic io
bccomc qualilicd io pciloim a yajna. A dcvoicc, lowcvci, is auiomaiically
qualilicd. Tlcicloic a dcvoicc is moic woiily ol iccciving woislip ilan is a
bialmana. Tlis is conliimcd by Siila Siidlaia Svami, wlo commcnis lcic, "Tlis
siaicmcni dcclaics ilai a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is supicmcly woiily ol iccciving
woislip." In ilis way ii is clcaily sccn ilai ilc pciloimancc ol dcvoiional scivicc
icmovcs all ilc disadvaniagcs cicaicd by pasi sins.
7 Tlis is conliimcd in Siimad llagavaiam 3.33.7 (quoicd in icxi 2). Tlcic
ilc woid "alo" indicaics a scnsc ol bcing siiucl wiil wondci. Tlai vcisc siaics:
"Lvcn a dogcaici is gloiious il Youi loly namc siays on lis ionguc." How is ilai'
Tlc answci is givcn "Hc musi lavc cxccuicd all linds ol ausiciiiics." Tlc
mcaning lcic ilai a pcison wlo clanis Youi loly namc, O Loid, is ilc mosi
sainily ol pcisons.
S In ilis way cngagcmcni in dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid icmovcs ilc
discascs and sullciings causcd by pasi sins. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Slanda Puiana
in ilcsc woids:
"I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilc limiilcss Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Wlcn onc icmcmbcis His loly namc all onc's sullciings and discascs
pciisl."
9 Sii Nama-laumudi also cxplains ilai bccausc claniing ol ilc Loid's loly
namc lullils all ilc dcsiics ol ilc dcvoicc, ii also icmovcs all lis pasi sins.
Dcvaluii.
Anuccheda 129
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs maiciial dcsiics is cxplaincd in ilcsc
"Alilougl onc may ncuiialisc ilc icaciions ol sinlul lilc iliougl ausiciiiy,
claiiiy, vows and oilci sucl mcilods, ilcsc pious aciiviiics cannoi upiooi ilc
maiciial dcsiics in onc's lcaii. Howcvci, il onc scivcs ilc loius lcci ol ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, lc is immcdiaicly liccd liom all sucl coniaminaiions."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "adlaima-jam" mcans "boin liom iiicligious aciiviiics".
Tlc lcaii is noi puiilicd ol sins simply by samslaias. Tlc lcaii is puiilicd only by
sciving ilc lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
3 Tlai cngagcmcni in dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs all pasi sins is cxplaincd in
ilcsc woids ol Sii Padma Puiana:
Tlcic aic loui linds ol cllccis duc io sinlul aciiviiics. Tlcy aic lisicd as
lollows: 1. ilc cllcci wlicl is noi yci liuciilicd, 2. ilc cllcci wlicl is lying as
sccd, 3. ilc cllcci wlicl is alicady maiuic, and +. ilc cllcci wlicl is almosi
maiuic. All ilcsc loui cllccis bccomc immcdiaicly vanquislcd loi ilosc wlo
suiicndci unio ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Visnu and bccomc cngagcd
in His dcvoiional scivicc in lull Kisna consciousncss."¯
Noic: Tlcsc loui cllccis ol sins aic dcsciibcd by Siila Piablupada in Ncciai
ol Dcvoiion, Clapici Onc, undci ilc sub-lcading "Rclicl liom Maiciial Disiicss."
+ Tlcsc loui linds ol sinlul icaciions, 1. ilc cllcci wlicl is noi yci liuciilicd,
2. ilc cllcci wlicl is lying as sccd, 3. ilc cllcci wlicl is alicady maiuic, and +. ilc
cllcci wlicl is almosi maiuic, will bc dcsciibcd in dciail laici in ilis bool.
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc Sii
Visnuduias io ilc Yamaduias.
Anuccheda 130
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs ignoiancc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam +.11.30):
"Tlus icgaining youi naiuial posiiion and icndciing scivicc unio ilc
Supicmc Loid, wlo is ilc all-powcilul icscivoii ol all plcasuic and wlo livcs in all
living cniiiics as ilc Supcisoul, you will vciy soon loigci ilc illusoiy
undcisianding ol 'I' and 'my'."¯
2 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc icmovcs ignoiancc is also dcsciibcd in Padma
Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"Puic dcvoiional scivicc in Kisna consciousncss is ilc liglcsi
cnliglicnmcni, and wlcn sucl cnliglicnmcni is ilcic, ii is jusi lilc a blazing
loicsi liic, lilling all ilc inauspicious snalcs ol dcsiic."¯
Manu io Malaiaja Dliuva.
Anuccheda 131
1 Tlai by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc saiislics cvciyonc is cxplaincd
in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.31.1+):
2 Tlai cvciyonc is plcascd wiil a dcvoicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam +.9.+6-+7):
"Suiuci, ilc youngci moilci ol Dliuva Malaiaja, sccing ilai ilc innoccni
boy lad lallcn ai lci lcci, immcdiaicly piclcd lim up, cmbiacing lim wiil lci
lands, and wiil icais ol lccling slc blcsscd lim wiil ilc woids, 'My dcai boy,
long may you livc!'¯
3 "Unio onc wlo las iiansccndcnial qualiiics duc io liicndly bclavioui wiil
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, all living cniiiics ollci lonoui, jusi as waici
auiomaiically llows down by naiuic."¯
+ Suiuci was ol Dliuva's cncmy and ilc co-wilc ol Dliuva's moilci. Dliuva
las jusi comc liom woislipping ilc Supicmc Loid.
5 Tlai cvciyonc is plcascd wiil a dcvoicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol
ilc Padma Puiana:
"A pcison wlo woislips Loid Haii plcascs all ilc woilds. All moving and
unmoving living cniiiics lovc lim."
Maiiicya Muni.
Anuccheda 132
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc biings wiil ii lnowlcdgc, icnunciaiion, and all
oilci spiiiiual viiiucs is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.1S.12):
2 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc gianis ilc lappincss ol Svaigalola, libciaiion, and
icsidcncc in ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial abodc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.20. 32-33):
"Lvciyiling ilai can bc aclicvcd by liuiiivc aciiviiics, pcnancc, lnowlcdgc,
dciaclmcni, mysiic yoga, claiiiy, icligious duiics, and all oilci mcans ol
pcilcciing lilc, is casily aclicvcd by My dcvoicc iliougl loving scivicc io Mc. Il
somclow oi oilci My dcvoicc dcsiics piomoiion io lcavcn, libciaiion oi icsidcncc
in My abodc, lc casily aclicvcs sucl bcncdiciions."¯¯¯
3 Dcvoiional scivicc biings sucl gicai lappincss ilai ii inspiics onc io icjcci
ilc mcilods and goals ol laima (liuiiivc woil) and jnana (impcisonal
spcculaiion). Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1+):
"Onc wlo las lixcd lis consciousncss on Mc dcsiics nciilci ilc posiiion oi
abodc ol Loid lialma oi Loid India, noi an cmpiic on ilc caiil, noi sovcicigniy
in ilc lowci planciaiy sysicms, noi ilc ciglilold pcilcciion ol yoga, noi libciaiion
liom biiil and dcail. Sucl a pcison dcsiics Mc alonc."¯¯¯
+ Hcic ilc woid "iasadlipaiyam" mcans "sovcicigniy in ilc lowci planciaiy
sysicms", and "apuna-blavam" mcans "impcisonal libciaiion". Wlai moic' Tlc
woid "anyai" mcans "anyiling clsc onc may aspiic io aiiain." Tlc dcvoiccs docs
noi dcsiic (na icclaii) any ol ilis. Tlc Loid says, "Hc dcsiics only Mc (mam),
wlo am aiiaincd by dcvoiional scivicc and wlo is ilc gicaicsi ol all goals ol lilc.
In ilis way ilc dcvoicc is complcicly suiicndcicd unio Mc (mayy aipiiaima)."
Anuccheda 133
1 Puic dcvoiional scivicc ollcicd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is
bcyond ilc modcs ol naiuic. All oilci woils aic in ilc icalm ol ilc maiciial
modcs. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.23):
2 "Woil pciloimcd as an ollciing io Mc, wiiloui considciaiion ol ilc liuii,
is considcicd io bc in ilc modc ol iiansccndcnial goodncss, bcyond ilc maiciial
modcs. Woil pciloimcd wiil a dcsiic io cnjoy ilc icsuli is in ilc modc ol
passion. And woil impcllcd by violcncc and cnvy is in ilc modc ol ignoiancc."
3 Hcic ilc woid "mad-aipanam" mcans "ollcicd io Mc", "nisplalam" mcans
"wiiloui dcsiiing io cnjoy ilc icsulis", and "adi" mcans "piidc, cnvy, and a losi ol
oilci viccs".
Anuccheda 13+
1 Non-dcvoiional aciiviiics aic siiuaicd in ilc icalm ol ilc ilicc modcs ol
maiciial naiuic. Aciiviiics ol diicci dcvoiional scivicc, lowcvci, aic
iiansccndcnial and bcyond ilc modcs ol naiuic. Tlc Loid Himscll cxplains ilis in
ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.2+):
2 "Absoluic lnowlcdgc is in ilc modc ol goodncss, lnowlcdgc bascd on
dualiiy is in ilc modc ol passion, and loolisl, maiciialisiic lnowlcdgc is in ilc
modc ol ignoiancc. Knowlcdgc bascd upon Mc, lowcvci, is undcisiood io bc
iiansccndcnial."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "pialiiam" mcans "maiciial lnowlcdgc, wlicl is lilc ilc
small lnowlcdgc ol a clild oi a dcal-muic", "vailalpilam" mcans "ilc lnowlcdgc
aiiaincd by using ilc maiciial body and scnscs", "iajal" mcans "ilc modc ol
passion", and "jnana-laivalyam" mcans "impcisonal lnowlcdgc wlcicby onc
imagincs ilai ilc individual living cniiiy and ilc Supicmc lialman aic noi
dillcicni." Tlc woid "ivam" (you) is ilcicloic a woid ilai las no mcaning in
impcisonalism. Only ilc woid "iai" (ii) las mcaning loi ilc impcisonalisis.
Wlcn ilc lcaii and mind aic siiuaicd in maiciial goodncss ilcn ilc puic and
subilc impcisonal lcaiuic ol ilc Absoluic can bc undcisiood. Tlcicloic ilc
impcisonal Absoluic ilai is manilcsicd in ilc modc ol maiciial goodncss.
+ Tlc dillcicni cllccis ol ilc dillcicni modcs aic cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ol
Sii llagavad-giia (1+.17):
"Iiom ilc modc ol goodncss, ical lnowlcdgc dcvclops; liom ilc modc ol
passion, giccd dcvclops; and liom ilc modc ol ignoiancc dcvclop loolislncss,
madncss and illusion."¯
5 Tlc iaicncss ol lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Pcison is dcsciibcd in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.1+.2 and 5):
"Dcmigods siiuaicd in ilc modc ol goodncss and gicai sainis clcanscd ol
ilc diii ol maiciial cnjoymcni laidly cvci icndci puic dcvoiional scivicc ai ilc
loius lcci ol Mulunda."¯
6 "O gicai sagc, among many millions wlo aic libciaicd and pcilcci in
lnowlcdgc ol libciaiion, onc may bc a dcvoicc ol Loid Naiayana, oi Kisna. Sucl
dcvoiccs, wlo aic lully pcacclul, aic cxiicmcly iaic."¯
7 Knowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Pcison is noi aiiaincd by ilcy wlo aic siiuaicd
in ilc ilicc modcs ol goodncss, passion and ignoiancc. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.1+.1):
"O lcaincd bialmana, dcmons aic gcncially sinlul, bcing obscsscd wiil ilc
modcs ol passion and ignoiancc. How, ilcn, could Viiiasuia lavc aiiaincd sucl
cxalicd lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Naiayana'"¯
S Siila Suladcva Gosvami ilcn cxplaincd ilai non dcvoiccs can bccomc
cnliglicncd by associaiion ol gicai souls. In lis icply lc said ilai Viiiasuia, in lis
picvious biiil, associaicd wiil Naiada Muni and oilci gicai dcvoiccs. Tlai onc
aiiains lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by associaiing wiil His
dcvoiccs is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.5.32):
"Unlcss ilcy smcai upon ilcii bodics ilc dusi ol ilc loius lcci ol a
Vaisnava complcicly liccd liom maiciial coniaminaiion, pcisons vciy mucl
inclincd iowaid maiciialisiic lilc cannoi bc aiiaclcd io ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid,
wlo is gloiilicd loi lis uncommon aciiviiics. Only by bccoming Kisna
consciousncss and ialing slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid in ilis way can on bc
liccd liom maiciial coniaminaiion."¯
9 Tlai onc bccomcs cnliglicncd by associaiing wiil a gicai dcvoicc, wlo is a
puic caiiici ol ilc Loid's mcicy, is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.1S.13):
10 "Tlc valuc ol a momcni's associaiion wiil ilc dcvoicc ol ilc Loid cannoi
cvcn bc compaicd io ilc aiiainmcni ol lcavcnly plancis oi libciaiion liom maiici,
and wlai io spcal ol woildly bcncdiciions in ilc loim ol maiciial piospciiiy,
wlicl aic loi ilosc wlo aic mcani loi dcail."¯
11 To bc liccd liom ilc inllucncc ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic is bcsi,
so ilcicloic associaiion wiil a dcvoicc wlo is licc liom ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs
is ilc bcsi lind ol associaiion wiil a dcvoicc.
In Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.1., King Paiilsii asls ilc lollowing qucsiion:
"My dcai bialmana, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Visnu, bcing
cvciyonc's wcll-wislci is cqual and cxiicmcly dcai io cvciyonc. How, ilcn, did Hc
bccomc paiiial lilc a common man loi ilc salc ol India and ilus lill India's
cncmics' How can a pcison cqual io cvciyonc bc paiiial io somc and inimical
iowaid oilcis'"¯
12 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad docs noi givc His ical mcicy io ilc
dcmigods and oilcis siill undci ilc spcll ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.
Hc givcs His ical mcicy only io ilc gicai souls, sucl as Piallada, wlo aic licc
liom ilc spcll ol ilc modcs. ly associaiing wiil sucl dcvoiccs onc also bccomcs
licc liom ilc spcll ol ilc ilicc modcs ol naiuic. Wlcn onc las ilus slalcn oll
ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs, lc can cngagc in ical dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is
dcsciibcd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll in ilcsc woids spolcn
io Uddlava (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.33):
13 "Tlcicloic, laving aclicvcd ilis luman loim ol lilc, wlicl allows onc io
dcvclop lull lnowlcdgc, ilosc wlo aic iniclligcni slould licc ilcmsclvcs liom all
coniaminaiion ol ilc modcs ol naiuic and cngagc cxclusivcly in loving scivicc io
Mc."¯¯¯
1+ Tlc assciiion ilai lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is
"niiguna" slould bc undcisiood in ilc sccondaiy scnsc ol "licc liom ilc inllucncc
ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic" and noi in ilc piimaiy scnsc ol "noi laving
any qualiiics". Tlc impcisonal conccpiion ol God imagincs ilai God las no
qualiiics. Tlis idca is "niiguna" in ilc piimaiy scnsc. Tlc pcisonal and
impcisonal idcas ol God aic boil niiguna, bui ii is ilc pcisonal idca ol God ilai is
niiguna in ilc scnsc ol bcing licc liom ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.
Indccd, ilc impcisonal idca ol God is a pioduci ol ilc maiciial modc ol goodncss
and ilc pcisonal idca ol God is licc liom ilc spcll ol ilc modcs as ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll cxplains in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
15 Happincss dciivcd liom ilc impcisonal idca ol God is in ilc modc ol
goodncss, lappincss bascd on scnsc giaiilicaiion is in ilc modc ol passion, and
lappincss bascd on dclusion and dcgiadaiion is in ilc modc ol ignoiancc. lui
ilai lappincss lound wiilin Mc is iiansccndcnial."
16 In ilis way Siimad llagavaiam cxplains ilai ilc lappincss ol sciving ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is iiansccndcnial and licc liom ilc inllucncc ol
ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcicloic dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl las many
aciiviiics, bcginning wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid, is bcyond ilc modcs ol maiciial
naiuic.
17 Tlc dcvoiional aciiviiy ol lcaiing aboui ilc Loid's gloiics is dcsciibcd in
"O iwicc-boin sagcs, by sciving ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic complcicly liccd
1S Ii was picviously cxplaincd ilai associaiion wiil gicai souls liccs onc liom
ilc spcll ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Hcic ii is said ilai by sciving ilcsc
gicai souls onc dcvclops an alliniiy loi lcaiing aboui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Iiom ilis ii may bc undcisiood ilai ilc aciiviiy ol lcaiing ilc Loid's
gloiics is also bcyond ilc spcll ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.
19 Tlai lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid is a iiansccndcnial aciiviiy bcyond ilc
spcll ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic is conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam S.2+.3S):
"You will bc iloiouglly adviscd and lavouicd by Mc, and bccausc ol youi
inquiiics, cvciyiling aboui My gloiics, wlicl aic lnown as paiam bialma, will bc
manilcsi wiilin youi lcaii. Tlus you will lnow cvciyiling aboui Mc."¯
20 In ilcsc woids Loid Maisyadcva cxplains ilai lnowlcdgc ol lialman
(paiam bialma) is aiiaincd by ilc mcicy ol ilc Loid. Hcic somconc may asl:
"How can lnowlcdgc ol lialman dcsciibc vaiious qualiiics, sincc lialman las no
qualiiics' Tlc answci is givcn: Tlcic aic iwo linds ol lialman lnowlcdgc. Onc
lind, ilc lnowlcdgc aiiaincd by ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, comcs by ilc Loid's mcicy,
ilc oilci lind, ilc lnowlcdgc aiiaincd by ilc woislippcis ol impcisonal
lialman, comcs indcpcndcnily, wiiloui ilc Loid's diicci mcicy. Tlcicloic ilc
spiiiiual lnowlcdgc aiiaincd by ilc dcvoiccs in ilcii piaciicc ol dcvoiional scivicc,
wlicl is manilcsicd by ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial poicncy, is lillcd wiil spiiiiual
vaiiciy.
21 Tlai ilc spiiiiual lnowlcdgc ol ilc dcvoiccs is supciioi io ilc lnowlcdgc
ol ilc impcisonalisis is conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing woids ol
Sii llagavad-giia (1S.5+):
lialman and bccomcs lully joylul. Hc ncvci lamcnis oi dcsiics io lavc anyiling.
Hc is cqually disposcd iowaid cvciy living cniiiy. In ilai siaic lc aiiains puic
dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯
22 Tlc supciioiiiy ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid is also conliimcd by ilcsc
"All dillcicni vaiiciics ol aimaiamas (ilosc wlo ialc plcasuic in aima, oi
spiiii scll), cspccially ilosc csiablislcd on ilc pail ol scll-icalisaiion, ilougl liccd
liom all linds ol maiciial bondagc, dcsiic io icndci unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc
unio ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis mcans ilai ilc Loid posscsscs
iiansccndcnial qualiiics and ilcicloic can aiiiaci cvciyonc, including libciaicd
souls."¯
23 Tlc woislippcis ol lialman aiiain a libciaiion ilai is wiiloui any vaiiciy.
Tlcy wlo undcisiand ilc ical naiuic ol ilc Absoluic do noi ilinl vciy liglly ol
ilis lind ol libciaiion. Tlcy icjcci ii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 3.15.+S):
cvcn loi ilc liglcsi maiciial bcncdiciion, namcly libciaiion, io say noiling oi
lingdom."¯
2+ Dcvoiional scivicc is ilc opposiic ol impcisonal libciaiion. Indccd, loi onc
wlo las aiiaincd cvcn ilc dim icllcciion ol ilc Loid's mcicy impcisonal libciaiion
is lilc lcll. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
6.17.2S):
"Dcvoiccs solcly cngagcd in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Naiayana, ncvci lcai any condiiion ol lilc. Ioi ilcm ilc
lcavcnly plancis, libciaiion and ilc lcllisl plancis aic all ilc samc, loi sucl
dcvoiccs aic inicicsicd only in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid."¯
25 Alilougl an impcisonalisi may ilinl ii is ilc mcicy ol ilc Absoluic,
impcisonal libciaiion is only a ligmcni ol ilc impcisonalisi's imaginaiion. lccausc
ii comcs liom ilc imaginaiion ii is aciually a pioduci ol ilc ilicc modcs ol
maiciial naiuic, and bccausc ii is a pioduci ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic ii
cvcniually lcads io anoilci biiil in ilc maiciial woild.
26 Somconc may asl: "Tlc inicinal and cxicinal scnscs ol ilc living cniiiy aic
pioducis ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. How can ilc lnowlcdgc and
aciiviiics ilai comc liom ilcsc iwo scis ol scnscs cvci bc licc liom ilc giip ol ilc
ilicc modcs'"
Tlc answci may bc givcn: Tlc powci liom wlicl lnowlcdgc and aciion
comc is noi maiciial and noi a pioduci ol ilc ilicc modcs. lccausc ilc individual
spiiii soul is noi ilc mosi impoiiani, bccausc lc is in iiuil a poicncy suboidinaic
io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and bccausc lc is lilc an cmpiy vcsscl ilai
cannoi aci unlcss lillcd wiil ilc poicncy ol ilc Loid, ii is ilc Supicmc Loid alonc
ilai cnablcs ilc scnscs io aci.
27 Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.26.2+):
"As iion las ilc powci io buin wlcn madc icd-loi in ilc associaiion ol
liic, so ilc body, scnscs, living loicc, mind and iniclligcncc, alilougl mcicly
lumps ol maiici, can lunciion in ilcii aciiviiics wlcn inluscd wiil a paiiiclc ol
consciousncss by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. As iion cannoi buin
unlcss lcaicd by liic, ilc bodily scnscs cannoi aci unlcss lavouicd by ilc Supicmc
lialman."¯
2S Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc Siuii-sasiia (lilad-aianyala Upanisad +.+.1S)
in ilcsc woids:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc bicailing powci ol ilc bicail.
Hc is ilc sccing powci ol ilc cycs. Hc is ilc lcaiing powci ol ilc cais. Hc is ilc
ilinling powci ol ilc mind."
29 Tlc Rg Vcda also cxplains:
"Noiling lappcns wiiloui ilc sanciion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad."
30 Wlcn onc pciloims aciiviiics io aiiain a goal ilai is wiilin ilc icalm ol ilc
ilicc modcs, ilcn lis aciiviiics aic wiilin ilc icalm ol ilc modcs. Howcvci, wlcn
onc pciloims aciiviiics io plcasc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilcn lis
aciiviiics aic bcyond ilc icalm ol ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlis is conliimcd
by Siila Suladcva Gosvami in ilc lollowing woids liom ilc Dcvamiia-pana
clapici ol Siimad llagavaiam (S..9.29):
31 "In luman sociciy ilcic aic vaiious aciiviiics pciloimcd loi ilc pioicciion
ol onc's wcalil and lilc by onc's woids, onc's mind and onc's aciions, bui ilcy aic
all pciloimcd loi onc's pcisonal oi cxicndcd scnsc giaiilicaiion wiil iclcicncc io
ilc body. All ilcsc aciiviiics aic balllcd bccausc ol bcing scpaiaic liom dcvoiional
scivicc. lui wlcn ilc samc aciiviiics aic pciloimcd loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilc
Loid, ilc bcnclicial icsulis aic disiiibuicd io cvciyonc, jusi as waici pouicd on ilc
iooi ol a iicc is disiiibuicd iliougloui ilc cniiic iicc."¯
32 Hcic ilc woid "piilalivai" mcans "by ialing slclici ol somconc oilci
ilan ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad" and ilc woid "apiilalivai" mcans "by
ialing slclici ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad." Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Wlcn lnowlcdgc and aciiviiics aic cmploycd in ilc scivicc ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ilcy bccomc spiiiiual and bcyond ilc ioucl ol ilc ilicc
modcs ol maiciial naiuic, and by pciloiming sucl aciiviiics onc bccomcs licc liom
laving io ialc anoilci biiil in ilc maiciial woild ol biiil and dcail. Tlc so-
callcd lnowlcdgc ol ilc impcisonalisis, lowcvci, bccausc ii is noi cmploycd in ilc
scivicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, incviiably lcads onc io anoilci
biiil in ilc maiciial woild. Tlc qualiiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl bcgin wiil
iis abiliiy io plcasc ilc Loid, will bc dcsciibcd laici in ilis bool. In ilc iliid
canio ol Siimad llagavaiam, Loid Kapiladcva dcsciibcd dcvoiional scivicc as
bcing ciilci licc liom ilc modcs ol naiuic, oi wiilin ilc icalm ol ilc modcs ol
naiuic, all accoiding io wlcilci ilc lcaii ol ilc dcvoicc is licc liom ilc modcs oi
siill undci ilcii spcll.
Anuccheda 135
1 In ilis way iis sccn ilai lnowlcdgc in dcvoiional scivicc and ilc aciiviiics
ol dcvoiional scivicc, sucl as lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid's gloiics, aic bcyond
ilc ioucl ol ilc maiciial modcs ol naiuic. In ilc samc way icsidcncc in ilc Loid's
icmplc is also bcyond ilc modcs. Tlc Loid Himscll conliims ilis in ilc lollowing
2 "Rcsidcncc in ilc loicsi is in ilc modc ol goodncss, icsidcncc in a iown is
in ilc modc ol passion, icsidcncc in a gambling lousc displays ilc qualiiy ol
ignoiancc, and icsidcncc in a placc wlcic I icsidc is iiansccndcnial, bcyond ilc
modcs ol naiuic."
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woids "vanam vasal" mcan "icsidcncc in ilc loicsi",
"giamyal" mcans "icsidcncc among louscloldcis", and "iamasam" mcans
"icsidcncc among sinlul pcoplc". Tlc woid "dyuia-sadanam" (gambling lousc) is
lcic givcn as an cxamplc ol onc among many linds ol sinlul placcs. "Man-
nilciam" mcans "a placc wlcic ilcy wlo aic dcvoicd io sciving Mc siay". Tlc
woid "vasal" iclcis io all ilc dillcicni placcs lcic, bcginning wiil ilc loicsi. Tlis
scnicncc is ilus lilc ilc scnicncc "ayui gliiam".
+ A loicsi, a placc wlcic ilcic aic many iiccs and almosi no pcoplc, is
piimaiily in ilc modc ol goodncss, alilougl iiaccs ol passion and ignoiancc may
bc picscni. lccausc icsidcncc in a loicsi is oiiginally manilcsicd liom ilc modc ol
goodncss, and bccausc by icsiding in a loicsi onc bccomcs moic siiongly siiuaicd
in ilc modc ol goodncss, ii is iigli io say ilai ilc modc ol goodncss is piomincni
in ilc loicsi.
Tlc woid "giamyal" is loimcd by adding a iaddliia allix io ilc woid
"giama". Tlc woid "dyuia-sadanam" mcans "icsidcncc in a gambling lousc".
Tlc woid "man-nilciam" iclcis io any placc wlcic ilc Supicmc Loid is gloiilicd.
Sucl a placc bccomcs licc liom ilc ioucl ol ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic jusi as
an oidinaiy objcci bccomcs gold by coniaci wiil a spaisamani jcwcl.
5 Il onc las cycs spiiiiualiscd wiil dcvoiion loi ilc Loid lc can scc ilai a
placc wlcic ilc Loid is gloiilicd is bcyond ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlc
sciipiuics cxplain:
"Wlcn ilc dcmigods lool ai ilc dcvoiccs woislipping ilc Loid in ilc
icmplc, ilcy scc a losi ol loui-aimcd icsidcnis ol Vailunila."
Tlc commcniaioi cxplains:
"Tlis mcans ilai, bccausc ilc Loid is pcisonally picscni in His icmplc, ilc
icmplc is bcyond ilc ioucl ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic."
Anuccheda 136
1 As dillcicni icsidcnccs aic siiuaicd in ilc dillcicni modcs, so dillcicni
aciiviiics aic also siiuaicd in ilc dillcicni modcs. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.26):
2 "A woilci licc ol aiiaclmcni is in ilc modc ol goodncss, a woilci blindcd
by pcisonal dcsiic is in ilc modc ol passion, and a woilci wlo las complcicly
loigoiicn low io icll iigli liom wiong is in ilc modc ol ignoiancc. lui a woilci
wlo las ialcn slclici ol Mc is undcisiood io bc iiansccndcnial io ilc modcs ol
naiuic."¯¯¯
3 Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai a woilci wlo docs noi ialc slclici ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad icmains undci ilc spcll ol ilc ilicc modcs ol
maiciial naiuic. His body and cvciyiling clsc aic undci ilc spcll ol ilc ilicc
modcs.
Anuccheda 137
1 As dillcicni aciiviiics aic siiuaicd in ilc dillcicni modcs, so dillcicni linds
ol laiil in vaiious aciiviiics aic also siiuaicd in ilc dillcicni modcs. Tlc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.27):
2 "Iaiil diiccicd iowaid spiiiiual lilc is in ilc modc ol goodncss, laiil iooicd
in liuiiivc woil is in ilc modc ol passion, laiil icsiding in iiicligious aciiviiics is
in ilc modc ol ignoiancc, bui laiil in My dcvoiional scivicc is puicly
iiansccndcnial."¯¯¯
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "adlaima" mcans "iiicligion". Tlc icmaindci ol ilis
vcisc is lilc ilc picvious vciscs. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilis anucclcda was spolcn
by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 138
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is abovc ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic is also
conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2.2+):
"Alici lcaiing ilc discouiscs bciwccn ilc Yamaduias and ilc Visnuduias,
Ajamila could undcisiand ilc icligious piinciplcs ilai aci undci ilc ilicc modcs
ol maiciial naiuic. Tlcsc piinciplcs aic mcniioncd in ilc ilicc Vcdas. Hc could
also undcisiand ilc iiansccndcnial icligious piinciplcs, wlicl aic abovc ilc
modcs ol maiciial naiuic and wlicl conccin ilc iclaiionslip bciwccn ilc living
bcing and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
"In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'suddlam' mcans 'bcyond ilc ilicc modcs ol
maiciial naiuic' and 'iiaivcdyam' mcans 'ilc icligious piinciplcs dcsciibcd in ilc
ilicc Vcdas'. Tlcsc icligious piinciplcs aic dcsciibcd as bcing 'gunasiayam', oi
'wiilin ilc icalm ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.'"
3 Tlc Vcdas dcsciibcd lcic aic ilc laima landa poiiion ol ilc Vcdas. Tlis
poiiion ol ilc Vcdas is dcsciibcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Sii llagavad-giia
(9.21):
"Wlcn ilcy lavc ilus cnjoycd vasi lcavcnly scnsc plcasuic and ilc icsulis
ol ilcii pious aciiviiics aic cxlausicd, ilcy iciuin io ilis moiial planci again.
Tlus ilosc wlo sccl scnsc cnjoymcni by adlciing io ilc piinciplcs ol ilc ilicc
Vcdas aclicvc only icpcaicd biiil and dcail."¯
Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 139
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc Loid's poicncy and ilai ii is scll-manilcsi is
conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.1+.+5):
2 "Lvcn ilougl in ilc body ol a dcci, Malaiaja llaiaia did noi loigci ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcicloic wlcn lc was giving up ilc body ol a
dcci, lc loudly uiicicd ilc lollowing piayci: Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
is saciilicc pcisonilicd. Hc givcs ilc icsulis ol iiiualisiic aciiviiy. Hc is ilc
pioiccioi ol icligious sysicms, ilc pcisonilicaiion ol mysiic yoga, ilc souicc ol all
lnowlcdgc, ilc coniiollci ol ilc cniiic cicaiion, and ilc Supcisoul in cvciy living
cniiiy. Hc is bcauiilul and aiiiaciivc. I am quiiiing ilis body ollciing obcisanccs
unio Him and loping, ilai I may pcipciually cngagc in His iiansccndcnial loving
scivicc." Uiiciing ilis, Malaiaja llaiaia lcli lis body."¯
3 Tlc woid "yal" lcic iclcis io llaiaia, ilc son ol Loid Rsabladcva. Lvcn
ilougl lc was in ilc body ol a dcci, ai ilc iimc ol dcail lc was ablc io spcal ilis
piayci. Alilougl ii is noi oidinaiily possiblc loi a dcci io spcal in ilis way,
bccausc dcvoiional scivicc is scll-manilcsi, ilc scivicc ol gloiilying ilc Loid
appcaicd io llaiaia in ilis way. Tlc samc iling lappcncd io ilc clcplani
Gajcndia.
Anuccheda 1+0
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc biings gicai lappincss io ilcy wlo diiccily cngagc
in ii is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.22):
"Cciiainly, ilcicloic, sincc iimc immcmoiial, all iiansccndcnialisis lavc
2 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc biings gicai lappincss cvcn io ilcy wlo do noi
diiccily cngagc in ii is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.2.22):
"Wc lavc jusi bcgun ilc pciloimancc ol ilis liuiiivc aciiviiy, a saciilicial
liic, wiiloui cciiainiy ol iis icsuli duc io ilc many impcilcciions in oui aciion.
Oui bodics lavc bccomc blacl liom ilc smolc, bui wc aic laciually plcascd by ilc
ncciai ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Govinda, wlicl you aic
disiiibuiing."¯
3 Tlc Loid Himscll dcsciibcs ilc lappincss ol dcvoiional scivicc in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 9.+.67):
"My dcvoiccs wlo aic always saiislicd io bc cngagcd in My loving scivicc,
aic noi inicicsicd cvcn in ilc loui piinciplcs ol libciaiion (salolya, saiupya,
samipya and saisii), alilougl ilcsc aic auiomaiically aclicvcd by ilcii scivicc.
Wlai ilcn is io bc said ol sucl pciislablc lappincss as clcvaiion io ilc liglci
planciaiy sysicms'"¯
+ Tlis siaicmcni,, ilai ilc dcvoiccs aic noi inicicsicd in pciislablc maiciial
lappincsscs, piovcs ilai dcvoiional scivicc is abovc ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic.
Tlis vcisc says ilai ilc dcvoiccs aic noi inicicsicd cvcn in ilc loui linds ol
libciaiion, wlicl bcgin wiil salolya-mulii, so low can ilcy bc inicicsicd in
pciislablc maiciial lappincsscs, wlicl will cciiainly bc dcsiioycd in ilc couisc ol
iimc'
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid Visnu io Duivasa Muni.
Anuccheda 1+1
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc malcs on lall in lovc wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.33):
"ly ilcsc aciiviiics (as mcniioncd abovc) onc is ablc io cui down ilc
inllucncc ol ilc cncmics, namcly, lusi, angci, giccd, illusion, madncss, and
jcalousy, and wlcn ilus siiuaicd, onc can icndci scivicc io ilc Loid. In ilis way
onc suicly aiiains ilc plailoim ol loving scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad."¯
2 Tlc cxalicd naiuic ol ilc dcvoiccs' lovc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 5.6.1S):
"My dcai King, ilc Supicmc Pcison, Mulunda, is aciually ilc mainiainci
ol all ilc mcmbcis ol ilc Pandava and Yadu dynasiics. Hc is youi spiiiiual masici,
woislipablc Dciiy, liicnd, and ilc diiccioi ol youi aciiviiics. To say noiling ol
ilis, Hc somciimcs scivcs youi lamily as a mcsscngci oi scivani. Tlis mcans Hc
woilcd jusi as oidinaiy scivanis do. Tlosc cngagcd in gciiing ilc Loid's lavoui
aiiain libciaiion liom ilc Loid vciy casily, bui Hc docs noi vciy casily givc ilc
oppoiiuniiy io icndci diicci scivicc unio Him."¯
3 Somconc may woiiy, "No onc will cvci aiiain ical lovc loi ilc Loid." To
answci ilis woiiy, ilis vcisc says, "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
somciimcs givcs lovc loi Him, lovc ilai is callcd blalii-yoga". Hcic ilc woid
"lailicii" mcans "somciimcs". Tlc Amaia-losa diciionaiy cxplains, "Tlc allixcs
cii and cana aic cmploycd io limii ilc scopc ol ilc picccding woid."
+ Iinally, alici ilc dcvoicc cndcavouis loi a long iimc, ilc Loid givcs puic
lovc loi Him. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
5.19.27):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad lullils ilc maiciial dcsiics ol a
dcsiics. Tlai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's spccial mcicy."¯
5 Tlai onc can plcasc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad only by loving
and sciving Him is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.51):
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by bccoming pcilcci bialmanas, dcmigods oi gicai sainis
6 Tlai onc can plcasc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad only by loving
dcvoiional scivicc is again conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
7.9.9.):
"Piallada Malaiaja coniinucd: Onc may posscss wcalil, an aiisiociaiic
lamily, bcauiy, ausiciiiy, cducaiion, scnsoiy cxpciiisc, lusiic, inllucncc plysical
siicngil, diligcncc, iniclligcncc, and mysiic powci, bui I ilinl ilai cvcn by all
ilcsc qualilicaiions onc cannoi saiisly ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Howcvci, onc can saiisly ilc Loid simply by dcvoiional scivicc. Gajcndia did ilis,
and ilus ilc Loid was saiislicd wiil lim."¯
7 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "ablijana" mcans "biiil in an aiisiociaiic lamily",
"buddli" mcans "iniclligcncc", and "yoga" mcans "asianga-yoga". Tlis vcisc is
spolcn by Piallada Malaiaja io Loid Nisimladcva.
Anuccheda 1+2
1 Hcic somconc may asl: "Il ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad alicady
posscsscs all lappincss, ilcn low is ii possiblc loi Him io lind moic lappincss in
ilc dcvoiccs' scivicc' Hc alicady las all lappincss. Tlc idca ilai lc can obiain
moic lappincss coniiadicis ilc idca ilai Hc cicinally las all lappincss alicady."
Hcic ilc answci is givcn: Tlc Vcdic liiciaiuics cciiainly suppoii ilc idca
ilai Hc linds moic lappincss in ilc dcvoiccs' scivicc. Hcic ilc cxplanaiion is
givcn. Tlc all-blisslul Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las a poicncy, callcd
lladini-salii, ilai manilcsis His iiansccndcnial bliss. Hc placcs ilis poicncy
among His dcvoics and wlcn ilcy scivicc Him ii is ilis poicncy ilai plcascs Him.
In ilis way ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo alicady las all plcasuic, is
plcascd by dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
2 "Wlcn ilc Supicmc Loid is plcascd by a pcison's aciions, auiomaiically all
ilc dcmigods, luman bcings, animals, biids, bccs, ciccpcis, iiccs, giass and all
oilci living cniiiics, bcginning wiil Loid lialma aic plcascd. Tlc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc Supcisoul ol cvciyonc, and Hc is by naiuic lully
plcascd. Noncilclcss, Hc camc io ilc aicna ol Malaiaja Gaya and said, 'I am lull
plcascd'."¯
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "visva-jival" mcans "Hc wlo givcs lilc io all living
bcings." Tlc compound woid bcginning wiil "dcva" is in ilc singulai bccausc ii
is a dvandva-samasa. Tlc woid "piiiil" mcans "lappincss". Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 1+3
1 lccausc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilus always lappy in
Himscll and bccausc His dcsiics aic always lullillcd, Hc is plcascd by cvcn ilc
smallcsi ollciing. Tlc lollowing cxamplc is givcn in Siimad llagavaiam (1.11.+-
5):
2 "Tlc ciiizcns aiiivcd bcloic ilc Loid wiil ilcii icspcciivc picscniaiions,
ollciing ilcm io ilc lully saiislicd and scll-sullicicni onc, wlo, by, by His own
poicncy, inccssanily supplics oilcis. Tlcsc picscniaiions wcic lilc ilc ollciing ol
a lamp io ilc sun. Yci ilc ciiizcns bcgan io spcal in ccsiaiic languagc io icccivc
ilc Loid, jusi as waids wclcomc ilcii guaidian and lailci."¯
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "iaiia" mcans "in Dvaiala", and ilc pliasc "iavci
dipam" mcans "ilc ollciing ol a lamp io ilc sun." Tlc pcoplc woislippcd
(adiial) ilc Loid in ilai way. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc pliasc bcginning wiil
ilc woid "piiii" cxplains low ilc pcoplc wcic ablc io plcasc ilc Loid wiil ilcii
piaycis and vaiious ollciings. Hcic is givcn ilc cxamplc ol clildicn (aiblalal)
appioacling ilcii lailci (piiaiam). Tlc woid "piiii" lcic mcans "cxiiaoidinaiy
lappincss and lovc." Tlc Loid is lcic dcsciibcd as "saiva-sulidam" (ilc liicnd
and wcll wislci ol all). lccausc Hc is cvciyonc's liicnd, Hc is also cvciyonc's
pioiccioi (aviiaiam).
+ Alilougl Hc is always saiislicd and lappy in Himscll, and alilougl His
dcsiics aic always lullillcd, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvciilclcss
plcascd by His dcvoiccs as a pioud and loving lailci is plcascd by His clildicn.
Tlai is ilc mcaning. Hc is mcicilul io His dcvoiccs and Hc lullils ilcii dcsiics as
il Hc wcic a lalpa-vilsa iicc. Hc naiuially lovcs His dcvoiccs, ilcy naiuially
woislip Him and ollci piaycis io Him, and Hc iccipiocaics by giving ilcm
appiopiiaic gilis in iciuin. In ilis way, cvcn ilougl Hc is naiuially lillcd wiil all
bliss, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad siill linds lappincss in ilc dcvoiional
scivicc ollcicd by His dcvoiccs. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 1++
1 Tlc dcvoiion ilai ilc dcvoiccs lccl loi ilc Loid is aciually a poicncy ol ilc
Loid Himscll. Tlc Loid limscll is ilc oiiginal causc ol ilai dcvoiion. Tlc Loid
Himscll is ilus picscni in ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc pciloimcd by ilc
dcvoicc's limbs and scnscs. Tlc dcvoicc's aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic ilus a
icllcciion ol ilc Loid's poicncy ol dcvoiional scivicc. In ilis way ilc powci ol ilc
Loid's mcicy is ilc aciual causc ol ilc dcvoicc's lovc loi ilc Loid.
Tlai ilc Loid Himscll is ilc causc ol ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc
pciloimcd by ilc limbs and scnscs is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 12.S.+0):
2 "O Almigliy Loid, low can I possibly dcsciibc You' You awalcn ilc viial
aii, wlicl ilcn impcls ilc minds, scnscs and powci ol spcccl io aci. Tlis is iiuc
loi all oidinaiy condiiioncd souls and cvcn loi gicai dcmigods lilc lialma and
Siva. So ii is cciiainly iiuc loi mc. Ncvciilclcss, You bccomc ilc iniimaic liicnd
ol ilosc wlo woislip You."¯¯¯
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woids "O Almigliy Loid, low can I possibly dcsciibc
You'" mcan "How can I possibly dcsciibc cvcn a small poiiion ol Youi mcicy'"
Tlis is so bccausc You (ivaya) awalcn (udiiiial) ilc viial aii (asul) and wlcn ii is
sci in moiion (samspandaic), powci ol spcccl (val) and ilc mind and scnscs
lollow (iam anu)." Tlc woid "vai" (cciiainly) indicaics ilai ilc Loid is boil ilc
diicci and indiicci causc ol ilc scnscs' aciions. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing
woids (Sii lilad aianyala Upanisad +.+.1S):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc bicailing powci ol ilc bicail.
Hc is ilc sccing powci ol ilc cycs. Hc is ilc lcaiing powci ol ilc cais. Hc is ilc
ilinling powci ol ilc mind."
Tlis is iiuc noi only loi oidinaiy living cniiiics, bui cvcn loi ilc gicai
dcmigods lialma and Siva (aja-saivayol). Tlcicloic ilc spcalci ol ilis vcisc
(Mailandcya Muni) says, "Ii is cciiainly also iiuc loi mc (svasya)."
Alilougl no onc is cvci ically indcpcndcni, ilc dcvoiccs voluniaiily allow
ilc Loid io coniiol ilcii spcccl and oilci limbs and scnscs, and ilus ilcy bccomc
lilc puppcis in His lands. Tlc vcisc ilcic says, "O Loid, bccausc ilcy lovc
(blava) You wiil a lovc ilai is Youi own gili io ilcm, You bccomc (asi) ilc
dcvoiccs' iniimaic liicnd (bandlul)."
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Mailandcya Muni io Sii Naia-Naiayana Rsis.
Anuccheda 1+5
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc, and noiling clsc, cnablcs onc io diiccily scc ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.S.36):
2 "O Kisna, ilosc wlo coniinuously lcai, clani and icpcai Youi
iiansccndcnial aciiviiics, oi ialc plcasuic in oilcis' doing so, cciiainly scc Youi
loius lcci, wlicl alonc can siop ilc icpciiiion ol biiil and dcail."¯
3 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Ii was spolcn by Sii Kunii-dcvi io ilc
Anuccheda 1+6
1 Tlai by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains ilc Loid's associaiion is
cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1S.+5):
"My dcai Uddlava, I am ilc Supicmc Loid ol all woilds, and I cicaic and
dcsiioy ilis univcisc, bcing iis uliimaic causc. I am ilus ilc Absoluic Tiuil, and
onc wlo woislips Mc wiil unlailing dcvoiional scivicc comcs io Mc."¯¯¯
"Tlai Sii Kisna is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is conliimcd by ilc
woids 'saivoipaiiy-apyayam', wlicl mcans 'ilc cicaioi and dcsiioyci ol all ilc
maiciial woilds'. 'Ma' mcans 'Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc
causc ol cvciyiling, wlo las a spiiiiual loim and wlo icsidcs in Vailunila',
'bialma-laianam' mcans 'ilc auiloi ol ilc Vcdas', and 'upayaii' mcans 'comcs
ncai'."
3 Tlai by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains ilc Loid's associaiion is
also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Sii llagavad-giia S.22):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is gicaici ilan all, is aiiainablc
by unalloycd dcvoiion. Alilougl Hc is picscni in His abodc, Hc is all-pcivading,
and cvciyiling is siiuaicd wiilin Him."¯
Anuccheda 1+7
1 Dcvoiional scivicc is icwaidcd wiil a gili lai bcyond ilc powci ol ilc
dcvoicc's mind io undcisiand. Dliuva Malaiaja, was givcn lis own spiiiiual
planci Dliuvalola as a icwaid loi lis scivicc, is ilc piool ol ilis.
ly cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc, ilc dcvoicc iuins ilc Loid inio a
submissivc scivani. Tlc Loid Himscll cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.20):
Mc."¯
2 Alici spcaling ilai vcisc, ilc Loid cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.21):
"lcing vciy dcai io ilc dcvoiccs and sadlus, I am aiiaincd iliougl
unllincling laiil and dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis blalii-yoga sysicm, wlicl
giadually incicascs aiiaclmcni loi Mc, puiilics cvcn a luman bcing boin among
dogcaicis. Tlai is io say, cvciyonc can bc clcvaicd io ilc spiiiiual plailoim by ilc
pioccss ol blalii-yoga."¯
3 Alilougl ilcsc vciscs liom Siimad llagavaiam Canio Llcvcn Clapici
Iouiiccn do noi clcaily singlc oui ciilci sadlana-blalii (ilc bcginning siagc ol
dcvoiional scivicc) oi sadlya-blalii (ilc advanccd siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc), ii
is clcai ilai ilc bcginning siagc is noi ilc bcsi oi linal lcaiuic ol dcvoiional
scivicc. Siill, bccausc ilc bcginning siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc giadually lcads onc
io ilc advanccd siagc, ii is also gloiilicd in ilcsc vciscs. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing qucsiion and an answci (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1):
"My dcai Kisna, ilc lcaincd sagcs wlo cxplain Vcdic liiciaiuic iccommcnd
vaiious pioccsscs loi pioicciing onc's lilc. Considciing ilcsc vaiiciics ol
vicwpoini, my Loid, plcasc icll mc wlcilci all ilcsc pioccsscs aic cqually
impoiiani. oi wlcilci onc ol ilcm is supicmc."¯
Tlc Loid answcis (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.26):
"Wlcn a discascd cyc is iicaicd wiil mcdicinal oinimcni ii giadually
iccovcis iis powci io scc. Similaily, as a conscious living cniiiy clcanscs limscll ol
maiciial coniaminaiion by lcaiing and claniing ilc pious naiiaiions ol My
gloiics, lc icgains lis abiliiy io scc Mc, ilc Absoluic Tiuil, in My subilc spiiiiual
loim."¯
+ Tlc bcginning siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc is clcaily gloiilicd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1S-22):
"My dcai Uddlava, Il My dcvoicc las noi lully conqucicd lis scnsc, lc may
bc laiasscd by maiciial dcsiics, bui bccausc ol lis unllincling dcvoiion loi Mc, lc
will noi bc dclcaicd by scnsc giaiilicaiion."¯¯¯
"My dcai Uddlava, jusi as a blazing liic iuins liicwood inio aslcs,
similaily, dcvoiion unio Mc complcicly buins io aslcs sins commiiicd by My
dcvoiccs.¯¯¯
Mc."¯
unllincling laiil and dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis llalii-yoga sysicm, wlicl
giadually incicascs aiiaclmcni io Mc, puiilics cvcn a luman bcing boin among
dogcaicis. Tlai is io say, cvciyonc can bc clcvaicd io ilc spiiiiual plailoim by ilc
Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1S cspccially dcsciibcs ilc bcginning siagc ol dcvoiional
scivicc bccausc in ilc advanccd siagc a dcvoicc is noi agiiaicd by maiciial dcsiics.
Tlc advanccd siagc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.35):
"Sagcs licc liom lalsc piidc livc on ilis caiil by icsoiiing io sacicd placcs
ol pilgiimagc and ilosc disiiicis in wlicl ilc Supicmc Loid las manilcsicd His
pasiimcs. lccausc sucl dcvoiccs lccp You loius lcci wiilin ilcii lcaiis, ilc waici
ilai waslcs ilcii lcci dcsiioys all sins. Lvciyonc wlo cvcn oncc iuins lis mind
iowaid You, ilc cicinally blisslul Soul ol all cxisicncc, ccascs liom woislipping
lamily lilc ai lomc, in wlicl a man is simply iobbcd ol lis good qualiiics."¯¯¯
+ In ilcsc woids ilc Visnu Puiana gloiilics ilc advanccd siagc ol dcvoiional
scivicc:
"Wlcn Loid Visnu, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cnicis ilc lcaii,
cvciyiling clsc bccomcs insignilicani. Wlai will onc aiiain by iunning casi and
wcsi io gci ilis and ilai'"
6 Tlc advanccd siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc is again dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.23):
"Il onc's laiis do noi siand on cnd, low can ilc lcaii mcli' And il ilc
lcaii docs noi mcli, low can icais ol lovc llow liom ilc cycs' Il onc docs noi ciy
in spiiiiual lappincss, low can onc icndci loving scivicc io ilc Loid' And
wiiloui sucl scivicc, low can ilc consciousncss bc puiilicd'"¯¯¯
7 Tlc advanccd siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc is again dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.2+):
"A dcvoicc wlosc spcccl is somciimcs clolcd up, wlosc lcaii mclis, wlo
ciics coniinually and somciimcs laugls, wlo lccls aslamcd and ciics oui loudly
and ilcn danccs - a dcvoicc ilus lixcd in loving scivicc io M puiilics ilc cniiic
univcisc."¯¯¯
Lvcn ilc bcginning siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc is puiilying. How mucl
moic puiilying is ilc advanccd siagc dcsciibcd lcic' Tlc siagc ol dcvoiional
scivicc dcsciibcd lcic is lai bcyond ilc siagc dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam
11.1+.1S (quoicd in Tcxi +).
S Tlai ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl bcgin wiil ilc dim
icllcciion ol ilc Loid's loly namc, dcsiioy all sins is piovcd by ilc lollowing
woids spolcn by ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.19):
"As all lucl is buincd io aslcs by a lull-llcdgcd liic, all sinlul aciiviiics aic
ioially ciascd wlcn onc cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc io Mc."¯
9 Dcvoiional scivicc and asianga-yoga aic vciy dillcicni spiiiiual pails. Tlcy
aic opposiics and biing opposiic icsulis, as ilc Loid cxplains in ilcsc woids
Mc."¯
unllincling laiil and dcvoiional scivicc."¯
Tlis siaicmcni also alliims ilai ii is laiil in dcvoiional scivicc ilai cnablcs
onc io aiiain ilc Supicmc Loid.
10 Tlc icsuli ol aciing in ilc bcginning siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc is ilai ilc
dcvoicc aiiains cciiain spiiiiual advaniagcs. Tlc icsuli ol advanccd dcvoiional
scivicc is ilai onc iuins ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad inio onc's submissivc
scivani.
11 Siimad llagavaiam (5.6.1S) cxplains:
woislipablc Dciiy, liicnd, and ilc diiccioi ol youi aciiviiics. To say noiling ol
ilis, Hc somciimcs scivcs youi lamily as a mcsscngci oi scivani. Tlis mcans Hc
aiiain libciaiion liom ilc Loid vciy casily, bui Hc docs noi vciy casily givc ilc
Tlis vcisc mcans ilai unlcss ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las
bccomc lilc a submissivc scivani, complcicly undci ilc dcvoicc's dominion, Hc
will noi givc ilc gili ol puic lovc loi Him.
12 Siimad llagavaiam (11.1+.22) cxplains:
Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai dcvoiional scivicc is vciy dillcicni liom oidinaiy
icligious aciiviiics. Indccd, dcvoiional scivicc biings a mucl bciici icsuli ilan
oidinaiy icligious aciiviiics do. ly cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc bccomcs
vciy puic and aiiains ilc advanccd siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc, as dcsciibcd in
Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.23:
"Il onc's laiis do noi siand on cnd, low can ilc lcaii mcli' And il ilc
lcaii docs noi mcli, low can icais ol lovc llow liom ilc cycs' Il onc docs noi ciy
in spiiiiual lappincss, low can onc icndci loving scivicc io ilc Loid' And
wiiloui sucl scivicc, low can ilc consciousncss bc puiilicd'"¯¯¯
In ilis way ilc passagc bcginning wiil Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.1S and
cnding wiil 11.1+.2+ is cxplaincd.
Tlc vcisc quoic in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 1+8
1 Diicci dcvoiional scivicc, wlcic onc givcs gilis io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad, is bciici ilan oidinaiy woil in ilis woild. Dcvoiional scivicc is ilus
ilc aciual pioccss ol icligion. Tlc Loid cxplains ilis in ilc lollowing woids
"O Uddlava, gicaicsi ol sainis, in a dangcious siiuaiion an oidinaiy pcison
ciics, bccomcs lcailul and lamcnis, alilougl sucl usclcss cmoiions do noi clangc
ilc siiuaiion. lui aciiviiics ollcicd io Mc wiiloui pcisonal moiivaiion, cvcn il
ilcy aic cxicinally usclcss, amouni io ilc aciual pioccss ol icligion."¯¯¯
2 Simply by lcaiing aboui dcvoiional scivicc onc can bccomc puiilicd ol all
pasi sins. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.12):
"Puic dcvoiional scivicc icndcicd io ilc Supicmc Loid is spiiiiually so
poicni ilai simply by lcaiing aboui sucl iiansccndcnial scivicc, by claniing iis
gloiics in icsponsc, by mcdiiaiing on ii, by icspccilully and laiillully acccpiing ii,
oi by piaising ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol oilcis, cvcn pcison wlo laic ilc dcmigods
and all oilci living bcings can bc immcdiaicly puiilicd."¯
3 In ilc Padma Puiana, Magla-malaimya, ilc Yamaduias say:
"Tlcn Yamaiaja said io us: lc icspccilul io ilc dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu. Do
noi appioacl anyonc ilai woislips Loid Visnu.
+ "Do noi appioacl a pcison in wlosc lomc a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu cais.
Do noi appioacl a pcison wlo associaics wiil dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu. Sucl a
pcison is alicady licc liom all sins."
5 In ilc lilan-naiadiya Puiana, ai ilc cnd ol ilc sioiy ol Yajnamali, ii is
said:
"Lvcn gicai sinncis ilai associaic wiil ilc dcvoiccs ol Loid Haii aic
auiomaiically liccd liom all ilcii sins."
6 Yamaiaja conliims ilis in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.29):
"My dcai scivanis, plcasc biing io mc only ilosc sinlul pcisons wlo do noi
usc ilcii iongucs io clani ilc loly namc and qualiiics ol Kisna, wlosc lcaiis do
noi icmcmbci ilc loius lcci ol Kisna cvcn oncc, and wlosc lcads do noi bow
down cvcn oncc bcloic Loid Kisna. Scnd mc ilosc wlo do noi pciloim ilcii
duiics iowaid Visnu, wlicl aic ilc only duiics in luman lilc. Plcasc biing mc all
sucl lools and iascals."¯
7 In ilc picvious vcisc Yamaiaja said (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.2S):
"Paiamalamsas aic cxalicd pcisons wlo lavc no iasic loi maiciial
cnjoymcni and wlo diinl ilc loncy ol ilc Loid's loius lcci. My dcai scivanis,
biing io mc loi punislmcni only pcisons wlo aic avcisc io ilc iasic ol ilai loncy,
wlo do noi associaic wiil paiamalamsas and wlo aic aiiaclcd io lamily lilc and
woildly cnjoymcni, wlicl loim ilc pail io lcll."¯
In ilis vcisc Yamaiaja says, "liing io mc loi punislmcni only pcisons wlo
aic avcisc io ilc iasic ol ilc loncy ol Loid Kisna's loius lcci."
S In ilc vcisc bcloic ilai (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.27) Yamaiaja cxplains:
"My dcai scivanis, plcasc do noi appioacl sucl dcvoiccs, loi ilcy lavc
lully suiicndcicd io ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcy
aic cqual io cvciyonc, and ilcii naiiaiions aic sung by ilc dcmigods and ilc
inlabiianis ol Siddlalola. Plcasc do noi cvcn go ncai ilcm. Tlcy aic always
pioiccicd by ilc club ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and ilcicloic Loid
lialma and I and cvcn ilc iimc lacioi aic noi compcicni io clasiisc ilcm."¯
In ilis vcisc Yamaiaja loibids lis mcsscngcis io appioacl ilc Loid's
dcvoiccs, wlo scc cvciyonc wiil cqual vision and wlosc puic gloiics aic sung by
ilc dcmigods and ilc inlabiianis ol Siddlalola.
9 Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.29 (quoicd in icxi 6), says, "Plcasc biing io mc
only ilosc pcisons wlo do noi usc ilcii iongucs (jilva) io clani ilc loly namc
(namadlcya) and qualiiics (guna) ol Kisna (blagavai), wlosc lcaiis (ccial) do
noi icmcmbci (smaiaii) ilc loius lcci ol Kisna (iac-caianaiavindam) cvcn oncc
(clada) and wlosc lcads (siial) do noi bow down (namaii) cvcn oncc bcloic Loid
Kisna (lisnaya)."¯
10 Tlc Slanda Puiana dcsciibcs ilc gloiics ol bowing down bcloic ilc Loid in
ilcsc woids:
"A pcison wlo cvcn only picicnds io bow down bcloic Loid Kisna is ai
oncc liccd liom ilc sins accumulaicd in a lundicd biiils."
lccausc bowing down bcloic ilc Loid is so gloiious, Yamaiaja says (in
Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.29 quoicd in icxi 6), "Do noi biing io mc anyonc wlo
bows down bcloic Loid Kisna. Plcasc biing mc only lools and iascals (asaial)."
Tlc icason ilcy aic lools and iascals is givcn in ilcsc woids: "Tlcy do noi
pciloim ilcii duiics iowaid Visnu (aliia-visnu-liiyan).
11 Tlc iclaiionslip bciwccn icligious duiics and dcvoiional scivicc io Loid
Visnu is cxplaincd in ilc Slanda Puiana, Rcva-llanda, wlcic Loid lialma says:
"O Loid Kcsava, a pcison wlo pciloims all lis icligious duiics musi bc
Youi dcvoicc. O Loid Kcsava, a pcison wlo pciloims only sins cannoi bc Youi
dcvoicc.
12 O Loid Haii, wlcn somconc wlo is noi Youi dcvoicc pciloims pious
dccds, all lis pious dccds bccomc sins. O Loid Haii, cvcn il lc las pciloimcd all
pious dccds, a pcison wlo is noi Youi dcvoicc siays always in lcll. On ilc oilci
land, il Youi dcvoicc commiis sins, cvcn up io lilling a bialmana, lc is ai oncc
liccd liom ilc ollcnsc."
13 In ilc Padma Puiana ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad says:
"Il somconc commiis a sin loi My salc, lis sin counis as a pious dccd. Il
somconc pciloims pious dccds wiiloui woislipping Mc, ilcn by My powci, lis
pious dccds couni as sins."
1+ Siimad llagavaiam (7.11.11) lisis somc ol ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional
scivicc in ilcsc woid:
"Tlcsc aic ilc gcncial insiiuciions io bc lollowcd by all luman bcings:
lcaiing aboui ilc aciiviiics and insiiuciions givcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad (wlo is ilc slclici ol ilc sainily pcisons), claniing aboui ilosc aciiviiics
and insiiuciions, always icmcmbciing ilcsc aciiviiics and insiiuciions, iiying io
icndci scivicc, pciloiming woislip, ollciing obcisanccs, bccoming a scivani,
bccoming a liicnd, and suiicndciing onc's wlolc scll."¯
15 Tlcy wlo do noi woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad will lall
down liom ilcii pullcd up posiiions. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.5.2-3):
"Iiom ilc mouil ol lialma ilc bialmanical oidci las comc inio
cxisicncc. Similaily, liom lis aims ilc lsaiiiyas lavc comc, liom lis waisi ilc
vaisyas lavc comc, and liom lis lcgs ilc sudias lavc comc. Tlcsc loui oidcis and
ilcii spiiiiual counicipaiis (bialmacaiya, gilasila, vanapiasila and sannyasa)
combinc io malc luman sociciy complcic.¯
"Il onc simply mainiains an ollicial posiiion in ilc loui vainas and asiamas
bui docs noi woislip ilc Supicmc Loid Visnu, lc lalls down liom lis pullcd up
posiiion inio a lcllisl condiiion."¯
16 Tlai cvciyonc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc is conliimcd by ilc Loid
Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1S.+3):
"Lvciyonc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io Mc."
17 Tlai onc slould always cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids ol ilc Padma Puiana:
1S In Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.29, quoicd in icxi 6, ilc woid "aliia-visnu-
liiyan mcans "ilcy wlo do noi gloiily, icmcmbci, oi bow down bcloic ilc Loid,
oi scivc Him in oilci ways." Alilougl ilcsc pcisons lavc iongucs wiil wlicl io
gloiily ilc Loid and oilci scnscs wiil wlicl ilcy may scivc Him in many ways,
ilcy do noi wisl io gloiily oi scivc Him.
19 Hcic Yamaiaja, ilc icaclci ol ilc scicncc ol dcvoiional scivicc, mcniions
"icmcmbciing ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid". Tlc icmcmbiancc lcic, is noi limiicd io
ilc Loid's loius lcci, lowcvci, bui includcs all ilc lcaiuics ol ilc Loid. Hcic
Yamaiaja says, "liing io mc only ilc non dcvoiccs. Do noi biing ilc dcvoiccs."
Tlc Siuii-sasiia cxplains: "Yamaiaja punislcs ilc condiiioncd souls."
20 Tlai Yamaiaja docs noi punisl ilc dcvoiccs is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.1.190:)
"Alilougl noi laving lully icalisc Kisna, pcisons wlo lavc cvcn oncc
suiicndcicd complcicly unio His loius lcci and wlo lavc bccomc aiiiacicd io His
namc, loim, qualiiics and pasiimcs aic complcicly liccd ol all sinlul icaciions, loi
ilcy lavc ilus acccpicd ilc iiuc mcilod ol aioncmcni. Lvcn in dicams, sucl
suiicndcicd souls do noi scc Yamaiaja oi lis oidci caiiicis, wlo aic cquippcd wiil
iopcs io bind ilc sinlul."¯
21 Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai ilcy wlo icmcmbci Loid Kisna's loius lcci do noi
cvcn scc Yamaiaja's caiiicis, wlo aic cquippcd wiil iopcs io bind ilc sinlul.
22 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc Nisimla Puiana wlcic Yamaiaja says:
"I am Yamaiaja. Tlc cicaioi lialma las dcpuicd mc io punisl and icwaid
ilc condiiioncd souls. I punisl ilcy wlo iuin liom ilcii spiiiiual masici and
liom Loid Haii. I bow down io ollci my icspccis io ilcy wlo bow down bcloic
Loid Haii's lcci.
23 In ilc Amiia-saioddlaia poiiion ol ilc Slanda Puiana, Yamaiaja says:
"Nciilci lialma, Siva, Agni, India, noi ilc oilci dcmigods, noi I myscll
lavc ilc powci io punisl ilc gicai souls ilai lavc bccomc scivanis ol Loid
Visnu."
2+ Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii
Yamaiaja io lis mcsscngcis.
Anuccheda 1+9
1 Lvcn a singlc momcni ol dcvoiional scivicc will malc onc's lilc a gicai
succcss. Tlis is cxplaincd by Sii Saunala Rsi in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
2.3.17):
"loil by iising and by sciiing ilc sun dccicascs ilc duiaiion ol lilc ol
cvciyonc, cxccpi onc wlo uiiliscs ilc iimc by discussing iopics ol ilc all-good
2 In ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc sioiics ol Ajamila and many oilci dcvoiccs ii is
sccn ilai sins aic dcsiioycd by cvcn ilc dim icllcciion ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai
cvcn ilc sliglicsi clloii cxpcndcd in dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all pasi laimic
icaciions and biings onc io ilc supicmc goal ol lilc is also dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing siaicmcni ol Sii Laglu-llagavaia:
3 "All sins commiiicd in ilc pasi, picscni and luiuic aic ai oncc buincd io
aslcs by ilc liic ol gloiilying Loid Kisna."
+ Tlai dcvoiional scivicc always las ilis cllcci, no maiici ilc ciicumsianccs
ol low onc comcs io pciloim ii, is sccn in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Sii lialma-
vaivaiia Puiana:
"O bialmanas, as liic always buins wlaicvci ii iouclcs and ncvci siops io
considci wlcilci onc wislcs io bc buincd oi noi, so ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad gianis libciaiion io cvciy pcison ilai cngagcs in His dcvoiional scivicc."
5 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc gianis libciaiion is also conliimcd in ilc lollowing
convcisaiion bciwccn Loid Siva and Goddcss Uma in ilc Slanda Puiana:
"Tlcy wlo aic only iniiiaicd inio ilc woislip ol Loid Kisna aiiain
libciaiion. Wlai can bc said, ilcn, ol ilcy wlo wiil dcvoiion always woislip ilc
inlalliblc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad'"
6 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc gianis libciaiion is again conliimcd in ilc lollowing
woids ol ilc Naiada Puiana:
"Tlcy wlo cvcn oncc sclllcssly woislip Loid Visnu do noi siay in ilc
woild ol biiil and dcail."
woids ol Dcvadyuii's piaycis in ilc Padma Puiana:
"A pcison wlo oncc aiicniivcly spcals ilc woid Naiayana bccomcs puic in
lcaii and aiiains libciaiion."
S Tlai dcvoiional scivicc gianis libciaiion is again conliimcd in ilc lollowing
woids ol ilc Padma Puiana:
"A pcison wlo, by associaiing wiil dcvoiccs, oi cvcn by accidcni, comcs io
woislip Loid Kisna, bccomcs licc ol all sins and cnicis ilc supicmc
iiansccndcnial abodc."
woids ol ilc Iiilasa-samuccaya:
"Tlcy wlo in spiic ol bcing ciucl, wiclcd, and addicicd io sinlul acis, ialc
slclici ol Loid Naiayana's lcci, aiiain ilc supicmc and iiansccndcnial abodc."
10 "Tlc dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu aic always puic. Tlcy aic ncvci iouclcd by
sin. Splcndid as ilc iising sun, ilcy puiily all ilc woilds.
11 "Alici ilousands ol biiils onc undcisiands, 'I am a scivani ol Loid
Vasudcva.' Onc wlo undcisiands ilis dclivcis all ilc woilds."
12 "Sucl a pcison gocs io ilc icalm ol Loid Visnu. Ol ilis ilcic is no doubi.
Wlai, ilcn, can bc said ol a pcison wlo coniiols lis scnscs and dcdicaics lis lilc
io ilc Loid's scivicc'"
13 In ilc Ramayana Loid Ramacandia cxplains:
"Ii is My vow ilai il onc only oncc sciiously suiicndcis unio Mc, saying,
'My dcai Loid, liom ilis day I am Youis', and piays io Mc loi couiagc, I slall
immcdiaicly awaid couiagc io ilai pcison and lc will always icmain salc liom ilai
iimc on."¯
1+ Tlc Gaiuda Puiana also cxplains:
"Ii is Loid Haii's vow ilai il onc only oncc sciiously suiicndcis unio Him,
saying, 'My dcai Loid, liom ilis day I am Youis', and piays io Him loi couiagc, ilc
Loid will immcdiaicly awaid couiagc io ilai pcison, and lc will always icmain
salc liom ilai iimc on."
15 Siimad llagavaiam (1.1.1+) also cxplains:
"Living bcings wlo aic cnianglcd in ilc complicaicd mcslcs ol dcail can
bc liccd immcdiaicly by cvcn unconsciously claniing ilc loly namc ol Kisna,
wlicl is lcaicd by lcai pcisonilicd."¯
16 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Saunala
Rsi.
Anuccheda 150
1 Tlai onc bccomcs libciaicd by lcaiing ilc Loid's loly namc is cxplaincd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.16.++):
"My Loid, ii is noi impossiblc loi onc io bc immcdiaicly liccd liom all
maiciial coniaminaiion by sccing You. Noi io spcal ol sccing You pcisonally,
mcicly by lcaiing ilc loly namc ol Youi Loidslip only oncc, cvcn candalas, mcn
ol ilc lowcsi class, aic liccd liom all maiciial coniaminaiion. Undci ilc
ciicumsianccs, wlo will noi bc liccd liom maiciial coniaminaiion simply by
sccing You'"¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King
Ciiialciu io Loid Sanlaisana.
Anuccheda 151
1 Tlc Visnu-dlaima Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda cxplains:
"I piclci io livc as a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu, cvcn il I livc loi only livc days.
Tlai is bciici living loi a ilousand lalpas as a non dcvoicc."
2 In Siimad llagavaiam 3.31.12-21 ilc unboin clild in ilc womb ollcis
piaycis io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcic ilc living cniiiy's lilc in ilc
maiciial woild is dcsciibcd. Only in onc biiil docs ilc loiiunaic living cniiiy ollci
piaycis in ilis way io ilc Loid, loi soon lc bccomcs libciaicd liom ilc woild ol
biiil and dcail. Sucl a living cniiiy is iaic. Almosi all oilci living cniiiics aic
noi awaic ol ilc naiuic ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
3 Tlc Niiulii-sasiia (13.19) cxplains: "In ilc ninil monil ilc body ol ilc
cmbiyo is complcicly loimcd. Tlcn ilc living cniiiy ilcic ilinls, 'I dicd and now
I am boin again. I am boin, bui soon I will dic again...
+ ...Unablc io spcal a woid ol complaini, ilc condiiioncd soul in ilc womb
is ioimcnicd by ilc woims aboui lim. Iiisi lc siudics ilc sanllya-yoga
cxplanaiion ol ilc 2+ maiciial clcmcnis, and ilcn, in ilc icnil monil, lc is boin.
5 In ilc pliasc "puiusam va" ilc woid "va (oi) indicaics ilai ilis dcsciipiion
applics only io cciiain iaic living cniiiics ilai lavc lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
6 Tlis slows ilai dcvoiional scivicc can bc piaciiccd in any lind ol
siiuaiion. Alilougl living cniiiics ol many dillcicni linds cxpciicncc lilc in ilc
womb, ilis cxplanaiion dcsciibcs onc lind ol living cniiiy and gcncialiscs, calling
lim "ilc living cniiiy in ilc womb". Tlis lind ol gcncialisaiion is also sccn in
oilci placcs in ilc sciipiuics.
7 An cxamplc ol iwo dillcicni cvcnis dcsciibcd as il ilcy wcic onc is givcn in
ilc commcniaiy on Siimad llagavaiam's dcsciipiion ol ilc biiil ol ilc loui
Kumaias duiing ilc cicaiion ol ilc Padma-lalpa. Tlcic, in lis commcniaiy on
Siimad llagavaiam 3.11.35, Siila Siidlaia Svami cxplains ilai in ilis
ciicumsiancc iwo dillcicni cvcnis aic dcsciibcd as il ilcy wcic a singlc cvcni. Tlis
is lilc ilc appcaiancc ol Loid Vaiala. loid Vaiala appcaicd in ilc liisi
manvaniaia, wlcn ilc caiil was plungcd in ilc waici. Ai ilai iimc Loid Vaiala,
boin liom ilc dcmigod lialma's nosiiil, icscucd ilc caiil and lougli wiil
Hiianyalsa. Tlai is onc dcsciipiion. Tlcn also Loid Vaiala appcaicd in ilc sixil
manvaniaia. Ai ilai iimc Hc was boin liom Diii, ilc dauglici ol Piacciasa Dalsa.
lccausc in boil appcaianccs Loid Vaiala icscucd ilc caiil plungcd in ilc waici,
ilc iwo appcaianccs wcic dcsciibcd in a singlc naiiaiion. Tlc samc is iiuc loi ilis
dcsciipiion ol ilc unboin living cniiiy. Tlc unboin living cniiiy ilai ollcis
piaycis io ilc Supicmc Loid is onc lind ol living cniiiy. Tlcic aic oilcis,
lowcvci, wlo aic aiiaclcd io ilc woild ol biiil and dcail and do noi ollci sucl
piaycis.
S Tlai dcvoiional scivicc biings onc's iclaiivcs io ilc Loid's supicmc abodc is
sccn in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Naiada Puiana, Dvajaiopana-malaimya:
"Lvcn il ilcy aic sinncis, ilc iclaiivcs ol ilc icnounccd dcvoiccs ol Loid
Visnu go io ilc Loid's supicmc abodc."
9 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"Tlcy wlo woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad caiiy wiil ilcm a
lundicd ol ilcii iclaiivcs io ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial abodc.
10 "Tlcy wlo insiall a Dciiy ol Loid Haii biing io ilc Loid's abodc all ilcii
iclaiivcs yci io bc boin and all ilcii iclaiivcs boin in ilc pasi, going bacl io ilc
bcginning ol ilc lalpa."
11 In Vaisnava liiciaiuic Yamaiaja oidcis lis mcsscngcis:
"Do noi punisl ilc 90 000 iclaiivcs ol onc wlo dcvoicdly woislips Loid
Vasudcva."
12 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll says (Siimad llagavaiam
7.10.1S):
"My dcai Piallada, O mosi puic, O gicai sainily pcison, youi lailci las
bccn puiilicd, along wiil iwcniy-onc loiclailcis in youi lamily. lccausc you wcic
boin in ilis lamily, ilc cniiic dynasiy las bccn puiilicd."¯
13 Hcic ilc woid "iii-sapiablil" (iwcniy onc) iclcis io iwcniy onc loiclailcis
in cacl biiil going bacl io ilc bcginning ol ilc lalpa. In ilis biiil somc ol ilc
loiclailcis libciaicd in ilis way aic Hiianyalasipu, Kasyapa Muni, Maiici, and
lialma. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid Nisimladcva io Piallada Malaiaja.
Anuccheda 152
1 Lvcn ilc dim icllcciion ol dcvoiional scivicc dcsiioys all sins and biings
onc io ilc abodc ol Loid Visnu. Tlc Naiada Puiana cxplains ilai iwo inioxicaicd
diunlaids pioud as cucloos oncc wavcd a siicl iicd io a iag as ilcy danccd in an
old abandoncd icmplc ol ilc Loid. Tlcsc diunlaids aiiaincd ilc icsuli ol iaising
a llag in ilc Loid's icmplc and in ilis way ilcy iciuincd io ilc Loid's
iiansccndcnial abodc.
In ilc samc way a biid ilai lad bccn lillcd by a lunici and ilcn ialcn up
slclici in ilc mouil ol a dog, wlcn ilc dog ian aiound a icmplc ilc biid aiiaincd
ilc icsuli ol ciicumambulaiing ilc Loid's icmplc and in ilis way ii iciuincd io ilc
Loid's iiansccndcnial abodc.
In ilc samc way onc bccomcs a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid. In ilc Nisimla
Puiana ii is said ilai in lis picvious biiil Piallada Malaiaja lad an aigumcni
wiil a piosiiiuic on ilc loly day ol Nisimla-caiuidasi. Aiguing wiil lci all day
and nigli, lc nciilci aic noi slcpi, and bccausc in ilis way lc lasicd and lcpi an
all-nigli vigil on ilai loly day lc bccamc a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid.
2 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc biings onc io ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial abodc is
again cxplaincd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.15):
"Lci mc ialc slclici ol ilc loius lcci ol Him wlosc incainaiions, qualiiics
and aciiviiics aic mysiciious imiiaiions ol woilds allaiis. Onc wlo involcs His
iiansccndcnial namcs, cvcn unconsciously, ai ilc iimc lc quiis ilis lilc, is
cciiainly waslcd immcdiaicly ol ilc sins ol many, many biiils and aiiains Him
wiiloui lail."¯
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "asu-vigamc" mcans "cvcn ilougl ai ilc iimc ol
dcail onc may noi bc ablc io spcal ilc Loid's loly namc vciy clcaily oi
disiincily", and ilc woid "vivasal" mcans "cvcn wiiloui dcsiiing ii". In ilis way,
impcllcd by somc causc oilci ilan onc's own dcsiic, onc clanis ilc Loid loly
namc. Tlc woid "vi" mcans "wiiloui" and ilc woid "vasa" mcans "dcsiic". Tlc
Amaia-losa diciionaiy cxplains, "Tlc woid 'vasa' mcans 'dcsiic'."
+ Tlc icason ilc Loid's loly namc las sucl gicai powci is cxplaincd in ilis
vcisc. Tlc Loid's namc is onc ol His incainaiions. Tlai is ilc icason. Tlc woid
"avaiaia-vidambanani" lcic iclcis io Loid Nisimladcva and ilc many oilci
incainaiions ol ilc Loid, ilc woid "guna-vidambanani" iclcis io ilc Loid's
iiansccndcnial qualiiics, sucl as His lovc loi ilc dcvoiccs, and ilc woid laima-
vidambanani" iclcis io His pasiimcs, sucl as His liliing ol Govaidlana Hill.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc dcmigod lialma io Loid Gaiblodalasayi
Visnu.
Anuccheda 153
1 Tlis is ilc dcsciipiion ol puic dcvoiional scivicc. Lvcn il mixcd wiil
ollcnscs, dcvoiional scivicc is siill vciy powcilul. Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing
vciscs ol ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana, spolcn by a ialsasa io a bialmana wlo
pioiccicd limscll by claniing a maniia involing ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad:
2 "I ian io cai you, bui somclow you pioiccicd youiscll wiil a maniia. O
bialmana, by ioucling ilis maniia I lavc suddcnly bccomc puic in lcaii.
3 "Wlai maniia did you clani io pioicci youiscll' I do noi undcisiand ii. I
do noi undcisiand ii's powci. ly ioucling ii I lavc bccomc licc ol all maiciial
dcsiics.
+ Tlc lollowing sioiy is lound in ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana. As ii was
diinling ilc glcc in a lamp in ilc Loid's icmplc, a cciiain mousc, by iis own
dcsiiny, was buincd by ilc llaming wicl and dicd. In iis ncxi lilc ilc mousc
bccamc a quccn ilai lad gicai laiil in dcvoiional scivicc and gavc lamps and oilci
gilis io ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid. In ilis way slc bccamc libciaicd and aiiaincd ilc
Loid's supicmc abodc.
Anoilci sioiy is iold in ilc Janmasiami-malaimya ol ilc lialmanda
Puiana. A cciiain piosiiiuic did noi mcci any ol lci cusiomcis on Janmasiami
day. ly ilus obsciving Janmasiami, slc bccamc libciaicd.
Anoilci sioiy is iold in ilc Naiada Puiana. So ilai lc could usc ii as a
suiiablc placc loi lis sinlul dccds, a sinnci oncc clcancd a icmplc ol ilc Loid. Ioi
ilis scivicc lc bccamc libciaicd and aiiaincd ilc supicmc abodc ol ilc Loid.
On ilc oilci land, lnowlcdgc ol impcisonal lialman las noiling io do
wiil ical libciaiion. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc lialma-
vaivaiia Puiana:
5 "A sinnci aiiaclcd io scnsc-plcasuics wlo dcclaics, 'I am lialman', is
ioiiuicd by laving io bc boin again and again in ilousands ol wombs.'
6 Tlai cvcn ilc sliglicsi and biiclcsi clloii io scivc Him malcs ilc Loid
onc's submissivc scivani is sccn in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Loid Siva in ilc
lialma Puiana:
7 "O bcsi ol bialmanas, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad placcs His cycs
on onc wlo lools ai Him day alici day. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
ialcs slclici ol onc wlo ialcs slclici ol Him. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad woislips onc wlo always woislips Him."
S Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo dcaily lovcs His dcvoiccs, sclls
Himscll io ilcm loi ilc piicc ol a iulasi lcal and a landlul ol waici."
9 Tlai ilc gloiics ol dcvoiional scivicc and claniing ilc Loid's loly namc
aic noi mcicly cmpiy llaiiciy bui aic ilc ical iiuil is piovcd by ilc sioiy ol
Ajamila and many oilci sioiics also. Tlis is also sccn in ilc Sii llagavan-nama-
laumudi and many oilci sciipiuics. To considci ilc gloiics ol claniing Haic
Kisna io bc imaginaiion and io givc somc imaginaiy inicipiciaiion on ilc loly
namcs ol ilc Loid aic counicd among ilc ollcnscs io ilc loly namc as dcsciibcd
in ilc Padma Puiana.
10 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Kaiyayana-samliia in ilcsc woids:
"Onc wlo malcs up an imaginaiy inicipiciaiion ol ilc mcaning ol Loid
Haii's loly namc is ilc mosi sinlul ol pcisons. Hc lalls inio a iciiiblc lcll."
11 In ilc lialma-samliia ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains io
laudlayana:
"A pcison wlo, alici lcaiing ilc many spiiiiual bcncliis obiaincd by
claniing My loly namcs, docs noi bclicvc ilcm, bui ilinls ilcm only ilc
cicaiions ol somconc's imaginaiion, is ioiiuicd wiil a losi ol loiiiblc sullciings in
ilis woild ol biiil and dcail. I pcisonally iliow lim inio ilai woild ol
sullciings."
11 To ilinl ilc gloiics ol claniing ilc Loid's loly namcs aic imaginaiy is a
gicai ollcnsc. A pcison wlo commiis ilis ollcnsc will noi bc ablc io cxpciicncc
ilc iuc bcncliis ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in many ancicni
sciipiuics. To cicaic imaginaiy inicipiciaiions on ilc mcaning ol ilc loly namc
aic also gicai ollcnscs io ilc Loid. Tlcsc ollcnscs cicaic obsiaclcs io onc's
advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc.
12 Tlc obsiaclcs cicaicd by ilcsc ollcnscs aic dcsciibcd by Sii Saunala Rsi in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.2+):
"Cciiainly ilai lcaii is siccl liamcd wlicl, in spiic ol onc's claniing ilc
loly namc ol ilc Loid wiil conccniiaiion, docs noi clangc wlcn ccsiasy ialcs
placc, icais lill ilc cycs and ilc laiis siand on cnd."¯
1+ Tlc bcncliis ol laving pciloimcd dcvoiional scivicc in ilc pasi aic also
sccn in ilc picscni. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
10.6+.25):
"O Kcsava, as Youi scivani I was dcvoicd io ilc bialmanas and gcncious io
ilcm, and I always lanlcicd loi Youi audicncc. Tlcicloic cvcn iill now I lavc
ncvci loigoiicn (my pasi lilc)."¯
15 Tlcsc woids ol King Niga, cxplaining low lc cngagcd in dcvoiional
scivicc, did noi commii ilc ollcnsc ol ilinling ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc io bc
imaginaiy, and siill lad io go io Yamalola, sccm io coniiadici ilc lollowing woids
ol Yamaiaja (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.29):
"My dcai scivanis, plcasc biing io mc only ilosc sinlul pcison wlo do noi
usc ilcii iongucs io clani ilc loly namc and qualiiics ol Kisna, wlosc lcaiis do
noi icmcmbci ilc loius lcci ol Kisna cvcn oncc, and wlosc lcads do noi bow
down cvcn oncc bcloic Loid Kisna. Scnd mc ilosc wlo do noi pciloim ilcii
duiics iowaid Visnu, wlicl aic ilc only duiics in luman lilc. Plcasc biing mc all
sucl lools and iascals."¯
Tlc answci is ilai King Niga lad icjccicd ilc aciiviiics ol diicci dcvoiional
scivicc, wlicl aic gloiilicd in ilc sciipiuics and wlicl aic pciloimcd by gicai
dcvoiccs lilc King Ambaiisa. Insicad ol pciloiming diicci dcvoiional scivicc, King
Niga pciloimcd oidinaiy pious aciiviiics ol giving claiiiy. Ii was ilis ilai cicaicd
ilc impcdimcni io lis advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc and biougli lim io iuin.
16 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Padma Puiana,
Namapaiadla-blanjana-sioiia:
"O bialmana, wlcn, pionounccd piopcily oi noi, ii appcais on ilc voicc,
walls on ilc pail ol ilc mcmoiy, oi cnicis ilc cais, il ii is noi sioppcd by ollcnscs
a singlc uiiciancc ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid caiiics onc bcyond ilc woild ol
biiil and dcail. Howcvci, il ilc clanici commiis ollcnscs, oi il lc clanis io
aiiain wcalil, lollowcis, oi ilc lappincss ol ilis maiciial body, lc will bc iliown
inio ilc woild ol biiil and dcail, and lis claniing will noi quiclly biing ilc
dcsiicd icsuli."
17 In oidci io aiiain maiciial ilings sucl as ilc lappincss ol ilc maiciial
body, ilcsc pcisons commii ilc icn ollcnscs ilai bcgin wiil disicspcciing ilc
spiiiiual masici.
1S In ilc Slanda Puiana, Piallada-samliia, Dvaiala-malaimya, ii is said:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Visnu is noi plcascd wiil a pcison,
cvcn il lc las pciloimcd dcvoiional scivicc in lundicds ol biiils, il lc ollcnds a
dcvoicc."
19 In anoilci passagc ol ilc Slanda Puiana, in ilc convcisaiion ol
Mailandcya and llagiiaila ii is said:
"Loid Haii docs noi acccpi iwclvc ycais ol dcvoiional scivicc pciloimcd by
onc wlo, sccing a dcvoicc liom alai, docs noi go io gicci lim.
20 "Loid Haii will noi loigivc ilc sins ol onc wlo, sccing a dcvoicc, docs noi
ollci obcisanccs and woislip."
21 Many oilci ollcnscs aic also sccn. In Sii Visnu Puiana is ilc dcsciipiion ol
a ling namcd Saiadlanu, wlo was vciy dcvoicd io ilc Supicmc Loid, bui wlo
also blasplcmcd ilc Vcdas and ilc dcvoiccs. Ioi ilis lc was icboin many iimcs
as a dog and many oilci lowly cicaiuics.
22 Tlc impoiiancc ol sciving ilc dcvoiccs is siicsscd in ilc lollowing woids
23 Tlc Vcdania-suiia (+.1.1.) cxplains:
"Tlc sciipiuics icacl ilai spiiiiual aciiviiics slould bc pciloimcd again
and again."
2+ lccausc mosi pcoplc aic inclincd io commii ollcnscs, ilcy slould pciloim
spiiiiual aciiviiics again and again. Tlai ilcy wlo ollcnd ilc Loid's loly namc
slould clani ilc loly namc again and again is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol
ilc Namapaiadla-blanjana-sioiia ol ilc Padma Puiana:
2+ "Tlc claniing ol Haic Kisna is iccommcndcd loi pcisons wlo commii
ollcnscs, bccausc il ilcy coniinuc claniing ilcy will giadually clani ollcnsclcssly.
Lvcn il in ilc bcginning onc clanis wiil ollcnscs, onc will bccomc licc liom sucl
ollcnscs by claniing again and again."¯
25 In ilc Tiailolya-sammolana Taniia and oilci sciipiuics ii is said ilai onc
slould again and again clani ilc cigliccn syllablc maniia and oilci similai
maniias. Tlcic ii is said:
26 "O goddcss, plcasc lcai wlai Manu las iaugli. Onc slould clani ilis
maniia icn iimcs. In ilis way onc will bccomc liccd liom a losi ol calamiiics.
27 "Onc wlo clanis ilis maniia a ilousand iimcs bccomcs liccd liom ilc
gicaicsi sins. Lvcn il onc clanis wiil ollcnscs, ilc gicaicsi sins aic dcsiioycd."
2S In ilc lialma-vaivaiia Puiana ilc lollowing is said aboui ilc loly namc:
"Lvcn a pcison wlo las lillcd an cxalicd bialmana, oi wlo las voluniaiily
diunl liquoi, will bccomc puiilicd il day and nigli lc clanis 'Kisna! Kisna!'."
29 Ollcnscs cicaic ilc dcsiic io sin. Howcvci, by claniing ilc loly namc,
ollcnscs and sinlul dcsiics aic boil dcsiioycd. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
30 Howcvci, ollcnscs and sins aic dcliniicly impcdimcnis io advanccmcni in
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is cxplaincd by ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Visnu dlaima-
Puiana:
'As a swan docs noi lilc io siay in muddy waici, so Loid Kisna docs noi
lilc io siay in a lcaii diiiy wiil sinlul dcsiics.
31 "As a cicsccni moon covcicd by clouds cannoi dcsiioy ilc dailncss, so a
voicc polluicd wiil lics and oilci sins cannoi piopcily ollci piaycis io Loid
Kisna."
32 Tlcy wlo lavc aiiaincd pcilcciion in dcvoiional scivicc cxpciicncc ai cvciy
momcni ilc liglcsi lappincss. Tlcy wlo lavc noi yci aiiaincd pcilcciion in
dcvoiional scivicc slould lollow ilc iulcs ol sadlana-blalii uniil ilcy aiiain ilc
siagc ol pcilcciion.
Iiom ollcnscs ilc lollowing obsiaclcs io puic dcvoiional scivicc aiisc: 1.
cioolcdncss, 2. laiillcssncss, 3. aiiaclmcni io ilings ilai dcsiioy laiil in ilc
Loid, +. slaclncss in dcvoiional scivicc, and 5. piidc in bcing advanccd in
dcvoiional scivicc. Il by associaiing wiil gicai souls onc is noi ablc io ovcicomc
ilcsc obsiaclcs ilcn, alilougl oiiginally manilcsicd in ilc pasi, ilcsc laulis will
icmain in ilc picscni. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad docs noi acccpi ilc
dcvoiional scivicc ollcicd by ilcy wlo aic cioolcd, as, wlcn lc appcaicd as a
mcsscngci, Hc did noi acccpi ilc scivicc ollcicd by Duiyodlana. Cioolcdncss
lcic mcans io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc wlilc commiiiing ollcnscs io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc Vcdas, ilc spiiiiual masici, oi ilc dcvoiccs.
Tlcy wlo aic loolisl bui noi cioolcd will aiiain succcss by pciloiming
cvcn ilc dim icllcciion ol dcvoiional scivicc. Howcvci, ilcy wlo aic cioolcd do
noi aiiain ilai succcss in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol Paiasaia Muni in ilc Slanda Puiana:
33 "Ioolisl and cioolcd lcaiicd sinncis do noi aiiain succcss in dcvoiional
scivicc io Loid Kisna. Tlcy cannoi piopcily gloiily and icmcmbci ilc Loid."
3+ Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana:
"Tlcii aiicmpi io bc iiuillul is sioppcd by a lundicd impcdimcnis. Tlcii
aiicmpi io pciloim ausiciiiics is sioppcd by a ilousand impcdimcnis. Tlcii
aiicmpi io lovc and scivc Loid Kisna is sioppcd by icn ilousand impcdimcnis."
35 Siimad llagavaiam (3.19.36) also cxplains:
"Wlai giaiclul soul is ilcic wlo would noi icndci lis loving scivicc io
sucl a gicai masici as ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad' Tlc Loid can bc casily plcascd
by spoilcss dcvoiccs wlo icsoii cxclusivcly io Him loi pioicciion, ilougl ilc
uniiglicous man linds ii dilliculi io piopiiiaic Him."¯
36 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Suia
Gosvami.
Anuccheda 15+
1 Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic noi cioolcd-lcaiicd and aic always lind io
ilc loolisl. Tlc cioolcd-lcaiicd non dcvoiccs, lowcvci, aic noi lind cvcn io ilc
wisc. Tlc lindncss ol ilc dcvoiccs is sccn in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.5.+-5):
2 "Tlcic aic many pcisons wlo lavc liiilc oppoiiuniiy io ialc paii in
discussions aboui ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii, and ilus ii is
dilliculi loi ilcm io clani His inlalliblc gloiics. Pcisons sucl as womcn, sudias
and oilci lallcn classcs always dcscivc ilc mcicy ol gicai pcisonaliiics lilc
youiscll."¯¯¯
3 "On ilc oilci land, bialmanas, mcmbcis ol ilc ioyal oidci and vaisyas,
cvcn alici bcing allowcd io appioacl ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Loid, Haii, by
iccciving ilc sccond biiil ol Vcdic iniiiaiion, can bccomc bcwildcicd and adopi
vaiious maiciialisiic plilosoplics."¯¯¯
"Tlc liisi vcisc says, 'Pcisons lilc youiscll slould bc mcicilul io ilcsc
loolisl pcoplc'. Tlc sccond vcisc says, 'Tlcsc pcoplc aic incuiably loolisl'."
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Camasa Muni io King Nimi.
Anuccheda 155
1 Iaiillcssncss mcans wlcn onc lcais ol oi diiccily sccs ilc gloiics ol ilc
Loid, onc doc noi bclicvc ilai ilcy aic iiuc. Duiyodlana's icsponsc on sccing ilc
Loid's univcisal loim is onc ol many cxamplcs ol ilis lind ol laiillcssncss.
Tlc aciual naiuic ol ilc Loid's gloiics is dcsciibcd by Sii Saunala Rsi in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.1.1+):
'Living bcings wlo aic cnianglcd in ilc complicaicd mcslcs ol biiil and
dcail can bc liccd immcdiaicly by cvcn unconsciously claniing ilc loly namc ol
Kisna, wlicl is lcaicd by lcai pcisonilicd."¯
2 Tlc Loid's gloiics aic also sccn in ilc pcisonal cxpciicncc ol Piallada
Malaiaja, wlo says (Visnu Puiana 1.17.++):
"Tlcn ilc clcplanis' iusls, wlicl wcic laid as ilundcibolis, suddcnly
splinicicd inio picccs. Ii was noi I wlo biolc ilcm. Ii was my icmcmbiancc ol
Loid Kisna, wlo dclivcis His dcvoiccs liom disiicss, ilai savcd mc liom ilai
calamiiy."
Dcvoiccs lilc Piallada icccivc spccial pioicciion liom ilc Loid, bui
pcisons wlo lavc no laiil in ilc Loid do noi.
3 lcing always pioiccicd by ilc Loid is ilc naiuial icsuli ol bccoming a
dcvoicc ol ilc Loid. Howcvci, ilc puic dcvoiccs dcsiic only io gloiily ilc Loid.
Tlcy do noi dcsiic ciilci io pioicci ilcmsclvcs oi io slow oll ilcii own gloiics.
+ Tlai ilc dcvoiccs aic pioiccicd by ilc Loid is sccn in ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol Piallada Malaiaja (Visnu Puiana 1.17.++):
"Tlcn ilc clcplanis' iusls, wlicl wcic laid as ilundcibolis, suddcnly
splinicicd inio picccs. Ii was noi I wlo biolc ilcm. Ii was my icmcmbiancc ol
Loid Kisna, wlo dclivcis His dcvoiccs liom disiicss, ilai savcd mc liom ilai
calamiiy."
5 Tlai ilc gicai dcvoiccs, sucl as King Paiilsii, do noi dcsiic ilcii own
pioicciion is sccn in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.19.15):
6 "O bialmanas, jusi acccpi mc as a complcicly suiicndcicd soul, and lci
moilci Gangcs, ilc icpicscniaiivc ol ilc Loid, also acccpi mc in ilai way, loi I
lavc alicady ialcn ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid inio my lcaii. Lci ilc snalc-biid oi
wlaicvci magical iling ilc bialmana cicaicd - biic mc ai oncc. I only dcsiic ilai
you all coniinuc singing ilc dccds ol Loid Visnu."¯
7 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King Paiilsii.
Anuccheda 156
1 Lvcn ioday, ilc dcvoiccs aic pioiccicd in ilis way by ilc Loid. Tlis
slould noi bc doubicd. Wlcn ilc Loid is woislippcd, ilis icsuli is obiaincd.
2 Tlai ilc dcvoiccs bccomc vciy powcilul by ilc Loid's mcicy is sccn in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.S.19):
"As Dliuva Malaiaja, ilc King's son, lcpi limscll sicadily sianding on onc
lcg, ilc picssuic ol lis big ioc puslcd down lall ilc caiil, jusi as an clcplani
bcing caiiicd on a boai iocls ilc boai lcli and iigli wiil lis cvciy sicp."¯
3 Tlis icsuli was obiaincd by mcdiiaiing on all-pcivading Loid Visnu. ly
woislipping ilc Loid in ilis way, Dliuva was ablc io movc ilc caiil and ilc
oilci plancis by pusling ilcm wiil lis looi. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii
Maiiicya Muni.
Anuccheda 157
1 An cxamplc ol ilc obsiaclcs ilai malc onc lall away liom laiil in ilc Loid
is givcn in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.S.26):
2 "My dcai King, in ilis way llaiaia Malaiaja was ovciwlclmcd by an
unconiiollablc dcsiic wlicl was manilcsi in ilc loim ol ilc dcci. Duc io ilc
liuiiivc icsulis ol lis pasi dccds, lc lcll down liom mysiic yoga, ausiciiiy and
woislip ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Il ii wcic noi duc io lis pasi
liuiiivc aciiviiy, low could lc lavc bccn aiiiacicd io ilc dcci alici giving up ilc
associaiion ol lis own son and lamily, considciing ilcm siumbling blocls on ilc
pail ol spiiiiual lilc' How could lc slow unconiiollablc allcciion loi a dcci'
Tlis was dcliniicly duc io lis pasi laima. Tlc King was so cngiosscd in pciiing
and mainiaining ilc dcci ilai lc lcll down liom lis spiiiiual aciiviiics. In duc
couisc ol iimc, insuimouniablc dcail, wlicl is compaicd io a vcnomous snalc
ilai cnicis ilc lolc cicaicd by a mousc, siiuaicd iiscll bcloic lim."¯
3 Tlc woid "sal" (lc) iclcis io King llaiaia. Oidinaiy liuiiivc aciiviiics aic
noi siiong cnougl io cicaic sucl an impcdimcni in ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Tlcicloic ilc liuiiivc aciiviiics mcniioncd lcic musi lavc bccn ollcnscs
pciloimcd in a picvious biiil. In ilis way King llaiaia is lilc King Indiadyumna
and oilci dcvoiccs ilai commiiicd ollcnscs. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila
Suladcva Gosvami
Anuccheda 158
1 Somc ilinl ilai ilc Loid Himscll aiiangcs loi ilis lind ol picvious liuiiivc
aciiviiy so ilc dcvoicc will bc scpaiaicd liom Him, long io aiiain Him, and in ilis
way comc io lovc Him moic ilai bcloic. Tlc picvious biiil ol Naiada Muni,
wlcic cvcn ilougl lc lad bcgun io lovc ilc Loid, lc siill lad maiciial dcsiics, is
an cxamplc ol ilis. Tlc Loid cxplains ilis in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.6.21):
2 "O Naiada (ilc Loid spolc), I icgici ilai duiing ilis lilciimc you will noi
bc ablc io scc Mc anymoic. Tlosc wlo aic incomplcic in scivicc and wlo aic noi
complcicly licc liom all maiciial iainis can laidly scc Mc."¯
3 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc
Anuccheda 159
1 Gajcndia and oilcis lcll inio a maiciialisiic way ol lilc bccausc ol ollcnscs
ilcy commiiicd. lccausc ol slaclncss in pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc onc
cxpciicnccs maiciial lappincsscs and sullciings causcd by oncscll and oilcis.
Tlis is causcd by slaclncss in dcvoiional scivicc, loi ilcy wlo piopcily cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc do noi cxpciicncc any sullciings, as is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids ol ilc Visnu-salasia-nama-sioiia:
2 "No aciually inauspicious condiiion is cvci imposcd on ilc dcvoiccs ol
Loid Vasudcva and ilcicloic ilcy do noi lcai laving ialcn biiil in ilis woild
again io sullci ilc misciablc condiiions ol old-agc, discasc and dcail."
3 An aspiiing dcvoicc iiics io mainiain and pioicci lis luman body. Hc docs
ilis noi mcicly loi ilc body's salc, bui bccausc lc dcsiics io malc advanccmcni in
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is noi againsi ilc piinciplcs ol dcvoiional scivicc.
A lcaincd sclolai ilai docs noi avoid slaclncss in loving scivicc io ilc
Loid commiis an ollcnsc io ilc Loid. On ilc oilci land, an incompcicni lool ilai
avoids ollcnscs casily aiiains pcilcciion. Tlc Supicmc Loid, wlo is lind io ilc
disiicsscd, is vciy mcicilul io ilai pcison. Wlcn an iniclligcni pcison is an
ollcndci lc is so oui ol malicc.
+ Wlcn a lool is an ollcndci lc is noi so oui ol malicc. Ioi ilis icason an
iniclligcni pcison, wlo docs commii ollcnscs oui ol malicc, linds obsiaclcs lilc a
lundicd aiclcis siopping lis piogicss in dcvoiional scivicc.
5 Ioolisl cicaiuics lilc micc and oilci animals ilai somclow cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc may aiiain pcilcciion cvcn il ilcy commii ollcnscs, loi ilcii
ollcnscs aic wiiloui malicc. Tlc powci ol dcvoiional scivicc dclcais all ilcii
ollcnscs. Howcvci, ilcy wlo aic pioud ol ilcii advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc
commii ollcnscs bccausc ilcy disicspcci ilc oilci dcvoiccs. Tlis is sccn in ilc
aciiviiics ol Dalsa, wlo ollcndcd Loid Siva, loi ilai icason lc lad io ialc biiil as
onc ol ilc Piaccias, and ilcn, bccausc lc ollcndcd Naiada Muni, lad io ialc biiil
again.
6 Il in ilc pasi, oi picscni onc las ncvci commiiicd any ollcnscs, by oncc
cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc lc will immcdiaicly aiiain pcilcciion. In ilc samc
way il ai ilc momcni ol dcail onc somclow oi oilci cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc
lc also aiiains pcilcciion. Il ai ilc iimc ol dcail onc clanis ilc Loid's loly namc
oi icndcis somc lind ol scivicc io ilc Loid, ilcn ilc dcvoiional scivicc ilai
pcison pciloimcd in ilai lilc and in picvious livcs bccomcs pcilcci, puic,
ollcnsclcss dcvoiional scivicc, and by ilc powci ol ilai puic dcvoiional scivicc,
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is causcd io appcai bcloic ilai pcison ai ilc
momcni ol lis dcail.
7 Tlc Loid Himscll dcsciibcs ilis in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii llagavad-giia
(S.6):
"Wlaicvci siaic ol bcing onc icmcmbcis wlcn lc quiis lis body, O son ol
Kunii, ilai siaic lc will aiiain wiiloui lail."¯
S lccausc lc did noi commii any ollcnscs, Ajamila did noi lavc io again and
again clani ilc Loid's loly namc io aiiain ilc icsuli ol claniing. lccausc lc oncc
cngagcd in ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ol lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid's loly namc,
lc was noi ialcn away by ilc Yamaduias.
9 Ajamila said (Siimad llagavaiam 6.2.32):
"I am cciiainly mosi abominablc and unloiiunaic io lavc mcigcd in an
occan ol sinlul aciiviiics, bui ncvciilclcss, bccausc ol my picvious spiiiiual
aciiviiics, I could scc ilosc loui cxalicd pcisonaliiics wlo camc io icscuc mc.
Now I lccl cxcccdingly lappy bccausc ol ilcii visii."¯
"Tlc woid 'mangalcna' (auspicious) lcic iclcis io ilc vciy pious aciiviiics
lc lad pciloimcd picviously.
Anuccheda 160
1 Dcsciibing lis indiicci pciloimancc ol dcvoiional scivicc, Ajamila says
"Wcic ii noi loi my pasi dcvoiional scivicc, low could I, a mosi unclcan
lccpci ol a piosiiiuic, lavc goiicn an oppoiiuniiy io clani ilc loly namc ol
Vailunilapaii wlcn I was jusi icady io dic' Cciiainly ii could noi lavc bccn
possiblc."¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Ajamila.
Anuccheda 161
1 As Sii llaiaia was lcaving lis dcci-body lc clanicd ilc Loid's loly namcs
and ilcicloic in lis ncxi body lc was ablc io aiiain ilc associaiion ol ilc Loid,
wlo was always manilcsicd in lis lcaii. Tlc picvious biiil ol Ajamila slould bc
undcisiood in ilc samc way. Ai ilc momcni ol dcail Ajamila woislippcd ilc
Loid and bccausc ol ilis lc aiiaincd all succcss and bccamc licc ol all sins.
2 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.1.6):
"Tlc liglcsi pcilcciion ol luman lilc, aclicvcd ciilci by complcic
lnowlcdgc ol maiici and spiiii, by piaciicc ol mysiic powcis, oi by pcilcci
disclaigc ol occupaiional duiy, is io icmcmbci ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ai ilc
cnd ol lilc."¯
"In ilis vcisc ilc woid 'ciavan' mcans 'ilc liglcsi goal ol lilc'. Tlai
liglcsi goal is givcn in ilc woids 'naiayana-smiiil' (io icmcmbci ilc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad ai ilc cnd ol lilc). Nciilci sanllya, noi yoga, noi any oilci spiiiiual
pail bui dcvoiional scivicc can biing ilis liglcsi goal ol lilc. To icmcmbci ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ai ilc cnd ol lilc is ilcicloic ilc liglcsi
aiiainmcni. No onc las ilc powci sullicicnily io gloiily ilis aiiainmcni. Tlai is
ilc mcaning."
+ Tlc auiloi ol Nama-laumudi las also said: "Ai ilc momcni ol dcail onc
slould woislip ilc Supicmc Loid."
Anuccheda 162
1 Lvcn ilougl lc was only calling oui io lis son, wlo lappcncd io bc namcd
'Naiayana', Ajamila aiiaincd ilc icsuli ol calling oui io ilc Loid.
2 Tlc gloiics ol claniing ilc Loid's loly namc aic dcsciibcd in ilc Padma
Puiana in ilc lollowing piayci ol Dcvadyuii:
"I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Tlcy wlo icmcmbci His namc ai ilc iimc ol ilcii dcail, oi ai any oilci iimc,
bccomc licc liom a losi ol sins."
3 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc lollowing piosc piayci ol Siimad llagavaiam
(5.3.12):
"Dcai Loid, wc may noi bc ablc io icmcmbci Youi namc, loim and
qualiiics duc io siumbling, lungci, lalling down, yawning oi bcing in a misciablc
discascd condiiion ai ilc iimc ol dcail wlcn ilcic is a ligl lcvci. Wc ilcicloic
piay unio You, O Loid, loi You aic vciy allcciionaic io Youi dcvoiccs. Plcasc lclp
us icmcmbci You and uiici Youi loly namcs, aiiiibuics and aciiviiics, wlicl can
dispcl all ilc icaciions ol oui sinlul livcs."¯
Tlc conclusion is ilai by claniing ilc Loid's loly namc ai ilc momcni ol
dcail onc bccomcs licc liom all sins. In ilis way ilc loly namc is gloiilicd.
+ Claniing ilc Loid's loly namc is again gloiilicd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 6.2.13):
"Ai ilc iimc ol dcail, ilis Ajamila lclplcssly and vciy loudly clanicd ilc
loly namc ol ilc Loid, Naiayana. Tlai claniing alonc las alicady liccd lim liom
ilc icaciions ol all sinlul lilc. Tlcicloic, O scivanis ol Yamaiaja, do noi iiy io ialc
lim io youi masici loi punislmcni in lcllisl condiiions."¯
5 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "ascsa" mcans "all maiciial dcsiics", and "agla"
mcans "ollcnscs". In ilis siaicmcni is sccn ilc Supicmc Loid's gicai mcicy io all
wlo lumbly appioacl Him ai ilc momcni ol dcail. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc
Yamaduias io ilc Visnuduias.
Anuccheda 163
1 Tlc ical bcnclii ol dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is givcn io ilc piopci
iccipicni, is aiiiaciion io ilc Loid, wlicl is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.6.++):
2 "O my dcai Kisna, Youi pasiimcs aic supicmcly auspicious loi manlind
and aic an inioxicaiing bcvciagc loi ilc cais. Tasiing sucl pasiimcs, pcoplc loigci
ilcii dcsiics loi oilci ilings."¯¯¯
3 Tlai ilc dcvoiccs aic licc liom all viccs is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol Vaisnava liiciaiuic:
"Tlc sainily dcvoiccs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic ncvci
angiy, cnvious, giccdy, oi lillcd wiil impuic ilouglis."
+ Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Siimad
Uddlava.
Anuccheda 16+
1 Tlai by aiiaining lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad onc
bccomcs licc liom maiciial dcsiics is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"lccausc ol my vow on ilc vcigc ol dcail, I lavc givcn up diinling waici,
yci bccausc I am diinling ilc ncciai ol iopics aboui Kisna, wlicl is llowing liom
ilc loius mouil ol Youi Loidslip, my lungci and iliisi, wlicl aic cxiicmcly
dilliculi io bcai, cannoi lindci mc."¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King Paiilsii.
Anuccheda 165
1 Pciloimancc ol dcvoiional scivicc is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing way.
lccausc by pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc and maling ollciings io ilc Loid, cvcn
vciy small ollciings, and cvcn wiil only a dim icllcciion ol dcvoiion, onc aiiains
ilc supicmc goal ol lilc, all pcoplc in all vainas slould always diiccily cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcy slould do ilis and noiling clsc.
2 Tlai cvciyonc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc and do noiling clsc is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids, wlcic ilc Loid Himscll says (llagavad-giia
9.22.-23):
"lui ilosc wlo always woislip Mc wiil cxclusivc dcvoiion, mcdiiaiing on
My iiansccndcnial loim - io ilcm I caiiy wlai ilcy lacl and I picscivc wlai ilcy
lavc.¯
3 "Tlosc wlo aic dcvoiccs ol oilci gods and wlo woislip ilcm wiil laiil
aciually woislip only Mc, O son ol Kunii, bui ilcy do so in a wiong way."¯
+ Tlcsc iwo vciscs conliim ilc siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.9.36) ilai
onc slould scivc ilc Loid boil diiccily and indiiccily. Onc slould woislip ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and no onc clsc. Tlai is ilc dcliniiion ol
dcvoiional scivicc.
5 Tlai ilc Loid is gcncious in acccpiing ilc dcvoiccs is conliimcd by ilc
Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 9.30):
"Lvcn il onc commiis ilc mosi abominablc aciion, il lc is cngagcd in
dcvoiional scivicc lc is io bc considcicd sainily bccausc lc is piopcily siiuaicd in
6 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is dilliculi io undcisiand and dilliculi io aiiain is
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.3.19 and 3.1.5.2+):
"Rcal icligious piinciplcs aic cnacicd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Alilougl lully siiuaicd in ilc modc ol goodncss, cvcn ilc gicai isis
wlo occupy ilc iopmosi plancis cannoi ascciiain ilc ical icligious piinciplcs, noi
can ilc dcmigods oi ilc lcadcis ol Siddlalola, io say noiling ol ilc asuias,
oidinaiy luman bcings, Vidyadlaias and Caianas."¯
7 "My dcai dcmigods, ilc luman loim ol lilc is ol sucl impoiiancc ilai wc
also dcsiic io lavc sucl lilc, loi in ilc luman loim onc can aiiain pcilcci icligious
iiuil and lnowlcdgc. Il onc in ilis luman loim ol lilc docs noi undcisiand ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and His abodc, ii is io bc undcisiood ilai lc is
vciy mucl allccicd by ilc inllucncc ol cxicinal naiuic."¯
S Tlai diicci dcvoiional scivicc, wlcic onc las no oilci dcsiic, all obsiaclcs
aic ovcicomc, and onc las aiiaincd puic lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, is vciy iaic and dilliculi io aiiain. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol ilc Iouiil Canio (Siimad llagavaiam +.2+.55):
9 "My dcai Loid, puic dcvoiional scivicc is cvcn dilliculi loi libciaicd
pcisons io disclaigc, bui dcvoiional scivicc alonc can saiisly You. Wlo will ialc
io oilci pioccsscs ol scll-icalisaiion il lc is aciually sciious aboui ilc pcilcciion ol
lilc'"¯
10 Tlai in puic dcvoiional scivicc onc las no maiciial dcsiics is dcsciibcd by
ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.25):
11 "I am lully opulcni, almigliy and supciioi io Loid lialma and India, ilc
ling ol ilc lcavcnly plancis. I am also ilc bcsiowci ol all lappincss obiaincd in
ilc lcavcnly lingdom and by libciaiion. Noncilclcss, ilc bialmanas do noi sccl
maiciial comloiis liom Mc. Tlcy aic vciy puic and do noi wani io posscss
anyiling. Tlcy simply cngagc in My dcvoiional scivicc. Wlai is ilc nccd ol ilcii
asling loi maiciial bcncliis liom anyonc clsc'"¯
12 Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid Rsabladcva.
13 Tlai cvcn il onc las maiciial dcsiics, onc slould siill cngagc in dcvoiional
scivicc is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.3.10):
1+ Tlai in puic dcvoiional scivicc ilc dcvoicc wanis ilc Loid alonc and docs
noi wani anyiling clsc is conliimcd by Gajcndia in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam S.3.20):
"Unalloycd dcvoiccs wlo lavc no dcsiic oilci ilan io scivc ilc Loid,
woislip Him in lull suiicndci and always lcai and clani aboui His aciiviiics,
wlicl aic mosi wondcilul and auspicious. Tlus ilcy always mcigc in an occan ol
iiansccndcnial bliss. Sucl dcvoiccs ncvci asl ilc Loid loi any bcncdiciion."¯
15 Tlai ilc puic dcvoiccs do noi wani anyiling maiciial is also conliimcd by
Naiada Muni in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.5.55):
"Piallada Malaiaja was ilc bcsi pcison in ilc lamily ol asuias, wlo always
aspiic loi maiciial lappincss. Noncilclcss, alilougl alluicd by ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo ollcicd lim all bcncdiciions loi maiciial lappincss,
bccausc ol lis unalloycd Kisna consciousncss lc did noi wani io ialc any maiciial
bcnclii loi scnsc giaiilicaiion."¯
16 Tlai ilc dcvoiccs wani only ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc
Gaiuda Puiana:
"lccausc ilcy aic complcicly dcvoicd io Him alonc and lavc Him only
(cla) as ilcii goal (ania) in lilc, ilcy wlo lavc givcn ilcii lcaiis io ilc Loid aic
callcd (clanii) dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid."
17 In llagavad-giia (11.5+-55) ilc Loid Himscll dcsciibcs ilis puic dcvoiion.
"My dcai Aijuna, only by undividcd dcvoiional scivicc can I bc undcisiood
as I am, sianding bcloic you, and ilus bc sccn diiccily. Only in ilis way can you
cnici inio ilc mysiciics ol My undcisianding.¯
1S "My dcai Aijuna, lc wlo cngagcs in My puic dcvoiional scivicc, licc liom
ilc coniaminaiions ol liuiiivc aciiviiics, and mcnial spcculaiion, lc wlo woils loi
Mc, wlo malcs Mc ilc supicmc goal ol lis lilc, and wlo is liicndly io cvciy living
bcing - lc cciiainly comcs io Mc."¯
19 Tlc woid "mai-laima" (woil loi Mc) lcic mcans ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics
ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing and claniing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid. Tlc woids "alam"
(I) and "paiamal" (considciing Mc ilc Supicmc) indicaic ilc goal (ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad) and mcilod io aiiain ilc goal (dcvoiional scivicc). Tlcic
is no goal oi mcilod oilci ilan ilcsc. Dcvoiional scivicc is luiilci dcsciibcd in
ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.+S):
20 "Tlc loui piinciplcs ol advanccmcni in spiiiiual lilc - dlaima, aiila, lama
and molsa - all dcpcnd on ilc disposiiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Tlcicloic, my dcai liicnds, lollow in ilc looisicps ol dcvoiccs. Wiiloui dcsiic,
lully dcpcnd upon ilc disposiiion ol ilc Supicmc Loid, woislip Him, ilc
Supcisoul, in dcvoiional scivicc."¯
21 Hcic ilc woid "yad-apasiayal" mcans "dcpcndcni on Loid Haii",
"anilaya" mcans "abandoning maiciial dcsiics", and "anidam" mcans "wiiloui
maiciial dcsiics. Tlc Amaia-losa diciionaiy -Tlcsauius givcs ilc lollowing
synonyms:
"Iccla, alanlsa, spila, ila and iii aic synonyms loi dcsiic.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Piallada Malaiaja io ilc sons ol ilc dcmons.
Anuccheda 166
1 Piallada Malaiaja cxplains ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and
ilc puic dcvoicc aic boil licc liom maiciial dcsiics. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam
7.10.5-6):
2 "A scivani wlo dcsiics maiciial pioliis liom lis masici is cciiainly noi a
qualilicd scivani oi puic dcvoicc. Similaily, a masici wlo bcsiows bcncdiciions
upon lis scivani bccausc ol a dcsiic io mainiain a picsiigious posiiion as masici is
also noi a puic masici.
3 "O my Loid, I am Youi unmoiivaicd scivani, and You aic my cicinal
masici. Tlcic is no nccd ol oui bcing anyiling oilci ilan masici and scivani.
You aic naiuially my masici, and I am naiuially Youi scivani. Wc lavc no oilci
iclaiionslip."¯
+ Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Piallada
Malaiaja io Loid Nisimladcva.
Anuccheda 167
1 In ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.9.11) Piallada Malaiaja
cxplains ilc iclaiionslip bciwccn ilc Loid and ilc dcvoicc:
"Tlc Supicmc Loid, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is always lully
saiislicd in Himscll. Tlcicloic wlcn somciling is ollcicd io Him, ilc ollciing, by
ilc Loid's mcicy, is loi ilc bcnclii ol ilc dcvoicc, loi ilc Loid docs noi nccd
scivicc liom anyonc. To givc an cxamplc, il onc's lacc is dccoiaicd, ilc icllcciion
ol onc's lacc in a miiioi is also sccn io bc dccoiaicd."¯
2 Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol (ayam piablul)
Godlcad docs noi wisl (na viniic), loi His own pcisonal bcnclii (aimanal), ilai
His dcvoiccs (janan) woislip (manam) Him. Tlc icason Hc acccpis ilcii woislip
is ilai Hc is vciy plcascd (puinal) io associaic (labla) wiil His dcvoiccs (nija).
Anoilci icason is ilai Hc is lind (laiunal) io His dcvoiccs. Llaboiaic
aiiangcmcnis io woislip Him do noi ol ilcmsclvcs plcasc Him ai all.
3 Wlai is ilc dcvoicc lilc' Tlc answci is givcn in ilc woid "avidusal"
(unawaic). As a clild is loolisl and unawaic in ilc picscncc ol ilc lailci, so ilc
dcvoicc is in ilc picscncc ol ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlis siaicmcni slows ilc
lumblcncss ol ilc dcvoiccs. Il ii wcic noi loi ilc Loid cmpowciing ilcm io
undcisiand, ilc dcvoiccs would noi undcisiand anyiling. Tlai is ilc mcaning. In
ilis way on boil sidcs, loi boil ilc Loid and ilc dcvoicc, ilcic aic lcclings ol lovc
and lindncss.
+ Icaiing ilai somc maiciialisis migli ilinl, 'Wly slould ilc pcoplc
woislip ilc Loid' Tlcic is no icason io woislip Him'' Piallada givcs a icason
loi woislipping ilc Loid. Hc says ilai cvciyonc is inicicsicd in lis own pcisonal
wcllaic, and by sciving ilc Loid onc auiomaiically bcncliis limscll. In ilis way,
ilinling ol onc's own lappincss, onc slould woislip ilc Loid. Hcic lc givcs ilc
lollowing cxamplc: "Il onc's lacc is dccoiaicd, ilc icllcciion ol onc's lacc in a
miiioi is also sccn io bc dccoiaicd.' Ii is noi oilciwisc.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Piallada io Loid Nisimladcva.
Anuccheda 168
1 Piallada coniinucs io dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc (Siimad llagavaiam
7.7.51-52):
2 Hcic ilc woid "amalaya" mcans wiiloui maiciial dcsiics, "vidambanam"
mcans "simply aciing oui a slow". A dcvoicc ilai las maiciial dcsiics is simply
maling an ouiwaid slow ol dcvoiional scivicc bccausc lis ical inicicsi is in lis
own bcnclii. As aciois picicnd in vaiious ways, ilcsc dcvoiccs picicnd io cngagc
in dcvoiional scivicc.
Tlcic aic iwo linds ol maiciial dcsiic. Onc is ilc dcsiic loi bcncliis in ilc
caiilly icalm and ilc oilci loi bcncliis in ilc plancis ol ilc dcmigods. loil ol
ilcsc dcsiics aic condcmncd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Nagapainis (Siimad
3 "Tlosc wlo lavc aiiaincd ilc dusi ol Youi loius lcci ncvci lanlci loi ilc
lingslip ol lcavcn, limiilcss sovcicigniy, ilc posiiion ol lialma oi iulcislip ovci
ilc caiil. Tlcy aic noi inicicsicd cvcn in ilc pcilcciions ol yoga oi in libciaiion
iiscll."¯
+ In ilc samc way Vaivasvaia Manu's son Pisadlia, wlo ycaincd io aiiain
libciaiion, aslcd loi puic (clania) dcvoiional scivicc.
5 Piallada Malaiaja also wislcd io icnouncc all maiciial dcsiics in oidci io
aiiain libciaiion. Hc appcalcd io Loid Nisimladcva (Siimad llagavaiam 7.10.2):
"Piallada Malaiaja said: My dcai Loid, O Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, bccausc I was boin in an ailcisiic lamily I am naiuially aiiaclcd io
maiciial cnjoymcni. Tlcicloic, lindly do noi icmpi mc wiil ilcsc illusions. I am
vciy mucl aliaid ol maiciial condiiions, and I dcsiic io bc libciaicd liom
maiciialisiic lilc. Ii is loi ilis icason ilai I lavc ialcn slclici ol Youi loius lcci."¯
6 Alici ilai, Piallada Malaiaja piaycd io Loid Nisimladcva (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.10.7):
"O my Loid, bcsi ol ilc givcis ol bcncdiciion, il You ai all wani io bcsiow a
dcsiiablc bcncdiciion upon mc, ilcn I piay liom Youi Loidslip ilai wiilin ilc
coic ol my lcaii ilcic bc no maiciial dcsiics."¯
7 lcloic iccouniing ilcsc piaycis, Naiada Muni cxplaincd (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.10.1):
"Alilougl Piallada Malaiaja was only a boy, wlcn lc lcaid ilc
bcncdiciions ollcicd by Loid Nisimladcva, lc considcicd ilcm impcdimcnis on
ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlus lc smilcd vciy mildly and spolc as lollows."¯
S Siiman Ambaiisa, wlo pciloimcd yajnas loi ilc pioicciion ol lis subjccis,
was a puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid. Hc did noi dcsiic anyiling in ilis maiciial woild
and lc complcicly dcpcndcd on ilc Loid. Tlc puic dcvoiccs aic dcsciibcd in ilc
Gaiuda Puiana in ilcsc woids:
"A puic dcvoicc dcpcnds on ilc Loid loi lis mainicnancc and pioicciion."
9 In ilc lollowing woids Piallada Malaiaja ciiiiciscs ilosc ilai do noi acccpi
ilc dcvoiional pail (Siimad llagavaiam 7.9.+6):
"O Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilcic aic icn picsciibcd mcilods on
ilc pail io libciaiion: io icmain silcni, noi io spcal io anyonc, io obscivc vows, io
amass all linds ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc io undcigo ausiciiiics, io siudy ilc Vcdas and
oilci Vcdic liiciaiuics, io cxccuic ilc duiics ol vainasiama-dlama, io cxplain ilc
sasiias, io siay in a soliiaiy placc, io clani maniias silcnily and io bc absoibcd in
iiancc. Tlcsc dillcicni mcilods loi libciaiion aic gcncially only a piolcssional
piaciicc and mcans ol livclilood loi ilosc wlo lavc noi conqucicd ilcii scnscs.
lccausc sucl pcisons aic lalsc pioud, ilcsc pioccduics may noi bc succcsslul."¯
10 Tlc dillcicni piaciiccs, bcginning wiil silcncc (mauna), dcsciibcd lcic aic
uscd as a mcans ol livclilood (vaiia blavanii) by lypociiics wlo do noi coniiol
ilcii scnscs (ajiicndiiyanam). Sucl lypociiics do noi aiiain ilc icsuli ilai comcs
liom coniiolling ilc scnscs. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
11 Tlai ilc puic dcvoiccs lavc no maiciial dcsiics is also cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.1S.1+):
"Alilougl ilosc wlo aic inicicsicd only in woislipping ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad do noi dcsiic anyiling maiciial liom ilc Loid and do noi
cvcn wani libciaiion, Loid Kisna lullils all ilcii dcsiics."¯
"Tlc woid "paiam" lcic mcans "libciaiion".
13 Piallada Malaiaja again dcsciibcs ilc impoiiancc ol dcvoiional scivicc
1+ Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Piallada Malaiaja io ilc sons ol ilc dcmons.
Anuccheda 169
1 Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc csscniial icacling ol all sciipiuics is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.5.23-2+):
2 "Piallada Malaiaja said: Hcaiing and claniing aboui ilc iiansccndcnial
loly namc, loim, qualiiics, paiaplcinalia and pasiimcs ol Loid Visnu,
icmcmbciing ilcm, sciving ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, ollciing ilc Loid icspccilul
woislip wiil sixiccn iypcs ol paiaplcinalia, ollciing piaycis io ilc Loid,
bccoming His scivani, considciing ilc Loid onc's bcsi liicnd, and suiicndciing
cvciyiling unio Him (in oilci woids, sciving Him wiil ilc body, mind and
woids) - ilcsc ninc pioccsscs aic acccpicd as puic dcvoiional scivicc. Onc wlo
las dcdicaicd lis lilc io ilc scivicc ol Kisna iliougl ilcsc ninc mcilods slould bc
undcisiood io bc ilc mosi lcaincd pcison, loi lc las acquiicd complcic
lnowlcdgc."¯
3 In ilis vcisc ilc woids "siavanam liiianam" mcan "lcaiing and claniing
aboui ilc Loid's loly namcs and iiansccndcnial qualiiics", "aicanam" mcans
"woislipping ilc Loid accoiding io icgulaiivc piinciplcs", "vandanam" mcans
"ollciing icspccilul obcisanccs", "dasyam" mcans ilinling "I am ilc Loid's
scivani", "sallyam" mcans "ilinling ol ilc Loid as onc's liicnd", and "aima
nivcdanam" mcans "ollciing loi ilc Loid's scivicc ilc cows, loiscs, and all oilci
ilings onc may lavc in onc's posscssion", and ii also mcans "dcpcnding on ilc
Loid loi mainicnancc and pioicciion and bcing awaic ilai ii is noi by onc's own
powci onc is mainiaincd and pioiccicd."
+ Ancicni sagcs lavc givcn ilc lollowing dcsciipiion ol gicai dcvoiccs
adopiing dillcicni mcilods ol dcvoiional scivicc:
"Malaiaja Paiilsii aiiaincd ilc liglcsi pcilcciion, slclici io Loid Kisna's
loius lcci, simply by lcaiing aboui Loid Visnu. Suladcva Gosvami aiiaincd
pcilcciion simply by icciiing Siimad llagavaiam. Piallada Malaiaja aiiaincd
pcilcciion by icmcmbciing ilc Loid. Tlc goddcss ol loiiunc aiiaincd pcilcciion
by massaging ilc iiansccndcnial lcgs ol Mala-Visnu. Malaiaja Piilu aiiaincd
pcilcciion by woislipping ilc Dciiy and Aliuia aiiaincd pcilcciion by ollciing
piaycis unio ilc Loid. Vajiangaji (Hanumanji) aiiaincd pcilcciion by icndciing
scivicc io Loid Ramacandia, and Aijuna aiiaincd pcilcciion simply by bcing Loid
Kisna's liicnd. lali Malaiaja aiiaincd pcilcciion by dcdicaiing cvciyiling io ilc
loius lcci ol Kisna."¯
5 In ilc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda ilc ninc linds ol
aciiviiy dcsciibcd (nava-lalsana) aic all diicci (addla) dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Supicmc Loid (blagavaii). Tlcy aic noi mcicly ilc ollciing io ilc Loid ol ilc
liuiis ol onc's woil, bui ilcy aic diicci scivicc io ilc Loid (blaliil). Tlcsc
aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic ollcicd (aipiia) io Loid Visnu (visnau) io plcasc
Him. Hcic Piallada Malaiaja says, "Il (cci) somconc pciloims (liiyaic) ilcsc
aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, ilcn I ilinl (manyc) lc is ilc mosi lcaincd pcison
(yad-adliiam uiiamam)."
6 Puic dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Sii
Gopala-iapani Upanisad (1.1S):
"llalii mcans dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid wlicl is licc liom dcsiic loi
maiciial piolii, ciilci in ilis lilc oi in ilc ncxi. Dcvoid ol sucl inclinaiions, onc
slould lully absoib ilc mind in ilc Supicmc. Tlai is ilc puiposc ol
naislaimya."¯
7 Ii is noi ncccssaiy io pciloim all ninc linds ol dcvoiional scivicc. ly
pciloiming any onc ol ilcm, any combinaiion ol ilcm, oi all ol ilcm wiil laiil
and lovc onc will aiiain ilc dcsiicd icsuli. Tlcsc ninc pioccsscs ol dcvoiional
scivicc aic only a gcncial ouilinc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Wiilin ilai ouilinc ilcic
aic many aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Piallada
Malaiaja io lis lailci.
Anuccheda 170
1 Now wc will slow ilai puic dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi spiiiiual pail. ly
pciloiming puic dcvoiional scivicc onc bccomcs licc ol lis avcision io ilc
Supicmc Loid and insicad comcs io lovc Him.
2 Tlc Absoluic Tiuil las ilicc lcaiuics: 1. ilc vaiiciylcss impcisonal
lialman, wlicl appioaclcd by ilc pail ol jnana (lnowlcdgc), 2. ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo las a gicai vaiiciy ol iiansccndcnial qualiiics, and
wlo is appioaclcd by dcvoiional scivicc, and 3. ilcsc iwo lcaiuics ialcn iogcilci,
ilai lcaiuic bcing appioaclcd by ollciing io ilc Loid ilc liuiis ol onc's woil.
Tlus ilcic aic ilicc ways io appioacl ilc Loid: 1. ilc puisuii ol iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc, 2. dcvoiional scivicc, and 3. ollciing io ilc Loid ilc liuiis ol onc's
woil. Tlcsc ilicc aic ilc only ways. Tlcic aic no oilcis.
3 Tlis is cxplaincd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"My dcai Uddlava, bccausc I dcsiic ilai luman bcings may aclicvc
pcilcciion, I lavc picscnicd ilicc pails ol advanccmcni - ilc pail ol lnowlcdgc,
ilc pail ol woil and ilc pail ol dcvoiion. lcsidcs ilcsc ilicc ilcic is absoluicly
no oilci mcans ol clcvaiion."¯¯¯
+ In ilis vcisc "yogal" mcans "ilc spiiiiual pails", "maya" mcans "by Mc",
ilc auiloi ol ilc Vcdas", and "sicyamsi" mcans "ilc aiiainmcni ol: 1. impcisonal
libciaiion, 2. ilc ilicc goals ol cconomic dcvclopmcni, piciy and scnsc
giaiilicaiion, and 3. lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad." Hcic liuiiivc
woil (laima) is clcaily dillcicni liom dcvoiional scivicc (blalii).
Anuccheda 171
1 Tlcsc ilicc pails aic discusscd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.20.7-S):
2. "Among ilcsc ilicc pails, jnana-yoga, ilc pail ol plilosoplical
spcculaiion, is iccommcndcd loi ilosc wlo aic disgusicd wiil maiciial lilc and aic
ilus dciaclcd liom oidinaiy, liuiiivc aciiviiics. Tlosc wlo aic noi disgusicd wiil
maiciial lilc, laving many dcsiics yci io lullil, slould sccl pcilcciion iliougl ilc
pail ol laima-yoga.¯
3 "Il somclow oi oilci by good loiiunc onc dcvclops laiil in lcaiing and
claniing My gloiics, sucl a pcison, bcing nciilci vciy disgusicd wiil noi aiiaclcd
io maiciial lilc, slould aclicvc pcilcciion iliougl ilc pail ol loving dcvoiion io
Mc."¯
+ Tlc woid (niivinnanam) mcans "ilcy wlo aic disgusicd wiil ilc so-callcd
plcasuics availablc in ilc middlc oi liglci maiciial icalms, and wlo lavc in ilc
lcaiis dcliniicly icnounccd ilcm." Tlcsc iwo vciscs dcsciibc ilcy wlo ycain io
aiiain libciaiion. Ol ilcm, ilcy wlo lavc icnounccd maiciial lilc slould piaciicc
jnana-yoga, and ilcy wlo aic siill aiiaclcd io maiciial lappincsscs and noi yci
ablc io icnouncc ilcm, slould piaciicc laima-yoga, wlicl will giani ilc
pcilcciions ilcy dcsiic.
5 Dcvoiional scivicc, lowcvci, may bc piaciiccd by anyonc wlo las laiil in
ii. Hc nccd noi bc vciy qualilicd oi icnounccd. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.7.+6):
"Suiicndcicd souls, cvcn liom gioups lcading sinlul livcs, sucl as womcn,
ilc labouici class, ilc mouniainccis and ilc Sibciians, oi cvcn ilc biids and
bcasis, can also lnow aboui ilc scicncc ol Godlcad and bccomc libciaicd liom ilc
cluiclcs ol ilc illusoiy cncigy by suiicndciing unio ilc puic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid
and by lollowing in ilcii looisicps in dcvoiional scivicc."¯
Il, somclow oi oilci (yadicclaya), somconc associaics wiil ilc dcvoiccs,
lc will aiiain ilc Loid's mcicy and in ilis way lis lilc will bccomc auspicious.
6 Tlis pioccss ol bccoming advanccd in dcvoiional scivicc by associaiing
wiil ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.2.16):
7 Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 172
1 Tlis vcisc is luiilci cxplaincd in ilc lollowing iwo vciscs (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.20.27-2S):
2 "Having awalcncd laiil in ilc naiiaiions ol My gloiics, bcing disgusicd
aciiviiics."¯¯¯
3 Tlc woid "mai-laila" (naiiaiions ol My gloiics) lcic mcans "in many
dcvoiional aciiviiics, sucl as lcaiing aboui My gloiics." ly laving laiil in ilcsc
dcvoiional aciiviiics onc aiiains ilc gicaicsi bcnclii. Lvcn ilougl lc may
somciimcs lccl impcllcd io pciloim maiciial aciiviiics, ilc dcvoicc lnows (vcda)
ilai ilc lappincss lc cxpciicnccs ai picscni duc io pasi pious dccds.
+ Tlis is luiilci cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.20.S):
"Il somclow oi oilci by good loiiunc onc dcvclops laiil in lcaiing and
Mc."¯¯¯
5 In ilis vcisc ilc Loid says, "Onc slould woislip Mc, and noi bc icnounccd
as ilc impcisonalisis aic." Ii is ilc dcvoiccs ilai aic gcnuincly icnounccd. Tlai is
ilc mcaning.
6 Tlcn ilc Loid says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.31):
7 Tlc Loid coniinucs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.32):
S Dcvoiional scivicc is noi dcpcndcni on ciilci laima-yoga oi icnunciaiion.
Tlc dcvoiccs lavc laiil ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi spiiiiual pail. Tlc
siaicmcni ilai dcvoiional scivicc las somciling io do wiil icnunciaiion is mcicly
a liguic ol spcccl. Il onc simply las laiil in laima oi jnana and docs noiling
moic, ilcn lis clloiis aic all wasicd. Howcvci, il onc simply las laiil in
dcvoiional scivicc and docs noiling moic, ilai laiil is acccpicd and ilc dcvoicc
aiiains a gicai bcnclii. Wiiloui laiil ii is noi possiblc io aiiain puic dcvoiional
scivicc. Il onc las no laiil ai all lc cannoi aiiain dcvoiional scivicc.
Hcic ii is said ilai ilc dcvoicc is nciilci aiiiacicd io noi icpcllcd by ilc
objccis ol ilc scnscs. Tlc aciions ol ilc dcvoicc aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
io ilc icgulaiivc piinciplcs ol ilc Vcdic injunciions."¯¯¯
Wlcn lc aiiains sinccic laiil in ilc Loid, ilc dcvoicc is ablc io abandon
liuiiivc woil. Tlc conclusion is ilai wiiloui cngagcmcni in dcvoiional scivicc
onc cannoi aiiain pcilcciion in spiiiiual lilc.
9 Tlc dcvoiional aciiviiy ol claniing ilc Loid's loly namc is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol ilc Slanda Puiana, Piablasa-llanda:
"O bcsi ol ilc lligus io anyonc wlo oncc, ciilci wiil laiil, oi wiil
conicmpi, clanis ilc loly namc, ilc loly namc ol Loid Kisna biings libciaiion."
10 Claniing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid is again dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
11 In ilcsc vciscs ii is cxplaincd ilai lcaiing aboui ilc Loid givcs ilc spiiiiual
icsuli ol dcvoiional scivicc.
12 Tlc claniing ol ilc Loid's loly namc is again dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
"Wlilc sullciing ai ilc iimc ol dcail, Ajamila clanicd ilc loly namc ol ilc
Loid and alilougl ilc claniing was diiccicd iowaid lis son, lc ncvciilclcss
iciuincd lomc, bacl io Godlcad. Tlcicloic il onc laiillully and inollcnsivcly
clanis ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid, wlcic is ilc doubi ilai lc will iciuin io
Godlcad'"¯
13 Iaiil in lcaiing and icmcmbciing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid biings ilc
bcsi spiiiiual icsulis io ilc dcvoicc. Ii is noi simply anoilci paii ol spiiiiual lilc.
Ii is pic-cmincnily impoiiani. Tlcic aic no laid and lasi iulcs loi claniing ilc
loly namc, as ilcic aic loi pciloiming agni-loiia-yajnas and ilc oilci duiics ol
laima-yoga. Tlis is bccausc lcaiing and claniing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid las
gicai spiiiiual powci.
1+ Wlai lappcns il onc is a lool and docs noi lavc laiil in ilc loly namc'
Tlc answci is givcn in ilcsc woids ol ilc Padma Puiana:
"O bcsi ol ilc lligus, io anyonc wlo oncc, ciilci wiil laiil, oi wiil
conicmpi, clanis ilc loly namc, ilc loly namc ol Loid Kisna biings libciaiion."
Il oui ol ignoiancc onc commiis ilc ollcnsc ol claniing ilc loly namc wiil
conicmpi and onc docs noi aciually bcai dccp-scaicd malicc iowaids ilc loly
namc, lis advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc will bc swili and wiiloui
impcdimcnis. Howcvci, il onc aciually lnows, cvcn a liiilc, ol ilc iiuc naiuic ol
ilc loly namc, and bcais malicc io ilc namc, ilcn wlcn lc clanis ilc loly namc
lis advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc will mcci wiil obsiaclcs. Ii will bc lilc a
liic lcd wiil only lall ilc nccdcd lucl.
15 Tlc impoiiancc ol laiil is dcsciibcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.21.17-1S):
"In woislipping ilc icmplc Dciiy, my dcai Uddlava, bailing and
dccoiaiion aic ilc mosi plcasing ollciings. Ioi ilc Dciiy iiaccd on sacicd giound,
ilc pioccss ol iaiiva-vinyasa is mosi dcai. Oblaiions ol scsamc and bailcy soalcd
in glcc aic ilc piclciicd ollciing io ilc saciilicial liic, wlcicas woislip consisiing
ol upasilana and aiglya is piclciicd loi ilc sun. Onc slould woislip Mc in ilc
loim ol waici by ollciing waici iiscll. Aciually, wlaicvci is ollcicd io Mc wiil
laiil by My dcvoicc- cvcn il only a liiilc waici - is mosi dcai io Mc.¯¯¯
16 "Lvcn vciy opulcni picscniaiions do noi saiisly Mc il ilcy aic ollcicd by
non dcvoiccs. lui I am plcascd by any insignilicani ollciing madc by My loving
dcvoiccs, and I am cciiainly mosi plcascd wlcn nicc picscniaiions ol liagiani oil,
inccnsc, llowcis and palaiablc loods aic ollcicd wiil lovc."¯¯¯
17 Tlc woids "siaddla" (laiil) and "blalii" (dcvoiion) in ilcsc vciscs
cxplain ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid, dcvoiional scivicc ilai plcascs
ilc Loid and icmovcs ollcnscs and malicc io ilc Loid. Iaiil in dcvoiional scivicc
is noi mcicly a minoi aspcci ol dcvoiional scivicc. Ii is csscniial. A pcison wlo
lnows ilc ical naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc is ablc io cngagc in puic dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlc Loid Himscll dcsciibcs sucl a pcison in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.20.S):
1S "Il somclow oi oilci by good loiiunc onc dcvclops laiil in lcaiing and
Mc."¯¯¯
19 In ilc lollowing woids ilc Loid dcsciibcs ilc dcvoiccs ilai lavc noi yci
comc io ilc lcvcl ol puic dcvoiional scivicc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.27):
aciiviiics."¯¯¯
20 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "iaial" las ilc scnsc ol ilc ablaiivc ("liom ilai")
and dcsciibcs ilc sicps by wlicl onc aiiains ilc siagc ol aimaiama (linding
saiislaciion in ilc Supicmc Scll alonc). In ilis way ii is cxplaincd ilai dcvoiional
scivicc is ilc ling ol all mcilods ol spiiiiual icalisaiion.
21 Tlis will bc luiilci cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.20.3+):
"lccausc My dcvoiccs posscss sainily bclavioui and dccp iniclligcncc, ilcy
complcicly dcdicaic ilcmsclvcs io Mc and do noi dcsiic anyiling bcsidcs Mc.
Indccd, cvcn il I ollci ilcm libciaiion liom biiil and dcail, ilcy do noi acccpi
ii."¯¯¯
22 To conliim ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc ling ol all mcilods ol spiiiiual
icalisaiion,, ii is also cxplaincd in ilcsc passagcs ilai laima (liuiiivc woil) and
jnana (ilc scaicl loi lnowlcdgc) cannoi icacl ilcii linal goals wiiloui ilc
pciloimancc ol dcvoiional scivicc.
23 Tlc qualilicaiion loi aiiaining puic dcvoiional scivicc is laiil alonc.
Tlcicloic ilc Loid icaclcs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.2S), "My dcvoicc slould
icmain lappy and woislip Mc wiil gicai laiil, lovc, and conviciion." Hcic ilc
woid "siaddlalul" mcans "laiillul", "piiial" mcans "aiiiacicd io ilc Loid" and
"didla-niscayal" mcans "wiiloui abandoning ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc."
lccausc ii may noi bc possiblc io icnouncc maiciial dcsiics all ol a suddcn, ilc
Loid says, "onc may somciimcs bc cngagcd in scnsc giaiilicaiion." Siill, ilc Loid
ciiiiciscs ilc aciiviiics ol scnsc giaiilicaiion bccausc "scnsc giaiilicaiion lcads io a
misciablc icsuli". Tlc scnsc giaiilicaiion dcsciibcd lcic docs noi includc sinlul
aciiviiics. In ilc Visnu Puiana sinlul aciiviiics aic loibiddcn in ilc lollowing
woids:
2+ "O ling, Loid Kisna is plcascd wiil a pcison wlo docs noi cvcn ilinl ol
pciloiming aduliciy, ilcli oi violcncc."
25 In ilc Visnu Puiana and oilci sciipiuics ii is said ilai onc slould ollci ilc
liuiis ol onc's woid io ilc Loid. Hcic ii is cxplaincd ilai onc cannoi ollci ilc
liuiis ol sinlul woil io ilc Loid. Tlai is loibiddcn. Laici in ilis bool wc will
quoic ilc piolibiiion, "Onc slould aci wiiloui maiciial dcsiics. Onc slould noi
aci in any oilci way." Hcic noi pciloiming maiciial aciiviiics mcans noi
pciloiming sinlul aciiviiics.
26 In ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana ii is said:
"A pcison wlo bicals ilc iulcs cicaicd by Loid Visnu and acis sinlully is
noi a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu. Only ilcy wlo aci in a sainily way can woislip Loid
Visnu."
In ilcsc woids ilc dcvoiccs aic loibiddcn io pciloim sinlul aciiviiics.
27 Tlcn again, by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc loscs ilc dcsiic io aci
sinlully. Siimad llagavaiam ¯+.21.31) cxplains:
"ly ilc inclinaiion io scivc ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, sullciing lumaniiy can immcdiaicly clcansc ilc diii wlicl las
accumulaicd in ilcii minds duiing innumciablc biiils. Lilc ilc Gangcs waici,
wlicl cmanaics liom ilc iocs ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, sucl a pioccss
immcdiaicly clcanscs ilc mind, and ilus spiiiiual oi Kisna consciousncss
giadually incicascs."¯
2S Hcic ilc woid "sadyal" (immcdiaicly) mcans "simply by bccoming
aiiiacicd io ilc Loid."
29 Visnu-dlaima Puiana again cxplains:
"Wlcn onc no longci dcsiics io aci sinlully, bui insicad dcsiics io aci in a
sainily way, Loid Visnu siays in lis lcaii."
30 Tlc Loid pioiccis ilc dcvoiccs liom accidcnial sins, ilis is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.+2):
"Onc wlo las givcn up cvciyiling and ialcn lull slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol
Haii, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is vciy dcai io Kisna. Il lc is involvcd
in somc sinlul aciiviiy by accidcni, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
scaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii, icmovcs lis sins wiiloui dilliculiy."¯
31 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "lailancii" (by accidcni) mcans ilai ilc dcvoiccs do
noi pciloim sinlul aciiviiics dclibciaicly. dclibciaicly pciloiming sinlul aciiviiics
is onc ol ilc ollcnscs io ilc loly namc, as ilc Padma Puiana, Namapaiadla-
blanjana-sioiia, cxplains:
"To ilinl ilai sincc ilc Haic Kisna maniia can couniciaci all sinlul
icaciions onc may ilcicloic go on wiil lis sinlul aciiviiics and ilcn ai ilc samc
iimc clani ilc Haic Kisna maniia io ncuiialisc ilcm is ilc gicaicsi ollcnsc ai ilc
loius lcci ol Haii-nama. Onc wlo ilinls in ilis way cannoi bc puiilicd by any
mcans, sucl as by ausiciiiics, oi by ilc vaiious punislmcnis ol Yamaiaja."¯
32 Sii llagavad-giia (9.30) cxplains:
Hcic ilc woid "su-duiacaial" (commiiiing ilc mosi abominablc aciion)
mcans commiiiing ollcnscs and bcing disicspccilul. Ii docs noi iclci io gioss
sinlul aciiviiics.
33 Tlc Loid ilcn cxplains (llagavad-giia 9.31):
"Hc quiclly bccomcs iiglicous and aiiains lasiing pcacc. O son ol Kunii,
dcclaic ii boldly ilai My dcvoicc ncvci pciislcs."¯
Tlis vcisc conliims ilai ii is bcsi noi io aci badly. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc
bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 173
1 Hcic somconc may pioicsi: "So lai you lavc dcsciibcd only laima (liuiiivc
woil), jnana (ilc scaicl loi lnowlcdgc), and blalii (dcvoiional scivicc).
Howcvci, onc musi also pciloim lis picsciibcd daily duiics and wlaicvci
occasional duiics aic iliusi upon lim. Tlcicloic jnana (ilc scaicl loi
lnowlcdgc) and blalii (dcvoiional scivicc) musi always bc pciloimcd along wiil
ilcsc oidinaiy duiics. How can onc pciloim jnana and blalii wiiloui also
pciloiming ilcsc picsciibcd duiics'"
Icaiing ilai somconc would say ilis, ilc Loid icluics ilc idca ilai ilc
dcvoiccs musi pciloim a losi ol maiciial duiics picsciibcd by ilc Vcdas. Hc says
2 "As long as onc is noi saiiaicd by liuiiivc aciiviiy and las noi awalcncd lis
io ilc icgulaiivc piinciplc ol ilc Vcda injunciions."¯¯¯
"Tlc woid 'laimani' lcic mcans 'icgulai and occasional picsciibcd duiics'."
+ Howcvci, ilc Loid also oidcis cvciyonc io obcy ilc oidcis ol ilc Vcdic
liiciaiuics. Hc says:
"Tlc Siuii and Smiii sciipiuics aic My commands. A pcison wlo disobcys
ilcsc sciipiuics is My cncmy. Hc is noi My dcvoicc."
5 Tlcic is no lauli in ilis siaicmcni and ii docs noi coniiadici wlai was said
bcloic. In oidci io pciloim dcvoiional aciiviiics ilai incicasc onc's icnunciaiion
and laiil onc slould icjcci somc ol ilc Loid's oidcis.
6 Tlis is cxplaincd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"Having ialcn complcic slclici ai My loius lcci, lowcvci, a sainily pcison
uliimaicly icnounccs sucl oidinaiy icligious duiics and woislips Mc alonc. Hc is
ilus considcicd io bc ilc bcsi among all living cniiiics."¯¯¯
"Tlis vcisc mcans ilai by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains ilc
plailoim ol icnunciaiion. Wlcn onc is icnounccd lc abandons ilc icligious
duiics mcani loi ilosc wlo aic noi icnounccd."
Tlc plailoim ol icnunciaiion is dcsciibcd by Kaiablajana Muni in ilc
S "Onc wlo las givcn up all maiciial duiics and ialcn lull slclici ol ilc loius
lcci ol Mulunda, wlo givcs slclici io all, is noi indcbicd io ilc dcmigods, gicai
sagcs, oidinaiy living cniiiics, iclaiivcs, liicnds, manlind, oi cvcn onc's loiclailcis
wlo lavc passcd away."¯
9 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai ilc dcvoicc dcsciibcd lcic is noi a scivani ol ilc
dcmigods, gicai sagcs, and oilcis. Hc is a scivani ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlcicloic lc nccd noi scivc ilc dcmigods and oilcis. Tlc woid
"laiiam" lcic mcans "maiciial duiics." Tlis mcans ilai ilc dcvoiccs aic bcyond
ilc coniiol ol ilc dcmigods and oilcis.
10 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc Gaiuda Puiana in ilc lollowing woids:
"A pcison wlo docs noi woislip Loid Haii will say, 'I musi woislip ilc
dcmigods and sagcs, lialma and lilaspaii'."
11 A dcvoicc wlo accidcnially pciloims a sinlul aciiviiy docs noi nccd io
pciloim an aciiviiy ol pcnancc io aionc loi ii. Simply by icmcmbciing ilc Loid,
lc aioncs loi lis accidcnial sin. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.5.+2):
12 "Onc wlo las givcn up cvciyiling and ialcn lull slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol
scaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii, icmovcs lis sins wiiloui dilliculiy."¯
13 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "iyalianya-blava" mcans "onc wlo las icjccicd ilc
woislip ol ilc dcmigods and placcd all lis lovc and dcvoiion in ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad." Sucl a pcison icjccis liuiiivc woil. Hc las laiil and lc
ialcs slclici ol ilc Loid. Tlcsc iwo ilings, laving laiil and ialing slclici aic ilc
samc iling. Iaiil lcic mcans "laiil in ilc sciipiuics." Tlcy wlo do noi ialc
slclici ol ilc sciipiuics lind ilcmsclvcs in a lcailul posiiion. Tlc sympiom ol
laiil is ilai onc ialcs slclici ol ilc sciipiuics. Ioi ilcsc icasons onc slould noi
woislip ilc vaiious dcmigods.
1+ Tlai ilc dcvoiccs ialc slclici ol ilc Loid alonc and do noi woislip ilc
dcmigods is also cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.31.1+):
limbs ol ilc body, simply by woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
15 Lvcn il lis advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc is icmpoiaiily bloclcd by
obsiaclc, a dcvoicc wlo abandons liuiiivc woil and ialcs slclici ol ilc Loid is noi
placcd in disiicss bccausc lc las abandoncd liuiiivc woil. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.17):
"Onc wlo las loisalcn lis maiciial occupaiions io cngagc in dcvoiional
is no dangci ol lis bcing unsucccsslul. On ilc oilci land, a non dcvoicc, ilougl
16 In ilc lollowing woids Loid Kisna oidcis ilc dcvoiccs io abandon liuiiivc
woil (llagavad-giia 1S.66):
"Abandon all vaiiciics ol icligion and jusi suiicndci unio Mc. I slall
dclivci you liom all sinlul icaciions. Do noi lcai."¯
17 Iiom ilc bcginning ol dcvoiional scivicc onc slould icnouncc liuiiivc
woil. Tlai is ilc mcaning ol ilc piclix "paii" uscd lcic wiil ilc vciy "iyaj".
Tlis vcisc is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam
11.5.+1) wlicl las ilc samc mcaning:
"Onc wlo las givcn up all maiciial duiics and ialcn lull slclici ol ilc loius
sagcs, oidinaiy living cniiiics, iclaiivcs, liicnds, manlind oi cvcn onc's loiclailcis
1S In ilc lollowing woids Loid Kisna dcsciibcs dcvoiional scivicc (llagavad-
giia 1S.65):
"Always ilinl ol Mc, bccomc My dcvoicc, woislip Mc and ollci youi
lomagc unio Mc. Tlus you will comc io Mc wiiloui lail. I piomisc you ilis
bccausc you aic My vciy dcai liicnd."¯
19 In ilc Gauiamiya Taniia ii is said:
"Tlcy wlo lavc lallcn in lovc wiil Loid Kisna's loius lcci do noi divcii
ilcii aiicniion io claniing aboui, mcdiiaiing on, woislipping, oi lollowing ilc
oidcis ol anyonc clsc."
20 Tlc aciiviiics ol ilc puic dcvoicc King llaiaia aic dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Sii Visnu Puiana (2.13.9-10):
"Again and again King llaiaia would clani, 'O Kisna, O Govinda, O
Kcsava, O Madlava, O Visnu, O limiilcss onc, O inlalliblc Loid, O masici ol all
yajna, O masici ol ilc scnscs!' Lvcn in lis dicams, ilc ling would ilinl only ol
Loid Kisna.
21 King llaiaia did noi iall ol iopics oilci ilan Kisna. Hc icnounccd ialling
ol oilci iopics and doing oilci aciiviiics. Hc undcisiood ilai Loid Kisna is noi
dillcicni liom His loly namc. In ilis way King llaiaia was a puic dcvoicc ol ilc
Loid.
22 In ilc Padma Puiana Loid Kisna cxplains:
"A pcison wlo ncglccis lis maiciial duiics and only oncc says My namc
comcs io Mc in ilc spiiiiual woild, bui ilcy wlo caiclully pciloim ilcii duiics bui
ncvci say My namc do noi."
23 Tlcicloic a laiillul dcvoicc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc alonc. Hc
slould noi pciloim maiciial pious duiics oi any oilci non dcvoiional aciiviiics.
How is spiiiiual laiil lnown' Tlc signs ol laiil wcic alicady picvious dcsciibcd
in ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc sympioms ol suiicndci. Tlc sympioms ol suiicndci will
also bc dcsciibcd in ilc discussion ol ilc vcisc bcginning "anululyasya
sanlalpal". Tlc abscncc ol maiciialism, miscilincss and oilci laulis is lnown as
anoilci sympiom ol laiil. In ilis way ilc sciipiuics dcsciibc laiil.
2+ In llagavad-giia (9.22), Loid Kisna dcsciibcs laiil in ilcsc woids:
"lui ilosc wlo always woislip Mc wiil cxclusivc dcvoiion, mcdiiaiing on
My iiansccndcnial loim, io ilcm I caiiy wlai ilcy lacl and I picscivc wlai ilcy
lavc."¯
25 A laiillul pcison docs noi losc laiil cvcn in sccmingly oidinaiy ilings,
iclaiivcs, qualiiics and aciiviiics ilai ncvciilclcss lavc a iclaiionslip wiil ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Only ilcy wlo lavc oidinaiy vision scc ilings
as lauliy oi maiciial. A pcison wlo is aciually maling spiiiiual advanccmcni will
noi icnouncc ilcsc ilings.
26 Tlc powci ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc
Naiada Puiana:
"Tlc auspicious waici ilai las waslcd Loid Kisna's lcci siops all
sullciings, all discascs, and cvcn uniimcly dcail."
27 Somc laiillul dcvoiccs commii ollcnccs and ilcicloic ilcy do noi ai oncc
aiiain ilc dcsiicd icsuli. Tlc icsuli icmains liddcn liom ilcm. Tlc laiillul
dcvoiccs naiuially bccomc waslcd ol all impuiiiics. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
siaicmcni ol sciipiuic:
"Onc wlo icmcmbcis ilc loius-cycd Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
bccomcs puic boil wiilin and wiiloui."
ly piopcily lonouiing ilc gicai sagcs and dcvoiccs in ilc disciplic
succcssion, wlicl bcgins wiil Sii Naiada and Sii Vyasa, onc bccomcs puiilicd in
ilis way. Howcvci, il onc docs noi lonoui ilc gicai dcvoiccs, lc commiis an
ollcnsc.
2S Tlc iulcs ol ciiquciic ilai govcin civiliscd sociciy aic mcani io picvcni
ilcsc linds ol ollcnscs io ilc gicai souls. In ilis way ii slould bc undcisiood.
Wlcn a pcison las laiil and undcisiand ilc dillcicncc bciwccn spiiiiual
pcilcciion and wlai lalls sloii ol ilai pcilcciion, lc bccomcs lilc a goldsmiil
wlo, dcsiiing io aiiain puic gold, woils vciy siicnuously (io iclinc ilc impuic
gold lc las). Tlus a sinccic dcvoicc ialcs gicai iioublc io bccomc licc ol maiciial
viccs, and wlcn all maiciial laulis aic dcsiioycd, ilcn Loid Kisna pcisonally
appcais bcloic lim. In ilis way ii slould bc undcisiood.
29 Wlcn ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad appcais bcloic lim, ilc dcvoicc
bccomcs licc liom cvcn ilc sliglicsi iiacc ol dcsiic loi an cxalicd posiiion in ilc
maiciial woild. Wlcn ilc dcvoicc is cnliglicncd in ilis way lc will ncvci insuli
ilc gicai dcvoiccs ol commii any lind ol ollcnsc. All ollcnscs aic ilcn sioppcd.
30 Hcic may bc sccn ilc cxamplc ol King Ciiialciu. Unawaic ol Loid Siva's
iiuc idcniiiy as a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid bccausc Loid Siva's iiuc naiuic was
covcicd by aciiviiics ilai sccmcd io bc bcyond ilc icalm ol dcvoiional scivicc,
King Ciiialciu commiiicd an ollcnsc io lim.
Lvcn a laiillul dcvoicc may, bccausc ol pasi laima, siill bc cngagcd in
maiciial aciiviiics. Howcvci, by lumbly cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc, ilc
dcvoicc will cciiainly slalc away all aiiiaciion io maiici.
31 Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.20.2S),
wlcic Loid Kisna cxplains:
somciimcs cngagcd in scnsc cnjoymcni. My dcvoicc lnows ilai all scnsc
aciiviiics."¯¯¯
32 In Siimad llagavaiam (11.1+.1S) Loid Kisna cxplains:
"My dcai Uddlava, il My dcvoicc las noi lully conqucicd lis scnscs, lc
may bc laiasscd by maiciial dcsiics, bui bccausc ol lis unllincling dcvoiion loi
Mc, lc will noi bc dclcaicd by scnsc giaiilicaiion."¯¯¯
33 In ilc lollowing woids (llagavad-giia 9.30) Loid Kisna dcsciibcs ilc
naiuic ol unalloycd laiil:
3+ In llagavad-giia (17.1) Aijuna asls ilc lollowing qucsiion:
"O Kisna, wlai is ilc siiuaiion ol ilosc wlo do noi lollow ilc piinciplcs ol
sciipiuic bui woislip accoiding io ilcii own imaginaiion' Aic ilcy in goodncss,
in passion oi in ignoiancc'"¯
35 Tlis lind ol laiil is undcisiood iliougl ilc disciplic succcssion. Ii is noi
ncccssaiily ilc conclusion ol all ilc sciipiuics. Many sciipiuial passagcs alliim
ilai maiciialisiic bclavioui is always inappiopiiaic. Ioi cxamplc, in ilc Visnu
Puiana ii is said:
"Loid Kisna is ncvci plcascd by a pcison wlo is a ilicl oi an adulicici, oi
wlo docs laim io oilcis."
Tlcsc woids coniiadici ilc picvious siaicmcni ilai Loid Visnu may
somciimcs bc plcascd wiil His dcvoicc cvcn il ilc dcvoicc is cngagcd in
abominablc aciions. In ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana ii is said:
"Onc wlo docs noi lollow ilc iulcs ol piopci conduci cannoi bc
considcicd a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu. Tlc Loid is woislippcd only by ilcy wlo aci
in a sainily way."
Tlcsc woids coniiadici ilc picvious siaicmcni ilai a pcison cngagcd in
abominablc aciions may siill bc considcicd a dcvoicc. Tlc iiuil is ilai ii is
cciiainly noi io a dcvoicc's cicdii ilai lc pciloim abominablc aciions. Tlai sinlul
aciions slould bc avoidcd by ilc dcvoiccs is conliimcd by ilc usc ol ilc woids
"api cci" (cvcn ilougl) inn ilis quoic liom llagavad-giia. Ii is also conliimcd by
ilc vcisc ilai immcdiaicly lollows.
36 Immcdiaicly alici saying ilai ilc dcvoicc is iiglily siiuaicd cvcn ilougl lc
may bc cngagcd in abominablc aciions, Loid Kisna cxplains (llagavad-giia 9.31):
"Hc quiclly bccomcs iiglicous and aiiains lasiing pcacc. O son ol Kunii
dcclaic ii boldly ilai My dcvoicc ncvci pciislcs."¯
Howcvci, ii slould also bc noicd ilai ilc lollowing is cxplaincd ilc
dcsciipiion ol ollcnscs io ilc loly namc:
"Ii is an ollcnsc io commii sin on ilc siicngil ol claniing ilc loly namc."
37 Tlc laiil ol a dcvoicc wlo lollows ilc sciipiuics is bciici ilan oilci linds
ol laiil. Tlai laiil slould bc lollowcd. Oilci linds ol laiil aic mcniioncd only io
slow ilc gloiy and powci ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis lind ol laiil siiuaics ilc
dcvoicc in ilc modc ol goodncss. Howcvci, laiil slould noi bc diiccicd io
woislip ol ilc dcmigods. Tlai is conliimcd in llagavad-giia 17.1. Tlc pcilcciion
ol laiil is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing passagc ol lialma-vaivaiia Puiana.
3S "Onc slould considci: Wlai is icaliiy' Wlai is illusion' O King, wlcn
onc ilinls in ilis way lc comcs io icnouncc ilc illusion ol maiciial lilc. Tlcn lc
can aiiain pcilcciion. Tlcn lc aiiains ilc pcilcciion ol laiil, a pcilcciion ilai
biings a gicai icsuli."
39 Tlc manilcsiaiion ol laiil among ilc dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd by ilc Supicmc
Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.S-9):
"Il somclow oi oilci by good loiiunc onc dcvclops laiil in lcaiing and
Mc.¯¯¯
+0 "As long as onc is noi saiiaicd by liuiiivc aciiviiy and las noi awalcncd lis
io ilc icgulaiivc piinciplc ol ilc Vcdic injunciions."¯¯¯
+1 In ilis way ilc convcisaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and
Naiada Muni cxplains wlo is qualilicd and wlo is noi qualilicd io cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc.
+2 Loid Kisna luiilci cxplains (llagavad-giia 3.26):
"So as noi io disiupi ilc minds ol ignoiani mcn aiiaclcd io ilc liuiiivc
icsulis ol picsciibcd duiics, a lcaincd pcison slould noi inducc ilcm io siop
woil. Railci, by woiling in ilc spiiii ol dcvoiion, lc slould cngagc ilcm in all
soiis ol aciiviiics (loi ilc giadual dcvclopmcni ol Kisna consciousncss)."¯
+3 Ii is also said in (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.15):
and is quiic unicasonablc. bccausc ilcy aic guidcd undci youi insiiuciions, ilcy
will acccpi sucl aciiviiics in ilc namc ol icligion and will laidly caic loi
piolibiiions."¯
++ Tlc inlalliblc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad luiilci cxplains (Siimad
llagavaiam 6.9.50):
"A puic dcvoicc wlo is lully accomplislcd in ilc scicncc ol dcvoiional
scivicc will ncvci insiiuci a loolisl pcison io cngagc in liuiiivc aciiviiics loi
maiciial cnjoymcni, noi io spcal ol lclping lim in sucl aciiviiics. Sucl a pcison
is lilc an cxpciicnccd plysician, wlo ncvci cncouiagcs a paiicni io cai lood
injuiious io lis lcalil, cvcn il ilc paiicni dcsiics ii."¯
+5 Alilougl laiil malcs a pcison qualilicd io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc,
and laiil docs noi manilcsi in a pcison wlo docs noi lnow ilc iiuil, ncvciilclcss,
ilcic is no lauli in considciing ilc picvious puiilying aciiviiics ol a poicniial
iccipicni ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, and ilcic is a lauli on ilc paii ol a
picaclci ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc il lc docs noi considci ilcsc picvious
aciiviiics. Tlcicloic ii is said:
"Onc slould noi icacl iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc io a laiillcss pcison
avcisc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."
Laici in ilis bool, in ilc discussion ol ollcnscs, wc will cxplain low
icacling laiillcss pcisons is an ollcnsc io ilc Loid. Now wc will iciuin io ilc
discussion ai land.
Anuccheda 17+
1 Alici dcsciibing (in anucclcda 173, icxis 39 and +0) ilc way onc is
qualilicd io cngagc in ilc ilicc linds ol yoga (laima-yoga, jnana-yoga and blalii-
yoga), ilc Supicmc Loid ncxi cxplains low ilcy wlo aic dcvoiccs and iiy io
plcasc ilc Supicmc Loid cngagc in laima-yoga. Tlc Loid says (Siimad
2 "My dcai Uddlava, a pcison wlo is siiuaicd in lis picsciibcd duiy,
piopcily woislipping by Vcdic saciiliccs bui noi dcsiiing ilc liuiiivc icsuli ol
sucl woislip, will noi go io ilc lcavcnly plancis. Similaily, by noi pciloiming
loibiddcn aciiviiics lc will noi go io lcll."¯¯¯
3 "Onc wlo is siiuaicd in lis picsciibcd duiy, licc liom sinlul aciiviiics and
clcanscd ol maiciial coniaminaiion, in ilis vciy lilc obiains iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc oi, by loiiunc, dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯¯¯
"In ilcsc vciscs "anasil-lamal" mcans "noi dcsiiing ilc liuiis ol aciion
and 'anyai' mcans 'loibiddcn aciions'. Onc may go io ilc lcllisl plancis in iwo
ways. Onc way is io ncglcci oncs picsciibcd duiics, and ilc oilci way is io
pciloim aciions ilai aic loibiddcn. lccausc lc pciloims lis picsciibcd duiics and
also sluns loibiddcn aciions, ilc dcvoicc docs noi go io ilc lcllisl plancis, and
bccausc lc docs noi dcsiic ilc liuiis ol aciion lc docs noi go io Svaigalola ciilci.
Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc pliasc 'asmil lolc' mcans 'in ilis body'. 'Anaglal'
mcans 'lc wlo sluns all loibiddcn aciions', and 'sucil' mcans 'licc liom ilc
coniaminaiion ol maiciial passions'. Tlc woid 'yadicclaya' (by good loiiunc)
slows ilai dcvoiional scivicc is moic iaic and dilliculi io aiiain ilan ilc
icalisaiion ol impcisonal lialman."
5 Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai ilc sinccic souls do noi dcsiic io cnjoy ilc liuiis
ol maiciial aciions and ilus ilcy pciloim Vcdic iiiuals and duiics only bccausc ilc
Loid las oidcicd ilai ilcy bc pciloimcd. Wlcn associaiion wiil jnanis, is
aiiaincd by ilcm, ilcsc sinccic souls picscni ilc icsulis ol ilcsc picsciibcd liuiiivc
aciiviiics as an ollciing io ilc Supicmc Loid. Wlcn ilc associaiion ol dcvoiccs ol
ilc Loid is aiiaincd by ilcm, ilcsc sinccic souls cngagc in dcvoiional aciiviiics
ilai plcasc ilc Supicmc Loid diiccily. Tlai is wly ilc woid "yadicclaya" (by
good loiiunc) is uscd lcic. ly ilc associaiion ol ilc dcvoiccs and by aiiaining
ilcii mcicy, ilc sinccic souls aiiain good loiiunc. Tlai is cxplaincd lcic.
6 Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.3.11):
"All ilc dillcicni linds ol woislippcis ol mulii dcmigods can aiiain ilc
liglcsi pcilcciional bcncdiciion, wlicl is sponiancous aiiiaciion unllinclingly
lixcd upon ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, only by ilc associaiion ol ilc
puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid."¯
Anuccheda 175
1 In ilis way ilcic aic dillcicni qualilicaiions loi: 1. ollciing ilc icsulis ol
onc's woil io ilc Loid, 2. spiiiiual lnowlcdgc, and 3. spiiiiual dcvoiional scivicc
io ilc Loid. Tlc Loid discusscs ilcsc qualilicaiions in ilc lollowing woids
2 "Sicadincss in onc's own posiiion is dcclaicd io bc aciual piciy, wlcicas
dcviaiion liom onc's posiiion is considcicd impiciy. In ilis way ilc iwo aic
dcliniicly ascciiaincd."¯¯¯
3 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc
Anuccheda 176
1 Wlcn lc las no lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Loid's iiansccndcnial loim and
no dcvoiion io Him, ilc soul is in an unloiiunaic posiiion. In ilai posiiion ilc
idca ilai God is impcisonal and las no qualiiics bccomcs piomincni. Tlc mosi
impoiiani lcaiuic ol God is His lcaiuic as a pcison wlo las iiansccndcnial
qualiiics. Tlis lcaiuic is manilcsicd in iwo ways: 1. as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad and 2. as ilc Supcisoul. In ilis way ilc soul may lavc laiil in ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad oi laiil in ilc Supcisoul.
2 Tlcsc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc (lialma, Paiamaima and llagavan)
aic dcsciibcd in ilc llagavad-giia. Tlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
said (S.3):
"Tlc indcsiiuciiblc, iiansccndcnial living cniiiy is callcd lialman, and lis
cicinal naiuic is callcd adlyaima, ilc scll. Aciion pciiaining io ilc dcvclopmcni
ol ilc maiciial bodics ol ilc living cniiiics is callcd laima, oi liuiiivc aciiviiics."¯
3 Tlc woid "alsaia" lcic iclcis io ilc impcisonal lialman, wlicl las
alicady bccn dcsciibcd. Tlai lialman is woislippcd by ilc pail ol
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc. Tlis is dcsciibcd by ilc Loid in ilc lollowing woids
(llagavad-giia S.11):
+ "Pcison wlo aic lcaincd in ilc Vcdas, wlo uiici omlaia and wlo aic gicai
sagcs in ilc icnounccd oidci cnici inio lialman. Dcsiiing sucl pcilcciion, onc
piaciiccs cclibacy. I slall now biiclly cxplain io you ilis pioccss by wlicl onc
may aiiain salvaiion."¯
5 Loid Kisna ilcn dcsciibcs His Supcisoul lcaiuic in ilcsc woids (llagavad-
giia S.+):
"O bcsi ol ilc cmbodicd bcings, ilc plysical naiuic, wlicl is consianily
clanging, is callcd adlibluia (ilc maiciial manilcsiaiion). Tlc univcisal loim ol
ilc Loid, wlicl includcs all ilc dcmigods, lilc ilosc ol ilc sun and moon, is
callcd adlidaiva. And I, ilc Supicmc Loid, icpicscnicd as ilc Supcisoul in ilc
lcaii ol cvciy cmbodicd bcing, am callcd adliyajna (ilc Loid ol saciilicc)."¯
6 In ilis way ilc Supicmc Loid appcais in iwo loims, as 1. ilc univcisal
loim, and 2. ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul. Now will bc slown ilc iwo linds ol
dcvoiional scivicc cmploycd io woislip ilcsc iwo loims ol ilc Loid.
7 Loid Kisna Himscll cxplains ilis in ilc lollowing woids (llagavad-giia
S.S):
"Hc wlo mcdiiaics on Mc as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, lis mind
consianily cngagcd in icmcmbciing Mc, undcviaicd liom ilc pail, lc, O Paiila, is
suic io icacl Mc."¯
S In llagavad-giia (S.9) ilc Loid coniinucs:
"Onc slould mcdiiaic upon ilc Supicmc Pcison as ilc onc wlo lnows
cvciyiling, as Hc wlo is ilc oldcsi, wlo is ilc coniiollci, wlo is smallci ilan ilc
smallcsi, wlo is ilc mainiainci ol cvciyiling, wlo is bcyond all maiciial
conccpiion, wlo is inconccivablc and wlo is always a pcison. Hc is luminous lilc
ilc sun, and Hc is iiansccndcnial, bcyond ilis maiciial naiuic."¯
9 Using ilc woid "Mc", Loid Kisna conliims ilai Hc is ilc ical objcci ol
dcvoiional scivicc in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia S.1+):
10 "Ioi onc wlo always icmcmbcis Mc wiiloui dcviaiion, I am casy io obiain,
O son ol Piila, bccausc ol lis consiani cngagcmcni in dcvoiional scivicc."¯
11 Loid Kapiladcva dcsciibcs ilcsc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Supicmc Loid in ilc
12 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad alonc is complcic iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc, bui accoiding io ilc dillcicni pioccsscs ol undcisianding Hc appcais
dillcicnily, ciilci as impcisonal lialman, as Paiamaima, as ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad oi as ilc puiusa-avaiaia."¯
13 "Disil" lcic mcans "plilosoplical lnowlcdgc", and "piilal blavail"
mcans "accoiding io dillcicni pioccsscs ol undcisianding". In ilis way ilc Loid is
lnown as ilc Supicmc lialman, ilc Supcisoul, and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.
1+ Tlc impcisonal lialman is undcisiood by culiivaiion ol plilosoplical
lnowlcdgc, ilc Supcisoul is undcisiood by a spccilic lind ol dcvoiional scivicc,
and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is undcisiood by lull dcvoiional scivicc.
In ilis vcisc "jnana-maiiam" mcans "lnowlcdgc ol ilc naiuic ol ilc Supicmc
lialman", "isvaial" mcans "ilc Supcisoul", and "puman" mcans "ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad". Tlcsc ilicc lcaiuics ol ilc Loid lavc alicady bccn
dcsciibcd in ilc llagavai-sandaibla and Paiamaima-sandaibla.
15 Tlc way ol undcisianding ilc impcisonal lialman is givcn in ilcsc woids
"Non dcvoiccs, lowcvci, cannoi icalisc You in Youi lull pcisonal lcaiuic.
Ncvciilclcss, ii may bc possiblc loi ilcm io icalisc Youi cxpansion as ilc
impcisonal Supicmc by culiivaiing diicci pciccpiion ol ilc Scll wiilin ilc lcaii.
lui ilcy can do ilis only by puiilying ilc mind and scnscs ol all conccpiions ol
maiciial disiinciions and all aiiaclmcni io maiciial scnsc objccis. Only in ilis way
will Youi impcisonal lcaiuic manilcsi iiscll io ilcm."¯¯¯
16 Tlc way ol undcisianding ilc Supcisoul is givcn in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 2.2.S):
"Oilcis conccivc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad icsiding wiilin ilc body in
ilc icgion ol ilc lcaii and mcasuiing only cigli inclcs, wiil loui lands caiiying
a loius, a wlccl ol a claiioi, a conclslcll and a club icspcciivcly."¯
17 Tlc way ol undcisianding ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is givcn in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.7.+):
"Tlus lc lixcd lis mind, pcilccily cngaging ii by linling ii in dcvoiional
scivicc (blalii-yoga) wiiloui any iingc ol maiciialism, and ilus lc saw ilc
Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad along wiil His cxicinal cncigy, wlicl was undci
lull coniiol."¯
1S Alilougl ilcsc ilicc mcilods (laima, jnana, and blalii) all aci io
couniciaci ilc condiiioncd soul's avcision io ilc Supicmc, ncvciilclcss ilc
lollowing cxplanaiion is givcn aboui ilcm (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.+):
19 "My dcai Loid, dcvoiional scivicc unio You is ilc only auspicious pail. Il
living bcings aic spiiii soul and ilc maiciial woild is lalsc, lc undcigocs a gicai
dcal ol iioublc. Hc only gains iioublcsomc and inauspicious aciiviiics. His aciions
aic lilc bcaiing a lusl ilai is alicady dcvoid ol iicc. Onc's laboui bccomcs
liuiilcss."¯
In ilis way ii is sccn ilai spiiiiual lnowlcdgc wiiloui iclcicncc io
dcvoiional scivicc is usclcss. Ii las no powci io biing ical spiiiiual advanccmcni.
20 In Siimad-llagavaiam (11.20.31) Loid Kisna cxplains:
In ilis way ii is sccn ilai dcvoiional scivicc is indcpcndcni ol lnowlcdgc
and icnunciaiion.
21 Loid Kisna also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.32):
oi oilci My dcvoicc dcsiics piomoiion io lcavcn, libciaiion oi icsidcncc in My
Hcic ilc Loid cxplains ilai bccausc all good icsulis aic obiaincd by
dcvoiional scivicc, ilc culiivaiion ol impcisonal lnowlcdgc is noi a vciy
commcndablc aciiviiy.
22 Somc, noi giving any impoiiancc io ilc iiansccndcnial loim ol Loid Visnu
wlo is woislippcd in dcvoiional scivicc, ilc pail ol spiiiiual vaiiciy, insicad
woislip ilc impcisonal Supicmc. In ilc lollowing quoic liom sciipiuic ilcii
mcilod ol woislip is slown io bc inlciioi.
23 Hiianyalasipu givcs ilc lollowing cxplanaiion (Siimad llagavaiam
7.2.22):
"Tlc spiiii soul, ilc living cniiiy, las no dcail, loi lc is cicinal and
incxlausiiblc. lcing licc liom maiciial coniaminaiion, lc can go anywlcic in ilc
maiciial oi spiiiiual woilds. Hc is lully awaic and complcicly dillcicni liom ilc
maiciial body, bui bccausc ol bcing mislcd by misusc ol lis sligli indcpcndcncc,
lc is obligcd io acccpi subilc and gioss bodics cicaicd by ilc maiciial cncigy and
ilus bc subjccicd io so-callcd maiciial lappincss and disiicss. Tlcicloic, no onc
slould lamcni loi ilc passing ol ilc spiiii soul liom ilc body."¯
2+ In Siimad llagavaiam (7.2.39) ilc Loid says:
"O wcal womcn! Only by ilc will ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
wlo is ncvci diminislcd, is ilc cniiic woild cicaicd, mainiaincd and again
annililaicd. Tlis is ilc vcidici ol ilc Vcdic lnowlcdgc. Tlis maiciial cicaiion,
consisiing ol ilc moving and non moving, is cxacily lilc His playiling. lcing ilc
Supicmc Loid, Hc is complcicly compcicni io dcsiioy and pioicci."¯
Tlus in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam, and also in lialma's piaycis,
ilc conccpiion ol ilc Supicmc as loimlcss and laving a loim aic compaicd. Tlc
idca ilai Loid Visnu is an oidinaiy dcmigod is also ciiiiciscd ilcic. In ilcsc vciscs
ilc idca ilai ilc individual spiiii soul is ilc woislipablc Supicmc is loicclully
icluicd. Sucl an idca is lauglcd ai by ilc puic dcvoiccs, jusi as ilc Yadavas
lauglcd ai ilc dcmon Paundiala wlo picicndcd ilai lc was Loid Vasudcva.
25 In Siimad llagavaiam (3.29.13) ilc Loid cxplains:
"A puic dcvoicc docs noi acccpi any lind ol libciaiion: salolya, saisii,
samipya, saiupya oi claiva, cvcn ilougl ilcy aic ollcicd by ilc Supicmc
lccausc ilc icsuli aiiaincd by ilcy wlo ilinl ilc Supicmc is impcisonal is
ilus icjccicd, ilc conclusion ol impcisonalism is ilus slown io bc uniiuc.
26 Sii Hanuman cxplains:
"Only a lool will givc up scivicc io ilc Loid and iiy insicad io bccomc ilc
Loid Himscll."
In ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.3+) ilc Supicmc Loid
cxplains ilai puic dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi ol all aiiainmcnis:
27 "lccausc My dcvoiccs posscss sainily bclavioui and dccp iniclligcncc, ilcy
complcicly dcdicaic ilcmsclvcs io Mc and do noi dcsiic anyiling bcsidcs Mc.
Indccd, cvcn il I ollci ilcm libciaiion liom biiil and dcail, ilcy do noi acccpi
ii."¯
2S Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"Hcic ilc woid 'dliial' mcans 'iniclligcni' and 'mamailaniinal' mcans
'lillcd wiil lovc loi Mc'. Tlc Loid says, 'Lvcn ilougl I ollci libciaiion io ilcm,
ilcy will noi acccpi ii'. Wlai moic can bc said' Tlcy lavc no maiciial dcsiics.
Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc woid 'apunai-blavam' lcic mcans 'gicai libciaiion'."
29 Tlc gicai gloiy ol puic dcvoics lilc ilcsc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc
Gaiuda Puiana:
30 "A pciloimci ol yajnas is bciici ilan many ilousands ol bialmanas. A
sclolai wlo las ciosscd io ilc laiilci sloic ol ilc Vcdania is bciici ilan many
ilousands ol pciloimcis ol yajnas.
31 "A dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu is bciici ilan many millions ol sclolais lcaincd
in Vcdania. A puic dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu is bciici ilan many ilousands ol
dcvoiccs wlo lavc noi yci comc io ilc siagc ol puic dcvoiion."
Anuccheda 177
1 lccausc ii biings ilc gicaicsi ol all blisscs, dcvoiional scivicc is naiuially
lillcd wiil bliss. Ioi ilcy wlo, bccausc ol somc dclcci on ilcii paii, aic noi ablc
io iasic ilc swccincss ol dcvoiional scivicc, oidcis io pciloim cciiain aciiviiics,
piolibiiions loibidding oilci aciiviiics, and ilc siaic ol mind ilai disiinguislcs a
losi ol viiiucs and viccs, aic givcn. Howcvci, io bc siiuaicd in ilc siaic wlcic onc
sccs viiiucs and viccs, is iiscll a lauli on onc's paii.
2 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc picvious clapici (Siimad llagavaiam 11.19.36-+5)
wlcic Loid Kisna dcsciibcs viiiucs and laulis in diicci dcvoiional scivicc:
"Absoibing ilc iniclligcncc in Mc consiiiuics mcnial cquilibiium and
complcic disciplinc ol ilc scnscs is scll coniiol. Tolciancc mcans paiicnily
cnduiing unlappincss, and sicadlasincss occuis wlcn on conqucis ilc ionguc and
gcniials. Tlc gicaicsi claiiiy is io givc up all aggicssion iowaid oilcis, and
icnunciaiion ol lusi is undcisiood io bc ical ausiciiiy. Rcal lcioism is io conquci
onc's naiuial icndcncy io cnjoy maiciial lilc, and icaliiy is sccing ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cvciywlcic. Tiuillulncss mcans io spcal ilc iiuil in a
plcasing way, as dcclaicd by gicai sagcs. Clcanlincss is dciaclmcni in liuiiivc
aciiviiics, wlcicas icnunciaiion is ilc sannyasa oidci ol lilc. Tlc iiuc dcsiiablc
wcalil loi luman bcings is icligiousncss, and I, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, am saciilicc. Rcligious icmunciaiion is dcvoiion io ilc acaiya wiil ilc
puiposc ol acquiiing spiiiiual insiiuciion, and ilc gicaicsi siicngil is ilc
pianayama sysicm ol bicail coniiol.¯¯¯
"Aciual opulcncc is My own naiuic as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
iliougl wlicl I cxlibii ilc six unlimiicd opulcnccs. Tlc supicmc gain in lilc is
dcvoiional scivicc io Mc, and aciual cducaiion is nullilying ilc lalsc pciccpiion ol
dualiiy wiilin ilc soul. Rcal modcsiy is io bc disgusicd impiopci aciiviiics, and
bcauiy is io posscss good qualiiics, sucl as dciaclmcni. Rcal lappincss is io
iiansccnd maiciial lappincss and unlappincss, and ical misciy is io bc implicaicd
in scaicling loi scx plcasuic. A wisc man is onc wlo lnows ilc pioccss ol
liccdom liom bondagc, and a lool is onc wlo idcniilics wiil lis maiciial body and
mind. Tlc ical pail in lilc is ilai wlicl lcads io Mc, and ilc wiong pail is scnsc
giaiilicaiion, by wlicl consciousncss is bcwildcicd. Aciual lcavcn is ilc
picdominancc ol ilc modc ol goodncss, wlcicas lcll is ilc picdominancc ol
ignoiancc. I am cvciyonc's iiuc liicnd, aciing as ilc spiiiiual masici ol ilc cniiic
univcisc, and onc's lomc is ilc luman body. My dcai liicnd Uddlava, onc wlo is
cniiclcd wiil good qualiiics is aciually said io bc iicl, and onc wlo is unsaiislicd
in lilc is aciually pooi. A wiciclcd pcison is onc wlo cannoi coniiol lis scnscs,
wlcicas onc wlo is noi aiiaclcd io scnsc giaiilicaiion is a ical coniiollci. Onc
wlo aiiaclcs limscll io scnsc giaiilicaiion is ilc opposiic, a slavc. Tlus, Uddlava,
I lavc clucidaicd all ilc maiics aboui wlicl you lavc inquiicd. Tlcic is no nccd
ol a moic claboiaic dcsciipiion ol ilcsc good and bad qualiiics, sincc io consianily
scc good and bad is iiscll a bad qualiiy. Tlc bcsi qualiiy is io iiansccnd maiciial
good and cvil."¯¯¯
3 Tlcy wlo iasic ilc swccincss ol dcvoiional scivicc aic bcyond iulcs,
piolibiiions, viiiucs and viccs. Tlis is cxplaincd by Loid Kisna Himscll in ilc
+ "Maiciial piciy and sin, wlicl aiisc liom ilc good and cvil ol ilis woild,
cannoi cxisi wiilin my unalloycd dcvoiccs, wlo, bcing licc liom maiciial
lanlciing, mainiain sicady spiiiiual consciousncss in all ciicumsianccs. Indccd,
sucl dcvoiccs lavc aclicvcd Mc, ilc Supicmc Loid, wlo am bcyond anyiling ilai
can bc conccivcd by maiciial iniclligcncc."¯¯¯
"Tlc woid "gunal' lcic mcans 'ilc piciy and sin ilai is cicaicd by viiiucs
and laulis and by lollowing iulcs oi iiansgicssing piolibiiions'."
Anuccheda 178
1 Lngagcmcni in puic dcvoiional scivicc is ilc naiuial posiiion ol all living
cniiiics. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.9) in ilcsc woids:
"No onc is ilc masici ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. No onc
coniiols Him. Hc docs noi lavc a maiciial body. Hc is ilc causc ol all causcs. Hc
is ilc masici ol all masicis ol ilc scnscs. No onc is His lailci. No onc is His
ling."
Tlus ilc individual spiiii souls aic paii and paiccl ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcy aic His poicncics. Tlcy naiuially ialc slclici ol
Him. Hc is lilc ilc sun and ilcy aic lilc ilc iays ol ligli cmanaiing liom ilc sun.
2 In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda, in ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc sacicd
syllablc Om, ii is said:
"Tlc lciicis a, u and m combinc io malc ilc sacicd syllablc Om, wlicl is
ilc lcaii ol ilc ilicc Vcdas.
3 Tlc lciici a is said io bc Loid Visnu. Tlc lciici u is said io bc ilc goddcss
ol loiiunc. Tlc lciici m is said io bc Tlcii scivani, ilc individual spiiii soul wlo
is ilc iwcniy-lilil clcmcni in ilc maiciial woild."
+ Ai ilc cnd ol ilai passagc ii is also said:
"Tlc lciici m is said io bc all-lnowing Loid Scsa."
5 Ii is also said:
"Somc say ilai ilc lciici u is ilc goddcss ol loiiunc, loi slc always siays by
lci lusband's sidc, and lci lusband lcic is ilc lciici a. Hc is lilc ilc sun and slc
is lilc ilc sunligli. Slc is His consiani companion."
6 Ioi ilis icason ilc Vaisnavas dcclaicd ilai ilc sacicd syllablc Om is ilc
mala-valya, ilc mosi impoiiani siaicmcni in ilc Vcdas.
7 Tlc cigli-syllablc maniia (Om namo naiayanaya) is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids:
"In all iimcs, placcs, and siiuaiions I icndci cvciy lind ol scivicc io ilc
goddcss ol loiiunc's lusband, gloiious Loid Visnu.
S "In ilis way ii is alliimcd ilai ilc individual spiiii soul's oiiginal naiuic is
io bc a scivani ol ilc Supicmc Loid. Onc wlo ilus undcisiands ilc iiuc mcaning
ol ilis maniia slould ilcn cngagc in ilc Loid's scivicc.
9 "Tlus cvciy moving and unmoving living cniiiy in ilc univcisc is ilc
scivani ol ilc Supicmc Loid. Loid Naiayana is ilc supicmc coniiollci ol all ilc
univciscs. Hc is ilc masici. Hc is ilc Loid."
10 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing piayci spolcn by ilc Pcisonilicd
Vcdas io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.20):
"Tlc individual living cniiiy, wlilc living wiilin ilcsc maiciial bodics lc
las cicaicd loi limscll by lis laima, icmains aciually uncovcicd by boil gioss
and subilc maiici. Hc is dcsciibcd by ilc Vcdas io bc ilc cxpandcd paii and
paiccl ol You, ilc piopiicioi ol all poicncics. Ascciiaining ilc siaius ol ilc living
cniiiy in ilis mannci, lcaincd sagcs bccomc imbucd wiil laiil and ialc io ilc
woislip ol Youi lcci, wlicl aic ilc licld inio wlicl all ilc saciiliccs ol ilc Vcdas
aic sown and aic also ilc souicc ol libciaiion."¯¯¯
11 Hcic "svcna" mcans "by You", "liicsu puicsu" mcans "icsiding in dillcicni
bodics", and "iava puiusam vadanii" mcans "ilcy say ilc individual spiiii soul's
cicinal naiuic is io bc Youi paii and paiccl." "Allila-salii-dliias iava" mcans
"You aic ilc masici ol all poicncics. Youi maiginal poicncy, lnown as ilc
individual souls (jivas) as Youi paii and paiccl. Howcvci Youi inicinal poicncy is
noi Youi paii and paiccl, loi ii is lully idcniical wiil You. You aic ilc iooi and
slclici ol all Youi poicncics. You aic lilc ilc sun and ilcy aic lilc ilc individual
iays ol sunligli." Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
12 Now ilc icason ilc spiiii souls aic paii and paiccl ol ilc Supicmc Loid
will bc considcicd. Hcic ilc vcisc says, "abalii-aniaia-samvaianam", wlicl mcans
"Tlcic is no covciing ciilci wiilin oi wiiloui". Howcvci ilcic is covciing by
vaiious dcsignaiions. Tlai is ilc mcaning. "Ni" lcic mcans "ol ilc individual
spiiii soul", and "gaiim" mcans "ilai ilc individual soul ialcs slclici ol ilc
Supicmc Loid and dcpcnds on Him loi mainiaining lis lilc. "Vivicya" mcans
"undcisianding ilis iiuil", "lavayal" mcans "ilc lcaincd sagcs", and "visvasiial"
mcans "laiillul". Tlcsc laiillul sagcs "woislip Youi lcci" (blavaia angliim
upasaic).
13 Now laiil will bc considcicd, ilc woid "nigamavapanam" mcans "ilc sccd
liom wlicl all ilc Vcdas lavc spiouicd". Tlis mcans ilai ilc Supicmc Loid is
ilc biiilplacc ol ilc Vcdas. Wlcn ilc spiiii souls, wlo aic by naiuic always
dcpcndcni on ilc Supicmc Loid loi ilcii mainicnancc, bccomc avcisc io ilc Loid,
ilcy lind ilcmsclvcs sullciing ilc misciics ol lilc in ilc maiciial woild oi icpcaicd
biiil and dcail. Tlcy wlo bccomc lavouiablc io ilc Loid and lovc ilc Loid,
lowcvci, aic ablc io cscapc ilc woild ol biiil and dcail. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
woid "ablavam", wlicl mcans, "wlcic ilcic is no maiciial woild ol biiil and
dcail". Oi, ilis woid can also bc inicipicicd io csiablisl ilc iiuil ilai dcvoiional
scivicc and ilc Supicmc Loid woislippcd by dcvoiional scivicc aic boil cicinal.
Togcilci ilc woids "ablavam angliim" mcans "ilc lcci ilai aic licc liom biiil
and dcail". In ilis way ii is csiablislcd ilai puic dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi ol
all spiiiiual pails. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was
spolcn by ilc Pcisonilicd Vcdas io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 179
1 Now in anoilci scciion anoilci aspcci ol dcvoiional scivicc will bc
considcicd. How docs onc aiiain puic dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is vciy iaic and
dilliculi io aiiain and wlicl biings a icsuli ilai is also iaic and dilliculi io aiiain
and wlicl biings a icsuli ilai is also iaic and dilliculi io aiiain' Now wc will
considci ilc causc ilai biings dcvoiional scivicc inio cxisicncc.
2 In Siimad llagavaiam (10.51.53) ii is said:
"O my Loid! O inlalliblc Supicmc Pcison! Wlcn a pcison wandciing
iliougloui ilc univciscs bccomcs cligiblc loi libciaiion liom maiciial cxisicncc,
lc gcis an oppoiiuniiy io associaic wiil dcvoiccs. Wlcn lc associaics wiil
dcvoiccs, lis aiiiaciion loi You is awalcncd. You aic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, ilc liglcsi goal ol ilc supicmc dcvoiccs and ilc Loid ol ilc univcisc."¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans. "Wlcn a pcison wandciing iliougloui ilc univciscs
bccomcs cligiblc loi libciaiion liom maiciial cxisicncc, ilai is io say wlcn lis iimc
loi aiiaining libciaiion las comc, lc gcis an oppoiiuniiy io associaic wiil
dcvoiccs. Wlcn lc associaics wiil dcvoiccs, lc aiiains libciaiion liom maiciial
cxisicncc." Tlis mcans ilai associaiion wiil dcvoiccs is ilc swili and unsioppablc
way io aiiain libciaiion. Tlis siaicmcni is an cxamplc ol ilc louiil vaiiciy ol ilc
namalanlaia (liiciaiy oinamcni) callcd aiisayolii (lypcibolc), a vaiiciy ilai is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
+ "Wlcn somciling is said io vciy quiclly biing a cciiain icsuli, ilai is ilc
louiil lind ol lypcibolc, wlicl is callcd puivolii."
5 An cxamplc ol ilis lind ol puivolii lypcibolc is sccn in ilc lollowing
woids spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io Nalaluvaia and
Manigiiva (Siimad llagavaiam 10.10.+1):
6 "Wlcn onc is lacc io lacc wiil ilc sun, ilcic is no longci dailncss loi onc's
cycs. Similaily, wlcn onc is lacc io lacc wiil a sadlu, a dcvoicc, wlo is lully
dcicimincd and suiicndcicd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, onc will no
longci bc subjcci io maiciial bondagc."¯
7 Tlc icason loi ilis is givcn in Siimad llagavaiam 10.51.53, (wlicl was
quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda):
"O Loid, wlcn a pcison associaics wiil dcvoiccs, lis aiiiaciion loi You is
awalcncd."¯
Wlcn ilcic is no longci any icason loi ilc coniinucd cxisicncc ol ilc
misconccpiions ilai malc onc avcisc io ilc Loid, ilcsc misconccpiions comc io
an cnd, and ilcn ilc aciual iiuil, wlicl malcs onc lall in lovc wiil ilc Loid, is
manilcsicd. Tlis is dcsciibcd by Sii Viduia in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 3.5.3):
S "O my Loid, gicai plilaniliopic souls iiavcl on ilc caiil on bclall ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io slow compassion io ilc lallcn souls wlo aic
avcisc io ilc scnsc ol suboidinaiion io ilc Loid."¯
9 Hcic ilc woid "daivai" mcans "bccausc ol ilc dcsiiny cicaicd by picvious
laima", and ilc woid "adlaima-silasya" mcans "ol onc wlo is avcisc io ilc scnsc
ol suboidinaiion io ilc Loid". In Siimad llagavaiam 10.51.53 (quoicd in ilc
bcginning ol ilis anucclcda) ilc usc ol ilc woids "yaili" (wlcn) and "iada cva"
(ilcn) indicaic ilai in ilis scqucncc ol cvcnis ilcic is noi a long inicival ol iimc.
Tlc woids "ca cva" (also cciiainly), also indicaic ilai ilis cvcni docs noi lappcn
lai in ilc luiuic. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc woid "sad-gaiau" mcans "any placc
wlcic ilc dcvoiccs (sai) asscmblc iogcilci (gaiau). O Loid, io ilai placc You
pcisonally comc." Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Iiilasa-
samuccaya:
10 "O ling, Loid Kisna pcisonally comcs io ilc placcs wlcic His dcvoics, wlo
aic licc maiciial passion and oilci viccs, congicgaic. Ol ilis ilcic is no doubi."
11 Tlc woid "sad-gaiau" ilus iclcis io associaiion wiil dcvoiccs. As las
alicady bccn cxplaincd, in ilis way oidinaiy pcoplc can aiiain dcvoiion io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Pingala gloiilics associaiion wiil dcvoiccs in
ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 11.S.3+):
12 "Cciiainly in ilis ciiy ol Vidcla I alonc am complcicly loolisl. I ncglccicd
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo awaids us cvciyiling, cvcn oui oiiginal
spiiiiual loim, and insicad I dcsiicd io cnjoy scnsc giaiilicaiion wiil many
mcn."¯¯¯
"Hcic Pingala says: Lvcn ilougl I lad ilc associaiion ol ilc sainily dcvoiccs ol
Vidcla, siill I icmaincd a complcic lool!
1+ Il a pcison is sccn io bc cagci io scivc ilc Loid, bui ii is noi sccn ilai lc
lad associaiion wiil dcvoiccs, ii slould bc undcisiood ilai ai somc iimc in ilis
lilc oi a picvious lilc lc did lavc associaiion wiil a sainily dcvoicc in ilc disciplic
succcssion. Ii may bc said ilai jusi as Nalaluvaia and oilcis lad ilc oppoiiuniiy
io scc Naiada Muni, so ilc gicai dcmigods also lad ilc oppoiiuniiy io scc lim,
bui siill ilcy did noi aiiain ilc samc icsuli ilai Nalaluvaia aiiaincd. Tlis lappcns
bccausc ol ollcnscs io a gicai dcvoicc. Wlcn onc ilinls a gicai dcvoicc is mcicly
an oidinaiy pious pcison, onc commiis an ollcnsc. To bccomc licc liom ilai
ollcnsc, onc slould undcisiand ilc cxalicd siaius ol ilai dcvoicc and ilcn onc
slould sinccicly lonoui and scivc lim. Tlc dcmigods cxplain all ilis in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 3.5.+5):
15 "O gicai Supicmc Loid, ollcnsivc pcisons wlosc inicinal vision las bccn
allccicd by cxicinal maiciialisiic aciiviiics cannoi scc Youi loius lcci, bui ilcy aic
sccn by Youi puic dcvoiccs, wlosc onc and only aim is io iiansccndcnially cnjoy
Youi aciiviiics."¯
16 Hcic ilc woid "ic" mcans "Youi". Tlc woid "padanyasa-vilasa-lalsmyal"
iclcis io ilc dcvoiccs ilai lavc a iclaiionslip wiil ilc Loid. Tlc vcisc ilcn
cxplains ilai many pcisons do noi scc ilc Loid's loius lcci. Wlo aic ilcsc
pcisons' Tlc vcisc says ilcy aic "ollcnsivc pcisons wlosc inicinal vision las
bccn ioo allccicd by cxicinal maiciialisiic aciiviiics". In ilis way ilc vcisc is
cxplaincd.
17 Tlc woid "asad-viiii" lcic docs noi iclci io oidinaiy maiciialisiic aciiviiics,
loi ilc gicai dcvoiccs aic mcicilul io oidinaiy maiciialisis, as was dcsciibcd in
Siimad-llagavaiam 3.5.3 (quoicd in icxi S ol ilis anucclcda). Tlc gicai souls
givc ilcii mcicy io ilcy wlo do noi commii ollcnscs. simply by ilc associaiion ol
ilcsc gicai souls, ilcsc maiciialisiic pcisons also bccomc sainily dcvoiccs. Tlc
gicai souls, bccausc ilcy aic indcpcndcni in ilcii aciiviiics, may also givc ilcii
mcicy io ollcndcis and iiansloim ilcm also inio dcvoiccs, bui ilis docs noi occui
wiiloui ilc gicai soul's mcicy. Nalaluvaia and ilc oidinaiy dcmigods aic
cxamplcs ol all ilis.
1S Lxamplcs ol ilis aic sccn in ilc mcicy ol Sii llaiaia io King Ralugana and
in ilc aciiviiics ol Upaiicaia Vasu as dcsciibcd in ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana. Alici
lilling many dcmons io lclp ilc dcmigods, Upaiicaia vasu icnounccd ilc woild
and wcni io Paialalola in oidci io mcdiiaic on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlcn ilc dcmons appioaclcd ilc icnounccd Vasu and iiicd io lill lim
wiil ilcii wcapons, bui ilcii wcapons all suddcnly bccamc complcicly usclcss and
incllcciivc. ly ilc insiiuciions ol Suliacaiya ilc dcmons could undcisiand ilai
ilcy las commiiicd a gicai ollcnsc. Tlcn, by Upaiicaia Vasu's mcicy, ilcy all
bccamc gicai dcvoiccs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
"Alici many biiil in ilc maiciial woild ilcy could noi dcsiioy ilc gicai
muliiiudc ol ilcii sins. Howcvci, ilc momcni ilcy aiiaincd lovc loi Loid
Govinda, ilcii sins ai oncc ccascd io cxisi."
20 In Siimad llagavaiam (7.9.++), Sii Piallada iclls Loid Nisimladcva:
"I do noi wisl io bc libciaicd alonc, lcaving asidc all ilcsc pooi lools and
iascals. I lnow ilai wiiloui Kisna consciousncss, wiiloui ialing slclici ol Youi
loius lcci, onc cannoi bc lappy. Tlcic I wisl io biing ilcm bacl io slclici ai
Youi loius lcci."¯
In ilis way ii is sccn ilai Sii Piallada las givcn lis mcicy io cvciy singlc
condiiioncd soul. How is ii, ilcn, ilai ilcy lavc noi all aiiaincd libciaiion'
21 To ilis qucsiion I icply: lccausc ilc individual spiiii souls aic unlimiicd in
numbci, ilcy cannoi all bc undcisiood by ilc mind and lcaii. As many as wcic
sccn oi lcaid by Piallada, oi as many as could bc undcisiood wiilin lis mind, all
aiiaincd libciaiion by lis mcicy. Tlai is ilc mcaning ol ilis vcisc. Oilci pcisons
may lcai and icmcmbci ilc gloiics ol Sii Piallada. In ilis way Loid Nisimladcva
Himscll will bc mcicilul io ilcm.
22 Loid Nisimladcva Himscll alliims ilis in ilcsc woids spolcn io Piallada
(Siimad llagavaiam 7.10.1+):
"Onc wlo always icmcmbcis youi aciiviiics and My aciiviiics also, and wlo
clanis ilc piaycis you lavc ollcicd, bccomcs licc, in duc couisc ol iimc, liom ilc
icaciions ol maiciial aciiviiics."¯
23 Hcic Loid Nisimladcva mcans "Tlcy wlo clani youi gloiics will bccomc
libciaicd. Cciiainly, ilcn, will ilcy wlom you icmcmbci and lccl compassion loi,
will also bccomc libciaicd." Tlis is ilc scniimcni ol ilc dcvoiccs, a scniimcni
dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 10.51.53 (quoicd in icxi 2 ol ilis anucclcda).
Anuccheda 180
1 In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai associaiion wiil dcvoiccs is ilc causc ol
libciaiion. Tlc living cniiiics' avcision io ilc Loid is bascd on bcginninglcss
ignoiancc ol Him. Oilciwisc ilcii avcision is noi possiblc.
2 Tlc impoiiancc ol associaiion wiil gicai dcvoiccs is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids (Sii Malablaiaia, Vana Paiva, 313.117):
"Diy aigumcnis aic inconclusivc. A gicai pcisonaliiy wlosc opinion docs
noi dillci liom oilcis is noi considcicd a gicai sagc. Simply by siudying ilc
Vcdas, wlicl aic vaiicgaicd, onc cannoi comc io ilc iigli pail, by wlicl icligious
piinciplcs aic undcisiood. Tlc solid iiuil ol icligious piinciplcs is liddcn in ilc
lcaii ol an unaduliciaicd scll-icaliscd pcison. Conscqucnily, as ilc sasiias
conliim, onc slould acccpi wlaicvci piogicssivc pail ilc malajanas advocaic."¯
3 Tlis is also conliimcd by Piallada Malaiaja in ilc lollowing woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 7.5.30-32):
"lccausc ol ilcii unconiiollcd scnscs, pcisons ioo addicicd io maiciialisiic
lilc malc piogicss iowaid lcllisl condiiions and icpcaicdly clcw ilai wlicl las
alicady bccn clcwcd. Tlcii inclinaiions iowaid Kisna aic ncvci aiouscd, ciilci by
ilc insiiuciions ol oilcis, by ilcii own clloiis, oi by a combinaiion ol boil.¯
"Pcisons wlo aic siiongly cniiappcd by ilc consciousncss ol cnjoying
maiciial lilc, and wlo lavc ilcicloic acccpicd as ilcii lcadci oi guiu a similai
blind man aiiaclcd io cxicinal scnsc objccis, cannoi undcisiand ilai ilc goal ol
lilc is io iciuin lomc, bacl io Godlcad, and cngagc in ilc scivicc ol Loid Visnu.
As blind mcn guidcd by anoilci blind man miss ilc iigli pail and lall inio a
diicl, maiciially aiiaclcd mcn lcd by anoilci maiciially aiiaclcd man aic bound
by ilc iopcs ol liuiiivc laboui, wlicl aic madc ol vciy siiong coids, and ilcy
coniinuc again and again in maiciialisiic lilc, sullciing ilc ilicclold misciics.¯
+ "Unlcss ilcy smcai upon ilcii bodics ilc dusi ol ilc loius lcci ol a
Vaisnava complcicly liccd liom maiciial coniaminaiion, pcisons vciy mucl
inclincd iowaid maiciialisiic lilc cannoi bc aiiaclcd io ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid,
wlo is gloiilicd loi His uncommon aciiviiics. Only by bccoming Kisna conscious
and ialing slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid in ilis way can onc bc liccd liom
maiciial coniaminaiion."¯
5 Ii is noi possiblc io aiiain lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by
cngaging in maiciial aciiviiics ilai iuin onc away liom Him. Tlis is dcsciibcd in
ilc Kaila Upanisad (1.2.1+):
"Tlc Supicmc is bcyond piciy and impiciy, bcyond causc and cllcci,
bcyond wlai was and wlai will bc."
6 In ilc lilad-aianyala Upanisad (+.+.22) ii is said:
"Tlc bialmanas iiy io undcisiand ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad by
siudying ilc Vcdas, pciloiming yajnas, giving claiiiy, lasiing and pciloiming
ausiciiiics."
In ilis way somc ol ilc aciiviiics plcasing io ilc Supicmc Loid aic
dcsciibcd.
7 How docs onc aiiain lovc and dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Loid' Tlc piimaiy
causc ol ilai dcvoiion is ilc Loid's mcicy. Tlai mcicy is ilc sccondaiy causc as
wcll.
S Tlc Loid givcs His mcicy io wlomcvci Hc wislcs. Hc docs noi givc His
mcicy io ilcy wlo aic avcisc io Him and aic ilcicloic sullciing ilc unbcaiablc
and cndlcss ioimcnis ol lilc in ilc maiciial woild. Tlai Hc docs noi do. Tlc
ioucl ol His mcicy clangcs ilc lcaii ol ilc sullciing soul. His mcicy biings
cicinal iiansccndcnial bliss and dcsiioys sins. Tlc Siuii-sasiia dcclaics ilai ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and individual spiiii soul aic dillcicni. Tlc Loid
cannoi bc iouclcd by ilc dailncss ol maiciial illusion. Tlcicloic ilc iccipicni ol
His mcicy cannoi bc iouclcd by maiciial dailncss. Sucl a pcison docs noi ialc
biiil again. Tlc Loid las all powcis. Hc can do wlai is impossiblc. Hc clangc
anyiling inio anyiling clsc. Howcvci, Hc docs noi givc io ilcy wlo aic avcisc io
Him liccdom liom ilc sullciings ol maiciial lilc. Ioi sucl pcisons ilc mcicy ol
ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is ilc only iccouisc.
9 Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic noi iouclcd by ilc many sullciings ol
maiciial lilc. Tlcy icmain awalc duiing ilc niglimaic ilai is ilc maiciial woild.
In ilis condiiion ilcy lccl compassion loi ilc souls sullciing in ilc maiciial woild.
An cxamplc ol ilis is Naiada Muni's compassion on Nalaluvaia and Manigiiva. In
ilis way ilc condiiioncd souls sullciing in ilc maiciial woild aiiain ilc mcicy ol
ilc Supicmc Loid, ilcn ilc condiiioncd souls bccomc lumblc dcvoiccs ol ilc
Loid and in ilcii lcaiis ilcy ilinl, "Tlc Supicmc Loid is my only slclici". An
cxamplc ol sucl a lumblc dcvoicc is ilc clcplani Gajcndia. Lxamplcs ol
condiiioncd souls wlo lavc noi bccomc dcvoiccs can bc lound in ilc lcllisl
woilds ol Naialalola.
10 Dcvoiional scivicc cmpowcis millions ol dcvoiccs wiil ilc Loid's mcicy.
In ilai way ilc Loid will manilcsi His mcicy. Tlis mcicy is ciilci ilc dcvoiccs'
mcicy oi ilc mcicy ol associaiion wiil ilc dcvoiccs. Tlis mcicy is noi
indcpcndcni. Ii is aciually ilc Loid's mcicy. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
11 "O Loid, wlo icscmblc ilc slining sun, You aic always icady io lullil ilc
dcsiic ol Youi dcvoicc, and ilcicloic You aic lnown as a dcsiic iicc (vancla-
lalpaiaiu). Wlcn acaiyas complcicly ialc slclici undci Youi loius lcci in oidci io
cioss ilc licicc occan ol ncscicncc, ilcy lcavc bclind on caiil ilc mcilod by
wlicl ilcy cioss, and bccausc You aic vciy mcicilul io Youi oilci dcvoiccs, You
acccpi ilis mcilod io lclp ilcm."¯
12 Tlis vcisc mcans, "O scll-manilcsicd Loid (dyuman), ilc boai (naul) ilai
is Youi loius lcci (blavai-padambloiula), and wlicl is ilc way io cioss ilc occan
ol ncscicncc, is placcd (nidlaya) on ilc sloic ol ilc occan ol ncscicncc loi ilc
salc ol ilc pcoplc."
Hcic ilc Loid may asl, "Wly do I noi pcisonally aiiangc loi ilis boai'
Wly is ilc aiiangcmcni madc by My dcvoiccs insicad ol by Mc'
Hcic ilc dcmigods icply, "You aic mcicilul io Youi dcvoiccs (sad-anugialo
blavan) and ilai is wly You aiiangc ilai Youi dcvoiccs disiiibuic Youi mcicy io
ilc oilcis." Oi, ilcsc woids may also bc inicipicicd io mcan, "Youi dcvoiccs aic
ilcmsclvcs Youi mcicy. Tlcy aic ilc way You manilcsi Youi mcicy in ilc
maiciial woild. Tlcy aic ilc pcisonilicaiions ol Youi mcicy. Ii is noi oilciwisc."
Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc song sung by Loid Siva
(Siimad llagavaiam +.2+.5S):
13 "My dcai Loid, Youi loius lcci aic ilc causc ol all auspicious ilings and ilc
dcsiioyci ol all ilc coniaminaiion ol sin. I ilcicloic bcg Youi Loidslip io blcss
mc by ilc associaiion ol Youi dcvoiccs, wlo aic complcicly puiilicd by
woislipping Youi loius lcci and wlo aic so mcicilul upon ilc condiiioncd souls.
I ilinl ilai Youi ical bcncdiciion will bc io allow mc io associaic wiil sucl
dcvoiccs."¯
1+ Tlis vcisc mcans, "O Loid, Youi mcicy is manilcsicd iliougl Youi
dcvoiccs. You do noi diiccily givc Youi mcicy io ilc impious condiiioncd souls
wlo aic avcisc io You. You aiiangc ilai Youi dcvoiccs givc Youi mcicy io ilcm."
15 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Molsa-dlaima:
"Wlcn Loid Kisna glanccs ai somconc ai ilc momcni ol lis biiil, ilai
pcison slould bc undcisiood io bc vciy cxalicd. Tlai pcison is mcani loi
libciaiion."
16 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai by associaiing wiil ilc Loid's dcvoiccs onc bccomcs
licc liom ialing anoilci biiil in ilis maiciial woild. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc
bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc dcmigods io ilc Supicmc
Anuccheda 181
1 Now will bc discusscd ilc causc ol aiiaining associaiion wiil dcvoiccs. Tlc
gicai dcvoiccs aic indcpcndcni and aci as ilcy lilc. Ii is noi oilciwisc. In Siimad
llagavaiam (11.2.2+) ii is said:
"Oncc in Ajanabla (ilc loimci namc ol ilc caiil), ilcy camc upon ilc
saciilicial pciloimancc ol ilc gicai soul Malaiaja Nimi, wlicl was bcing caiiicd
oui undci ilc diicciion ol clcvaicd sagcs."¯¯¯
2 In ilis vcisc "ic" mcans "ilc Nava-yogcndias", and "yadicclaya" mcans
"indcpcndcnily". "Indcpcndcnily" mcans "loi no icason oilci ilan onc's own
wisl". Tlis is conliimcd by ilc Amaia-losa Diciionaiy, wlicl cxplains, "Tlc
woid yadiccla mcans indcpcndcncc." Tlc Supicmc Loid acis io lullil His
dcvoiccs' dcsiics. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
10.1+.2):
"My dcai Loid, nciilci I noi anyonc clsc can csiimaic ilc poicncy ol ilis
iiansccndcnial body ol Youis, wlicl las slown sucl mcicy io mc and wlicl
appcais jusi io lullil ilc dcsiics ol Youi puic dcvoiccs. Alilougl my mind is
complcicly wiildiawn liom maiciial allaiis, I cannoi undcisiand Youi pcisonal
loim. How, ilcn, could I possibly undcisiand ilc lappincss You cxpciicncc
wiilin Youiscll'"¯¯¯
Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam
9.+.63):
"I am complcicly undci ilc coniiol ol My dcvoiccs. Indccd, I am noi ai all
indcpcndcni. lccausc My dcvoiccs aic complcicly dcvoid ol maiciial dcsiics, I sii
only wiilin ilc coics ol ilcii lcaiis. Wlai io spcal ol My dcvoicc, cvcn ilosc
wlo aic dcvoiccs ol My dcvoicc aic vciy dcai io Mc."¯
Naiada.
Anuccheda 182
1 Tlc indcpcndcncc ol ilc gicai dcvoiccs is also sccn in ilc lollowing vcisc
(Siimad llagavaiam 6.1+.1+):
"Oncc upon a iimc, wlcn ilc powcilul sagc namcd Angiia was iiavclling
all ovci ilc univcisc wiiloui cngagcmcni, by lis swcci will lc camc io ilc palacc
ol King Ciiialciu."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "iasya" (ol lim) iclcis io King Ciiialciu. In ilis way lc
dcvclopcd dcvoiional scniimcnis iowaid ilc Loid. Ai a laici iimc ilc Loid diiccily
appcaicd bcloic lim. Wlcn Ciiialciu was lamcniing Angiia Muni iold lim
"My dcai ling, you aic an advanccd dcvoicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. To bc absoibcd in lamcniaiion loi ilc loss ol somciling maiciial is
unsuiiablc loi a pcison lilc you. Tlcicloic wc lavc boil comc io iclicvc you liom
ilis lalsc lamcniaiion."¯
Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 183
1 Tlc dcvoiccs bccomc compassionaic wlcn ilcy scc ilc unloiiunaic
siiuaiion ol ilc condiiioncd souls. Tlis compassion las noiling io-do wiil
wlcilci ilc condiiioncd souls lonoui ilai dcvoicc oi noi. An cxamplc ol ilis is
Naiada Muni's compassion io Nalaluvaia and Manigiiva. Tlc mcicy ol ilc
dcvoiccs is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.6):
2 "Tlosc wlo woislip ilc dcmigods icccivc iccipiocaiion liom ilc dcmigods
in a way jusi coiicsponding io ilc ollciing. Tlc dcmigods aic aiicndanis ol
laima, lilc a pcison's sladow, bui sadlus aic aciually mcicilul io ilc lallcn."¯
3 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siimad
Vasudcva Malaiaja.
Anuccheda 18+
1 Associaiion wiil a gicai dcvoicc is ilc bcsi mcilod ol puiilicaiion. Oilci
mcilods ol puiilicaiion do noi compaic wiil ii. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S+.11):
2 "Mcic bodics ol waici aic noi ical sacicd placcs ol pilgiimagc, noi aic mcic
imagcs ol caiil and sionc ilc iiuc woislipablc Dciiics. Tlcsc puiily onc only
alici a long iimc, bui sainily sagcs puiily onc immcdiaicly upon bcing sccn."¯¯¯
3 Wly aic ilc loly placcs and ilc Dciiics noi lonouicd lcic' lccausc ilcy
aic sccondaiy souiccs ol puiilicaiion. Tlcicloic ilc Loid says, "Tlcy puiily only
alici a long iimc." Tlis vcisc is spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io
ilc asscmblcd sagcs.
Anuccheda 185
1 Associaiion wiil ilc dcvoiccs is ilc causc ol aiiaining dcvoiion loi ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis is dcsciibcd indiiccily (vyaiiicla) in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.12.11-12):
2 "Wlai, ilcn, is ilc uliimaic iiuil' Tlc answci is ilai non dual lnowlcdgc
is ilc uliimaic iiuil. Ii is dcvoid ol ilc coniaminaiion ol maiciial qualiiics. Ii
givcs us libciaiion. Ii is ilc onc wiiloui a sccond, all-pcivading and bcyond
imaginaiion. Tlc liisi icalisaiion ol ilai lnowlcdgc is lialman. Tlcn
Paiamaima, ilc Supcisoul is icaliscd by ilc yogis wlo iiy io scc Him wiiloui
giicvancc. Tlis is ilc sccond siagc ol icalisaiion. Iinally, lull icalisaiion ol ilc
samc supicmc lnowlcdgc in ilc Supicmc Pcison. All lcaincd sclolais dcsciibc
ilc Supicmc Pcison as Vasudcva, ilc causc ol lialman, Paiamaima and oilcis.¯
3 "My dcai King Ralugana, unlcss onc las ilc oppoiiuniiy io smcai lis
cniiic body wiil ilc dusi ol ilc loius lcci ol gicai dcvoiccs, onc cannoi icalisc ilc
Absoluic Tiuil. Onc cannoi icalisc ilc Absoluic Tiuil simply by obsciving
cclibacy (bialmacaiya), siiicily lollowing ilc iulcs and icgulaiions ol louscloldci
lilc, lcaving lomc as a vanapiasila, acccpiing sannyasa, oi undcigoing scvcic
pcnanccs in winici by lccping oncscll submcigcd in waici oi suiiounding oncscll
in summci by liic and ilc scoicling lcai ol ilc sun. Tlcic aic many oilci
pioccsscs io undcisiand ilc Absoluic Tiuil, bui ilc Absoluic Tiuil is only
icvcalcd io onc wlo las aiiaincd ilc mcicy ol a gicai dcvoicc."¯
"Wlai is ilc iiuil' Tlc answci is ilai non dual lnowlcdgc (jnanam) is
ilc uliimaic iiuil (saiyam). Hcic oidinaiy maiciial aciiviiics aic icjccicd and ilc
uliimaic goal ol lilc (paiamaiilam) is dcsciibcd. Hcic six woids aic uscd io
dcsciibc ilc Supicmc Tiuil. Hc is: 1. dcvoid ol ilc coniaminaiion ol maiciial
qualiiics (visuddlam), 2. onc wiiloui a sccond (clam), 3. all-pcivading, oi Hc
wlo las nciilci insidc noi ouisidc (ananiaiam abalil), +. ilc pcilcci and
complcic Supicmc lialman (bialma), 5. wiilin cvciyiling, oi ilc loim ol wlai is
pciccivcd (piaiyal), and 6. pcacclul bccausc Hc is licc liom maiciial
iiansloimaiion (piasaniam). In ilcsc woids ilc uliimaic iiuil (jnanam saiyam) is
dcsciibcd.
"Wlai is ilc naiuic ol ilc uliimaic iiuil' lccausc Hc las six opulcnccs,
bcginning wiil all wcalil, Hc is callcd llagavan (llagavan-clabdal samjna). All
lcaincd sagcs dcsciibc (vadanii) ilc (yac ca) uliimaic iiuil as Vasudcva
(vasudcvam).
"Ii is noi possiblc io aiiain ilis uliimaic iiuil wiiloui liisi sciving ilc gicai
dcvoiccs. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc ncxi vcisc, wlicl bcgins wiil ilc woids, "My
dcai King Ralugana". Onc cannoi aiiain (na yaii) ilis uliimaic iiuil (jnanam) by
ausiciiiics (iapasa), by Vcdic laimas (ijyaya), by bccoming a sannyasi wlo bcgs
loi lood (niivapanai), by siudying ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic (clandasa), by bccoming a
louscloldci wlo lclps oilcis (gilad va), oi by pciloiming ausiciiiics in ilc waici
oi ilc liic (jalagni)."
5 In ilcsc woids ilc idca ilai ilc individual spiiii soul is idcniical wiil ilc
Supicmc is clcaily icluicd. Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by a bialmana io King
Ralugana.
Anuccheda 186
1 ly lonouiing ilc Loid onc is ablc io associaic wiil His dcvoiccs. Tlc
dcvoiccs aic inicicsicd in sciving ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlcy aic noi inicicsicd in
pciloiming Vcdic iiiuals and duiics. Tlai would noi bc appiopiiaic loi ilcm. ly
associaiing wiil dcvoiccs wlo aic lilc ilis onc aiiains dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc
Loid. Tlc iiansccndcnialisis may bc dividcd inio iwo gioups, as dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing onc and a lall vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.2-3):
2 "Onc can aiiain ilc pail ol libciaiion liom maiciial bondagc only by
icndciing scivicc io liglly advanccd spiiiiual pcisonaliiics. Tlcsc pcisonaliiics
aic impcisonalisis and dcvoiccs. Wlcilci onc wanis io mcigc inio ilc Loid's
cxisicncc oi wanis io associaic wiil ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, onc slould icndci
scivicc io ilc malaimas. Ioi ilosc wlo aic noi inicicsicd in sucl aciiviiics, wlo
associaic wiil pcoplc lond ol womcn and scx, ilc pail io lcll is widc opcn. Tlc
malaimas aic cquipoiscd. Tlcy do noi scc any dillcicncc bciwccn onc living
cniiiy and anoilci. Tlcy aic vciy pcacclul and aic lully cngagcd in dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlcy aic dcvoid ol angci, and ilcy woil loi ilc bcnclii ol cvciyonc. Tlcy
do noi bclavc in any abominablc way. Sucl pcoplc aic lnown as malaimas."¯
3 "Tlosc wlo aic inicicsicd in icviving Kisna consciousncss and incicasing
ilcii lovc ol Godlcad do noi lilc io do anyiling ilai is noi iclaicd io Kisna. Tlcy
aic noi inicicsicd in mingling wiil pcoplc wlo aic busy mainiaining ilcii bodics,
caiing, slccping, maiing and dclcnding. Tlcy aic noi aiiaclcd io ilcii lomcs,
alilougl ilcy may bc louscloldcis. Noi aic ilcy aiiaclcd io wivcs, clildicn,
liicnds oi wcalil. Ai ilc samc iimc, ilcy aic noi indillcicni io ilc cxccuiion ol
ilcii duiics. Sucl pcoplc aic inicicsicd in collcciing only cnougl moncy io lccp
ilc body and soul iogcilci."¯
+ Hcic ilc pliasc "malanias ic sama-ciiial" iclcis io ilc impcisonalisis, wlo
lavc laiil in ilc qualiiylcss lialman. Tlcii vaiious qualiiics aic dcsciibcd in ilc
passagc bcginning wiil ilc woid "piasania". A dillcicni gioup ol
iiansccndcnialisis is dcsciibcd in ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woids "yc va".
Tlc woid "va" (oi) iniioduccs ilc sccond gioup. Tlis sccond gioup io ilc liisi
gioup, ilc Loid says ilc iiansccndcnialisis in ilis sccond gioup, "lavc lovc
(liiam saulidam) loi Mc (mayi). Tlai lovc is ilc gicai goal (aiila) ol ilcii livcs.
Tlcicloic ilcy aic gicai souls (malanial). lccausc ilcy lavc madc lovc loi Mc
ilc gicai goal ol ilcii livcs (mayi saulidaiilal) ilcy aic noi (na) inicicsicd (piiii-
yulial) in mingling wiil pcoplc (jancsu) wlo aic busy mainiaining ilcii bodics
(dcla-blaia-vaiiilcsu). Tlcy aic noi aiiaclcd (na piiii-yulial) io ilcii lomcs
(gclcsu), alilougl ilcy may bc louscloldcis. Noi aic ilcy aiiaclcd io wivcs and
clildicn, (jayaimaja). Tlcy aic inicicsicd in ilcsc only so lai (yavad-aiilal) and
ilcy aic ncccssaiy oi lavouiablc loi dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid. In
ilc samc way ilcy collcci moncy only as mucl as is usclul loi ilc Loid's scivicc.
In ilis way ilcic aic iwo linds ol iiansccndcnialisis: ilc impcisonalisis and ilc
dcvoiccs. Tlcy aic noi ai all ilc samc. Tlc dcvoiccs aic dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (6.1+.5):
"O gicai sagc, among many millions wlo aic libciaicd and pcilcci in
lnowlcdgc ol libciaiion, onc may bc a dcvoicc ol Loid Naiayana, oi Kisna. Sucl
dcvoiccs, wlo aic lully pcacclul aic cxiicmcly iaic."¯
ly lollowing ilc pail ol impcisonalism onc icaliscs ilc impcisonal
lialman, and by lollowing ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc onc aiiains lovc loi ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Howcvci, bccausc ilc impcisonalisis and
dcvoiccs do slaic somc qualiiics, ilcy aic boil iclciicd io by ilc woid
"malaima" in ilis vcisc. Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by Sii Rsabladcva io His sons.
Anuccheda 187
1 Now wc will considci ilc naiuics ol ilc iwo classcs ol iiansccndcnialisis
dcsciibcd bcloic. Tlc impcisonalisis aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"Jusi as a diunlcn man docs noi noiicc il lc is wcaiing lis coai oi sliii,
similaily, onc wlo is pcilcci in scll-icalisaiion and wlo las ilus aclicvcd lis
cicinal idcniiiy docs noi noiicc wlcilci ilc icmpoiaiy body is siiiing oi sianding.
Indccd, il by God's will ilc body is linislcd oi il by God's will lc obiains a ncw
body, ilc scll-icaliscd souls docs noi ialc noiicc, jusi as a diunlcn man docs noi
noiicc ilc siiuaiion ol lis ouiwaid dicss."¯¯¯
2 Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic ol ilicc linds: 1. Tlcy wlo lavc aiiaincd ilc
loims ol cicinal associaics ol ilc Loid, 2. ilcy wlo lavc slalcn away all maiciial
aiiaclmcnis, and 3. ilcy wlo aic siill bcwildcicd by maiciial aiiaclmcnis. Sii
Naiada and oilcis aic cxamplcs ol ilc liisi lind ol dcvoicc, Sii Suladcva and
oilcis aic cxamplcs ol ilc sccond lind ol dcvoiccs, and Sii Naiada in lis picvious
biiil, as wcll as oilci dcvoiccs aic cxamplcs ol iliid lind ol dcvoicc.
3 Tlc liisi lind ol dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (1.6.2S) wlcic
Sii Naiada cxplains:
"Having bccn awaidcd a iiansccndcnial body bcliiiing an associaic ol ilc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, I quii ilc body madc ol livc maiciial clcmcnis, and ilus
all acquiicd liuiiivc icsulis ol woil (laima) sioppcd."¯
+ Tlc sccond lind ol dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 12.12.6S):
"I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio Siila Suladcva Gosvami, ilc son ol
Vyasadcva. Hc is ilc dcsiioyci ol all sinlul icaciions and is lull in scll icalisaiion
and bliss. lccausc ol ilis, lc las no oilci dcsiic. Siill, lc was aiiiacicd by ilc
iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and oui ol
compassion loi ilc pcoplc lc dcsciibcd ilc iiansccndcnial lisioiical liiciaiuic
callcd Siimad llagavaiam. Tlis is compaicd io ilc ligli ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil."¯
5 Tlc iliid lind ol dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad-
llagavaiam (1.6.21), wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad iclls Sii Naiada
in lis picvious biiil:
"O Naiada, I icgici ilai duiing ilis lilciimc you will noi bc ablc io scc Mc
anymoic. Tlosc wlo aic incomplcic in scivicc and wlo aic noi complcicly licc
liom all maiciial iainis can laidly scc Mc."¯
6 Lvcn in lis picvious biiil wlcn lc was siill bcwildcicd by maiciial
aiiaclmcnis, Sii Naiada siill lcli lovc loi ilc Loid. Naiada pcisonally dcsciibcd
ilis in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.6.17):
7 "O Vyasadcva, ai ilai iimc bcing cxcccdingly ovcipowcicd by lcclings ol
lappincss, cvciy paii ol my body bccamc scpaiaicly cnlivcncd. lcing absoibcd in
an occan ol ccsiasy, I could noi scc boil myscll and ilc Loid."¯
S King llaiaia may also bc mcniioncd as an cxamplc lcic. Alilougl lc
wislcd io icnouncc ilc woild, bccausc ol lis pasi laimic icaciions maiciial
dcsiics icmaincd conccalcd in lis lcaii.
Now lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad will bc dcsciibcd. Lovc
loi ilc Loid is dividcd inio ilicc linds, accoiding io ilc ilicc linds ol dcvoiccs
alicady dcsciibcd, cacl lind ol lovc moic inicnsc ilan ilc picvious lind. Tlc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc objcci ol woislip and ilc masici ol
His paiis and paiccls, is dillcicni liom ilc individual spiiii soul, wlo is ilc
woislippci and wlo is paii and paiccl ol ilc Loid. Tlc budding spioui ol lovc
ilc individual souls lccl loi ilc Supicmc Loid may also bc considcicd accoiding io
ilc dillcicni iasa, bcginning wiil sciviioislip and liicndslip. Wc will dcsciibc
ilis in ilc Piiii-sandaibla.
To diiccily scc ilc Loid is ilc gicai goal ol lilc. Howcvci, il ii is noi
possiblc io scc ilc Loid unlcss onc aiiains lovc loi Him. Tlc moic onc lovcs ilc
Loid ilc moic onc bccamc advanccd in spiiiiual lilc. Wiiloui puic lovc loi ilc
Loid, onc will noi diiccily scc Him. Wiiloui lovc loi ilc Loid, onc bccomcs lilc a
pcison siiiclcn wiil jaundicc, a pcison wlosc ionguc cannoi iasic ilc swccincss
ol sugai-candy.
9 Tlis is dcsciibcd by Sii Rsabladcva in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 5.5.6):
"Wlcn ilc living cniiiy is covcicd by ilc modc ol ignoiancc, lc docs noi
undcisiand ilc individual living bcing and ilc supicmc living bcing, and lis mind
is subjugaicd io liuiiivc aciiviiy. Tlcicloic, uniil onc las lovc loi Loid Vasudcva,
wlo is nonc oilci ilan Myscll, lc is cciiainly noi dclivcicd liom laving io acccpi
a maiciial body again and again."¯
10 Iiom ilis ii is sccn ilai ilc dillcicni giadcs ol dcvoiccs aic dcicimincd by
ilc dillcicni lcvcls ol lovc ilcy lccl loi ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in
Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.3.. Wlcn onc las gicai lovc loi ilc Loid, onc bccomcs
licc liom maiciial dcsiics and ilc Loid diiccily appcais bcloic lim. Wlcn onc las
only a small amouni ol lovc loi ilc Loid, ilcsc bcncliis aic obiaincd in a lcssci
dcgicc. Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.3. In ilc condiiion ol
lcssci lovc onc docs noi aiiain ilc body ol a pcisonal associaic ol ilc Loid. In ilc
samc way also onc docs noi aiiain icnunciaiion oi bccomc puic ai lcaii. Tlis will
bc luiilci discusscd in anoilci passagc.
11 King Nimi aslcd ilc lollowing qucsiion (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.++):
"Now plcasc icll mc in gicaici dciail aboui ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Supicmc
Loid. Wlai aic ilc naiuial sympioms by wlicl I can disiinguisl bciwccn ilc
mosi advanccd dcvoiccs, ilosc on ilc middlc lcvcl and ilosc wlo aic ncoplyics'
Wlai aic ilc iypical icligious aciiviiics ol a Vaisnava, and low docs lc spcal'
Spccilically, plcasc dcsciibc ilosc sympioms and claiaciciisiics by wlicl
Vaisnavas bccomc dcai io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
12 Tlis vcisc bcgins, "Now (aila) plcasc icll (biuia) aboui ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc
Loid (blagavaiam)." Tlis qucsiion is aslcd in oidci io aiiain lnowlcdgc ol ilc
dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Hc says, "Plcasc icll aboui ilc naiuic (yad-dlaimal) ol ilc
dcvoiccs among luman bcings (ninam). Plcasc icll (biuia) low (yaila) a dcvoicc
bclavcs (acaiaii). Plcasc icll (biuia) low a dcvoicc spcals (yad biuic). In ilis
way lc asls qucsiions aboui ilc signs manilcsicd liom a dcvoicc's body, mind and
woids.
Hcic somconc may asl: Wcic noi ilcsc sympioms alicady dcsciibcd by Sii
Kavi in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.39)':
"An iniclligcni pcison wlo las coniiollcd lis mind and conqucicd lcai
namcs ol ilc Loid, ilc bcaici ol ilc claiioi wlccl. Tlc loly namcs ol Kisna aic
To ilis qucsiion ilc lollowing icply is givcn: Tlai is iiuc. Siill, ilosc
sympioms ol ilc dcvoiccs wlo aic dcai io ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd again in ilis
vcisc also (yaii lingaii blagavai-piiyal). In ilis vcisc ilc aciual qucsiion aslcd is:
"Plcasc icll (biuia) ilc sympioms ol ilc dcvoiccs accoiding io ilcii lcvcls ol
advanccmcni, ilai is accoiding io ilc dcvoiccs' siaius as uiiama (advanccd),
madlyama (inicimcdiaic) oi lanisila (ncoplyic) dcvoiccs." Tlai is ilc mcaning
lcic.
Anuccheda 188
1 Sii Havi gavc ilc lollowing icply io ilai qucsiion (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.+5):
"A pcison advanccd in dcvoiional scivicc sccs wiilin cvciyiling ilc soul ol
all souls, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii Kisna. Conscqucnily lc always
sccs ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as ilc causcs ol all causcs
and undcisiands ilai all ilings aic siiuaicd in Him."¯
2 ly dcsciibing ilc sympioms ol ilc dcvoiccs' lcaii and mind, low ilc
dcvoiccs sccs oilcis, ilis vcisc dcsciibcs ilc naiuic ol a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid.
3 Tlc sympioms ol a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid aic also dcsciibcd in ilc
"Wlcn a pcison is aciually advanccd and ialcs plcasuic in claniing ilc
loly namc ol ilc Loid, wlo is vciy dcai io lim, lc is agiiaicd and loudly clanis
ilc loly namc. Hc also laugls, ciics, bccomcs agiiaicd, and clanis jusi lilc a
madman, noi caiing loi ouisidcis."¯
In ilcsc woids ol Sii Kavi Muni cxplains ilai an advanccd dcvoicc bccomcs
ovciwlclmcd wiil lovc loi ilc Loid. In ilai condiiion ilc dcvoicc's lcaii mclis
wiil lovc and lc manilcsis vaiious ccsiaiic sympioms sucl as laugling and ciying.
+ Tlc naiuic ol an advanccd dcvoicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
"A dcvoicc slould noi scc anyiling as bcing scpaiaic liom ilc Supicmc
Loid, Kisna. Lilci, liic, aii, waici, caiil, ilc sun and oilci luminaiics, all living
bcings, ilc diicciions, iiccs and oilci planis, ilc iivcis and occans, wlaicvci a
dcvoicc cxpciicnccs lc slould considci io bc an cxpansion ol Kisna. Tlus sccing
cvciyiling ilai cxisis wiilin cicaiion as ilc body ol ilc Supicmc Loid, Haii, ilc
dcvoicc slould ollci lis sinccic icspccis io ilc cniiic cxpansion ol ilc Loid's
body."¯
5 Tlis lind ol dcvoicc sccs ilai all conscious and unconscious living cniiiics
(saiva-bluicsu) aic cxpansions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (aimano
blagavad-blavam). Tlis dcvoicc sccs (pasyaii) all living cniiiics (bluiani) as
picscni in ilc Supicmc Loid's lcaii (aimani). In ilc samcway ilc Loid is also
picscni in ilc living cniiiics. A pcison wlo sccs in ilis way is ilc bcsi ol dcvoiccs
(blagavaioiiamal).
6 Tlc naiuic ol ilc advanccd dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid is also dcsciibcd by ilc
goddcss ol Viaja in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.35.9):
"Kisna movcs aboui ilc loicsi in ilc company ol His liicnds, wlo vividly
clani ilc gloiics ol His magniliccni dccds. Hc ilus appcais jusi lilc ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxlibiiing His incxlausiiblc opulcnccs. Wlcn ilc cows
wandci onio ilc mouniains sidcs and Kisna calls oui io ilcm wiil ilc sound ol
His lluic, ilc iiccs and ciccpcis in ilc loicsi icspond by bccoming so luxuiiani
wiil liuiis and llowcis ilai ilcy sccm io bc manilcsiing Loid Visnu wiilin ilcii
lcaiis. As ilcii bianclcs bcnd low wiil ilc wcigli, ilc lilamcnis on ilcii iiunls
and vincs siand cicci oui ol ilc ccsiasy ol lovc ol God, and boil ilc iiccs and ilc
ciccpcis poui down a iain ol swcci sap. Maddcncd by ilc divinc, loncylilc aioma
ol ilc iulasi llowcis on ilc gailand Kisna wcais, swaims ol bccs sin loudly loi Him
and ilc mosi bcauiilul ol all pcisons ilanllully aclnowlcdgcs and acclaims ilcii
song by ialing His lluic io His lips and playing ii. Tlc claiming lluic son ilcn
sicals away ilc minds ol ilc ciancs, swans and oilci lalc-dwclling biids. Indccd,
ilcy appioacl Kisna, closc ilcii cycs and, mainiaining siiici silcncc, woislip Him
by lixing ilcii consciousncss upon Him in dccp mcdiiaiion."¯¯¯
7 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai ilis lind ol dcvoiccs sccs lovc loi ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (blagavaii) as bcing picscni in ilc lcaiis ol all conscious
and unconscious living cniiiics. Tlc icmaindci ol ilis vcisc is lilc ilc picvious
quoic. Tlus awaic ilai all living cniiiics aic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid, sucl an
advanccd dcvoicc bows down io ollci icspcci io ilcm all. Tlis was also dcsciibcd
Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+1. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
S Tlc goddcss ol Viaja also say (Siimad llagavaiam 10.21.15):
"Wlcn ilc iivcis lcai ilc lluic-song ol Kisna, ilcii minds bcgin io dcsiic
Him and ilus ilc llow ol ilcii cuiicnis is biolcn and ilcii waicis aic agiiaicd,
moving aiound in wliilpools. Tlcn wiil ilc aims ol ilcii wavcs ilc iivcis
cmbiacc Muiaii's loius lcci and, lolding on io ilcm, picscni ollciings ol loius
llowcis."¯¯¯
9 Tlc Loid's quccns spcal ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
10.90.15):
"Kuiaii, you aic lamcniing. Tlc insciuiablc Supicmc Loid is now aslccp in
ilc woild's nigli bui you aic widc awalc, linding ii impossiblc io lall aslccp. Is ii
ilai, lilc us, you lavc lad youi lcaii piciccd io ilc coic by ilc loius cyc loid's
muniliccni, smiling pasiimc glanccs'"¯¯¯
10 Wlai is dcsciibcd lcic is noi ilc woild-vicw ol ilc impcisonalisi. lccausc
ii uliimaicly dcnics ilc cxisicncc ol boil ilc Loid and ilc dcvoiccs, ilc dcvoiccs
ol ilc Loid considci ilc impcisonalisis; idca ilai ilc individual spiiii souls aic
idcniical wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad a giavc ciioi and a gicai
ollcnsc.
"Tlc manilcsiaiion ol unaduliciaicd dcvoiional scivicc is cxlibiicd wlcn
onc's mind is ai oncc aiiiacicd io lcaiing ilc iiansccndcnial namc and qualiiics ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is icsiding in cvciyonc's lcaii. Jusi as
ilc waici ol ilc Gangcs llows naiuially down iowaids ilc occan, sucl dcvoiional
ccsiasy, uniniciiupicd by any maiciial condiiion, llows iowaid ilc Supicmc
Loid."¯
Tlcsc woids dcsciibc ilc advanccd dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Tlcy do noi
dcsciibc ilc impcisonalisis, wlo ilinl ilc Supicmc las no loim.
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is so lind io ilc condiiioncd souls
ilai il ilcy call upon Him by spcaling His loly namc, cvcn uninicniionally oi
unwillingly, ilc Loid is inclincd io dcsiioy innumciablc sinlul icaciions in ilcii
lcaiis. Tlcicloic, wlcn a dcvoicc wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc Loid's loius lcci
clanis ilc loly namc ol Kisna wiil gcnuinc lovc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad can ncvci givc up ilc lcaii ol sucl a dcvoicc. Onc wlo las ilus
capiuicd ilc Supicmc Loid wiilin lis lcaii is io bc lnown as blagavaia-
piadlana, ilc mosi cxalicd dcvoicc ol ilc Loid."¯¯¯
Tlis vcisc musi dcsciibc ilc advanccd dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid loi any oilci
inicipiciaiion would coniiadici ilc dcsciipiion lcic ol ilcii mosi cxalicd
qualiiics.
Anuccheda 189
1 Tlc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc is dcsciibcd by ilc sympioms ol lis mind and
lcaii. Hc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+6):
"An inicimcdiaic, sccond class dcvoicc slows lovc loi ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is liicndly io all dcvoiccs, and is vciy mcicilul io
ncoplyics and ignoiani pcoplc. Tlc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc ncglccis ilosc wlo aic
cnvious ol dcvoiional scivicc."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai ilc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc givcs lis lovc (picma) io
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, malcs liicndslip (maiiiim) wiil ilc oilci
dcvoiccs (iad-adlincsu), and slows mcicy (lipam) io ilc pcoplc wlo aic
innoccni and ignoiani (baliscsu) ol dcvoiional scivicc.
3 Tlc inicimcdiaic siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc is slown in ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol Sii Piallada (Siimad llagavaiam 7.9.+3):
"O bcsi ol ilc gicai pcisonaliiics, I am noi ai all aliaid ol maiciial
cxisicncc, loi wlcicvci I siay I am lully absoibcd in ilouglis ol Youi gloiics and
aciiviiics. My conccin is only loi ilc lools and iascals wlo aic maling claboiaic
plans loi maiciial lappincss and mainiaining ilcii lamilics, sociciics and
couniiics. I am simply conccincd wiil lovc loi ilcm."¯
+ Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai ilc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc is noi agiiaicd ai lcaii
loi ilc condiiion ol ilcy wlo laic ilc Loid and His dcvoiccs. Tlis mcans ilai ilc
dcvoicc is ncuiial and alool liom sucl pcisons. Howcvci, ilc dcvoicc docs lccl
compassion loi ilc pcoplc in gcncial, wlo aic clildlilc and loolisl.
Howcvci, Piallada did lccl compassion loi Hiianyalasipu. Tlis mcans ilai
ilc dcvoicc may lccl compassion in lis lcaii cvcn loi ilcy wlo laic ilc Loid and
His dcvoiccs. Tlcicloic ol couisc lc also lccls compassion loi ilc innoccni and
clildisl pcoplc in gcncial. lccausc lc lccls puic lovc loi ilc Loid, ilc dcvoicc
also lovcs cvciy oilci bcing. Tlis is noi lilc ilc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc dcsciibcd in
ilc picvious quoic (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+6):
5 ly sccing a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid onc aiiains ilc samc bliss as il lc lad
sccn ilc Loid Himscll. Tlcicloic, maling liicndslip wiil ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is
vciy impoiiani. Ii is noi io bc abandoncd, cvcn loi ilc mosi advanccd dcvoicc.
Howcvci, ii is incviiablc ilai ilc mosi advanccd dcvoicc docs lccl lovc loi cvciy
living bcing.
6 Tlc mosi advanccd dcvoiccs aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam +.2+.57):
"Il onc by clancc associaics wiil a dcvoicc, cvcn loi a liaciion ol a
momcni, lc no longci is subjcci io aiiiaciion by ilc icsulis ol laima oi jnana.
Wlai inicicsi ilcn can lc lavc in ilc bcncdiciions ol ilc dcmigods, wlo aic
subjcci io ilc laws ol biiil and dcail'"¯
7 Tlc mosi advanccd dcvoiccs aic also dcsciibcd in ilc song sung by Loid
Siva (Siimad llagavaiam +.2+.30) wlcic Loid Siva iclls ilc Piaccias:
"You aic all dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid, and as sucl I appicciaic ilai you aic as
icspcciablc as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll. I lnow in ilis way
ilai ilc dcvoiccs also icspcci mc and ilai I am dcai io ilcm. Tlus no onc can bc
as dcai io ilc dcvoiccs as I am."¯
S Siila Suia Gosvami also dcsciibcs ilc mosi advanccd dcvoiccs in ilcsc
"Siila Suladcva Gosvami, son ol Siila Vyasadcva, was noi only
iiansccndcnially powcilul. Hc was also vciy dcai io ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid.
Tlus lc undciwcni ilc siudy ol ilis gicai naiiaiion (Siimad llagavaiam)."¯
9 An cxamplc ol ilc dcmons, wlo laic Vyasadcva and ilc oilci dcvoiccs is
sccn in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1.35):
"Kamsa was a condcmncd pcisonaliiy in ilc lloja dynasiy bccausc lc is
cnvious and sinlul. Tlcicloic, upon lcaiing ilis omcn liom ilc sly, lc caugli
lold ol lis sisici's laii wiil lis lcli land and iool up lis swoid wiil lis iigli
land io scvci lci lcad liom lci body."¯
10 Lvcn ilc inicimcdiaic dcvoiccs lovc ilc dcmons. Howcvci ilc advanccd
dcvoiccs do noi dcclinc io picacl io ilc dcmons ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid.
Tlai is ilc spccilic qualiiy ol ilc advanccd dcvoiccs. Ii is wiil ilis aim in vicw
ilai Uddlava and oilci dcvoiccs ollcicd obcisanccs io Duiyodlana and oilci
dcmons.
11 Loid Siva luiilci dcsciibcs ilc advanccd dcvoiccs in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam +.3.23):
"I am always cngagcd in ollciing obcisanccs io Loid Vasudcva in puic
Kisna consciousncss. Kisna consciousncss is always puic consciousncss, in wlicl
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, lnown as Vasudcva is icvcalcd wiiloui any
covciing."¯
12 Anoilci cxamplc ol ilis is lound in ilc dcsciipiion ol Lalsmana's
lidnapping (Siimad llagavaiam 10.6S.17) wlcic Uddlava's slowing icspcci io
Duiyodlana is mcniioncd in ilcsc woids:
"Alici lc lad ollcicd piopci icspccis io ilc son ol Ambila (Dliiaiasiia)
and io llisma, Diona, lallila, and Duiyodlana, Uddlava inloimcd ilcm ilai
Loid lalaiama lad aiiivcd."
13 Tlis may bc also considcicd in a dillcicni way. An advanccd dcvoicc
considcis all living cniiiics io bc puic dcvoiccs. Hc cvcn considcis puic dcvoiccs
ilc dcmons wlo laic ilc Loid and His dcvoiccs. Tlcic is noiling impiopci in
ilis. Tlc gicai dcvoiccs wlo wiil millions ol ilcii lilc-bicails woislip cvcn a
singlc paiiiclc ol dusi liom ilc Loid's loius lcci bccomc vciy unlappy wiil ilc
idca ilai anyonc could aci badly. Tlc considci ilai ilc dcmons aic dcvoiccs, jusi
as ilcy aic dcvoiccs. Tlc ilinl: "Al! How is ii possiblc io lavc a lcaii ilai docs
noi lovc ilc Loid and His dcvoiccs' How ii is possiblc ilai somconc could noi
lovc ilc Supicmc Loid and His dcvoiccs, wlo aic ilc causcs ol all bliss, ilc abodcs
ol limiilcss lovc, ilc puiilicis ol all ilc woilds, dccoiaicd wiil ilc jcwcls ol ilc six
gicai viiiucs, and always woiling loi ilc wcllaic ol all living bcings'" How onc
could laic ilc Loid and His dcvoiccs is bcyond ilc powci ol ilcii iniclligcncc io
undcisiand. Tlcicloic ilcy scc all living bcings liom lialma down io ilc
unmoving planis, as puic dcvoiccs, lillcd wiil lovc loi ilc Loid.
1+ Tlai ilc advanccd dcvoiccs cannoi imaginc any living bcings noi bcing a
puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is sccn in ilc lollowing woids ol Siila Suladcva Gosvami
"Lagci io cngagc in ilc woislip ol Loid Kisna, O bcsi ol ilc Kuius, Naiada
Muni siaycd loi somc iimc in Dvaiala, wlicl was always pioiccicd by ilc aims ol
Govinda.¯¯¯
15 "My dcai King, in ilc maiciial woild ilc condiiioncd souls aic conlionicd
by dcail ai cvciy sicp ol lilc. Tlcicloic, wlo among ilc condiiioncd souls would
noi icndci scivicc io ilc loius lcci ol Loid Mulunda, wlo is woislipablc cvcn loi
ilc gicaicsi ol libciaicd souls'"¯¯¯
Anuccheda 190
1 Tlc plysical and mcnial sympioms ol ilc ncoplyic dcvoicc aic dcsciibcd
in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+1):
2 "A pialiia, oi maiciialisiic dcvoicc docs noi puiposclully siudy ilc sasiia
and iiy io undcisiand ilc aciual siandaid ol puic dcvoiional scivicc.
Conscqucnily lc docs noi slow piopci icspcci io advanccd dcvoiccs. Hc may,
lowcvci, lollow ilc icgulaiivc piinciplcs lcaincd liom lis spiiiiual masici oi liom
lis lamily wlo woislips ilc Dciiy. Hc is io bc considcicd on ilc maiciial
plailoim, alilougl lc is iiying io advancc in dcvoiional scivicc. Sucl a pcison is a
blalia-piaya (ncoplyic dcvoicc), oi blaliablasa, loi lc is a liiilc cnliglicncd by
Vaisnava plilosoply."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "aicayam" mcans :in iclaiion io ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid." Hcic
ii is noi in iclaiion io ilc oilci dcvoiccs (na blalicsu anycsu). Tlis is so bccausc
ol ilc abscncc ol puic lovc loi ilc Loid, ignoiancc ol ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid's
dcvoiccs, and ignoiancc ol ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, and a lacl ol icspcci
loi ilc viiiucs ol ilc sinccic dcvoiccs. Sucl a dcvoicc is callcd maiciialisiic
(pialiia). Hc is in ilc bcginning siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Sucl a dcvoicc las nciilci siiong laiil noi gicai lcaining in ilc icaclings ol ilc
sciipiuics.
+ Tlai ilc ncoplyic dcvoicc is noi lcaincd in ilc icaclings ol ilc sciipiuics
is sccn in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S+.13):
"A luman bcing wlo idcniilics ilis body madc ol ilicc clcmcnis wiil lis
scll, wlo considcis ilc by-pioducis ol ilc body lis linsmcn, wlo considcis ilc
land ol biiil as woislipablc, and wlo gocs io ilc placc ol pilgiimagc simply io
ialc a bail iailci ilan mcci mcn ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc ilcic, is io bc
considcicd as an ass oi a cow."¯
5 Tlis is ilc way ol oidinaiy pcoplc ilinl. Tlus a dcvoicc wlo las noi yci
aiiaincd siiong laiil, lnowlcdgc ol sciipiuic, oi lovc loi ilc Loid, is lnown as a
ncoplyic (lanisila) dcvoicc.
Anuccheda 191
"Tlc mosi cxalicd dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing cigli vciscs
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+S-55):
2 Tlc liisi ol ilcsc vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+S) siaics:
"Lvcn wlilc cngaging lis scnscs in coniaci wiil ilcii objccis, onc wlo sccs
ilis wlolc woild as ilc cncigy ol Loid Visnu is nciilci icpcllcd noi claicd. Hc is
indccd ilc gicaicsi among dcvoiccs."¯¯¯
3 Tlc woid "api" (cvcn ilougl) lcic mcans "cvcn ilougl lis scnscs aic
cngagcd wiil ilc scnsc objccis, lis ilouglis aic lixcd on ilc Supicmc Loid."
Sucl a dcvoicc sccs ilc maiciial woild as ilc cxicinal poicncy (maya) ol ilc
Supicmc Loid. In ilis vcisc ilc body and mind aic dcsciibcd iogcilci.
Anuccheda 192
1 In ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+9) ii is said:
"Wiilin ilc maiciial woild, onc's maiciial body is always subjcci io biiil
and dccay. Similaily ilc lilc aii (piana) is laiasscd by lungci and iliisi, ilc mind
is always anxious, ilc iniclligcncc lanlcis loi ilai wlicl cannoi bc obiaincd, and
all ol ilc scnscs aic uliimaicly cxlausicd by consiani siiugglc in ilc maiciial
naiuic. A pcison wlo is noi bcwildcicd by ilc incviiablc misciics ol maiciial
cxisicncc and wlo icmains alool liom ilcm simply by icmcmbciing ilc loius lcci
ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is io bc considcicd blagavaia-piadlana,
ilc loicmosi dcvoicc ol ilc Loid."¯¯¯
2 Tlis vcisc siaics ilai a pcison wlo is noi bcwildcicd by ilc misciics ol ilc
maiciial body and oilci maiciial ilings, misciics ilai bcgin wiil biiil and dcail,
and wlo always icmcmbcis Loid Haii, is ilc bcsi ol dcvoiccs (sa blagavaia-
piadlanal).
3 Loid Kisna Himscll dcsciibcs ilc gicai dcvoiccs in ilcsc woids ol Sii
llagavad-giia (7.2S):
"Pcisons wlo lavc acicd piously in picvious livcs and in ilis lilc and
wlosc sinlul aciions aic complcicly ciadicaicd aic liccd liom ilc dualiiics ol
dclusion, and ilcy cngagc ilcmsclvcs in My scivicc wiil dciciminaiion."¯
Anuccheda 193
1 In ilc ncxi vcisc ol ilis scqucncc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.50) ii is said:
"Onc wlo las ialcn cxclusivc slclici ol ilc Supicmc Loid, Vasudcva,
bccomcs licc liom liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlicl aic bascd on maiciial lusi. In laci, onc
wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid is liccd liom cvcn ilc dcsiic io
cnjoy maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion. Plans loi cnjoying scx lilc, social picsiigc, and
moncy cannoi dcvclop wiilin lis mind. Tlus lc is considcicd blagavaioiiama, a
puic dcvoicc ol ilc Loid on ilc liglcsi plailoim."¯¯¯
2 Hcic "bija" mcans "maiciial dcsiics", and "vasudcvaila-nilayal" mcans
"ialing slclici ol Loid Vasudcva alonc".
Anuccheda 19+
1 In ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.51) ii is said:
"liiil in an aiisiociaiic lamily and ilc cxccuiion ol ausicic and pious
aciiviiics cciiainly causc onc io ialc piidc in limscll. Similaily, il onc cnjoys a
picsiigious posiiion wiilin sociciy bccausc lis paicnis aic liglly icspccicd
mcmbci ol ilc vainasiama social sysicm, onc bccomcs cvcn moic inlaiuaicd wiil
limscll. lui il dcspiic ilcsc cxccllcni maiciial qualilicaiions onc docs noi lccl
cvcn a iingc ol piidc wiilin limscll, lc is io bc considcicd ilc dcaimosi sciviioi ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
2 Hcic "janma" mcans "lis lamily", "laima" mcans "ausiciiiics and oilci
auspicious dccds", and "jaiayal" mcans "noblc biiil wlcic onc is a lcadci ol
sociciy". Lvcn wlcn ilcsc aic picscni, piidc (alam-blaval) is noi manilcsicd (na
sajjaic) in lis body (asmin dclc). Insicad ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Loid aic manilcsicd. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Sucl a pcison is vciy dcai io Loid Haii
(sa laicl piiyal). Tlis mcans ilai lc is a gicai dcvoicc ol ilc Loid.
Anuccheda 195
1 Tlc ncxi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.52) cxplains:
"Wlcn a dcvoicc givcs up ilc scllisl conccpiion by wlicl onc ilinls 'Tlis
is my piopciiy and ilai is lis', and wlcn lc is no longci conccincd wiil ilc
plcasuics ol lis own maiciial body oi indillcicni io ilc discomloiis ol oilcis, lc
bccomcs lully pcacclul and saiislicd. Hc considcis limscll simply onc among all
ilc living bcings wlo aic cqually paii and paiccl ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Sucl a saiislicd Vaisnava is considcicd io bc ai ilc liglcsi siandaid ol
dcvoiional scivicc."¯¯¯
2 In ilis vcisc is discusscd wlcilci maiciial wcalil (viiicsu) is owncd by
oncscll (aimani sval) oi by oilcis (paial). Hcic ii is icluicd ilc idca ilai onc
pcisonally owns maiciial wcalil. Onc slould noi ilinl oncscll dillcicni liom
oilcis.
Anuccheda 196
1 "Tlc loius lcci ol ilc Loid aic sougli by ilc dcmigods and oilci gicai
souls wlo lavc givcn ilcii lcaiis io ilc invinciblc Loid. A pcison wlo docs noi
movc liom ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, cvcn io aiiain ilc opulcnccs ol ilc ilicc
woilds, cvcn loi a momcni oi a sccond, is io bc considcicd ilc gicaicsi ol all
Vaisnavas."
2 Tlc icason sucl a dcvoicc docs noi movc liom ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid is
givcn in ilis vcisc. Tlc icason is ilai sucl a dcvoicc las givcn lis lcaii (aima) io
Loid Haii (ajiia). Anoilci icason is ilai cvcn ilc dcmigods lcadcd by lialma
(suiadiblil) lind ii dilliculi io aiiain ilc Loid's lcci.
Anuccheda 197
1 In maiciial scnsc-giaiilicaiion onc linds only sullciing, and in ilc scivicc ol
ilc Loid onc linds gicai lappincss. Tlis is anoilci icason ilc dcvoicc ncvci
abandons ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.2.5+):
2 "How can ilc liic ol maiciial sullciing coniinuc io buin ilc lcaiis ol ilosc
wlo woislip ilc Supicmc Loid' Tlc Loid's loius lcci lavc pciloimcd
innumciablc lcioic dccds, and ilc bcauiilul nails on His iocs icscmblc valuablc
jcwcls. Tlc cllulgcncc cmanaiing liom ilosc nails icscmblcs cooling moonslinc,
loi ii insianily iclicvcs ilc sullciing wiilin ilc lcaii ol ilc puic dcvoicc, jusi as
ilc appcaiancc ol ilc moon's cooling ligli iclicvcs ilc buining lcai ol ilc
sun."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ii is said ilc Loid's lcci (anglii) lavc pciloimcd lcioic dccds (uiu-
viliamau). Tlc woid "salla" (bianclcs) lcic iclcis io ilc Loid's iocs. Tlc
Loid's lcci aic lcic compaicd io splcndid moonligli ilai cools ilc buining
sullciings ilai bcgin wlcn onc las maiciial dcsiics.
Anuccheda 198
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is so lind io ilc condiiioncd souls
ilai il ilcy call upon Him by spcaling His loly namc, cvcn uninicniionally oi
unwillingly, ilc Loid is inclincd io dcsiioy innumciablc sinlul icaciion in ilcii
lcaiis. Tlcicloic, wlcn a dcvoicc wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc Loid's loius lcci
clanis ilc loly namc ol Kisna wiil gcnuinc lovc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad can ncvci givc up ilc lcaii ol sucl a dcvoicc. Onc wlo las ilus
capiuicd ilc Supicmc Loid wiilin lis lcaii is io bc lnown as blagavaia-
piadlana, ilc mosi cxalicd dcvoicc ol ilc Loid."¯¯¯
"In ilis vcisc, wlicl bcgins wiil ilc woid 'visijaii', ilc spcalci dcsciibcs
wlai is ilc bcsi ol all ilc dcvoicc's viiiucs. Tlai viiiuc is ilc laci ilai Loid Haii
(laiil) pcisonally (salsai) siays in ilc dcvoicc's (yasya) lcaii (lidayam) and
ncvci (na) lcavcs (visijaii). Siaying ilus in ilc dcvoicc's lcaii, ilc Loid dcsiioys
(nasal) a gicai llood (ogla) ol sins (agla) ilcic. Wly docs ilc Loid noi lcavc'
Hc docs noi lcavc bccausc His loius lcci aic iicd up by ilc iopcs ol lovc (pianaya-
iasanaya). Sucl a dcvoicc is said io bc ilc bcsi ol all dcvoiccs."
3 Loid Haii pcisonally (svayam) siays in ilc dcvoicc's lcaii. Tlai is wly lusi
and oilci viccs cannoi cnici ilcic. Tlis lappcns liom ilc momcni ilc Loid
pcisonally cnicis ilc lcaii. Tlc woids "laiii avasabliliio 'pi" dcsciibc ilc
dcvoicc wlo lovcs ilc Loid in ilis puic way. Wlcn sucl a dcvoicc calls Him,
cvcn accidcnially, ilc Loid ai oncc comcs. Tlus ii is said ilai ilc Loid dcsiioys
(nasal) a llood (ogla) ol sins (agla) loi sucl a dcvoicc.
+ Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.1.11):
lnowlcdgc."¯
5 In ilcsc iwo ways (by saying ilc Loid's loly namc and by ilc cniiancc ol
ilc Loid in ilc dcvoicc's lcaii), ii is noi possiblc loi sins io icmain (in ilc
dcvoicc's lcaii). Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc answci io ilc qucsiion poscd in Siimad
llagavaiam11.2.++. In ilc midsi ol ilis answci, in ilc passagc bcginning wiil
Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+S, many vciscs dcsciibc ilc sympioms, boil in gcncial
and in dciail, ol an advanccd dcvoicc.
6 In ilis way an advanccd dcvoicc conqucis ilc Loid and biings ilc Loid
undci lis coniiol. Somciimcs only iwo oi ilicc ol ilcsc qualiiics ol an advanccd
dcvoicc aic manilcsicd. In duc couisc ol iimc, onc by onc, all ilcsc qualiiics,
wlicl aic dcsciibcd in ilc passagc bcginning wiil Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+5 will
bc manilcsicd in ilc dcvoicc.
7 Tlc bcsi ol all ilc viiiucs ol ilc advanccd dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in Siimad
llagavaiam 11.2.55. Tlc viiiuc ol icmcmbciing ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in Siimad
llagavaiam 11.2.+9. Rcmcmbciing ilc Loid is also dcsciibcd in ilc Lasi vcisc
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.55) ol ilis passagc.
S Oilci passagcs may also bc quoicd io dcsciibc ilc qualiiics ol an advanccd
dcvoicc. Many dillcicni dcsciipiions ol ilc advanccd dcvoicc may bc biougli
iogcilci. In somc dcsciipiions ilc diicci manilcsiaiion ol ilc Loid is noi
mcniioncd. Tlc Loid's lcci may bc mcniioncd oi ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc Loid's
gloiics may also bc mcniioncd.
9 Hcic many vciscs, sucl as Siimad-llagavaiam 11.2.+9 may bc quoicd io
dcsciibc ilc advanccd dcvoicc. Dillcicni siagcs ol advanccmcni in dcvoiional
scivicc, bcginning wiil ilc lowcsi and piocccding liglci and liglci aic dcsciibcd
in Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+7, 51, 52, +S and +9.
10 Wlcn lc aiiains pcilcciion in dcvoiional scivicc, ilc dcvoicc is no longci
bcwildcicd. Wlcn lis dcvoiional scivicc is siill only a ncw spioui, ilc dcvoicc las
noi yci aiiaincd pcilcciion in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad
llagavaiam 11.2.50 and 53.
11 In ilc pcilcci siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc ilc siagc ol mcdiiaiion lnown as
dliuvanusmiii is manilcsicd. In ilai siagc puic lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad bcgins io spioui. In ilai siagc onc icmcmbcis ilc Loid ai cvciy
momcni. Tlcn onc slalcs away all maiciial dcsiics and lis lovc loi ilc Loid
bcgins io spioui. Tlcn ilc spioui ol lovc giows iallci and iallci.
In Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+6 was cxplaincd ilc dcvoicc's ilicc
iclaiionslips wiil oilcis, bcginning wiil lis liicndslip wiil oilci dcvoiccs. Sucl
a dcvoicc bccomcs licc liom maiciial dcsiics. Tlai ilc dcvoicc is licc liom
maiciial dcsiics and lillcd wiil lovc loi ilc Supicmc Loid is dcsciibcd in Siimad
llagavaiam 11.2.+5 and 55.
12 In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda, ilc gicaincss ol a pcison wlo lollows
ilc pail ol woislipping ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
"A bialmana wlo lollows ilc livc samslaias, bcginning wiil pciloiming
ausiciiiics, wlo aciivcly woislips ilc Loid, and wlo is lcaincd in ilc livc
bianclcs ol lnowlcdgc is lnown as a gicai dcvoicc."
13 Tlis dcsciipiion is so bccausc ii dcsciibcs onc wlo las noi yci icaclcd ilc
siagc ol pcilcci lovc loi ilc Loid. Tlc livc samslaias iclciicd io in ilc woid
"iapadi-panca-samslaii" aic lisicd in ilc vcisc bcginning wiil ilc woids "iapal
pundiam iaila nama" (wlicl is quoicd in lull in anucclcda 200, icxi 10).
1+ Tlc woid "navcjyalaima-laialal" is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing passagc:
15-16 "O bcauiilul onc, a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid cngagcs in ninc linds ol dcvoiional
scivicc. 1. woislip ol ilc Loid, 2. claniing maniias gloiilying ilc Loid, 3.
cngaging in yoga io aiiain ilc Loid, +' ollciing yajnas io plcasc ilc Loid, 5.
ollciing obcisanccs io ilc Loid, 6. claniing ilc Loid's loly namcs, 7. sciving ilc
Loid, S. wcaiing ilc signs ol ilc Loid, and 9. woislipping ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc
Loid. A bialmana slould always woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in
ilcsc ninc ways."
17 Tlc livc bianclcs ol lnowlcdgc mcniioncd in icxi 12 iclci io lnowlcdgc
ol: 1. ilc woislipablc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, 2. His supicmc abodc, 3.
His paiaplcinalia, +. His maniias and 5. ilc individual spiiii souls.
1S Tlcsc livc objcci ol lnowlcdgc aic biiclly dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
ol Sii layasiisa-pancaiaiia:
"Loid Kisna is ilc only Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc supicmc
coniiollci. His loim is cicinal and lull ol lnowlcdgc and bliss. His laigc cycs aic
loius llowcis, and ilc giacclul laii on His lcad is blacl.
19 "Hc is ilc monaicl ol ilc spiiiiual woild, wlcic Hc is iiglily cmbiaccd by
ilc playlul goddcss ol loiiunc, Hci loim spiiiiual and splcndid lilc gold, and Hci
laigc cycs vciy bcauiilul.
20 "Hc is cicinal, picscni cvciywlcic, pcilcci, complcic, all-pcivading, ilc
causc ol all, ilc sccici liddcn in ilc Vcdas, piopound, and ilc masici ol many
poicncics."
21 In Sii Hayasiisa-pancaiaiia ii is also said:
"Now I will dcsciibc His iiansccndcnial abodc, wlicl is cicinal,
unclanging, madc ol puic goodncss, siiuaicd bcyond ilc boundaiics ol ilc
maiciial woild, and cllulgcni lilc many millions ol suns and moons.
22 "Ii is madc ol ciniamani jcwcls. ii is cicinal and lull ol lnowlcdgc and
bliss. Ii is ilc icsiing placc ol cvciyiling. Ii will ncvci bc dcsiioycd."
23 "O lialma, now I will biiclly dcsciibc ilc Loid's paiaplcinalia. In ilc
Loid's abodc aic many lalpa-vilsa iiccs, wlo aic ilc souiccs ol all plcasuics.
2+ "In ilai abodc aic also many vincs jusi lilc ilosc lalpa-vilsa iiccs. Tlcic
aic also many llowcis and oilci ilings, posscssing swcci liagianccs and swcci
iasics, and all lilc ilosc lalpa-vilsa iiccs.
25 "Tlc liuiis ilcic lavc no laulis, and ilcicloic ilcy aic lillcd wiil ncciai.
Tlcy aic ncvci laid and ilcy lavc nciilci slin noi sccd.
26 "O lialma, plcasc lnow ilai noiling ilcic is madc ol maiici. Ii is all
spiiii. Ii is all swcci lilc ncciai.
27 "O lialma, in ilai icalm ncciai is cvciywlcic. Lvciyiling is swcci lilc
ncciai. Lvciyiling is ncciai."
2S Tlc maniias gloiilying ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc ol Sii
Hayasiisa-pancaiaiia:
"O lialma, ilcy wlo lnow ilc iiuil dcclaic ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad is noi dillcicni liom ilc maniias gloiilying Him."
29-30 Tlc individual spiiii souls aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii
Hayasiisa-pancaiaiia:
"O lialma, as many diops ol spiay aic cicaicd wlcn ilc wind iouclcs ilc
occan's wavcs, so many ilousands ol individual spiiii souls aic manilcsicd liom
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Somc ol ilosc souls lavc maiciial bodics
and somc do noi.
31 Tlc sciipiuics ilai dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc alliim ilai ilc individual
spiiii souls aic dillcicni liom ilc many loims ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing piayci spolcn by ilc Pcisonilicd
Vcdas io ilc Supicmc pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.31):
"Nciilci maiciial naiuic noi ilc soul wlo is lci cnjoyci wcic cvci boin.
Tlc living bodics ol ilis woild iailci comc inio bcing by ilc combinaiion ol boil
ol ilcm, jusi lilc a bubblc wlicl loims wlcic waici mccis ilc aii. All ilcsc
condiiioncd living bcings mcigc bacl inio You, ilc Supicmc, wiil ilcii vaiious
namcs and qualiiics, similaily io ilc mciging ol iivcis inio ilc occan oi ol ilc
llavouis ol all linds ol llowcis inio loncy."¯¯¯
32 Tlai ilc individual spiiii souls aic ilc Supicmc Loid's poicncy is dcsciibcd
in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Visnu Puiana (6.7.61):
"Oiiginally, Kisna's cncigy is spiiiiual, and ilc cncigy lnown as ilc living
cniiiy is also spiiiiual. Howcvci, ilcic is anoilci cncigy, callcd illusion, wlicl
consisis ol liuiiivc aciiviiy. Tlai is ilc Loid's iliid poicncy."¯
33 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in llagavad-giia (7.5) wlcic Loid Kisna alliims:
"lcsidcs ilcsc, O migliy-aimcd Aijuna, ilcic is anoilci, supciioi cncigy ol
Minc, wlicl compiiscs ilc living cniiiics wlo aic cxploiiing ilc icsouiccs ol ilis
maiciial, inlciioi naiuic.¯
3+ In llagavad-giia (15.7) Loid Kisna gain alliims:
"Tlc living cniiiics in ilis condiiioncd woild aic My cicinal liagmcnial
paiis. Duc io condiiioncd lilc, ilcy aic siiuggling vciy laid wiil ilc six scnscs,
wlicl includc ilc mind."¯
35 In Sii Naiada-pancaiaiia ii is said:
"Alilougl spiiiiual in naiuic, ilc individual spiiii soul livcs on ilc
boundaiy ol ilc spiiiiual and maiciial woilds. Il lc clooscs lc can cnici ilc
maiciial woild and iiy io cnjoy ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic."
36 Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by
Yogcsvaia Havi io King Nimi.
Anuccheda 199
1 Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic siiuaicd on dillcicni lcvcls ol advanccmcni,
wiil ilosc wlo aic licc liom all maiciial dcsiics siiuaicd in ilc liglcsi lcvcl.
Tlcsc dillcicni lcvcls dcsciibcd in ilc passagc ilai bcgins wiil Siimad llagavaiam
10.2.+7. Tlcsc lcvcls, considcicd accoiding io ilc qualiiics manilcsicd by ilc
dcvoicc, aic dcsciibcd in livc vciscs ol Siimad llagavaiam. In ilc lollowing ilicc
vciscs ilc lowcsi lcvcl, mixcd dcvoiional scivicc, is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
2 "O Uddlava, a sainily pcison is mcicilul and ncvci injuics oilcis. Lvcn il
oilcis aic aggicssivc lc is iolciani and loigiving iowaid all living cniiiics. His
siicngil and mcaning in lilc comc liom ilc iiuil iiscll, lc is licc liom all cnvy and
jcalousy, and lis mind is cqual in maiciial lappincss and disiicss. Tlus, lc
dcdicaics lis iimc io woil loi ilc wcllaic ol all oilcis. His iniclligcncc is ncvci
bcwildcicd by maiciial dcsiics, and lc las coniiollcd lis scnscs. His bclavioui is
always plcasing, ncvci laisl and always cxcmplaiy, and lc is licc liom
posscssivcncss. lc ncvci cndcavouis in oidinaiy, woildly aciiviiics, and lc siiicily
coniiols lis caiing. Hc ilcicloic always icmains pcacclul and sicady. A sainily
pcison is vciy cauiious in ilc cxccuiion ol lis duiics and is ncvci subjcci io
supcilicial iiansloimaiions, bccausc lc is sicady and noblc, cvcn in a disiicssing
siiuaiion. Hc las conqucicd iliisi, lamcniaiion, illusion, old agc, and dcail. Hc is
licc liom all dcsiic loi picsiigc and ollcis lonoui io oilcis. Hc is cxpcii in
icviving ilc Kisna consciousncss ol oilcis and ilcicloic ncvci clcais anyonc.
Railci lc is a wcll wisling liicnd io all, bcing mosi mcicilul. Sucl a sainily
pcison musi bc considcicd ilc mosi lcaincd ol mcn."¯¯¯
"Hcic ilc woid "lipalul" mcans "unablc io iolciaic ilc sullciings ol
ilciis", "saiva-dclinam aliia-diolal" mcans "noi laiming anyonc", "iiiilsul"
mcans "iolciani", "saiyam saial" mcans "siiong in ilc iiuil", "anavadyamia"
mcans "licc ol cnvy and oilci viccs", "samal" mcans "cqual in lappincss and
disiicss", "upayalal" mcans "lclping oilcis as lai as onc is ablc", "lamaii alaia-
dlil" mcans "wiil a lcaii unagiiaicd by maiciial dcsiics", "danial" mcans
:coniiolling ilc cxicinal scnscs, "midul" mcans "noi laid lcaiicd", "sucil"
mcans "aciing lilc a saini", "alincanal" mcans "wiiloui posscssivcncss",
"anilal" mcans "licc liom maiciialisiic aciiviiics", "miia-blul" mcans "caiing
liiilc", "sanial" mcans "coniiolling ilc mind", "siliial" mcans "sicady in onc's
duiy", "mac-claianal" mcans "ialing slclici ol Mc alonc", "munil" mcans
"ilouglilul", "apiamaiial" mcans "aiicniivc", "gabliiaima" mcans "unclanging",
"dliiiman" mcans "sicady, cvcn wlcn laccd wiil calamiiics", "jiia-sad-gunal"
mcans "conquciing ilc six wavcs, namcly, lungci, iliisi, lamcniaiion, illusion,
old agc, and dcail", "amani" "wiiloui dcsiiing lonoui loi oncscll", "manadal"
mcans "lonouiing oilcis", "lalyal" mcans "cxpcii in cnliglicning oilcis",
"maiiial" mcans :noi clcaiing oilcis", "laiunilal" mcans "aciing oui ol
compassion and noi pcisonal ambiiion", and "lavil" mcans "wisc".
+ Hcic ilc qualiiy "mac-claianal" (ialing slclici ol mc slould bc singlcd
oui). Laici ii will bc said, "sa ca saiiamal" (lc is ilc bcsi ol all living cniiiics).
Tlc woid "ca" (and) lcic cmplasiscs ilai onc wlo ialcs slclici ol ilc Loid is ilc
bcsi ol living cniiiics.
Anuccheda 200
1 Tlc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc, wlo is cngagcd in mixcd dcvoiional scivicc is
"Hc pcilccily undcisiands ilai ilc oidinaiy icligious duiics picsciibcd by
Mc in vaiious Vcdic sciipiuics posscss lavouiablc qualiiics ilai puiily ilc
pciloimci, and lc lnows ilai ncglcci ol sucl duiics consiiiuics a discicpancy in
onc's lilc. Having ialcn complcic slclici ol My loius lcci, lowcvci, a sainily
pcison uliimaicly icnounccs sucl oidinaiy icligious duiics and woislips Mc
alonc. Hc is ilus considcicd io bc ilc bcsi among all living cniiiics."¯¯¯
"Hcic ilc woid 'maya' mcans 'by Mc in ilc loim ol ilc Vcdas'. Tlus 'onc
slould icnouncc ilc oidinaiy duiics iaugli by Mc in ilis way and woislip Mc
alonc'. A pcison wlo docs ilis is ilc bcsi ol all living cniiiics (saiiamal). Slould
onc do ilis oui ol ignoiancc oi bccausc onc is an ailcisi' No. 'Iully awaic ol ilc
viiiucs ol aciiviiics in ilc modc ol puic goodncss and ilc laulis ol oilci aciiviiics,
and wiil liim laiil ilai by cngaging in My dcvoiional scivicc lc will aiiain all ilai
is good, a pcison slould icnouncc all oidinaiy duiics and caincsily cngagc in My
dcvoiional scivicc.' Tlai is ilc way ilcsc woids slould bc inicipicicd."
3 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Sii Naiayana-vyulu-
siava Piaycis in ilc Sii Hayasiisa-pancaiaiia:
"I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilcy wlo icnouncc all maiciial duiics,
caincsily cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Visnu,, and always mcdiiaic on Him,
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."
+ Now in ilc Siimad llagavaiam vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis
anucclcda will bc cxplaincd. Tlis vcisc mcans: Il onc docs noi lavc vaiious good
qualiiics bui mcicly undcisiands ilai ilc picviously dcsciibcd good qualiiics
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.29-31), sucl as bcing mcicilul, slould bc acccpicd and
ilc vaiious laulis ilai aic ilc opposiics ol ilc good qualiiics slould bc avoidcd,
and il onc ilcn icnounccs onc's icgulai and occasional duiics ol vainasiama,
wlicl wcic iaugli by Mc, and insicad cngagcs in unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc io
Mc, ilcn onc bccomcs ilc bcsi ol all living cniiiics. Tlc woid "ca" (also) lcic
mcans, "lc is also ilc bcsi, jusi as ilc picviously dcsciibcd dcvoicc was ilc bcsi".
In ilis way cvcn a pcison wlo las noi yci dcvclopcd all good qualiiics can bccomc
cqual io ilc picviously dcsciibcd bcsi ol all living cniiiics. Tlus ilc Loid says,
"Onc wlo aiiains ilcsc good qualiiics, icnounccs oidinaiy lnowlcdgc and
oidinaiy duiics, and woislips Mc alonc, is ilc bcsi ol all living cniiiics". In ilis
way ii is slown ilai ilc unalloycd dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is ilc bcsi ol all living
cniiiics.
5 In llagavad-giia (12.13-1+) ii is said:
"Onc wlo is noi cnvious, bui is a lind liicnd io all living cniiiics, wlo docs
noi ilinl limscll ilc piopiicioi and is licc liom lalsc cgo, wlo is cqual in boil
lappincss and disiicss, wlo is iolciani, always saiislicd, scll coniiollcd, and
cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc wiil dciciminaiion, lis mind and iniclligcncc lixcd
on Mc, sucl a dcvoicc ol Minc is vciy dcai io Mc."¯
In ilis way ilc ncoplyic, inicimcdiaic and advanccd dcvoiccs aic
dcsciibcd. A dcvoicc acis in a sainily mannci. Hc docs noi woislip any Dciiy bui
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Siill, cvcn il a dcvoicc acis badly, lc is siill
io bc considcicd sainily.
6 Tlis is cxplaincd in llagavad-giia (9.30) in ilcsc woids:
lis dciciminaiion.
7 Aiiaining good qualiiics is noi ncccssaiy wlcn onc associaics wiil ilc
dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. lccausc by ilai associaiion onc bccomcs cagci io cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc, ilc scpaiaic cndcavoui io aiiain good qualiiics bccomc
iiiclcvani in ilai siiuaiion.
S Tlis is dcsciibcd by Sii Piallada in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.7.30):
"In ilc associaiion ol sainily pcisons and dcvoiccs onc slould woislip ilc
Loid."¯
9 Tlc woid "sadlu" lcic mcans "onc wlosc aciiviiics aic ilosc ol a saini".
Tlus ilcic aic iwo lcvcls ol dcvoiccs wlo lollow ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc
accoiding io iulcs and icgulaiions (vidli-blalii). Ol ilcsc ilc dcvoicc wlosc
scivicc is unalloycd is ilc bcsi. In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda ii is said ilai
ilicc linds ol dcvoiccs lollow ilc pail ol woislipping ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlcy
aic dcsciibcd in ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woids "iapadi-panca-samslaii"
(quoicd in anucclcda 19S, icxi 12).
10 Tlc inicimcdiaic dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Padma Puiana,
Uiiaia-llanda:
"Pciloiming ausiciiiics, wcaiing iilala, claniing ilc loly namc, claniing
maniias and lollowing ilc pail ol yoga aic ilc livc samslaias ol ilc inicimcdiaic
dcvoicc."
11 Tlc ncoplyic dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids:
"Onc wlo wcais iilala mailings and ilc mails ol ilc conclslcll, disc, and
oilci signs ol ilc Loid, and wlo bows down io ollci icspccis io ilc Loid, is said
io bc a Vaisnava."
Anuccheda 201
1 Onc wlo puicly lovcs ilc Loid in onc ol ilc iasas, sucl as sciviioislip oi
liicndslip, is ilc bcsi ol dcvoiccs. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcsciibcs
lim in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.33):
2 "My dcvoiccs may oi may noi lnow cxacily wlai I am, wlo I am, and low
I cxisi, bui il ilcy woislip Mc wiil unalloycd lovc, ilcn I considci ilcm io bc ilc
bcsi ol dcvoiccs."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid yavan mcans "wiiloui considciing iimc, placc, oi any oilci
limiiing condiiion", "yas ca" mcans "ilc soul ol all", and "yadisal" mcans "wlosc
loim is cicinal and lull ol lnowlcdgc and bliss". Sucl dcvoiccs "may oi may noi
lnow cxacily wlai I am, wlo I am, and low I cxisi, bui siill ilcy woislip Mc wiil
unalloycd lovc." Tlis mcans ilai, siiuaicd in onc ol ilc iasas, wlicl bcgin wiil
sciviioislip, ilc dcvoicc lovcs ilc Loid as ilc son ol ilc ling ol Viaja, oi as onc ol
His oilci loims. In ilis condiiion ilc dcvoicc lovcs ilc Loid alonc and docs noi
givc lis lovc io any oilci subjcci. Hcic ilc Loid says, "I considci ilcm io bc ilc
bcsi ol dcvoiccs." Tlcsc dcvoiccs aic also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing piayci
spolcn by ilc Yogcsvaias in ilc Iouiil Canio (Siimad llagavaiam +.7.3S):
+ "Dcai Loid, pcisons wlo scc You as non-dillcicni liom ilcmsclvcs,
lnowing ilai You aic ilc Supcisoul ol all living cniiiics, aic cciiainly vciy, vciy
dcai io You. You aic vciy lavouiablc iowaid ilosc wlo cngagc in dcvoiional
scivicc, acccpiing You as ilc Loid and ilcmsclvcs as ilc scivanis by Youi mcicy,
You aic always inclincd in ilcii lavoui."¯
5 Tlc Loid Himscll givcs ilc lollowing cxplanaiion in Sii llagavad-giia (7.2
and 7.+-7):
"I slall now dcclaic unio you in lull ilis lnowlcdgc, boil plcnomcnal and
numinous. Tlis bcing lnown, noiling luiilci slall icmain loi you io lnow."¯
6 "Laiil, waici, liic, aii, cilci, mind, iniclligcncc and lalsc cgo: all iogcilci
ilcsc cigli consiiiuic My scpaiaicd maiciial cncigics.¯
7 "lcsidcs ilcsc, O migliy-aimcd Aijuna, ilcic is anoilci supciioi cncigy ol
Minc, wlicl compiiscs ilc living cniiiics wlo aic cxploiiing ilc icsouiccs ol ilis
maiciial, inlciioi cncigy.¯
S "All cicaicd bcings lavc ilcii souicc in ilcsc iwo naiuics. Ol all ilai is
maiciial and all ilai is spiiiiual in ilis woild, lnow loi cciiain ilai I am boil ilc
oiigin and ilc dissoluiion.¯
9 "O conqucioi ol wcalil, ilcic is no iiuil supciioi io Mc. Lvciyiling icsis
upon Mc as pcails aic siiung on a ilicad."¯
10 In ilcsc vciscs ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcsciibcs His poicncics
namcd piadlana (maiici) and jiva (ilc individual spiiii souls), low ilc woild is
cicaicd ol ilcsc iwo poicncics, low ilc maiciial univcisc, bccausc ii is His
poicncy, is in onc scnsc noi dillcicni liom Him, and low Hc is ilc Supicmc and
ilc slclici ol all. Tlcn Hc icaclcs ilc iiuil aboui Himscll and ilc iiuc naiuic ol
ilc individual spiiii souls. Onc wlo undcisiands ilcsc iiuils bccomc wisc. Tlcn
ilc Loid says ilai onc wlo dcsiics His gloiics is vciy dcai io Him, moic dcai ilan
ilc plilosoplcis, ilc oilci dcvoiccs, oi any oilci pcisons. Tlc Loid's dcsciipiion
ol ilis is givcn in ilc lollowing woids (Sii llagavad-giia 7.16-1S):
11 "O bcsi among ilc llaiaias, loui linds ol pious mcn bcgin io icndci
dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc; ilc disiicsscd, ilc dcsiici loi wcalil, ilc inquisiiivc,
and lc wlo is scaicling loi lnowlcdgc ol ilc Absoluic.¯
12 "Ol ilcsc, ilc onc wlo is in lull lnowlcdgc and wlo is always cngagcd in
puic dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi. Ioi I am vciy dcai io lim, and lc is dcai io
Mc.¯
13 "All ilcsc dcvoiccs aic undoubicdly magnanimous souls, bui lc wlo is
siiuaicd in lnowlcdgc ol Mc I considci io jusi lilc My own scll. lcing cngagcd in
My iiansccndcnial scivicc, lc is suic io aiiain Mc, ilc liglcsi and mosi pcilcci
goal."¯
1+ Now Siimad llagavaiam +-7-3S (quoicd in Tcxi +) will bc cxplaincd. Hcic
ilc pliasc "ivayi visvaimani aiamno ilsci" mcans "Tlcy scc all living cniiiics as
noi dillcicni liom You loi ilcy aic Youi poicncics". "Na piilal" mcans "ilcy do
noi scc ilc living cniiiics as indcpcndcni ol You". "Amuias ic picyan nasii" mcans
"No onc is moic dcai io You ilan sucl a pcison". "Vaisala" mcans, "O Loid wlo
lovcs Youi scivanis". Tlcn ilcy say, "You aic vciy lavouiablc (anugilana) iowaid
ilosc wlo cngagc in undcviaiing (ananya) dcvoiional scivicc (viiii), acccpiing You
as ilc Loid and ilcmsclvcs as ilc scivanis (bliiycsa)". In ilis way ilc wisc
dcvoiccs aic gloiilicd.
15 Now ilc vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.33) quoicd in ilc bcginning ol
ilis anucclcda will bc cxplaincd. Hcic ilc acccpiancc and icjcciion ol lnowlcdgc
and ignoiancc is cxplaincd. Hcic also ilc picvious dcsciipiion ol sainily pcison is
supciscdcd and ilc dcvoiccs aic dcsciibcd as supciioi. In ilis way ilc supciioiiiy
ol dcvoiional scivicc is csiablislcd.
16 Tlc woids 'ic mc maial" mcan "ilai is My linal opinion". Tlai is ilc
mcaning, cvcn ilougl ii is noi cxpicsscd in cxacily ilai way. In ilc pionouns
"yc" and "ic" ilc singulai numbci is inicndcd. Tlc pluial numbci uscd io slow
icspcci. How mucl moic ilcn slould icspcci bc slown io ilc dcvoiccs lillcd wiil
ccsiaiic lovc loi ilc Loid' Tlai is ilc mcaning. Dcvoiional scivicc in ccsiaiic lovc
(picma) will bc dcsciibcd laici in ilc dcsciipiion ol sponiancous (iaganuga)
dcvoiional scivicc.
Anuccheda 202
1 In ilc picvious poiiion ol ilis bool ilc dillcicni linds ol dcvoiccs wcic
dcsciibcd. In ilis picscni poiiion ilc dillcicni lcvcls ol dcvoiional scivicc will bc
dcsciibcd. Iiisi ilc dcvoiccs and ilc liuiiivc woilcis will bc coniiasicd.
2 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Mailandcya Muni iclls King llagiiaila:
"Tlcy wlo livc only loi icligion, wlo indulgc in scx only io bcgci clildicn,
and wlo cool only io givc lappincss io ilc bialmanas, aic lnown as Vaisnavas."
3 Tlc woid "Vaisnava" is ilus dclincd as onc wlo acis in ilis way and ilai
only io caiiy oui ilc oidcis ol Loid Visnu. Tlc woid "Vaisnava" is also dclincd in
ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Visnu Puiana:
+ "Plcasc lnow ilai a Vaisnava is a pcison wlo docs noi abandon ilc duiics
ol lis vaina, wlo is cqual io all, wlo is a liicnd cvcn io lis cncmics, wlo ncvci
sicals anyiling oi laims anyonc, and wlo is pcacclul ai lcaii."
5 In ilc Padma Puiana, Paiala-llanda, Vaisalla-malaimya, ilc woid
"Vaisnava" is dclincd in ilc lollowing way:
"Plcasc lnow ilai a Vaisnava is onc wlo livcs only loi ilc salc ol icligion,
wlo pciloims icligious duiics only io plcasc Loid Haii, and wlosc days and niglis
aic uscd only io pciloim pious dccds."
6 Tlc iclaiionslip bciwccn ilc Vaisnavas and ilc dcvoiccs ol Loid Siva is
cxpicsscd in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Naiada Puiana:
"Tlcy wlo aic cqually icspccilul io boil ilc gicai coniiollci Loid Siva and
ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul Loid Visnu aic ilc bcsi ol dcvoiccs."
7 In ilis way ii is sccn ilai gicai dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic picscni cvcn among
ilc dcvoiccs ol Loid Siva. Howcvci, ii is an ollcnsc io considci Loid Siva io bc
cqual io Loid Visnu, as conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Vaisnava Taniia:
"A pcison wlo considcis dcmigods lilc lialma and Siva io bc on an cqual
lcvcl wiil Naiayana is io bc considcicd an ollcndci and an ailcisi."¯
S Tlus ilc dcvoiccs aic siiuaicd on many dillcicni lcvcls ol advanccmcni.
Among ilcm ilcic aic dillcicni lcvcls ol powci, dillcicni lcvcls ol mcicy, dillcicni
lcvcls ol ilc dcsiic io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc, and, as ilcy associaic wiil
dcvoiccs, dillcicni spccds, quiclly oi slowly, ai wlicl ilcy aiiain puic dcvoiional
scivicc. In ilc samc way, as onc associaics wiil jnanis, onc aiiains jnana.
9 Dcvoiional scivicc licc liom all maiciial aiiaclmcnis is ilc goal ol lilc, and
ii is aiiaincd by ilc Loid's mcicy in ilc associaiion ol His dcvoiccs. Now wc will
cxaminc ilc dillcicni lcaiuics ol dcvoiional scivicc.
10 Iiisi onc associaics wiil dcvoiccs. Iiom ilai associaiion laiil dcvclops.
Iiom laiil onc bccomcs aiiiacicd io lcai ilc Vaisnava plilosoply passcd down
iliougl ilc guiu-paiampaia. Tlcn onc dcvclops ilc bcginnings ol lovc loi ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcn onc bccomcs aiiiacicd io ilc pail ol
dcvoiional scivicc.
11 Tlcn onc dcsiics io malc spiiiiual advanccmcni. Taling slclici ol onc
(dilsa) oi many (silsa) spiiiiual masicis onc lcais ilc plilosoply ol dcvoiional
scivicc. In ilis way onc undcisiands ilc iiuil liom bcginning io cnd.
12 Iicc liom all lalsc conccpiions ol ilc Loid, ilc dcvoicc ilcn piocccds io
mcdiiaic on ilc Loid. Hc mcdiiaics on ilc Loid as picscni cvciywlcic. In ilis
way ilc Loid is manilcsi io lim cvciywlcic. Tlcn ilc dcvoicc dcvclops liim laiil.
13 Tlcn onc bccomcs aiiiacicd io a paiiiculai loim ol ilc Loid and onc lixcs
onc's mcdiiaiion on ilis loim alonc. Tlcn onc's laiil is vciy splcndidly
manilcsicd.
1+ Tlcn onc comcs io ilc conclusion ilai onc ol ilc Supicmc Loid's loims is
gicaici ilan ilc oilcis. Tlcy aic noi all cqually gicai. Siill, bccausc ol ignoiancc
ol ilai bcsi loim, onc may placc lis laiil in anoilci ol ilc Loid's loims. Tlc pail
ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilai way.
15 Wlcn onc mcdiiaics on ilc Loid io undcisiand Him ilai is a spccilic paii
ol ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc, a paii claiaciciiscd by mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid.
Tlai is ilc pail ol ilcy wlo considci lnowlcdgc mosi impoiiani. Tlc pail ol
ilcy wlo considci lovc loi ilc Loid mosi impoiiani is a dillcicni paii. In ilai
pail onc associaics wiil ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, lcais aboui ilc Loid's pasiimcs and
in ilis way dcvclops aiiiaciion, lovc and laiil in ilc Loid. Tlus ilis pail bcgins
wiil lcaiing aboui ilc Loid.
16 Tlis pail is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.16):
liom vicc, gicai scivicc is donc. ly sucl scivicc onc gains alliniiy loi lcaiing ilc
mcssagcs ol Vasudcva."¯
17 Ii is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad-llagavaiam 3.25.25):
1S Tlc pail ol ilcy wlo considci lovc loi ilc Loid mosi impoiiani, and wlo
ycain io scivc ilc Loid wiil lovc, is ilc bcsi pail. Tlc pail ol ilcy wlo considci
lnowlcdgc mosi impoiiani is noi ilc bcsi pail. Sii Piallada cxplains ilis in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.S.+9-50):
19 "Nciilci ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic (saiiva-guna, iajo-guna and
iamo-guna), noi ilc picdominaiing dciiics coniiolling ilcsc ilicc modcs, noi ilc
livc gioss clcmcnis, noi ilc mind, noi ilc dcmigods noi ilc luman bcings can
undcisiand Youi Loidslip, loi ilcy aic all subjccicd io biiil and annililaiion.
Considciing ilis, ilc spiiiiual advanccd lavc ialcn io dcvoiional scivicc. Sucl
wisc mcn laidly boilci wiil Vcdic siudy. Insicad,, ilcy cngagc ilcmsclvcs in
piaciical dcvoiional scivicc.¯
20 "Tlcicloic, O Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc bcsi ol all pcisons io
wlom piaycis aic ollcicd, I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio You bccausc
wiiloui icndciing six linds ol dcvoiional scivicc unio You, ollciing piaycis,
dcdicaiing all ilc icsulis ol aciiviiics, woislipping You, woiling on Youi bclall,
always icmcmbciing Youi loius lcci and lcaiing aboui Youi gloiics, wlo can
aclicvc ilai wlicl is mcani loi ilc paiamalamsas'"¯
21 Hcic ilc woid "laima" mcans :dcvoiional scivicc", and "laima-smiiil"
mcans "mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's pasiimcs". In ilc way dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Loid's lcci (caianayol) is manilcsicd in all ciicumsianccs. Tlc silsa-guiu
(icaclci-guiu), wlo icaclcs aboui ilcsc iwo ilings (dcvoiional scivicc and
mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's pasiimcs) may laici also bccomc onc's siavana-guiu
(iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici). Onc may acccpi as many silsa-guius as onc lilcs, bui
onc may acccpi only onc maniia-guiu (iniiiaiing guiu). Tlis will bc piovcd laici
in ilis bool.
22 Tlai onc slould bccomc aiiiacicd io a paiiiculai loim ol ilc Loid is
conliimcd by ilc lollowing cvidcncc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+S):
"Having obiaincd ilc mcicy ol lis spiiiiual masici, wlo icvcals io ilc
disciplc ilc injunciions ol Vcdic sciipiuics, ilc dcvoicc slould woislip ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilc paiiiculai pcisonal loim ol ilc Loid ilc
dcvoicc linds mosi aiiiaciivc."¯¯¯
23 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc siaicmcnis ol Sii Aviiloiia and oilci
auiloiiiics. Tlai onc may bc aiiiacicd io a paiiiculai aspcci ol ilc pail ol
dcvoiional scivicc is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Supicmc Loid
Himscll (Siimad llagavaiam 11.27.7):
"Onc slould caiclully woislip Mc by sclcciing onc ol ilc ilicc mcilods by
wlicl I icccivc saciilicc: Vcdic, ianiiic oi mixcd."¯¯¯
2+ Tlc siavana-guiu (iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici) is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
"Tlcicloic any pcison wlo sciiously dcsiics ical lappincss musi sccl a
bona lidc spiiiiual masici and ialc slclici ol lim by iniiiaiion. Tlc qualilicaiion
ol ilc bona-lidc guiu is ilai lc las icaliscd ilc conclusion ol ilc sciipiuics by
dclibciaiion and is ablc io convincc oilcis ol ilcsc conclusions. Sucl gicai
pcisonaliiics, wlo lavc ialcn slclici ol ilc Supicmc Godlcad, lcaving asidc all
maiciial considciaiions, slould bc undcisiood io bc bona lidc spiiiiual
masicis."¯¯¯
25 Hcic ilc woid "sabdc bialmani" mcans "in ilc Vcdas", "paic bialmani"
mcans in ilc manilcsiaiion ol ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad",
and "nisnaiam" mcans "by diiccily sccing ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
wlo is invisiblc io ilc maiciial scnscs, lc las aiiaincd laiil".
26 Sii Naiada also cxplains ai ilc cnd ol King Puianjana's sioiy (Siimad
llagavaiam +.29.51):
"Onc wlo is cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc las noi ilc lcasi lcai in maiciial
cxisicncc. Tlis is bccausc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc Supcisoul
and liicnd ol cvciyonc. Onc wlo lnows ilis sccici is aciually cducaicd, and onc
ilus cducaicd can bccomc ilc spiiiiual masici ol ilc woild. Onc wlo is an
aciually bona lidc spiiiiual masici, icpicscniaiivc ol Kisna, is noi dillcicni liom
Kisna."¯
Piabluddla io King Nimi.
Anuccheda 203
1 In ilc lialma-vaivaiia Puiana ii is said:
"Ii is said ilai ilcic aic iwo linds ol spcalcis: 1. passionaic and 2.
dispassionaic. Passionaic spcalcis aic lusiy and giccdy. Tlcii woids do noi ioucl
ilc lcaii.
2 "Wiiloui caiclul siudy io dciciminc ilc iiuil, a passionaic pcison givcs
insiiuciion. Tcacling wiiloui caiclul siudy biings ilc dcsiiuciion ol ilc pcoplc."
3 Tlc dispassionaic spcalci is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
"Onc wlo dcsiics io lcai ilc iiuil slould appioacl a bona lidc spiiiiual
masici, wlosc woids aic lilc ncciai and wlo is lilc an occan ol iiuil. Hc slould
noi ialc inio considciaiion ilc spiiiiual masici's lamily, disposiiion, oi
pciloimancc ol Vcdic iiiuals."
+ Tlc spiiiiual masici's cloqucnccs and oilci viiiucs aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc
woids liom ilc lialma-vaivaiia Puiana:
"Wlcn lcaiing ilc spiiiiual masici's icaclings cvcn a pcison lillcd wiil
lusi, giccd, and a losi ol viccs, cvcn a misci, and cvcn a pcison lillcd wiil dcspaii,
will cnici ilc cicinal spiiiiual woild. A pcison wlo can cloqucnily spcal so ilis is
donc is ilc bcsi ol spiiiiual masicis."
5 Wlcn sucl a liglly qualilicd spiiiiual masici is noi io bc lound, somc
pcoplc, dcsiiing io lcai dillcicni vicws, ialc slclici ol many icaclcis. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.9.31);
6 "Alilougl ilc Absoluic Tiuil is onc wiiloui a sccond, ilc sagcs lavc
dcsciibcd Him in many dillcicni ways. Tlcicloic onc may noi bc ablc io acquiic
vciy liim oi complcic lnowlcdgc liom onc spiiiiual masici."¯¯¯
Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol
ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii Daiiaiicya io King Yadu.
Anuccheda 20+
1 Tlc pail ol ilcy wlo considci lovc loi ilc Loid mosi impoiiani, a pail
ilai bcgins wiil lcaiing, is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.5.26):
"O Vyasadcva, in ilc associaiion and by ilc mcicy ol ilosc gicai
Vcdaniisis, I could lcai ilcm dcsciibc ilc aiiiaciivc aciiviiics ol Loid Kisna. And
ilus lisicning aiicniivcly, my iasic loi lcaiing ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
incicascd ai cvciy sicp."¯
2 Tlc aciiviiy ol lcaiing pciloimcd by ilcy wlo ilinl lnowlcdgc ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is mosi impoiiani is dcsciibcd in ilc loui lamous
vciscs ol Siimad-llagavaiam. Tlcsc pcisons' aciiviiy ol ilinling is dcsciibcd in
ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.2.3+):
lc ascciiaincd ilai aiiiaciion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii Kisna, is
3 Iaiil in ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlicl is cicaicd by sucl
siudy and ilinling, is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
+.21.27-30):
"My dcai icspcciablc ladics and gcnilcmcn, accoiding io ilc auiloiiiaiivc
siaicmcnis ol sasiia, ilcic musi bc a supicmc auiloiiiy wlo is ablc io awaid ilc
icspcciivc bcncliis ol oui picscni aciiviiics. Oilciwisc, wly slould ilcic bc
pcisons wlo aic unusually bcauiilul and powcilul boil in ilis lilc and in ilc lilc
alici dcail'¯
+-5 "Tlis is conliimcd noi only by ilc cvidcncc ol ilc Vcdas bui also by ilc
pcisonal bclavioui ol gicai pcisonaliiics lilc Malu, Uiianapada, Dliuva,
Piiyaviaia and my giandlailci Anga, as wcll as by many oilci gicai pcisonaliiics
and oidinaiy living cniiiics, cxcmplilicd by Malaiaja Piallada and lali, all ol
wlom aic ilcisis, bclicving in ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, wlo caiiics a club.¯
6 "Alilougl abominablc pcisons lilc my lailci, Vcna, ilc giandson ol dcail
pcisonilicd, aic bcwildcicd on ilc pail ol icligion, all ilc gicai pcisonaliiics lilc
ilosc mcniioncd agicc ilai in ilis woild ilc only bcsiowci ol ilc bcncdiciions ol
icligion, cconomic dcvclopmcni, scnsc giaiilicaiion, libciaiion, oi clcvaiion io ilc
lcavcnly plancis is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
7 Tlis vcisc says, "My dcai icspcciablc ladics and gcnilcmcn (aila-
saiiamal), accoiding io ilc auiloiiiaiivc siaicmcnis ol sasiia ilcic musi bc a
supicmc auiloiiiy wlo is ablc io awaid ilc icspcciivc bcncliis ol oui picscni
aciiviiics (yajna-paiil). Tlai is ilc opinion ol ilc sciipiuics (lcsancii)."
Siill lcaiing ilai somc migli loolislly iiy io dispuic ilis iiuil and picscni
anoilci, incviiably illogical opinion, ilc llagavaiam givcs ilc laci ilai ilc living
cniiiics aic placcd by dcsiiny in a vaiiciy ol siiuaiions in ilis woild as cvidcncc ol
ilc Supicmc Loid's cxisicncc. Tlc llagavaiam cxplains, "oilciwisc, wly slould
ilcic bc pcisons wlo lavc unusually bcauiilul oi powcilul (jyoisnavaiyal) bodics
(bluval) boil in ilis lilc (ila) and in ilc lilc alici dcail (amuiia)'" In oilci
woids, il ilcic wcic no Supicmc Loid ilcn ilis would noi bc so.
S Tlis is ilc mcaning. Tlc incii and unconscious maiciial naiuic las no
powci, by iiscll, io givc io ilc living cniiiics ilc icsulis ol ilcii aciions. Tlis is
conliimcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Vcdania-suiia (3.2.39):
"lccausc ii is logical io assumc ilai ilcic musi bc a pcison wlo awaids ilc
icsulis ol aciions."
9 Tlc many dcmigods aic noi indcpcndcni. Tlai is conliimcd by ilc
Aniaiyami-siuii. Tlcy aic noi as powcilul as ilc Supicmc Loid and ilcy aic noi
indcpcndcni in awaiding ilc vaiious icsulis ol aciions. Tlcicloic ii is ilc
indcpcndcni Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad alonc wlo givcs ilc icsulis ol
aciions. In ilc ncxi ilicc vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam +.21.2S-30) ilc opinions ol
gicai scll-icaliscd souls is givcn as cvidcncc io conliim ilc iiuil ol ilis.
10 Hcic ilc woids "asmai-piiul piiul" mcan "ol my giandlailci Anga".
lccausc ilcy wcic lcaincd in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics, Malaiaja Piallada and
Malaiaja lali aic also counicd lcic. Tlcsc gicai pcisons all alliim (liiyam asii)
ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (gadabliia) is always picscni in
cvciyonc's lcaii and ouisidc ilc lcaii also. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
11 Oi, ilc woids "liiyam asii" may mcan "ii is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad alonc, and noi anyonc clsc, wlo is ilc supicmc coniiollci". Tlcn ilc
ailcisis aic ciiiiciscd in ilc woids "dauliiiadin miiyoi dlaima-vimoliian"
(abominablc pcisons lilc my lailci, Vcna, ilc giandson ol dcail, aic bcwildcicd
on ilc pail ol icligion). In ilis way sciipiuic, logic, and ilc opinions ol ilc gicai
cnliglicncd souls combinc io alliim ilai Loid Visnu, wlo is lcic callcd by ilc
namc Gadablii, is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Loid Gadablii is dcsciibcd in ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woid "vaiga".
Hcic "vaiga" mcans "ilc ilicc goals ol lilc", "svaiga" (icsidcncc in ilc lcavcnly
plancis) is ilc icsuli ol pious dccds, "apavaiga" mcans "libciaiion", "Ailaimya-
lciuna" mcans "bccausc Hc is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
siiuaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii", and "piaycna" mcans "almosi always."
12 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Slanda Puiana:
"Loid Visnu, ilc cicinal Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is ilc givci ol
libciaiion. Hc binds ilc condiiioncd souls wiil ilc iopcs ol icpcaicd biiil and
dcail and Hc also liccs ilcm liom ilosc iopcs."
Anuccheda 205
1 Iaiil in dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam +.21.31-32):
"ly ilc inclinaiion io scivc ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
giadually incicascs.¯
2 "Wlcn a dcvoicc ialcs slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad, lc is complcicly clcanscd ol all misundcisianding oi mcnial
spcculaiion and lc manilcsis icnunciaiion. Tlis is possiblc only wlcn onc is
siicngilcncd by piaciicing blalii-yoga. Oncc laving ialcn slclici ai ilc iooi ol
ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, a dcvoicc ncvci comcs bacl io ilis maiciial cxisicncc,
wlicl is lull ol ilc ilicclold misciics."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "iapasvinam" mcans "ol ilcy wlo sullci in ilc woild ol
biiil and dcail". In ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woid "yaila" an cxamplc is
givcn io slow ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid's loius lcci. "Asangal" mcans "wiiloui bcing
aiiaclcd io anyiling clsc", "vijnana-viscsal" mcans "diicci pciccpiion ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad", and "viiyavan" mcans "siiong loi ilai icason".
Tlcsc woids dcsciibc a pcison wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc lcci (anglii-mulc) ol
Anuccheda 206
1 Tlai in mosi cascs ilc samc pcison is boil iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici
(siavana-guiu) and insiiuciing spiiiiual masici (blajan-silsa-guiu) is conliimcd
by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.22):
2 "Acccpiing ilc bona lidc spiiiiual masici as onc's lilc and soul and
woislipablc dciiy, ilc disciplc slould lcain liom lim ilc pioccss ol puic
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii, ilc soul ol all
souls, is inclincd io givc Himscll io His puic dcvoiccs. Tlcicloic, ilc disciplc
slould lcain liom ilc spiiiiual masici io scivc ilc Loid wiiloui dupliciiy and in
sucl a laiillul and lavouiablc way ilai ilc Supicmc Loid, bcing saiislicd, will
ollci Himscll io ilc laiillul disciplc."¯¯¯
3 Tlc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici is dcsciibcd in ilc picvious vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.3.21) in ilcsc woids:
"Any pcison wlo sciiously dcsiics io aclicvc ical lappincss musi sccl oui
a bona lidc spiiiiual masici and ialc slclici ol lim by iniiiaiion. Tlc qualilicaiion
ol lis spiiiiual masici is ilai lc musi lavc icaliscd ilc conclusion ol ilc sciipiuics
by dclibciaiion and bc ablc io convincc oilcis ol ilcsc conclusions. Sucl gicai
pcisonaliiics, wlo lavc ialcn slclici ol ilc Supicmc Godlcad, lcaving asidc all
maiciial considciaiions, aic io bc undcisiood as bona lidc spiiiiual masicis."¯
+ Hcic ii is said ilai ilc spiiiiual masici (guiu) is lilc onc's lilc and soul
(aima) and onc's woislipablc dciiy (daivaia). Wiiloui dcccii (amayaya) onc
slould lollow lim (anuviiiya) and lcain liom lim (silsci). In ilis way (yail) ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (aima), wlo gavc Himscll io lali Malaiaja and
oilci dcvoiccs, will givc Himscll.
Onc may acccpi many insiiuciing spiiiiual masicis (silsa-guius). Tlis las
alicady bccn cxplaincd. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was
spolcn by Sii Piabluddla io King Nimi.
Anuccheda 207
1 Onc may acccpi only onc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici (maniia guiu). Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+S):
2 Hcic "anugialal" mcans "ilc mcicy ol ilc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici", and
"agamal" mcans :ilc sciipiuics, wlcic ilc iulcs loi claniing maniias aic
dcsciibcd". lccausc ilc woid spiiiiual masici is lcic in ilc singulai numbci, ii is
undcisiood ilai onc slould acccpi only onc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici.
3 Tlc disciplc is noi allowcd io icjcci lis iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici. Tlis is
conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol lialma-vaivaiia Puiana:
"Loid Haii icjccis anyonc wlo icjccis lis spiiiiual masici. A pcison wlo
icjccis lis spiiiiual masici bccomcs wiclcd. His lnowlcdgc bccomcs covcicd wiil
diii."
+ Howcvci, il onc's spiiiiual masici is noi saiislacioiy, onc slould acccpi
anoilci spiiiiual masici. In ilis way onc may icjcci many unsaiislacioiy spiiiiual
masicis. Wlcn a spiiiiual masici picaclcs againsi ilc iiuil, lc slould bc
icjccicd. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Naiada-pancaiaiia:
5 "Onc wlo las acccpicd maniia-iniiiaiion liom a spiiiiual masici wlo is noi
a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu gocs io lcll. Tlc disciplc slould again bccomc iniiiaicd,
piopcily iniiiaicd by a spiiiiual masici wlo is a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu."
Aviiloiia io King Nimi.
Anuccheda 208
1 Tlc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici cnliglicns lis disciplc in ilc lnowlcdgc ol
ilc sciipiuics. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(11.10.12):
2 "Tlc spiiiiual masici can bc compaicd io ilc lowci lindling siicl, ilc
disciplc io ilc uppci lindling siicl and ilc insiiuciion givcn by ilc guiu io ilc
iliid siicl placcd in bciwccn. Tlc iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc communicaicd liom
guiu io disciplc is compaicd io ilc liic aiising liom ilc coniaci ol ilcsc, wlicl
buins ilc dailncss ol ignoiancc io aslcs, biinging gicai lappincss io boil guiu
and disciplc."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "adyal" mcans "ilc siicl bclow", "iai-sandlanam" mcans
"ilc siicl in ilc middlc, wlicl is ilc objcci ol liiciion", "piavacanam" mcans
"insiiuciion", and "vidya" mcans "ilc lnowlcdgc ol sciipiuic". Tlc lnowlcdgc
cicaicd by ilis coniaci is compaicd io liic.
+ Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siuii-sasiia (Taiiiiiiya
Upanisad 1.3.3):
"Tlc spiiiiual masici comcs liisi. Tlc disciplc comcs alici. Wlcn ilcy
mcci lnowlcdgc is manilcsicd."
5 In ilc Mundala Upanisad (1.2.12) ii is said:
"To lcain ilc iiansccndcnial subjcci maiici onc musi appioacl a spiiiiual
masici."¯
6 In ilc Clandogya Upanisad (6.1+.2) ii is said:
"Onc wlo appioaclcs a bona lidc spiiiiual masici can undcisiand
cvciyiling aboui spiiiiual icalisaiion."¯
7 In ilc Kaila Upanisad (1.2.9) ii is said:
"O dcai onc, ilc iiuil cannoi bc undcisiood by logic. Ii is undcisiood only
by lcaiing ilc woids ol ilc spiiiiual masici."
S Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 209
1 Onc musi also acccpi an insiiuciing spiiiiual masici (silsa guiu). Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.33):
2 "Tlosc wlo cndcavoui wiil ilcii conqucicd scnscs and viial aii io biing
ilc impciuous and mosi unsicady mind undci coniiol bui lavc abandoncd ilc
slclici ol ilcii spiiiiual masicis' lcci cxpciicncc only disiicss in ilcii culiivaiion ol
vaiious piaciiccs. Tlcy cncounici lundicds ol disiuibanccs, O unboin Loid, lilc
mciclanis iiding a boai on ilc occan wlo lavc lailcd io cngagc a piloi."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans, "Tlosc wlo (yc) cndcavoui wiil ilcii conqucicd scnscs
and viial aii io biing ilc impciuous and mosi unsicady (adania) mind (manas
iuiagam) undci coniiol (yanium) bui lavc abandoncd (samavalaya) ilc slclici ol
ilcii spiiiiual masicis' (guiol) lcci (caianam) cxpciicncc only disiicss in ilcii
culiivaiion ol vaiious piaciiccs (upaya-llidal). Tlcy cncounici lundicds ol
disiuibanccs (vyasana-saianviial)."¯ Tlcsc pcisons icmain in ilc woild ol
icpcaicd biiil and dcail.
3 Tlc lasi paii ol ilc vcisc mcans, "O unboin Loid (aja), ilcy aic lilc
mciclanis iiding a boai on ilc occan (jaladlau) wlo lavc lailcd io cngagc a piloi
(aliia-laina-dlaial)."¯
Tlc spiiiiual masici icvcals ilc iiuil ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid. ly
ilc spiiiiual masici's mcicy onc icmains undclcaicd by cvcn lundicds ol obsiaclcs
and onc quiclly biing lis mind undci coniiol. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
+ In ilc lialma-vaivaiia Puiana ii is said:
"Onc wlo dcvoicdly scivcs lis spiiiiual masici and icmcmbcis ilc Loid
pcisonally mccis ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcy wlo aic pioud and
will noi scivc a spiiiiual masici do noi mcci ilc Loid."
5 In ilc Svciasvaiaia Upanisad (6.3S) ii is said:
"Only unio ilosc gicai souls wlo lavc implicii laiil in boil ilc Loid and
ilc spiiiiual masici aic all ilc impoiis ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc auiomaiically
icvcalcd."¯
Pcisonilicd Vcdas.
Anuccheda 210
1 Now will bc discusscd ilc iiuil ilai onc musi acccpi an iniiiaiing spiiiiual
masici. Onc slould acccpi a spiiiiual masici in oidci io aiiain ilc liglcsi goal ol
lilc. Onc slould noi acccpi a spiiiiual masici io aiiain oidinaiy, maiciial goals.
Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 5.5.1S):
2 "Onc wlo cannoi dclivci lis dcpcndcnis liom ilc pail ol icpcaicd biiil
and dcail slould ncvci bccomc a spiiiiual masici, a lailci, a lusband, a moilci,
oi a woislipablc dcmigod."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "samupcia-miiyum" mcans "onc wlo is on ilc pail ol
icpcaicd biiil and dcail."
+ Sii Naiada Muni also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.15):
and is quiic unicasonablc. lccausc ilcy aic guidcd undci youi insiiuciions, ilcy
will acccpi sucl aciiviiics in ilc namc ol icligion, and will laidly caic loi
piolibiiions."¯
5 A pcison wlo sccls a spiiiiual masici in oidci io aiiain maiciial goals will
naiuially noi ialc slclici ol ilc lcci ol a spiiiiual masici wlo can dclivci lis
disciplc liom dcail. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol
ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii Rsabladcva io His sons.
Anuccheda 211
1 Onc slould noi scc lis spiiiiual masici as an oidinaiy liuiiivc woilci.
Railci onc slould scc lis spiiiiual masici in ilc samc way onc sccs ilc Supicmc
Loid Himscll. Loid Kisna conliims ilis in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
2 "Onc slould lnow ilc acaiya as Myscll and ncvci disicspcci lim in any
way. Onc slould noi cnvy lim, ilinling lim an oidinaiy man, loi lc is ilc
icpicscniaiivc ol all ilc dcmigods."¯
3 Tlis vcisc is paii ol ilc dcsciipiion ol a bialmacaii's duiics. Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 212
1 Tlc spiiiiual masici wlo is appioaclcd by pcisons sccling ilc liglcsi goal
ol lilc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.15.26-27):
2 "Tlc spiiiiual masici slould bc considcicd io bc diiccily ilc Supicmc Loid
bccausc lc givcs iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc loi cnliglicnmcni. Conscqucnily, loi
onc wlo mainiains ilc maiciial conccpiion ilai ilc spiiiiual masici is an oidinaiy
luman bcing, cvciyiling is liusiiaicd. His cnliglicnmcni and lis Vcdic siudics
and lnowlcdgc aic lilc ilc bailing ol an clcplani."¯
3 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Kisna, is ilc masici ol all
oilci living cniiiics and ol ilc maiciial naiuic. His loius lcci aic sougli and
woislippcd by gicai sainily pcisons lilc Vyasa. Noncilclcss, ilcic aic lools wlo
considci Loid Kisna an oidinaiy luman bcing."¯
+ Tlc spiiiiual masici (csal) las ilc samc viiiucs as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad Himscll. Tlc spiiiiual masici las ilc samc naiuic as ilc Loid. Tlai is
ilc mcaning lcic. Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by Sii Naiada io King Yudlisiliia.
Anuccheda 213
1 Somc puic dcvoiccs say ilai ilc spiiiiual masici and Loid Siva aic boil
non-dillcicni liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcy aic sccn in ilis way
bccausc ilcy aic boil vciy dcai io ilc Loid. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.30.3S):
2 "Dcai Loid, by viiiuc ol a momcni's associaiion wiil Loid Siva, wlo is vciy
dcai io You and wlo is Youi mosi iniimaic liicnd, wc wcic loiiunaic io aiiain You.
You aic ilc mosi cxpcii plysician, capablc ol iicaiing ilc incuiablc discasc ol
maiciial cxisicncc. On accouni ol oui gicai loiiunc, wc lavc bccn ablc io ialc
slclici ai Youi loius lcci."¯
3 Tlis vcisc siaics, Loid Siva (blavasya) is Youi dcai liicnd. Wc lavc
aiiaincd You (ivam gaiim), wlo aic ilc mosi cxpcii plysician (blisaliamam),
capablc ol iicaiing ilc incuiablc discasc ol maiciial cxisicncc, ol biiil (blavasya)
and dcail (miiyol)". Loid Siva is ilc spiiiiual masici ol ilc spcalcis ol ilis
vciscs. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Piaccias io ilc cigli-aimcd Puiusa-avaiaia.
Anuccheda 21+
1 ly ialing slclici ol ilc spiiiiual masici, onc ilus aiiains lovc loi ilc
Supicmc Loid. Now dillcicni vaiiciics ol woislip will bc slown. Tlc Loid may
bc appioacl as impcisonal and wiiloui vaiiciy oi as pcisonal and posscssing
vaiiciy. Tlc liisi way is ilc pail ol impcisonal lnowlcdgc. Tlc sccond way is ol
iwo linds. In onc lind onc acccpis ilc alangialopasana mcilod ol ilc
impcisonalisis, and in ilc oilci lind onc acccpis ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc io
ilc Loid. Tlc lnowlcdgc ol ilc impcisonalisis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.19.27) wlcic Loid Kisna cxplains:
"Rcal lnowlcdgc is ilc awaicncss ilai icvcals My all-pcivading
picscncc."¯¯¯
2 Tlc lnowlcdgc (jnanam) lcic is lnowlcdgc ilai sccs no dillcicncc.
Anuccheda 215
1 Many dillcicni mcilods ol spiiiiual advanccmcni aic dcsciibcd.
Impcisonal lnowlcdgc las alicady bccn dcsciibcd. Tlc mcilod may bc sccn in
ilc convcisaiion ol King Piilu and Sii Sanailumaia and in oilci placcs also in
Siimad-llagavaiam. Iiom ilai lcaiing conicmplaiion lollows. Iiisi ilc lcaicis
dcvclop a scnsc ol undcisianding. Tlcn ilcy can undcisiand ilc naiuic ol spiiii,
wlicl is dillcicni liom dull maiici. In ilc icalm ol spiiii ilcic aic many loims ol
ilc Supicmc Loid and many loims ol ilc Loid's spiiiiual poicncics. Tlis ilc
impcisonalisis aic noi ablc io undcisiand. Tlc Loid and His poicncics aic lilc ilc
moon disc and ilc many individual iays ol moonligli ilai cmanaic liom ilc moon
disc, iays ol ligli ilai aic disiinci liom cacl oilci and liom ilc moon disc also.
Tlcsc dillcicni spiiiiual loims cannoi bc sccn wiil maiciial cycs. Only il, by ilc
mcicy ol a gicai soul, onc las spiiiiual cycs, can onc scc ilc vaiiciy ilai is ilc iiuc
naiuic ol spiiii. Il onc docs noi lavc sucl spiiiiual cycs onc sccs a spiiiiual naiuic
ilai las no vaiiciy and onc aspiics io mcigc inio ilai vaiiciylcss spiiii. Tlai
vaiiciylcss spiiii is ilc objcci ol ilc impcisonalisis coniinual mcdiiaiion. Tlis
mcdiiaiion and mciging is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
2.2.15-16):
2 "O King, wlcncvci ilc yogi dcsiics io lcavc ilis planci ol luman bcings, lc
slould noi bc pciplcxcd aboui ilc piopci iimc oi placc, bui slould comloiiably sii
wiiloui bcing disiuibcd and, icgulaiing ilc lilc aii, slould coniiol ilc scnscs by
ilc mind.¯
3 Tlcicalici, ilc yogi slould mcigc lis mind, by lis unalloycd iniclligcncc,
inio ilc living cniiiy, and ilcn mcigc ilc living cniiiy inio ilc Supciscll. And by
doing ilis, ilc lully saiislicd living cniiiy bccomcs siiuaicd in ilc supicmc siagc ol
saiislaciion, so ilai lc ccascd liom all oilci aciiviiics."¯
+ Hcic "ciam" mcans "ilc iniclligcncc", "lsciia-jnc" mcans "ilc scci ol ilc
iniclligcncc and oilci ilings", and "nilayci" mcans "lc mcigcs". ly lis
iniclligcncc (buddlya) lc mcigcs ilc lnowci ol ilc licld ol aciiviiics inio ilc puic
soul (aimani), wlo is licc ol bcing ilc scci and oilci ilings. Tlcn lc mcigcs ilc
puic soul (aimanam) inio ilc Supicmc (aimani). lcing loclcd up (avaiudlya) in
ilc Supicmc, lc ilinls lc las aiiaincd oncncss wiil ilc Supicmc. In ilis way lc
aiiains saiislaciion (labdlopasaniil). Tlcn lc ccascs (viiamci) liom all oilci
aciiviiics (liiyai). In ilis way, by sccming io cnd lis own cxisicncc, lc aiiains ilc
Supicmc."
Anuccheda 216
1 Tlis impcisonal lnowlcdgc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol
llagavad-giia (S.3):
"Tlc indcsiiuciiblc, iiansccndcnial living cniiiy is callcd lialman, and lis
cicinal naiuic is callcd adlyaima, ilc scll."¯
2 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "sva" mcans "ol ilc puic spiiii soul", "blaval"
mcans "mcdiiaiion", and "adlyaima" mcans "in iclaiion io ilc soul". Tlai is ilc
mcaning. Dcsciibcd lcic is alangialopasana mcdiiaiion, wlcic ilc individual
soul ilinls, "I am ilc supicmc coniiollci, ilc masici ol all poicncics". Tlc icsuli
ol ilis mcdiiaiion is ilai ilc Loid's powci bccomcs manilcsicd in ilc mcdiiaioi.
An cxamplc ol ilis is sccn in ilc Visnu Puiana, wlcic Piallada Malaiaja
mcdiiaiing on limscll in ilis way, ilwaiis ilc snalc-noosc and oilci wcapons
uscd againsi lim. In ilis way, as an inscci, mcdiiaiing on anoilci inscci, aciually
docs bccomc ilai inscci, so ilc mcdiiaiing iiansccndcnialisi aiiains saiupya, saisii
oi anoilci lind ol libciaiion.
3 Now dcvoiional scivicc will bc dcsciibcd. Dcvoiional scivicc las iwo
naiuics, a boidcilinc naiuic and an oiiginal naiuic. Tlc Gaiuda Puiana cxplains:
+ "Now I will dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Visnu. ly cngaging in onc
aiiains cvciyiling. Loid Haii is plcascd by dcvoiional scivicc. Noiling clsc
plcascs Him."
5 Alici ilai ii is also said ilcic:
"Tlc vcibal iooi 'blaj' mcans 'io scivc'. Tlcicloic ilc lcaincd say ilai ilc
noun 'blalii', wlicl iclcis io ilc bcsi ol all spiiiiual pails, mcans 'dcvoiional
scivicc'."
6 In ilis vcisc ilc boidcilinc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilc
pliasc "yaya saivam avapyaic" (by dcvoiional scivicc cvciyiling is aiiaincd). Tlis
is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (2.3.10):
dcsiics, wiiloui any maiciial dcsiic, oi dcsiiing libciaiion, musi by all mcans
Tlc woid "budlail (by ilc wisc) lcic alliims ilai ilc "blalii" (dcvoiional
scivicc) lcic cannoi bc ilc samc as ilc alangialopasana ol ilc impcisonalisis.
Tlc woid "scva" (scivicc) lcic dcsciibcs ilc oiiginal naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd in ilicc ways: wiil body, woids and mind.
Alangialopasana, lowcvci, is pciloimcd oui ol lcai, laiicd and oilci lauliy
moiivcs. Tlc woid "sadlana-bluyasi" mcans ilai dcvoiional scivicc is bcsi ol all
spiiiiual pails. Tlc iwo naiuics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic also dcsciibcd in ilc
7 "Lvcn ignoiani living cniiiics can vciy casily comc io lnow ilc Supicmc
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯¯¯
S Hcic ilc pliasc "avidusam pumsam" mcans "by ilcy wlo cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc bui do noi undcisiand ilc iiuc gloiics ol dcvoiional scivicc",
"aimanal" mcans "ol ilc Supicmc, wlo is manilcsicd as lialman, Paiamaima and
llagavan", "anjal" mcans "wiiloui clloii", "labdlayc" mcans "io aiiain", and
"upayal" mcans "mcilods". Tlc woid "blagavaia" mcans "spolcn by ilc
Supicmc Loid Himscll". Tlis woid is cxplaincd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc
9 "ly ilc inllucncc ol iimc, ilc iiansccndcnial sound ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc
10 In ilis way dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd (piolial) by ilc Loid Himscll.
Tlcn ilc vcisc dcclaics, "Plcasc undcisiand (viddli) ilc spiiiiual pioccss (ian)
lnown as blagavaia-dlaima (blagavaian)". Tlc woid "li" (cciiainly) is uscd io
cmplasisc ilai ilis is ilc way io aiiain succcss. Diicci dcvoiional scivicc is callcd
blagavaia-dlaima in ilis vcisc. Ii is icvcalcd io bc ilc liglcsi dlaima in ilcsc
Tlc woids "aima-labdlayc piolial" lcic iclci io ilc boidcilinc naiuic ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis mcans ilai onc cannoi aiiain ilc Supicmc in any oilci
way. Tlc woids "aima-labdlayc upayal" lcic iclci io ilc oiiginal naiuic ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc mcilods lcic iclci io ilc mcilods dcsciibcd by ilc Loid
Himscll. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii
Kavi io King Nimi.
Anuccheda 217
1 Dcvoiional scivicc is ol ilicc linds: 1 aiopa siddla, 2. sanga-siddla, and
3. svaiupa-siddla. Aiopa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd wlcn, cvcn
ilougl onc pcisonally las no dcvoiion, ilc Loid somclow cngagcs onc in ilc
aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Sanga-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd
wlcn, cvcn ilougl onc las no dcvoiion, by associaiing wiil dcvoiccs onc bccomcs
cngagcd in ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
"Acccpiing ilc bona lidc spiiiiual masici as onc's lilc and soul and
ollci Himscll io ilc laiillul disciplc."¯
2 Sanga-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
"A sinccic disciplc slould lcain io dissociaic ilc mind liom cvciyiling
maiciial and posiiivcly culiivaic associaiion wiil lis spiiiiual masici and oilci
sainily dcvoiccs."¯¯¯
In ilis way onc aiiains dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is somciimcs aiiaincd by
ilc lclp ol jnana and laima.
3 Svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is manilcsicd wlcn dcvoiional scivicc is
no longci mixcd wiil jnana oi laima, wlcn ilc Loid diiccily appcais bcloic ilc
dcvoicc, and wlcn ilc dcvoicc las puic and unwavciing dcvoiion loi ilc Loid.
Tlis lind ol dcvoiional scivicc is claiaciciiscd by ilc vaiious dcvoiional aciiviiics
ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing and claniing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid. Tlcsc aciiviiics aic
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.5.23):
"Hcaiing and claniing aboui ilc iiansccndcnial loly namc, loim, qualiiics,
paiaplcinalia and pasiimcs ol Loid Visnu, icmcmbciing ilcm, sciving ilc loius
lcci ol ilc Loid, ollciing ilc Loid icspccilul woislip wiil sixiccn iypcs ol
paiaplcinalia, ollciing piaycis io ilc Loid, bccoming His scivani, considciing ilc
Loid onc's bcsi liicnd, and suiicndciing cvciyiling unio Him (in oilci woids,
sciving Him wiil ilc body, mind and woids), ilcsc ninc pioccsscs aic acccpicd as
puic dcvoiional scivicc. Onc wlo lad dcdicaicd lis lilc io ilc scivicc ol Kisna
iliougl ilcsc ninc mcilods slould bc undcisiood io bc ilc mosi lcaincd pcison,
loi lc las acquiicd complcic lnowlcdgc."¯
+ Tlis mcans lcaiing aboui Loid Visnu and claniing ilc gloiics ol Loid
Visnu. Tlcsc aciiviiics aic dillcicni liom ilc aciiviiics ol aiopa-siddla dcvoiional
scivicc. Lvcn il onc is bcwildcicd, loolisl oi las a losi ol sloiicomings, and cvcn
il onc mcicly imiiaics ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, by pciloiming ilcsc
aciiviiics lc comcs inio coniaci wiil svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc and lc
aiiains ilc icsuli ol ilai scivicc.
5 Lxamplcs ol ilis aic Sii Piallada, wlom in lis picvious biiil lasiing on Sii
Nisimla-caiuidasi, ilc lawl ilai ciicumambulaicd ilc icmplc ol ilc Loid
lollowing a dog, and many lools wlo cvcn ilougl ilcy cannoi scc ilc iiuil, siill
may somciimcs bow down bcloic ilc Supicmc Loid. In ilis way ilcic aic ilicc
linds ol dcvoiional scivicc. Dcvoiional scivicc may also bc dividcd in iwo ways:
1. alaiiava (sinccic), and 2. salaiiava (insinccic).
6 Tlus aiopa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc and sanga-siddla dcvoiional scivicc
aic boil callcd by ilc namc blalii (dcvoiional scivicc). Howcvci, il onc las cvcn
a singlc uliciioi moiivc, io bcnclii ciilci oncscll ol somconc clsc, ilcn lis
dcvoiional scivicc is callcd salaiiava (insinccic).
7 Tlc gloiy ol svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is ilai ii las a diicci
iclaiionslip wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Il onc cngagcs in ilis lind
ol dcvoiional scivicc alonc, ilcn ilc dcvoiional scivicc is alaiiava (sinccic).
Howcvci, il ilc dcvoiional scivicc is mixcd wiil laima oi jnana, ilcn ilc
dcvoiional scivicc is salaiiava (insinccic). Alaiiava dcvoiional scivicc las alicady
bccn dcsciibcd lcic in a quoic ilai iclciicd io ii by ilc woid "alincana". Alaiiava
dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.1.2):
lis lcaii."¯
In ilis way ilc iwo linds (alaiiava and salaiiava) ol dcvoiional scivicc
lavc bccn dcsciibcd.
S Alaiiava dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.5.52):
9 Aiopa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.5.12 and 12.12.35):
"Knowlcdgc ol scll-icalisaiion, cvcn ilougl licc ol all maiciial alliniiy,
docs noi lool wcll il dcvoid ol a conccpiion ol ilc inlalliblc (God). Wlai ilcn is
Loid'"¯
In ilcsc woids liuiiivc aciiviiics, wlcilci pciloimcd wiil maiciial dcsiic oi
wiiloui maiciial dcsiic, aic ciiiiciscd, loi ilcsc aciiviiics lavc no iclaiionslip wiil
ilc Supicmc Loid. Howcvci, il somclow oi oilci ilcsc aciiviiics aic ollcicd io
ilc Supicmc Loid, ilcy ilcn bccomc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Vcdic duiics
aic dcsciibcd in ilis way in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.36):
10 "In accoidancc wiil ilc paiiiculai naiuic onc las acquiicd in condiiioncd
lilc, wlaicvci onc docs wiil body, woids, mind, scnscs, iniclligcncc oi puiilicd
consciousncss onc slould ollci io ilc Supicmc, ilinling, "Tlis is loi ilc plcasuic
ol Loid Naiayana."¯¯¯
11 In Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.31) ilc lollowing qucsiion is aslcd:
"Plcasc spcal aboui low onc cngagcs in ilc dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, il you considci mc capablc ol piopcily lcaiing ilcsc iopics. Wlcn
a living cniiiy ollcis loving scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc Loid is immcdiaicly
saiislicd, and in iciuin Hc will givc cvcn His own scll io ilc suiicndcicd soul."¯¯¯
Tlis qucsiion is answcicd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.3+):
Dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is ilc diicci mcans io aiiain ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and wlicl consisis ol a losi ol aciiviiics ilai bcgin wiil
lcaiing and claniing ilc Loid's gloiics, is iclciicd io lcic by ilc woid "blagavaia-
dlaima".
12 Somc ol ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic icvcalcd in ilc lollowing
13 In ilc ncxi clapici ii is said (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.22-23):
ollci Himscll io ilc laiillul disciplc.¯¯¯
maiciial and posiiivcly culiivaic associaiion wiil ilc spiiiiual masici and oilci
sainily dcvoiccs. Hc slould bc mcicilul io ilosc in an inlciioi posiiion io lim,
culiivaic liicndslip wiil ilosc on an cqual lcvcl, and mcclly scivc ilosc in a
liglci spiiiiual posiiion. Tlus lc slould lcain io dcal piopcily wiil all living
bcings.¯¯¯
"To scivc ilc spiiiiual masici ilc disciplc slould lcain clcanlincss,
ausiciiiy, iolciancc, silcncc, siudy ol Vcdic lnowlcdgc, simpliciiy, cclibacy, non-
violcncc, and cquanimiiy in ilc lacc ol maiciial dualiiics sucl as lcai and cold,
lappincss and disiicss.¯¯¯
"Onc slould piaciicc mcdiiaiion by consianily sccing oncscll io bc an
cicinal cognisani spiiii soul and sccing ilc Loid io bc ilc absoluic coniiollci ol
cvciyiling. To incicasc onc's mcdiiaiion onc slould livc in a sccludcd placc and
givc up all lalsc aiiaclmcni io onc's lomc and lousclold paiaplcinalia. Giving
up ilc dccoiaiions ol ilc icmpoiaiy maiciial body, onc slould dicss limscll wiil
sciaps ol cloil lound in icjccicd placcs, oi wiil ilc bail ol iiccs. In ilis way onc
slould lcain io bc saiislicd in any maiciial siiuaiion.¯¯¯
"Onc slould lavc liim laiil ilai lc will aclicvc all succcss in lilc by
lollowing ilosc sciipiuics ilai dcsciibc ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, llagavan. Ai ilc samc iimc, onc slould avoid blasplcming oilci
sciipiuics. Onc slould iigidly coniiol lis mind, spcccl, and bodily aciiviiics,
always spcal ilc iiuil, and biing ilc mind and scnscs undci lull coniiol.¯¯¯
"Onc slould lcai, gloiily, and mcdiiaic upon ilc wondcilul iiansccndcnial
aciiviiics ol ilc Loid. Onc slould spccilically bccomc absoibcd in ilc appcaiancc,
aciiviiics, qualiiics, and loly namcs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlus
inspiicd, onc slould pciloim all ol onc's daily aciiviiics as an ollciing io ilc Loid.
Onc slould pciloim saciilicc, claiiiy and pcnancc cxclusivcly loi ilc Loid's
saiislaciion. Similaily onc slould clani only ilosc maniias ilai gloiily ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. And all onc's icligious aciiviiics slould bc
pciloimcd as an ollciing io ilc Loid. Wlaicvci onc linds plcasing oi cnjoyablc lc
slould immcdiaicly ollci io ilc Supicmc Loid, and cvcn lis wilc, clildicn, lomc,
and vciy lilc aii lc slould ollci ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.¯¯¯
"Onc wlo dcsiics lis uliimaic scll-inicicsi slould culiivaic liicndslip wiil
ilosc pcisons wlo lavc acccpicd Kisna as ilc Loid ol ilcii lilc. Onc slould
luiilci dcvclop an aiiiiudc ol scivicc io all living bcings. Onc slould cspccially iiy
io lclp ilosc in ilc luman loim ol lilc and among ilcm, cspccially ilosc wlo
acccpi ilc piinciplcs ol icligious bclavioui. Among ilc icligious pcisons, onc
slould cspccially icndci scivicc io ilc puic dcvoiccs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.¯¯¯
"Onc slould lcain low io associaic wiil ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid by
gailciing wiil ilcm io clani ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid. Tlis pioccss is mosi
puiilying. As dcvoiccs ilus dcvclop ilcii loving liicndslip, ilcy lccl muiual
lappincss and saiislaciion. And by ilus cncouiaging onc anoilci ilcy aic ablc io
givc up maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion, wlicl is ilc causc ol all sullciing.¯¯¯
"Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid consianily discuss ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad among ilcmsclvcs. Tlus ilcy consianily icmcmbci ilc
Loid and icmind onc anoilci ol His qualiiics and pasiimcs. In ilis way, by ilcii
dcvoiion io ilc piinciplcs ol blalii-yoga, ilc dcvoiccs plcasc ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo ialcs away liom ilcm cvciyiling inauspicious.
lcing puiilicd ol all impcdimcnis, ilc dcvoiccs awalcn io puic lovc ol Godlcad,
and ilus, cvcn wiilin ilis woild, ilcii spiiiiualiscd bodics cxlibii sympioms ol
iiansccndcnial ccsiasy, sucl as sianding ol ilc bodily laiis on cnd."¯¯¯
"Having aclicvcd lovc ol Godlcad, ilc dcvoiccs somciimcs ciy oui loud,
absoibcd in ilougli ol ilc inlalliblc Loid. Somciimcs ilcy laugl, lccl gicai
plcasuic, spcal oui loud io ilc Loid, dancc, oi sing. Sucl dcvoiccs, laving
iiansccndcnial maiciial, condiiioncd lilc, somciimcs imiiaic ilc unboin Supicmc
by aciing oui His pasiimcs. And somciimcs, aclicving His pcisonal audicncc, ilcy
icmain pcacclul and silcni.¯¯¯
"Tlus lcaining ilc scicncc ol dcvoiional scivicc and piaciically cngaging in
dcvoiional scivicc ol ilc Loid, ilc dcvoicc comc io ilc siagc ol lovc ol Godlcad.
And by complcic dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Naiayana, ilc
dcvoicc casily ciosscs ovci ilc illusoiy cncigy, maya, wlicl is cxiicmcly dilliculi
io cioss."¯¯¯
1+ As was said in ilc picvious dcsciipiion ol dcvoiional scivicc, ilc dcvoicc
slould avoid associaiion wiil non-dcvoiccs. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
maiciial and posiiivcly culiivaic associaiion wiil lis spiiiiual masici and oilci
sainily dcvoiccs. Hc slould bc mcicilul io ilosc in an inlciioi posiiion on lim,
culiivaic liicndslip wii ilosc on an cqual lcvcl and mcclly scivc ilosc in a liglci
spiiiiual posiiion. Tlus lc slould lcain io dcal posiiivcly wiil all living
bcings."¯¯¯
15 In ilis way cvcn ilc liuiis ol oidinaiy woil may bc ollcicd io ilc Loid in
oidci io cvcniually aiiain ilc pcilcciion ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.36:
"In ilc pliasc 'aimana vanusiia-svablavaia' ilc woid 'aimana' may mcan
ciilci 'wiil ilc mind' oi 'wiil ilc lalsc cgo'. Tlc mcaning is ilis. Ii is noi only
ilc pciloimancc ol Vcdic duiics ilai may bc ollcicd io ilc Loid. Lvcn oidinaiy
woil, pciloimcd accoiding io onc's own naiuic, may bc ollcicd io Him. Tlis is
cxplaincd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii llagavad-giia (9.27):
16 "Wlaicvci you do, wlaicvci you cai, wlaicvci you ollci oi givc away, and
wlaicvci ausiciiiics you pciloim, do ilai, O son ol Kunii, as an ollciing io Mc."¯
17 In ilc picvious vciscs ilis advicc was givcn, "Onc slould aci accoiding io
ilc naiuic ol onc's lilc-bicail, iniclligcncc, and body." Wlcn onc, accoiding io
lis own naiuic, ollcis lis woil io ilc Loid, lc may aiiain iwo dillcicni icsulis loi
any misdccds lc pciloims. Tlcy wlo ycain io aiiain impcisonal lnowlcdgc do
noi considci misdccds dillcicni liom good dccds. Tlcy wlo ycain io aiiain
dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid scc ilai ilcii picscni sullciings aic duc io ilc
maiciial dcsiics siill icmaining in ilcii lcaiis. Tlcy piay io ilc mcicilul Loid,
asling ilai Hc slow mcicy io ilcm.
1S In ilc Visnu Puiana ii is said:
"Iools aic aiiiacicd io ilc woild ol ilc scnscs. O Loid, I am noi lilc ilcm.
I always icmcmbci You and I piay ilai You will ncvci lcavc my lcaii."
19 In ilc Padma Puiana ii is said:
"Jusi as ilc minds ol young giils ialc plcasuic in young boys, and young
boys ialc plcasuic in young giils, lindly allow my mind io ialc plcasuic in You
alonc."¯
20 Tlis mcans, "May my good dccds and my misdccds boil lcad mc io
complcic lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."
21 Lvcn maiciialisis may ollci ilcii maiciialisiic aciiviiics io ilc Loid. Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+6):
"ly cxccuiing wiiloui aiiaclmcni ilc icgulaicd aciiviiics picsciibcd in ilc
lnowlcdgc, bui aic mcani loi siimulaiing ilc inicicsi ol ilc pciloimci."¯¯¯
Tlus onc ollcis ilc icsulis ol Vcdic duiics io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii
Kavi io Malaiaja Nimi.
Anuccheda 218
1 Tlcy wlo ollci io ilc Loid ilc icsulis ol Vcdic duiics aic gloiilicd in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam S.5.+7):
2 "Kaimis aic always anxious io accumulaic wcalil loi ilcii scnsc
giaiilicaiion, bui loi ilai puiposc ilcy musi woil vciy laid. Yci cvcn ilougl ilcy
woil laid, ilc icsulis aic noi saiislying. Indccd, somciimcs ilcii woil icsulis
only in liusiiaiion. lui dcvoiccs wlo lavc dcdicaicd ilcii livcs io ilc scivicc ol
ilc Loid can aclicvc subsianiial icsulis wiiloui woiling vciy laid. Tlcsc icsulis
cxcccd ilc dcvoicc's cxpcciaiions."¯¯¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans, "Kaimis aic always anxious io accumulaic wcalil loi
ilcii scnsc giaiilicaiion, bui loi ilai puiposc ilcy musi woil vciy laid. Yci cvcn
ilougl ilcy woil laid, plowing and doing oilci woil, ilc icsulis aic noi
saiislying. lui dcvoiccs wlo lavc dcdicaicd ilcii livcs io ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid
can aclicvc subsianiial icsulis wiiloui woiling vciy laid. Tlcsc icsulis cxcccd
ilc dcvoicc's cxpcciaiions. Tlis is bccausc ilc linal icsuli ilcy aiiain is iclcasc
liom ilc maiciial woild ol biiil and dcail."
+ Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.35):
5 Tlis is again dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam (5.19.27):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad lullils ilc maiciial dcsiics ol a
dcsiics. Tlai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy's spccial mcicy."¯
6 Tlai is low Malaiaja Nabli aiiaincd as lis son Loid Rsabladcva, wlo is
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ol Sii
llagavad-giia (2.+0):
7 "In ilis cndcavoui ilcic is no loss oi diminuiion, and a liiilc advanccmcni
on ilis pail can pioicci onc liom ilc mosi dangcious iypc ol lcai."¯
S Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc
dcmigods io ilc inlalliblc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anucchedas 219-221
1 Tlc pioccss ol ollciing ilc liuiis ol onc's woil io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing ilicc vcisc. In Siimad llagavaiam
(1.5.32) ii is said:
2 "O lialmana Vyasadcva, ii is dccidcd by ilc lcaincd ilai ilc bcsi icmcdial
mcasuic loi icmoving all iioublcs and misciics is io dcdicaic onc's aciiviiics io ilc
scivicc ol ilc Supicmc Loid Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Sii Kisna)."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "bialman" mcans "O Vcda-vyasa". "Liai iapa-iiaya-
ciliisiiam samsuciiam" mcans "ilc icmcdy loi ilc ilicclold misciics, a icmcdy
spolcn by ilc swanlilc cnliglicncd souls wlo wcic siaying ai ilai placc duiing
ilc loui monils ol Caiuimasya". Wlai is ilai icmcdy' Tlc icmcdy is "blagavaii
laima yai", wlicl mcans "dcdicaiing onc's aciiviiics io ilc scivicc ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad". Wlai is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad lilc' Hc is
dcsciibcd lcic by ilc woid "blagavaii", wlicl mcans "lull ol all opulcnccs and
gloiics" and "ilc wlolc ol wlicl cvciyiling ilai cxisis is a paii and paiccl". Tlc
woid "isvaic" is also uscd io dcsciibc Him bccausc lc is ilc coniiollci ol ilc
individual souls, wlo aic all His paiis and paiccls. In ilis siiuaiion Hc is also
givcn ilc namc "Paiamaima" (ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul).
+ Hcic somconc may objcci: How can ilc samc maiciial aciiviiics ilai wcic
oncc ilc causc ol bondagc in ilc woild ol biiil and dcail ai anoilci iimc biing
onc libciaiion liom ilc ilicclold misciics ol maiciial cxisicncc'
To ilis objcciion ilc lollowing icply is givcn: Tlc samc iling may biing
dillcicni icsulis undci dillcicni ciicumsianccs. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
siaicmcni (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.33):
5 "O goo soul, docs noi a iling, applicd ilciapcuiically, cuic a discasc ilai
was causcd by ilai vciy samc iling'"¯
6 Hcic "ya amayal" mcans "ilc discasc", and "ycna jayaic" mcans "cicaicd
by buiici oi oilci ilings". Tlai iling (iad cva diavyam) ilai liisi causcd ilc
discasc docs noi (na) by iiscll cuic ilc samc discasc. Howcvci, wlcn mixcd wiil
oilci subsianccs and ii can bc paii ol a mcdicinc (ciliisiiam) ilai docs cuic ilc
discasc.
7 Tlis is luiilci cxplaincd in ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.3+0):
"Tlus wlcn all a man's aciiviiics aic dcdicaicd io ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid,
ilosc vciy aciiviiics wlicl causcd lis pcipciual bondagc bccomc ilc dcsiioyci ol
ilc iicc ol woil."¯
S Hcic "paic" mcans "io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad" and
"lalpiial" mcans "cvcn wlcn ollcicd wiil maiciialisiic moiivcs". lccausc ilcsc
aciiviiics dcsiioy ilc bondagc ol coniinucd maiciial cxisicncc, ilcy givc onc ilc
abiliiy (lalpanic) io icnouncc maiciialisiic aciiviiics (aima-vinasaya).
Anuccheda 222
1 Tlc icsulis ol aciion aic all gianicd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
Himscll. Iools ilinl ilai ilcy ilcmsclvcs biing ilc icsulis ol ilcii own aciions.
Sucl pcisons icmain in ilc maiciial woild and cnjoy only ilc mosi mcagic
bcncliis liom ilcii labouis. Iniclligcni pcisons wlo undcisiand ilai all icsulis
comc liom ilc Loid and wlo ollci wlai ilcy do io Him aiiain icsulis ilai aic ilc
opposiic ol mcagic. Tlis is cxplaincd in iwo piosc passagcs ol Siimad
llagavaiam. Tlc liisi ol ilcsc passagcs (Siimad llagavaiam 5.7.6.) givcs ilc
lollowing cxplanaiion:
2 "Alici pciloiming ilc picliminaiics ol vaiious saciiliccs, Malaiaja llaiaia
ollcicd ilc icsulis in ilc namc ol icligion io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
Vasudcva. In oilci woids, lc pciloimcd all ilc yajnas loi ilc saiislaciion ol Loid
Vasudcva, Kisna. Malaiaja llaiaia ilougli ilai sincc ilc dcmigods wcic
dillcicni paiis ol Vasudcva's body, Hc coniiols ilosc wlo aic cxplaincd in ilc
Vcdic maniias. ly ilinling in ilis way, Malaiaja llaiaia was liccd liom all
maiciial coniaminaiion, sucl as aiiaclmcni, lusi and giccd. Wlcn ilc piicsis
wcic aboui io ollci ilc saciilicial ingicdicnis inio ilc liic, Malaiaja llaiaia
cxpciily undcisiood low ilc ollciing madc io dillcicni dcmigods was simply an
ollciing io ilc dillcicni limbs ol ilc Loid. Ioi insiancc, India is ilc aim ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and Suiya (ilc sun) is His cyc. Tlus Malaiaja
llaiaia considcicd ilai ilc oblaiions ollcicd io dillcicni dcmigods wcic aciually
ollcicd unio ilc dillcicni limbs ol Loid Vasudcva."¯
"Tlis vcisc mcans 'Alici pciloiming (sampiacaiaisu) ilc picliminaiics ol
vaiious saciiliccs (nana-yagcsu anga-liiya), Malaiaja llaiaia ollcicd ilc icsulis in
ilc namc ol icligion io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Vasudcva. In oilci
woids, lc pciloimcd all ilc yajnas loi ilc saiislaciion ol Loid Vasudcva, Kisna
(apuivam iad vasudcva cva blavayamanal). Malaiaja llaiaia ilougli ilai sincc
Suiya and ilc oilci dcmigods wcic dillcicni paiis ol Vasudcva's body (avayavcsu)
and wcic ilcicloic noi scpaiaic liom Hc, Hc coniiols ilosc wlo aic cxplaincd in
ilc Vcdic maniias. ly ilinling in ilis way, Malaiaja llaiaia was liccd liom all
maiciial coniaminaiion, sucl as aiiaclmcni, lusi and giccd. Wlcn ilc piicsis
wcic aboui io ollci ilc saciilicial ingicdicnis inio ilc liic (sa yajamano yajna-
blaga-blajal). Malaiaja llaiaia cxpciily undcisiood (ablyadlyayai) low ilc
ollciing madc io dillcicni dcmigods (dcval) was simply an ollciing io ilc dillcicni
limbs (avyayavcsu), bcginning wiil ilc cycs, ol ilc Loid Vasudcva (puiusasya).
Ioi insiancc, India is ilc aim ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and Suiya
(ilc sun) is His cyc. Tlus Malaiaja llaiaia considcicd ilai ilc oblaiions ollcicd
io dillcicni dcmigods wcic aciually ollcicd unio ilc dillcicni limbs ol Loid
Vasudcva.'¯
"Tlc laima-mimamsalas cxplain ilc woid 'apuiva' in iwo ways. Tlc liisi
inicipiciaiion is ilai ilc icsulis ol aciion aic givcn in a subilc way duiing ilc
picscni iimc. In ilc sccond inicipiciaiion ilc icsulis aic givcn ai a laici iimc by
ilc laima-salii poicncy.
+ "Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids:
"Two poicncics biing ilc icsulis ol yajnas. Tlc icsulis aic biougli by a
subilc poicncy."
5 "In ilis way ilc liuiis ol iiiuals (liiya) aic callcd 'dlaima'".
"Hcic somconc may asl ilc lollowing qucsiion: Il ilc dcmigods aic limbs
ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and il ilc Vcdic yajnas aic ilcicloic mosi
impoiiani, ilcn by pciloiming yajnas woislips ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad indiiccily (apuivam). Is ilis noi so'
"To ilis qucsiion ilc sciipiuics givc ilc lollowing icply:
6 "Tlc suiiabiliiy ol ilc pcison and ilc Vcdic iiiual is dcicimincd by
sciipiuic. Tlc woid 'apuiva' is uscd bccausc ilc icsuli ol ilc yajna is noi aiiaincd
immcdiaicly."
7 "Tlc yajnas ollcicd io ilc dcmigods aic mcani loi woislipping ilc
dcmigods. ly ilc mcicy ol ilc dcmigods onc aiiains ilc slclici ol ilc dcmigods.
Hcic animal saciiliccs aic noi appiopiiaic. Onc slould ollci iicc and oilci ilings
insicad.
S "How docs onc ialc slclici ol Loid Vasudcva in ilis icmoic way' Il ii is
said ilai ilc yajna-pciloimci's woislip is ilis icmoic, ilcn ilai mcans ilai Loid
Vasudcva is ilc Supcisoul wlo is ilc oiiginal insiigaioi ol ilc yajna, and loi ilis
icason Hc is ilc oiiginal pciloimci ol ilc yajna and ilc uliimaic slclici ol ilc
yajna also. Tlc pciloimci ol ilc yajna is noi ilc slclici ol ilc yajna. In ilc
Nyaya-sasiia ii is said, 'Tlc icsuli dcsciibcd in ilc sciipiuics icsis in ilc pcison
wlo oiiginally sci ilc yajna in moiion'. Il ilis wcic noi so ilcn ilc iivil piicsi
would bc ilc slclici ol ilc yajna. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilis passagc in ilc woids
'salsai laiiaii'. In ilis way, by ialing slclici ol ilc dcmigods onc also ialcs
slclici ol Loid Vasudcva. Tlai is dcsciibcd in ilis passagc by ilc woid 'paia-
dcvaiayam'.
9 How is Loid Vasudcva ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad' Tlis passagc
ol Siimad llagavaiam cxplains, 'saiva-dcvaia-linganam maniianam aiila-
niyamalaiaya', wlicl mcans 'bccausc Hc is ilc coniiollci ol King India and ilc
oilci dcmigods, wlo aic cxplaincd in ilc Vcdic maniias'. Tlus, bccausc Hc is ilc
pcison wlo slould bc plcascd in ilc yajnas and also bccausc Hc givcs ilc icsulis
ol ilc yajnas, Loid Vasudcva is ilc icmoic slclici in wlom ilc Vcdic yajnas icsi.
Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
10 "Hcic ilc woid 'naipunya' mcans 'cxpcii in mcdiiaiion', 'midiial' mcans
'dcsiioycd', and 'lasayal' mcans 'lusi and oilci maiciial dclccis'. Tlc woid
'adlvaiyublil' is uscd in ilc pluial bccausc ilc Advaiyu piicsi las many dillcicni
duiics io pciloim."
Noic: Tlc quoiaiion liom Siila Siidlaia Svami's commcniaiy cnds lcic.
11 Tlc yajnas aic a limb ol Loid Visnu. Il onc woislips Loid Visnu wiil ilc
idca ilai Loid Visnu is bui onc componcni ol ilc Vcdic yajnas, ilcn onc commiis
an ollcnsc.
12 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-
llanda:
"Onc wlo ollcis yajnas io ilc dcmigods and givcs ilcm gilis, oi onc wlo
acis indcpcndcnily and docs as lc lilcs, is lnown as an ollcndci."
Tlc woid "ollcndci" lcic mcans "onc wlo las siiaycd liom ilc pail ol
woislipping Loid Visnu".
13 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Kisna, Himscll dcclaics (Sii
llagavad-giia 9.23-2+):
"Tlosc wlo aic dcvoiccs ol oilci gods and wlo woislip ilcm wiil laiil
aciually woislip only Mc, O son ol Kunii, bui ilcy do so in a wiong way.¯
1+ "I am ilc only cnjoyci and masici ol all saciiliccs. Tlcicloic, ilosc wlo do
noi iccognisc My iiuc iiansccndcnial naiuic lall down."¯
15 Tlc iiuil is ilai all ilc pails ol ilc Vcdas lcad io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad. Tlis is conliimcd by Siiman Aliuia in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 10.+0.9-10):
16 "lui all ilcsc pcoplc, my Loid, cvcn ilosc wlo lavc iuincd ilcii aiicniion
away liom You and aic woislipping oilci dciiics, aic aciually woislipping You
alonc, O cmbodimcni ol all ilc dcmigods.¯¯¯
17 "As iivcis boin liom ilc mouniains and lillcd by ilc iain llow liom all
sidcs inio ilc sca, so do all ilcsc pails in ilc cnd icacl You, O masici."¯¯¯
1S Hcic ilc woid "gaiayal" mcans "pails" and "aniaial" mcans "in ilc
conclusion ol plilosoplical inquiiy".
Anuccheda 223
1 Tlc sccond piosc passagc (Siimad llagavaiam 5.7.7.) givcs ilc lollowing
cxplanaiion:
"In ilis way, bcing puiilicd by iiiualisiic saciiliccs, ilc lcaii ol Malaiaja
llaiaia was complcicly unconiaminaicd. His dcvoiional scivicc unio Vasudcva,
Loid Kisna, incicascd day alici day. Loid Kisna, ilc son ol Vasudcva, is ilc
oiiginal Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad manilcsi as ilc Supcisoul (Paiamaima) as wcll as
ilc impcisonal lialman. Yogis mcdiiaic upon ilc localiscd Paiamaima siiuaicd in
ilc lcaii, jnanis woislip ilc impcisonal lialman as ilc Supicmc Absoluic Tiuil,
and dcvoiccs woislip Vasudcva, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlosc
iiansccndcnial body is dcsciibcd in ilc sasiias. His body is dccoiaicd wiil ilc
Siivaisa, ilc Kausiubla jcwcl and a llowci gailand and His lands lold a
conclslcll, disc, club and loius llowci. Dcvoiccs lilc Naiada always ilinl ol Him
wiilin ilcii lcaiis."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "cvam" (ilus) mcans "alici ilc picccding siaicmcni". Tlcn
ilc passagcs cxplains, "ilc dcvoiional scivicc (blaliil), wlicl was claiaciciiscd
by laiillul lcaiing, claniing and oilci dcvoiional aciiviiics, ol lc wlosc lcaii was
puic (visuddla-saiivasya) was manilcsicd (ajayaia) wiil puic aciiviiics (laima-
visuddlya). Tlai dcvoiional scivicc was ollcicd io Loid Vasudcva (vasudcvc), ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (blagavaii), wlo is lamous and gloiious bccausc
His loim and opulcnccs aic pcilcci and complcic, bccausc Hc icsidcs cvciywlcic,
and bccausc ol ilc gloiics ol His loly namc, wlo in His loim lnown as ilc
Paiamaima (Supcisoul) icsidcs in ilc lcaii (aniai-lidayc alasal saiiiam), wlo is
callcd lialman (bialmani) bccausc ilai aspcci ol His naiuic las no vaiiciy, wlosc
lcaiuic as llagavan is ilus piovcd noi io bc vaiiciylcss as lialman is, wlosc loim
as ilc Supicmc Pcison is dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics, wlo is ilus sccn in ilc
sciipiuics, and wlo is mailcd wiil ilc Siivaisa and oilci signs. Hcic ilc woid
"cdlamanaiaya" mcans "incicasing day alici day".
Anuccheda 22+
1 Ollciing woil io ilc Loid is ol iwo linds: 1. woiling io plcasc ilc Loid,
and 2. ollciing ilc icsulis ol woil io ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids ol ilc Kuima Puiana:
2 "May ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad always bc plcascd wiil ilis
woil. Onc wlo always ilinls in ilis way ollcis lis woil io ilc Supicmc."
3 "Oi, onc may also ollci ilc icsulis ol onc's woils io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc sagcs say ilai ilis is also a pccilcss ollciing io ilc
Supicmc."
+ Dcvoiional scivicc is causcd in ilicc ways: 1. lamana (wiil maiciial
dcsiic), 2. naislaimya (licc liom maiciial aciiviiics), and 3. blalii-maiia
(dcvoiional scivicc alonc).
5 Ii is noi possiblc loi any living bcing io aiiain a siaic wlcic lc docs noi
lavc any dcsiics ai all. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
"Wlcncvci a pcison acis lis aciions aic impcllcd by somc lind ol dcsiic."
6 In lamana and naislaimya dcvoiional scivicc ilcic is mosily ollciing ilc
icsulis ol onc's woil io ilc Loid. In addiiion ilcic is a icllcciion ol woiling io
plcasc ilc Loid. Tlis is so bccausc ol ilc dcvoicc's icndcncy io considci lis own
scll-inicicsi mosi impoiiani. In blalii-maiia dcvoiional scivicc, lowcvci,
plcasing ilc Loid is ilc ccniic ol aciion. Tlis is so bccausc in ilis siagc ilc
dcvoicc considcis ilc Loid lis lilc and soul.
7 Tlc icsulis aiiaincd by cngaging in lamana dcvoiional scivicc aic dcsciibcd
in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam S.5.+7):
"Kaimis aic always anxious io accumulaic wcalil loi ilcii scnsc
giaiilicaiion, bui loi ilai puiposc ilcy musi woil vciy laid. Yci cvcn ilougl ilcy
woil laid, ilc icsulis aic noi saiislying. Indccd, somciimcs ilcii woil icsulis
only in liusiiaiion. lui dcvoiccs wlo lavc dcdicaicd ilcii livcs io ilc scivicc ol
ilc Loid can aclicvc subsianiial icsulis wiiloui woiling vciy laid. Tlcsc icsulis
cxcccd ilc dcvoicc's cxpcciaiions."¯
S An cxamplc ol naislaimya dcvoiional scivicc is ilc yajna King Anga ollcicd
io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc icsulis ol naislaimya dcvoiional
scivicc aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+6):
"ly cxccuiing wiiloui aiiaclmcni ilc icgulaicd aciiviiics picsciibcd in ilc
lnowlcdgc, bui aic mcani loi siimulaiing ilc inicicsi ol ilc pciloimci."¯¯¯
9 Tlc icsuli aiiaincd by cngaging in blalii-maiia dcvoiional scivicc is
dcsciibcd in ilc piosc ol Siimad llagavaiam 5.7.7., wlicl was quoicd in icxi 1 ol
ilis anucclcda.
10 llalii-maiia dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.5.35):
"Wlaicvci woil is donc lcic in ilis lilc loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilc mission
ol ilc Loid is callcd blalii-yoga, oi iiansccndcnial loving scivicc io ilc Loid, and
wlai is callcd lnowlcdgc bccomcs a concomiiani lacioi."¯
11 lccausc ii is lclplul in pciloiming dcvoiional scivicc, ilc lnowlcdgc
(jnanam) mcniioncd lcic is lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Tlc gicai dcvoiccs dcsiic io plcasc ilc Loid (blagavai-paiiiosanam).
12-13 llalii-maiia dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam +.30.39-+0):
"Dcai Loid, wc lavc siudicd ilc Vcdas, acccpicd a spiiiiual masici and
ollcicd icspcci io bialmanas, advanccd dcvoiccs and agcd pcisonaliiics wlo aic
spiiiiually vciy advanccd. Wc lavc ollcicd oui icspccis io ilcm, and wc lavc noi
bccn cnvious ol any bioilci, liicnds oi anyonc clsc. Wc lavc also undcigonc
scvcic ausiciiiics wiilin ilc waici and lavc noi ialcn lood loi a long iimc. All
ilcsc spiiiiual asscis ol oui aic simply ollcicd loi Youi saiislaciion. Wc piay loi
ilis bcncdiciion only, and noiling moic."¯
1+ Hcic ilc woid "adabliam" mcans "loi a long iimc". Tlc spcalcis lcic say,
"Wc dcsiic ilai ilcsc may bc loi Youi plcasuic". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc
Piaccias io ilc cigli-aimcd Puiusa-avaiaia.
Anuccheda 225
1 In ilis way aiopa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd. Tlcn ilc lind ol
mixcd dcvoiional scivicc is callcd sanga-siddla is slown. Svaiupa-siddla
dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc sagc Piabuddla (Siimad
ollci Himscll io ilc laiillul disciplc."¯¯¯
In ilis way ilcic is ncuiialiiy, mcicy and liicndslip in wlai is callcd
blagavaia-dlaima. Kaima-misia (dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil liuiiivc aciiviiics)
is ol ilicc linds. 1. salama (wiil maiciial dcsiics), 2. laivalya-lama (dcsiiing
libciaiion), and 3. blalii-maiia-lama (dcsiiing only dcvoiional scivicc). Kaivalya-
lama is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids:
2 "Tlc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc biing aiiainmcni ol ilc loui goals ol
lilc (scnsc giaiilicaiion, cconomic dcvclopmcni, icligion and libciaiion). Howcvci,
a pcison wlo sinccicly ialcs slclici ol Loid Naiayana aiiains ilcsc loui goals
auiomaiically, wiiloui lavc io siiugglc in any way."
3 In ilis way puic dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd. Howcvci, onc may lavc
vaiious linds ol dcsiics and as ilcsc dcsiics aic manilcsicd dcvoiional scivicc
bccomcs mixcd in vaiious ways. In ilis way ii is undcisiood. Salama dcvoiional
scivicc is mixcd mosily wiil liuiiivc aciions (laima). Iiuiiivc aciions lcic mcans
pious aciions ilai lollow vaiious picsciibcd duiics. Tlc naiuic ol ilis lind ol
dcvoiional scivicc is bioadly dcsciibcd by ilc Yamaduias in ilc lollowing woids
+ "Tlai wlicl is picsciibcd in ilc Vcdas consiiiuics dlaima, ilc icligious
piinciplcs and ilc opposiic ol ilai is iiicligion. Tlc Vcdas aic diiccily ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Naiayana, and aic scll-boin. Tlis wc lavc lcaid
liom Yamaiaja."¯
5 Tlc Vcdas dcal mainly wiil ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Sii llagavad-giia (3.+5):
"Tlc Vcdas dcal mainly wiil ilc subjcci ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial
naiuic. O Aijuna, bccomc iiansccndcnial io ilcsc ilicc modcs. lc licc liom all
dualiiics and liom all anxiciics loi gain and salciy, and bc csiablislcd in ilc scll."¯
6 Simply by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc bccomcs pcilcci. To aci oui
ol ignoiancc is noi ilc samc as io aci in dcvoiional scivicc. Ignoiani aciion, oi
"laima", is dclincd in ilcsc woids ol Sii llagavad-giia (S.3):
7 "Tlc indcsiiuciiblc, iiansccndcnial living cniiiy is callcd lialman, and lis
cicinal naiuic is callcd adlyaima, ilc scll. Aciion pciiaining io ilc dcvclopmcni
ol ilc maiciial bodics ol ilc living cniiiics is callcd laima, oi liuiiivc aciiviiics."¯
S Hcic ilc woid "visaigal" mcans "maling ollciings io ilc dcmigods". All
icligious duiics pciloimcd in ilai way aic callcd "laima". "lluianam" mcans "ol
ilc living cniiiics", "blaval" mcans "dcsiics", and "udblava-laial" mcans
"cicaiois". In ilis way ii is cxplaincd ilai laima is dillcicni liom dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlai dcvoiional scivicc is lai bciici ilan oidinaiy pious dccds is dcsciibcd
in ilc Llcvcnil Canio ol Siimad-llagavaiam (11.19.27), wlcic ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains:
9 "Aciual icligious piinciplcs aic siaicd io bc ilosc ilai lcad onc io My
dcvoiional scivicc."¯¯¯
10 lccausc ilcy aic also ollciings io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
pious dccds aic lcic callcd "blalii-lii", oi ilc companions ol dcvoiional scivicc.
Salama dcvoiional scivicc ilai is also mixcd wiil ilcsc pious dccds (laimas) aic
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.21.6-9):
11 "Commandcd by Loid lialma io bcgci clildicn in ilc woilds, ilc
woisliplul Kaidama Muni piaciiccd pcnancc on ilc banl ol ilc Rivci Saiasvaii loi
a pciiod ol icn ilousand ycas.¯
12 "Duiing ilai pciiod ol pcnancc, ilc sagc Kaidama, by woislip iliougl
dcvoiional scivicc in iiancc, piopiiiaicd ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc
quicl bcsiowci ol all blcssings upon ilosc wlo llcc io Him loi pioicciion."¯
13 Wlcn lc saw ilc sagc, icais lcll liom ilc cycs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad. Tlai is a sign ilai Kaidama Muni was aciually a nislama dcvoicc,
licc ol all maiciial dcsiics. Only io lonoui ilc oidci ol ilc dcmigod lialma did
lc aci lilc a pcison puslcd by maiciial dcsiic. In ilis way ii slould bc
undcisiood. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Maiiicya io Viduia.
Anuccheda 226
1 Kaivalya-lama (dcsiiing libciaiion) dcvoiional scivicc is somciimcs mixcd
wiil laima and jnana, and somciimcs mixcd wiil jnana alonc. Kaivalya-lama
dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil jnana alonc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad
"Rcal lnowlcdgc is ilc awaicncss ilai icvcals My all-pcivading
picscncc."¯¯¯
2 Hcaiing, icnunciaiion, yoga, sanllya, and oilci aciiviiics aic paiis ol
jnana, and ilai is wly jnana may also bc paii ol dcvoiional scivicc. Dcvoiional
scivicc mixcd wiil boil laima and jnana is dcsciibcd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad Himscll in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.27.21-23):
3 "Onc can gci libciaiion by sciiously disclaiging dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc
and ilcicby lcaiing loi a long iimc aboui Mc oi liom Mc. ly ilus cxccuiing onc's
picsciibcd duiics, ilcic will bc no icaciion, and onc will bc liccd liom ilc
coniaminaiion ol maiici.¯
+ "Tlis dcvoiional scivicc las io bc pciloimcd siiongly in pcilcci lnowlcdgc
and wiil iiansccndcnial vision. Onc musi bc siiongly icnounccd and musi cngagc
in ausiciiiy and pciloim mysiic yoga in oidci io bc liimly lixcd in scll-absoipiion.
¯
5 "Tlc inllucncc ol maiciial naiuic las covcicd ilc living cniiiy, and ilus ii
is as il ilc living cniiiy wcic always in a blazing liic."¯
6 Hcic ilc woid "nimiiiam" mcans "icsuli". In ilis casc ilc causc ol ilis
icsuli las no maiciial dcsiics. Tlc woid "amalaimana" mcans "by lc wlo las a
puic lcaii", "jnancna" mcans "wiil lnowlcdgc icvcalcd by ilc sciipiuics", and
"yogal" mcans "mcdiiaiion on ilc individual spiiii soul and ilc Supcisoul".
7 Tlc woid "yoga" las many mcanings, as ilc Amaia-losa diciionaiy
cxplains:
"Tlc woid yoga mcans picpaiaiion, mcilod, mcdiiaiion, mcciing and
logic."
S Wlcn ilcic is no longci any disiinciion bciwccn ilc mcdiiaioi and ilc
objcci ol lis mcdiiaiion, ilc mcdiiaiion is callcd "samadli". Tlc lollowing
cxplanaiion is lound in Siimad-llagavaiam (10.S1.19):
"Tlc woislip ol His lcci is ilc iooi causc ol any pcison's aiiainmcni ol
lcavcn oi ol libciaiion, ol all soiis ol piospciiiy in ilc subiciiancan icgions oi on
ilc caiil, oi ol mysiic pcilcciions."¯¯¯
9 In ilis way ii is cxplaincd ilai ilcy (laima and jnana) aic paiis ol
dcvoiional scivicc, and dcvoiional scivicc is ilc wlolc ilai coniains ilcm. Tlai is
ilc vision ol cxalicd souls. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic. Tlcy wlo cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil laima and jnana aiiain only libciaiion as a icsuli ol
ilcii clloiis. Tlc vciscs quoicd in icxis 3-5 wcic spolcn by Loid Kapiladcva.
Anuccheda 227
1 Dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil jnana is dcsciibcd by ilc Loid Himscll in
ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1S.21):
2 "Dwclling in salc and soliiaiy placc, lis mind puiilicd by consiani ilougl
ol Mc, ilc sagc slould conccniiaic on ilc soul alonc, icalising ii io bc non-
dillcicni liom Mc."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "blaval" mcans "mcdiiaiion". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 228
1 Dcvoiional scivicc ilai is mixcd wiil jnana (jnana-misia) wlcn ilcic is a
dcsiic loi libciaiion (laivalya-lama) las ilus bccn dcsciibcd. Now will bc
dcsciibcd dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil laima (laima-misia) wlcn ilcic is a
dcsiic loi dcvoiional scivicc alonc (blalii-maiia-lama). Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (11..19.20-2+):
2-+ "Iiim laiil in ilc blisslul naiiaiions ol My pasiimcs, consiani claniing ol
my gloiics, unwavciing aiiaclmcni io ccicmonial woislip ol Mc, piaising Mc
iliougl bcauiilul lymns, gicai icspcci loi My dcvoiional scivicc, ollciing
obcisanccs wiil ilc cniiic body, pciloiming liisi-class woislip ol My dcvoiccs,
consciousncss ol Mc in all living cniiiics, ollciing ol oidinaiy, bodily aciiviiics in
My dcvoiional scivicc, usc ol woids io dcsciibc My qualiiics, ollciing ilc mind io
Mc, icjcciing ol all maiciial dcsiics, giving up wcalil loi My dcvoiional scivicc,
icnouncing maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion and lappincss, and pciloiming all
dcsiiablc aciiviiics sucl as claiiiy, saciilicc, claniing, vows and ausiciiiics wiil
ilc puiposc ol aclicving Mc, ilcsc consiiiuic aciual icligious piinciplcs, by wlicl
ilosc luman bcings wlo lavc aciually suiicndcicd ilcmsclvcs io Mc
auiomaiically dcvclop lovc loi Mc. Wlai oilci puiposc oi goal could icmain loi
My dcvoicc'"¯¯¯
5 Hcic ilc woid "mad-aiilc" mcans "loi ilc puiposc ol sciving Mc",
"aiilasya paiiiyagal" mcans "avoiding wlai is opposcd io dcvoiional scivicc",
"blogasya" mcans "ollciing sandal pasic and oilci gilis", "sullasya" "bcing
allcciionaic lilc io onc's son", "isia" mcans "ilc causc ol dcvoiional scivicc",
"dlaimail" mcans "wiil dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is callcd blagavaia-dlaima",
and "cvam dlaimaii aima-nivcdanam" mcans "wiil onc's body, mind and woids
onc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc and complcicly suiicndci unio Mc".
6 Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (5.1S.12):
7 Ai ilc cnd ol Siimad-llagavaiam 11.19.2+ ilc Loid dcclaics "lo 'nyo 'iilo
'syavasisyaic", wlicl mcans wlai goal icmains io bc aiiaincd, oi wlai mcilod ol
aiiaining a goal nccds io bc pciloimcd by onc wlosc only dcsiic is io cngagc in My
dcvoiional scivicc'" Tlis mcans ilai bccausc sucl a dcvoicc las complcicly
suiicndcicd io ilc Loid and ialcn slclici ol Him, noiling clsc icmains io bc donc
by lim.
Anuccheda 229
1 Dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil boil laima and jnana is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.29.15-19):
2 "A dcvoicc musi cxccuic lis picsciibcd duiics, wlicl aic gloiious, wiiloui
maiciial piolii. Wiiloui cxccssivc violcncc, onc slould icgulaily pciloim onc's
dcvoiional aciiviiics.¯
3 "Tlc dcvoicc slould icgulaily scc My siaiucs in ilc icmplc, ioucl My loius
lcci and ollci woislipablc paiaplcinalia and piayci. Hc slould scc in ilc spiiii ol
icnunciaiion, liom ilc modc ol goodncss, and scc cvciy living cniiiy as spiiiiual.¯
+ "Tlc puic dcvoicc slould cxccuic dcvoiional scivicc by giving ilc gicaicsi
icspcci io ilc spiiiiual masici and ilc acaiyas. Hc slould bc compassionaic io ilc
pooi and malc liicndslip wiil pcisons wlo aic lis cquals, bui all lis aciiviiics
slould bc cxccuicd undci icgulaiion and wiil coniiol ol ilc scnscs.¯
5 "A dcvoicc slould always iiy io lcai aboui spiiiiual maiicis and slould
always uiilisc lis iimc in claniing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid. His bclavioui
slould always bc siiaigliloiwaid and simplc, and alilougl lc is noi cnvious bui
liicndly io cvciyonc, lc slould avoid ilc company ol pcison wlo aic noi
spiiiiually advanccd.¯
6 "Wlcn onc is lully qualilicd wiil all ilcsc iiansccndcnial aiiiibuics and lis
consciousncss is ilus complcicly puiilicd, lc is immcdiaicly aiiiacicd simply by
lcaiing My namc oi lcaiing ol My iiansccndcnial qualiiy."¯
7 Hcic ilc woid "niscviicna" mcans "piopcily cxccuicd", "animiiicna" mcans
"wiiloui dcsiic", "sva-dlaimcna" mcans "by pciloiming onc's icgulai and
occasional duiics", "maliyasa" mcans "wiil laiil and oilci viiiucs", "liiya-
yogcna" mcans "wiil dcvoiional aciiviiics dcsciibcd in ilc Pancaiaiias and oilci
sciipiuics", "sasicna" mcans "in auspicious iimcs, placcs and ciicumsianccs" and
ii also mcans "wiiloui dcsiic", "naii-limsicna" mcans "wiiloui cxccssivc
violcncc", "aii" mcans "bccausc onc lnows ilai all living bcings aic lilc limbs ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, onc avoids laiming oi lilling anyonc",
"mad-dlisnyam mcans "My woislipablc Dciiy loim", "mad-blavanaya" mcans
"mcdiiaiing onc Mc as ilc Supcisoul in all living bcings", "saiivcna" mcans "wiil
paiicncc and iolciancc", "asangamcna" mcans "wiil icnunciaiion", "yamail"
mcans "wiil cclibacy, a vow ol povciiy, loncsiy, and non-violcncc", "niyamal"
mcans "puiiiy, saiislaciion, ausiciiiy, sciipiuic siudy, and mcdiiaiion on ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad", "adlyaimila" mcans "ilc sciipiuics ilai
cxplain ilc dillcicncc bciwccn ilc individual spiiii soul and ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad", "niialanliiyaya" mcans "wiiloui piidc", "mad-
dlaimanal" mcans "ol ilc pcison wlo lollows My dlaima", and "asayal" mcans
"consciousncss". Tlc Loid ilcn dcclaics, "siuia-maiia-gunam mam anjasablycii"
(ilc dcvoicc is immcdiaicly aiiiacicd simply by lcaiing My namc oi lcaiing ol My
iiansccndcnial qualiiy).
S In Siimad llagavaiam (3.29.11) ii is said:
ccsiasy, uniniciiupicd by any maiciial condiiion, llows iowaids ilc Supicmc
Loid."¯
9 Tlis vcisc dcsciibcs uniniciiupicd mcdiiaiion on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad. lccausc lcic onc lcais aboui ilc Loid, ilc dcvoiional scivicc lcic is
mixcd wiil iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc. Tlc vciscs quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis
anucclcda wcic spolcn by Loid Kapiladcva.
Anuccheda 230
1 Now dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil jnana will bc cxplaincd. In Siimad
llagavaiam (6.16.62) ii is said:
2 "Onc slould luiilci undcisiand ilai ilc spiiii soul, alilougl vciy dilliculi
loi ilc maiciialisi io pciccivc, is abovc all ilcsc condiiions, and by ilc siicngil ol
onc's disciiminaiion onc slould givc up ilc dcsiic loi liuiiivc icsulis in ilc
picscni lilc and in ilc ncxi. Tlus bccoming cxpciicnccd in iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc, onc slould bccomc My dcvoicc."¯
3 Tlc woid "disia" lcic mcans "was is sccn in ilis lilc and ilc ncxi", and
"svcna icjasa" mcans "wiil onc's powci ol disciiminaiion". Tlis vcisc was spolcn
by Loid Sanlaisana io King Ciiialciu.
Anuccheda 231
1 Now svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc will bc discusscd. Svaiupa-siddla
dcvoiional scivicc is dividcd inio salama (wiil maiciial dcsiics) and laivalya-
lama (wiil ilc dcsiic loic libciaiion). Lacl ol ilcsc las dillcicni qualiiics.
Salama svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is dividcd inio iwo iypcs: 1. in ilc
modc ol ignoiancc, and 2. in ilc modc ol passion. Tlc liisi ol ilcsc is dcsciibcd
in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.S):
2 "Dcvoiional scivicc cxccuicd by a pcison wlo is cnvious, pioud, violcni
and angiy, and wlo is a scpaiaiisi is considcicd io bc in ilc modc ol dailncss."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "ablisandlaya" mcans "laving in vicw", "samiambli"
mcans "angiy", and :blinna-dil" mcans "conccincd only wiil lis own lappincss
and disiicss, and ilcicloic mcicilcss io oilcis". Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Anuccheda 232
Tlc sccond lind ol salama svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd by ilc
Supicmc Loid in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.9):
2 "Tlc woislip ol Dciiics in ilc icmplc by a scpaiaiisi, wiil a moiivc loi
maiciial cnjoymcni, lamc, and opulcncc, is dcvoiion in ilc modc ol passion."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "piilal" mcans "scpaiaic liom Mc", and "blaval" mcans
"dcsiic". Tlus ii is slown ilai sucl a pcison, puslcd by ilc modc ol passion,
docs noi dcsiic io aiiain Mc (ilc Loid).
Anuccheda 233
1 Svaiupa-siddla laivalya-lama (dcsiiing libciaiion) dcvoiional scivicc is in
ilc modc ol goodncss. Tlis is dcsciibcd by ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll in ilc
2 "A woilci licc ol aiiaclmcni is in ilc modc ol goodncss, a woilci blindcd
naiuic."¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans, "io aiiain libciaiion (laima-nilaiam uddisya) lc ollcis
ilc icsulis ol lis aciiviiics io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (paiasmin)."
Iollowing ilc iulcs ol dcvoiional scivicc lc musi woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad, wlo is mcani io bc woislippcd by cvciyonc (yasiavyam). Tlc pcison
dcsciibcd lcic docs noi woislip (yajci) ilc Loid accoiding io ilc plilosoply ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Hc sccs libciaiion as a goal scpaiaic (piilag-blaval) liom
dcvoiional scivicc. Sucl a pcison is said io bc in ilc modc ol goodncss
(saiivilal). Tlc mcaning is ilai ilis lasi lind ol dcvoiional scivicc is pciloimcd
so onc may bccomc licc liom pasi laimic icaciions.
+ Tlai sucl a pcison is in ilc modc ol goodncss is conliimcd by ilc
lollowing siaicmcni ol Loid Kisna (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.26):
"A woilci licc ol aiiaclmcni is in ilc modc ol goodncss blindcd by
pcisonal dcsiic is in ilc modc ol passion, and a woilci wlo las complcicly
naiuic."¯
5 Tlc Loid also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.2+):
"Absoluic lnowlcdgc is in ilc modc ol goodncss, lnowlcdgc bascd on
dualiiy is in ilc modc ol passion, and loolisl, maiciialisiic lnowlcdgc is in ilc
modc ol ignoiancc. Knowlcdgc bascd upon Mc, lowcvci, is undcisiood io bc
iiansccndcnial."¯
6 Tlc Loid again cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.25.29):
"Happincss dciivcd liom ilc scll is in ilc modc ol goodncss, lappincss
bascd on scnsc giaiilicaiion is in ilc modc ol passion, and lappincss bascd on
dclusion and dcgiadaiion is in ilc modc ol ignoiancc. lui ilai lappincss lound
wiilin Mc is iiansccndcnial."¯
In ilis way ilc goals and ilc mcans io aiiain ilc goals aic dillcicni
accoiding io ilc dillcicni modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
sccond lall ol Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.10, wlicl was quoicd in icxi 2.
Anuccheda 23+
1 In oidci io undcisiand ilc bcsi lind ol dcvoiional scivicc, ilcsc dillcicni
vaiiciics ol dcvoiional scivicc lavc bccn dcsciibcd. Tlai bcsi lind is svaiupa-
siddla dcvoiional scivicc. lccausc in ii onc dcsiics only io cngagc in dcvoiional
scivicc, svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is iiansccndcnial and licc ol boil
maiciial dcsiics and ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs ol naiuic. lccausc ii is licc ol all
scnsc ol maiciial posscssivcncss, ii is bciici ilan ilc picviously dcsciibcd vaiiciics
ol dcvoiional scivicc. Svaiupa-siddla dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.29.11-1+):
2-3 "Tlc manilcsiaiion ol unaduliciaicd dcvoiional scivicc is cxlibiicd wlcn
ccsiasy, uniniciiupicd by any maiciial condiiion, llows iowaids ilc Supicmc Loid.
¯
+ "A puic dcvoicc docs noi acccpi any lind ol libciaiion: salolya, saisii,
samipya, saiupya oi claiva, cvcn ilougl ilcy aic ollcicd by ilc Supicmc
5 "ly aiiaining ilc liglcsi plailoim ol dcvoiional scivicc, as I lavc
cxplaincd, onc can ovcicomc ilc inllucncc ol ilc ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic
and bc siiuaicd in ilc iiansccndcnial siagc, as is ilc Loid."¯
6 Tlc woid "mad-guna-siuii-maiicna" docs noi dcsciibc ilc aiiainmcni ol
any goal oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc woid "saiva-gulasayal" mcans
"invisiblc io ilc maiciial scnscs, Hc manilcsis His cicinal loim in ilc lcaiis ol ilc
condiiioncd souls". "Mayi avicclinna mano-gaiil" mcans "ilc aciiviiics ol ilc
mind go io Mc wiiloui bcing iniciiupicd oi divciicd io anyiling clsc." Tlis
uniniciiupicd aciiviiy ol ilc mind is cxplaincd wiil an cxamplc in ilc pliasc
bcginning wiil "yaila". In ilis cxamplc ilc woid "gaiil" is undcisiood in ilc
sccond paii. Tlai is bccausc ilis passagc is wiiiicn in ilc Vcdic siylc. Tlc woid
"lalsanam" mcans "naiuic".
7 Hcic somconc may objcci: How is ii possiblc io lcai ilc gloiics ol ilc
Loid' Tlc Loid is complcicly dillcicni liom ilc woild ol maiici, and ilc maiciial
mind las no powci io undcisiand Him. Ioi ilcsc iwo icasons ii is noi possiblc loi
anyonc io dcsciibc His gloiics.
To ilis objcciion ilc lollowing icply is givcn: In ilis vcisc ilc woid
"alaiiuli" mcans "wiiloui sccling any oilci icsuli", "avyavaliia" mcans "puic
dcvoiional scivicc (svaiupa-siddla blalii) noi aiopa blalii oi any oilci lind ol
impcilcci dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is naiuially lillcd wiil obsiaclcs and dclccis.
Tlc woids "ya blaliil" iclci io dcvoiional scivicc lilc ilis, puic dcvoiional
scivicc (svaiupa-siddla). In ilis lind ol dcvoiional scivicc onc is ablc io scivc ilc
Loid wiil onc's cais and oilci scnscs. Tlc woids "maiia", "avicclinna",
"alaiiuli" and oilci woids lcic slow ilai in ilis condiiion ilc mind is pcilccily
ablc io woislip ilc Loid in ilis way.
S Puic dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids ol
Siimad llagavaiam (11.25.26):
"A woilci licc ol aiiaclmcni is in ilc modc ol goodncss, a woilci blindcd
naiuic."¯¯¯
ly ilus ialing slclici ol ilc Loid and pciloiming oilci dcvoiional
aciiviiics onc bccomcs licc liom ilc giip ol ilc maiciial modcs. In ilis way onc
bccomcs ablc io lcai and undcisiand ilc Loid's gloiics.
9 Tlc Loid dcsciibcs His gloiics in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.13.+0):
"All supciioi iiansccndcnial qualiiics, sucl as bcing bcyond ilc modcs ol
naiuic, dciaclcd, ilc wcll-wislci, ilc mosi dcai, ilc Supcisoul, cqually siiuaicd
cvciywlcic, and licc liom maiciial cnianglcmcni - all sucl qualiiics, licc liom ilc
iiansloimaiions ol maiciial qualiiics, lind ilcii slclici and woislipablc objcci in
Mc."¯¯¯
10 In ilis way ii is said ilai ilc Loid's qualiiics aic spiiiiual, noi maiciial. In
Siimad llagavaiam 3.29.13 (quoicd in icxi +) ilc woid "alaiiuli" (wiiloui
maiciial moiivc) is cxplaincd. In ilis vcisc ilc Loid dcclaics, "A puic dcvoicc
(janal) docs noi acccpi (na gilnanii) salolya oi any oilci lind ol libciaiion, cvcn
ilougl ilcy aic ollcicd (diyamanam) by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, il
by acccpiing ilai libciaiion ilc dcvoicc is noi ablc io scivc ilc Loid (mai-scvanam
vina)." Ioi ilc salc ol sciving ilc Loid ilc dcvoicc will acccpi libciaiion, bui loi
lis own salc ilc dcvoicc will noi acccpi libciaiion. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
Hcic ilc woid "saisii" mcans "posscssing opulcnccs lilc ilc Loid's
opulcnccs". "Llaiva" mcans ciilci mciging inio llagavan oi mciging inio
lialman. In ciilci siiuaiion bccausc onc las mcigcd inio ilc Loid onc las no
oppoiiuniiy io scivc Him, and loi ilis icason ilc dcvoiccs ncvci acccpi ilcsc
impcisonal libciaiions. Tlai is ilc mcaning. In ilc ncxi vcisc ii is said ilai puic
dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-yogallyal) is bcyond ilc ioucl ol ilc modcs ol
maiciial naiuic. Ii is ilc liglcsi plailoim ol spiiiiual aiiainmcni (aiyaniilal).
11 In Siimad llagavaiam (3.15.+S) ii is said:
cvcn loi ilc liglcsi maiciial bcncdiciion, namcly libciaiion, io say noiling ol
lingdom."¯
Tlc libciaiion dcsciibcd lcic is impcisonal libciaiion, wlcic onc mcigcs
inio ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Loid.
12 Hcic somconc may objcci: Il ii is so ilai onc musi bccomc licc liom ilc
ilicc modcs ol maiciial naiuic bcloic ilc Loid will appcai bcloic lim and giani
lim libciaiion, ilcn low is ii possiblc ilai dcvoiional scivicc las ilc qualiiics you
lavc dcsciibcd' How can ii bc scll-pcilcci'
Tlis objcciion is answcicd by ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woid "ycna".
Hcic ilc Loid says, "Onc slould noi bccomc discouiagcd and abandon lis
aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, loi by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc onc will
cvcniually aiiain a spiiiiual naiuic lilc Minc (mad-blavaya). Tlcn I will diiccily
appcai bcloic you. In ilis way onc bccomcs qualilicd (upapadyaic) loi spiiiiual
lilc."
13 In Siimad llagavaiam (5.19.19-20) ii is said:
"Il onc's posiiion is ascciiaincd by a bona lidc spiiiiual masici and onc is
piopcily iiaincd io cngagc in ilc scivicc ol Loid Visnu accoiding io ilc loui social
divisions (bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya and sudia) and ilc loui spiiiiual divisions
(bialmacaii, gilasila, vanapiasila and sannyasa), onc's lilc bccomcs pcilcci.¯
"Alici many, many biiils, wlcn ilc icsulis ol onc's pious aciiviiics maiuic,
onc gcis an oppoiiuniiy io associaic wiil puic dcvoiccs. Tlcn onc is ablc io cui
ilc lnoi ol bondagc io ignoiancc, wlicl bound lim bccausc ol ilc vaiicd liuiiivc
aciiviiics. As a icsuli ol associaiing wiil dcvoiccs, onc giadually icndcis scivicc io
Loid Vasudcva, wlo is iiansccndcnial, licc liom aiiaclmcni and io ilc maiciial
woild, bcyond ilc mind and woids, and indcpcndcni ol cvciyiling clsc. Tlai
blalii-yoga, dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Vasudcva, is ilc ical pail ol libciaiion."¯
1+ Tlcic aic many dillcicni pails ol dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is licc liom ilc
ioucl ol ilc modcs ol maiciial naiuic. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc bcginning ol ilc
passagc undci discussion lcic (Siimad llagavaiam 3.29,7):
15 "O noblc ladc, ilcic aic muliilaiious pails ol dcvoiional scivicc in icims ol
ilc dillcicni qualiiics ol ilc cxccuioi."¯
16 Hcic ilc woid "maigail" mcans "wiil dillcicni linds", "maigcna" mcans
"wiil dillcicni linds ol aciiviiics, sucl as lcaiing, wiil dillcicni linds ol
consciousncss, wiil dillcicni iasas, wlicl bcgin wiil sciviioislip, wiil dillcicni
modcs ol naiuic, wlicl bcgin wiil ilc modc ol ignoiancc, and wiil dillcicni
aciiviiics ol ilc modcs ol naiuic, wlicl bcgin wiil ignoiani violcncc." In ilis way
ilc pcoplc lavc dillcicni linds ol consciousncss (pumsam blavo viblidyaic).
17 In ilc Mulia-plala-iila, Siila lopadcva commcnis on Siimad llagavaiam
3.29.1+ (wlicl was quoicd in icxi 5):
"Hcic ilc woid 'aiyaniilal' mcans 'noiling is gicaici ilan ii'. Tlc 'ii'
iclciicd io lcic is 'blalii-yoga', wlicl is mcniioncd in ilc woid 'blalii-
yogallyal'. Tlis is so bccausc ilai is ilc piimaiy mcaning. Oilci pails malc
onc aiiiacicd io ilings oilci ilan Loid Visnu. Tlcy do noi biing ilc samc icsuli
as blalii-yoga."
1S Dcvoiional scivicc is dclincd in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Gopala-iapani
Upanisad (1.1+):
"Dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna is pciloimcd wlcn ilc lcaii no longci
dcsiics any maiciial bcnclii io bc obiaincd in ilis lilc oi ilc ncxi. Tlis is liccdom
liom ilc bonds ol laima."
19 In ilc Saiapaila-bialmana ii is said:
"Yajnavallya said: Wisling io plcasc Him, onc slould lovingly woislip
Loid Haii."
20 Hcic ilc woid "picmna" mcans "wiil plcasing Him as onc's only dcsiic",
and "aima-liiaya" mcans "loi His bcnclii".
Anuccheda 235
1 Tlus ilcic aic many linds ol dcvoiional scivicc. Many adjcciivcs, sucl as
"alincana" and "alaiiuli" lavc bccn uscd io dcsciibc dcvoiional scivicc.
Dcvoiional scivicc is ol iwo main linds: 1. vaidli, and 2. iaganuga. In vaidli-
blalii onc pciloims dcvoiional scivicc by lollowing ilc iulcs spolcn in ilc
sciipiuics.
Vaidli-blalii is iiscll dividcd inio iwo linds. In ilc liisi lind onc is
conccincd wiil aciions and onc is madc awaic ol wlai slould bc donc and wlai
slould noi bc donc. Tlis liisi lind ol vaidli-blalii is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (1.2.1+):
2 "Tlcicloic, wiil onc-poinicd aiicniion, onc slould consianily lcai aboui,
ilc dcvoiccs."¯
3 In ilc sccond lind ol vaidli-blalii onc is conccincd wiil woislip, vows,
and similai aciiviiics. Tlis sccond lind ol vaidli-blalii is dcsciibcd by ilc Loid
Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.27.53):
+ "lui onc wlo simply cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc wiil no considciaiion ol
liuiiivc icsulis aiiains Mc. Tlus wlocvci woislips Mc accoiding io ilc pioccss I
lavc dcsciibcd will uliimaicly aiiain puic dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯¯¯
5 Hcic ilc woid "naiiapclsycna" mcans "wiiloui maiciial moiivcs". Wlai is
unmoiivaicd (alaiiula) dcvoiional scivicc lilc' Ii is dcsciibcd in ilis vcisc in ilc
siaicmcni bcginning wiil ilc woid "blalii-yogam". Ii is also dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.27.S-9), wlcic Loid Kisna Himscll
cxplains:
6 "Now plcasc lisicn laiillully as I cxplain cxacily low a pcison wlo las
aclicvcd iwicc-boin siaius iliougl ilc iclcvani Vcdic picsciipiions slould
woislip Mc wiil dcvoiion.¯¯¯
7 "A iwicc-boin pcison slould woislip Mc, lis woislipablc Loid, wiiloui
dupliciiy, ollciing appiopiiaic paiaplcinalia in loving dcvoiion io My Dciiy loim
oi io a loim ol Mc appcaiing upon ilc giound, in liic, in ilc sun, in waici oi
wiilin ilc woislippci's own lcaii."¯
S Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 236
1 Tlus ilc obscivancc ol cladasi, janmasiami and oilci loly days, aic
undcisiood io bc aciiviiics in vaidli blalii. Suiicndciing io and ialing slclici ol
ilc Loid, scivicc io ilc spiiiiual masici and ilc Vaisnavas, and lcaiing and
claniing ilc Loid's gloiics, aic also includcd among ilc aciiviiics ol vaidli-blalii.
All ol ilcsc aciiviiics iogcilci, oi only onc ol ilcm, oi iwo oi ilicc ol ilcm, lcad
ilc dcvoicc io advanccd dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is conliimcd by ilc sciipiuics.
Tlc liisi ol ilcsc, namcly suiicndciing io and ialing slclici ol ilc Loid,
puis an cnd io ilc lcailul condiiion ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail wlcic onc is
iioublcd by ilc six cncmics ilai aic ilc viccs ol ilis woild. Tlus onc slould ialc
slclici ol ilc Loid and no onc clsc. ly dcsiiing only io cngagc in dcvoiional
scivicc onc dcsiioys ilc avcision io ilc Loid ilai is causcd by ilosc viccs.
Taling slclici ol ilc Loid alonc is ol iwo linds: 1. noi ialing slclici ol
anyonc clsc bui ilc Loid. 2. iniclligcnily icjcciing any slclici bui ilc slclici ol ilc
Loid. Tlc liisi ol ilcsc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids addicsscd io ilc Loid
2 "No onc in ilis maiciial woild las bccomc licc liom ilc loui piinciplcs
biiil, dcail old agc, and discasc, cvcn by llccing io vaiious plancis. lui now ilai
You lavc appcaicd, My Loid, dcail is llccing in lcai ol You, and ilc living cniiiics,
laving obiaincd slclici ai Youi loius lcci by Youi mcicy, aic slccping in lull
mcnial pcacc."¯
3 Tlc sccond is dcsciibcd by Loid Kisna Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.12.1+-15):
"Tlcicloic, My dcai Uddlava, abandon ilc Vcdic maniias as wcll as ilc
pioccduics ol supplcmcniaiy Vcdic liiciaiuics and ilcii posiiivc and ncgaiivc
injunciions. Disicgaid ilai wlicl las bccn lcaid and ilai wlicl is io bc lcaid.
Simply ialc slclici ol Mc alonc, siiuaicd wiilin ilc lcaii ol all condiiioncd souls.
Talc slclici ol Mc wlolclcaiicdly, and by My giacc bc licc liom lcai in all
ciicumsianccs."¯¯¯
"Hcic ilc woid "codanam" mcans "ilc Siuii-sasiia", and ilc woid
"piaiicodanam" mcans "ilc Smiii-sasiia".
5 In llagavad-giia (1S.66), Loid Kisna dcclaics:
"Abandon all vaiiciics ol icligion, and jusi suiicndci unio Mc. I slall
dclivci you liom all sinlul icaciion. Do noi lcai."¯
6 Tlc naiuic ol suiicndciing io ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilc Vaisnava-ianiia:
"Tlc six divisions ol suiicndci aic ilc acccpiancc ol ilosc ilings
lavouiablc io dcvoiional scivicc, ilc icjcciion ol unlavouiablc ilings, ilc
conviciion ilai Kisna will givc pioicciion, ilc acccpiancc ol ilc Loid as onc's
guaidian oi masici, lull scll-suiicndci, and lumiliiy."¯
7 Tlcsc six iicms ol suiicndci may bc dividcd inio a wlolc and paiis.
Acccpiancc ol ilc Loid as onc's guaidian oi masici is ilc wlolc, loi in iiuil iis
dcliniiion is noi dillcicni liom ilc dcliniiion ol ilc woid "suiicndci". Tlc oilci
iicms ol suiicndci aic all ilc assisianis ol ilis onc iicm. Tlc woids "anululya"
and "piaiilulya" iclci ciilci io ilc dcvoiccs oi io ilc suiicndcicd soul.
S Tlc conviciion ilai Kisna will givc pioicciion is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.16.37):
"My dcai sons, ilc Loid is ilc coniiollci ol ilc ilicc modcs ol naiuic and
is icsponsiblc loi ilc cicaiion, picscivaiion and dissoluiion ol ilc univcisc. His
wondcilul cicaiivc powci, yoga-maya, cannoi bc casily undcisiood cvcn by ilc
masicis ol yoga. Tlai mosi ancicni pcison, ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, will alonc
comc io oui icscuc. Wlai puiposc can wc scivc on His bclall by dclibciaiing on
ilc subjcci'"¯
9 Iull scll-suiicndci is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Gauiamiya
Taniia:
"A cciiain cllulgcni bcing icsidcs in my lcaii. Wlaicvci lc oidcis, I do."
10 In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda, in ilc cxplanaiion ol ilc woid
"namal" in ilc cigli-syllablc maniia, ii is said:
11 "Tlc syllablc 'ma' mcans 'lalsc-cgo' and ilc syllablc 'ma' mcans 'ilai wlicl
loibids'. Tlus ilc woid 'namal' ilus mcans ilai ilc individual spiiii soul, ilc
lnowci ol ilc licld ol aciiviiics, is noi pcimiiicd io aci indcpcndcnily.
12 "Tlc individual spiiii soul is complcicly dcpcndcni on ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. His lilc and livclilood is complcicly dcpcndcni on ilc
Loid. Tlcicloic lc slould complcicly abandon all idcas ilai lc is indcpcndcni.
13 "lccausc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is complcicly indcpcndcni,
noiling is unaiiainablc loi Him. Hc las no iioublcs. Hc can do wlaicvci Hc
wislcs."
1+ In ilc lialma-vaivaiia Puiana ii is said:
"Loid Kisna is ncvci lai liom ilcy wlo aic lumblc. Many iall mouniains
siand bciwccn Loid Kisna and ilcy wlo aic pioud."
15 Onc wlo pioudly ilinls lc is indcpcndcni musi siay in ilc maiciial woild
ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lialma's piaycis in ilc Tliid
Canio (Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.9.):
16 "O my Loid, ilc maiciial misciics aic wiiloui laciual cxisicncc loi ilc
soul. Yci as long as ilc condiiioncd soul sccs ilc body as mcani loi scnsc
cnjoymcni, lc cannoi gci oui ol ilc cnianglcmcni ol maiciial misciics, bcing
inllucnccd by Youi cxicinal cncigy."¯
17 Humiliiy is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing vcisc (Siila Rupa Gosvami's Sii
Padyavali 66):
"O Loid, no onc is moic mcicilul ilan You and no onc is moic pailciic
ilan I. I am vciy lowly and lallcn. O Loid Yadunaila, plcasc icllcci on my casc
and do wlaicvci is appiopiiaic."
1S Acccpiancc ol ilc Loid as onc's guaidian oi masici is dcsciibcd in ilc
Nisimla Puiana, wlcic Loid Nisimladcva says:
"Anyonc wlo piays unio Mc and ialcs slclici ol Mc bccomcs My waid,
and I pioicci lim always liom all soiis ol calamiiics."¯
19 Onc may suiicndci io ilc Loid in ilicc ways: wiil ilc body, mind and
woids. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii lialma Puiana:
"Tlcy bccomc libciaicd wlo wiil ilcii ilouglis, woids, and dccds
suiicndci io ilc inlalliblc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Yamaiaja las no
powci io appioacl ilcm."
20 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ol Sii Haii-blalii-vilasa (11.677):
"Onc wlo wiil woids and ilouglis says, 'O Loid, I am Youis', and wlo
suiicndcis lis body io ilc Loid, bccomcs lillcd wiil bliss."
21 Onc wlo suiicndcis lis cniiic body io ilc Loid ai oncc aiiains all good
loiiunc. Oilci aiiain dillcicni dcgiccs ol good loiiunc accoiding io ilc dcgicc ol
ilcii suiicndci. Suiicndci io ilc Loid is gloiilicd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
22 "My dcai Loid, loi onc wlo is bcing ioimcnicd on ilc iciiiblc pail ol biiil
and dcail and is consianily ovciwlclmcd by ilc ilicclold misciics, I do noi scc
any possiblc slclici oilci ilan Youi iwo loius lcci, wlicl aic jusi lilc a iclicsling
umbiclla ilai pouis down slowcis ol dclicious ncciai."¯¯¯
23 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai ilc slowcis ol ilc Loid's swccincss clasc all misciics
lai away liom ilc suiicndcicd souls.
Anuccheda 237
1 In ilis way ialing slclici ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd. Wiiloui liisi ialing
slclici ol ilc Loid onc cannoi aiiain pcilcciion. Il onc ialcs slclici ol ilc Loid,
ilcn onc aiiains all pcilcciion.
2 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Gaiuda Puiana:
"Tlcy wlo, slunning ilc pails ol yoga and mcdiiaiion, ialc slclici ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, cioss bcyond dcail and go io ilc abodc ol Loid
Visnu."
3 Tlcicloic, onc wlo dcsiics pcilcciion, and is ablc, slould scivc ilc lcci ol
ilc spiiiiual masicis wlo icacl ilc sciipiuics and maniias gloiilying ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. ly ilc mcicy ol ilcsc spiiiiual masicis, onc will bccomc
licc ol all impuiiiics and aiiain ilc gicai mcicy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlis is dcsciibcd by Sii Naiada in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Scvcnil
Canio ol Siimad llagavaiam (7.15.22-25):
+ "ly maling plans wiil dciciminaiion, onc slould givc up lusiy dcsiics loi
scnsc giaiilicaiion. Similaily, by giving up cnvy onc slould conquci angci, by
discussing ilc disadvaniagcs ol accumulaiing wcalil onc slould givc up giccd,
and by discussing ilc iiuil onc slould givc up lcai."¯
5 "ly discussing spiiiiual lnowlcdgc onc can conquci lamcniaiion and
illusion, by sciving a gicai dcvoicc onc can bccomc piidclcss, by lccping silcni
onc can avoid obsiaclcs on ilc pail ol mysiic yoga, and simply by siopping scnsc
giaiilicaiion onc can conquci cnvy.¯
6 "ly good bclavioui and liccdom liom cnvy onc slould couniciaci
sullciings duc io oilci living cniiiics, by mcdiiaiion in iiancc onc slould
couniciaci sullciings duc io piovidcncc, and by piaciicing laila-yoga, pianayama
and so loiil onc slould couniciaci sullciings duc io ilc body and mind.
Similaily, by dcvcloping ilc modc ol goodncss, cspccially in icgaid io caiing, onc
slould conquci slccp.¯
7 "Onc musi conquci ilc modcs ol passion and ignoiancc by dcvcloping ilc
modc ol goodncss, and ilcn onc musi bccomc dciacl liom ilc modc ol goodncss
by piomoiing oncscll io ilc plailoim ol suddla-saiiva. all ilis can bc
auiomaiically donc il onc cngagcs in ilc scivicc ol ilc spiiiiual masici wiil laiil
and dcvoiion. In ilis way onc an conquci ilc inllucncc ol ilc modcs ol naiuic.¯
S In ilc Vamana-lalpa, Loid lialma cxplains:
"Onc's maniia is idcniical wiil lis spiiiiual masici. Onc's spiiiiual masici
is idcniical wiil Loid Haii. Wlcn ilc spiiiiual masici is plcascd, ilcn Loid Haii is
plcascd."
9 Ii is also said:
"Wlcn Loid Haii is angiy, onc's spiiiiual masici can pioicci lim. Wlcn
onc's spiiiiual masici is angiy, no onc can givc pioicciion. Tlcicloic wiil all
clloiis onc slould siiivc io plcasc lis spiiiiual masici."
10 Tlcicloic onc slould always scivc lis spiiiiual masici. In anoilci placc in
ilc sciipiuics, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll dcclaics:
"Iiisi onc slould woislip lis spiiiiual masici, and ilcn aliciwaid onc
slould woislip Mc. Onc wlo docs ilis aiiains pcilcciion. Onc wlo docs noi
linds ilai all lis clloiis aic in vain."
11 In ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia ii is said:
"Wiil body, mind and woids, onc slould woislip lis Vaisnava spiiiiual
masici, wlo is lilc Loid Visnu, and wlo icaclcs ilc scicncc ol Loid Visnu. Onc
wlo lnows ilc iiuc mcaning ol ilc sciipiuics is a Vaisnava.
12 "Onc wlo icaclcs ilc iiuc mcaning ol ilc vciscs in ilc sciipiuics is always
io bc woislippcd. Wlai moic nccd bc said' Hc is a manilcsiaiion ol Loid Visnu
Himscll."
13 In ilc Padma Puiana, Dcvadyuii piays:
"Ioi mc dcvoiion io my spiiiiual masici ii is moic impoiiani ilan dcvoiion
io Loid Haii. Il I am dcvoicd io my spiiiiual masici, ilcn Loid Haii will
pcisonally icvcal Himscll io mc."
1+ In sucl a siiuaiion ilcic is no nccd cvcn io woislip ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad scpaiaic liom ilc woislip ol onc's spiiiiual masici. Tlis
is cxplaincd in ilc Agama-sasiia, wlcic, in ilc couisc ol dcsciibing ilc icsulis ol
puiascaiana, ii is said:
15 "As an alclcmisi's ioucl iuins coppci inio gold, so ilc spiiiiual masici's
ioucl malcs lis disciplc iiansccndcnial lilc Loid Visnu Himscll."
16 Tlis is also cxplaincd in Siimad llagavaiam (10.S0.3+), wlcic Loid Kisna
dcclaics:
"I, ilc Soul ol all bcings, cannoi bc saiislicd as mucl by iiiual woislip, by
gcnciaiing piogcny, by obsciving pcnanccs oi by scll-coniiol, as I am by laiillul
scivicc icndcicd io onc's spiiiiual masici."¯¯¯
"Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai no onc is moic io bc woislippcd ilan ilc
spiiiiual masici wlo givcs iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc. Tlcicloic no duiy is moic
impoiiani ilan ilc woislip ol lim. In ilis vcisc ilc woid "ijya" mcans "ilc iiiual
duiics ol a louscloldci". "Piajaiil" mcans "ilc sccond biiil by acccpiing ilc
sacicd ilicad". Tlai woid dcsciibcs ilc duiics ol a bialmacaii. "Tapasa"
dcsciibcs ilc duiics ol a vanapiasila" and "upasamcna" dcsciibcs ilc duiics ol a
sannyasi". "Alam" mcans "I, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad". Tlc Loid
ilcn dcclaics: "I, ilc Soul ol all bcings, cannoi bc saiislicd by ilcsc ilings in ilc
samc way as I am by laiillul scivicc icndcicd io onc's spiiiiual masici."
1S Knowlcdgc is ol iwo linds: 1. lnowlcdgc ol lialman, and 2. lnowlcdgc ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis vcisc las jusi bccn cxplaincd accoiding
io ilc liisi lind ol lnowlcdgc. An cxplanaiion accoiding io ilc sccond lind ol
lnowlcdgc lollows.
Hcic ilc woid "ijya" mcans "woislip", "piajaiil" mcans "Vaisnava
iniiiaiion", "iapal" mcans "samadli" and "upasama" mcans "laiil in ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad io Siidama Vipia.
Anuccheda 238
1 Ii is good io scivc oilci Vaisnavas wlcn ilis scivicc is oidcicd by onc's
spiiiiual masici and wlcn ii docs noi cicaic an impcdimcni io ilc scivicc ol onc's
spiiiiual masici. Il onc acis oilciwisc, lc is ai lauli. Sii Naiada cxplains ilis in
ilc lollowing woids:
2 "Hc aiiains misloiiunc wlo woislips somconc clsc in ilc picscncc ol lis
spiiiiual masici. His woislip bccomcs liuiilcss."
3 Tlc qualiiics ol a bona lidc spiiiiual masici aic dcsciibcd in Siimad
llagavaiam (11.3.21). Il onc's spiiiiual masici docs noi lavc ilcsc qualiiics, and
is cnvious ol advanccd dcvoiccs, and ilus icluscs io allow lis disciplcs io lonoui
and woislip oilci dcvoiccs, ilc disciplc slould lcavcs sucl a picicndci spiiiiual
masici is noi ai lauli. Hc las noi disobcycd ilc icaclings ol ilc sciipiuics. Tlc
iiuil is ilai sucl a picicndci spiiiiual masici and lis disciplc boil lall inio
calamiiy. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Naiada-pancaiaiia:
+ "A spiiiiual masici wlo spcals wiongly, wiiloui logic, and a disciplc wlo
lcais wiongly, wiiloui logic, boil go io a iciiiblc lcll loi a long iimc ilai sccms
noi io cnd."
5 Sucl a spiiiiual masici slould bc woislippcd liom alai. Il ilc spiiiiual
masici laics Vaisnavas, lc slould bc icjccicd. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Smiii-
sasiia:
"A spiiiiual masici wlo is maiciialisiic, unawaic ol wlai slould and
slould noi bc donc, and dcviaicd liom ilc iiuc spiiiiual pail, slould bc icjccicd."
6 Onc wlo docs noi lavc ilc qualiiics ol a Vaisnava is noi a Vaisnava. Tlis
is cxplaincd in ilc vcisc bcginning wiil ilc woids "avaisnavopadisicna" (quoicd
in anucclcda 207). Il ilc spiiiiual masici docs noi lavc ilc qualiiics ilus
dcsciibcd, ii is bcsi ilai onc slould scivc a gcnuinc cxalicd (mala-blagavaia)
dcvoicc insicad ol lim. Tlis cxalicd dcvoicc, wlo slould bc cquipoiscd and lind-
lcaiicd io lis disciplcs, slould bc acccpicd as il lc wcic onc's spiiiiual masici.
7 In ilc Sii Haii-blalii-sudlodaya ii is said:
"Associaiion is vciy impoiiani. Ii acis jusi lilc a ciysial sionc, wlicl will
icllcci anyiling wlicl is pui bcloic ii.¯ Tlcicloic, loi lis own wcll-bcing an
iniclligcni pcison will associaic wiil somconc wlo will biing good loiiunc."
Tlis mcans ilai wiiloui ilc mcicy ol a gicai Vaisnava onc cannoi aiiain
ilc condiiion wlcic lis lcaii is aiiiacicd io ilc Supicmc Loid.
S Tlcicloic onc slould appiopiiaicly scivc all pcisons wlo slow ilc signs ol
bcing dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Scivicc io ilc gicai dcvoiccs is ol iwo linds: 1.
associaiion wiil dcvoiccs, and 2. woislip and scivicc ol dcvoiccs. Associaiion
wiil dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd by Loid Kisna in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.12.1-2):
9-10 "My dcai Uddlava, by associaiing wiil my puic dcvoicc onc can dcsiioy
onc's aiiaclmcni loi all objccis ol maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion. Sucl puiilying
associaiion biings Mc undci ilc coniiol ol My dcvoicc. Onc may pciloim ilc
asianga-yoga sysicm, cngagc in plilosoplical analysis ol ilc clcmcnis ol maiciial
naiuic, piaciicc non violcncc and oilci oidinaiy piinciplcs ol piciy, clani ilc
Vcdas, pciloim pcnanccs, ialc io ilc icnounccd oidci ol lilc, cxccuic saciilicial
pciloimanccs and dig wclls, plani iiccs, and pciloim oilci public wcllaic
aciiviiics, givc in claiiiy, caiiy oui scvcic vows, woislip ilc dcmigods, clani
conlidcniial maniias, visii loly placcs oi acccpi majoi and minoi disciplinaiy
injunciions, bui cvcn by pciloiming sucl aciiviiics onc docs noi biing Mc undci
lis coniiol."¯¯¯
11 In ilc picvious clapici, ilc Loid also cxplaincd (Siimad llagavaiam
11.11.+7):
"Onc wlo las cxccuicd saciilicial pciloimanccs and pious woils loi My
saiislaciion, and wlo ilus woislips Mc wiil lixcd aiicniion, obiains unllincling
dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc. ly ilc cxccllcni qualiiy ol lis scivicc sucl a
woislippci obiains icaliscd lnowlcdgc ol Mc."¯¯¯
12 Hcic ilc woid "sadlu-scvaya" mcans "by a pcison wlo las laiil in
dcvoiional scivicc and wlo ilus lnows ilai all oilci spiiiiual pails aic
impiopci". "Isia" mcans "agniloiia, daisa, pauinamasa, caiuimasya, yaga,
pasuyaga, vaisvadcva and bali-liana, wlicl aic all dcsciibcd in ilc Scvcnil Canio
ol Siimad llagavaiam". "Puiia" mcans "suialaya, aiama, lupa, vapi, iadaga, and
piapanna-sasiia".
13 Tlc Loid dcsciibcs "isia" in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.+3):
"Onc may woislip Mc wiilin liic by ollciing oblaiions ol glcc."
Tlc Loid dcsciibcs "puiia" in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.3S):
"Onc slould woil loi ilc consiiuciion ol llowci gaidcns, liuii gaidcns and
spccial aicas io cclcbiaic My pasiimcs."
1+ Tlus ilc Loid cxplains, "Onc wlo las cxccuicd saciilicial pciloimanccs
and pious woils loi My saiislaciion, and wlo ilus woislips Mc wiil lixcd
aiicniion, obiains unllincling dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc." Tlis mcans ilai in ilc
associaiion ol dcvoiccs onc aiiains laiil in conlidcniial dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc
Supicmc Loid is picscni in ilc saciilicial liic and ilus agni-loiia-yajnas aic
ollcicd io plcasc Him. Digging wclls, planiing gaidcns, and oilci lilc aciiviiics aic
donc lcic loi ilc puiposc ol sciving ilc Loid. Tlus in ilc associaiion ol dcvoiccs
onc slould scivc ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is
supicmcly indcpcndcni and supicmcly powcilul. Ii is Hc wlo givcs ilc icsulis ol
all aciions. To cxplain ilc conlidcniial iiuil ol all ilis, ilc Loid Himscll dcclaics
15 "My dcai Uddlava, O bclovcd ol ilc Yadu dynasiy, bccausc you aic My
scivani, wcll-wislci and liicnd, I slall now spcal io you ilc mosi conlidcniial
lnowlcdgc. Plcasc lcai as I cxplain ilcsc gicai mysiciics io you."¯¯¯
16 Noi yci laving dcsciibcd ilai poiiion ol His gloiics, ilc Loid piocccds io
icvcal ilai conlidcniial lnowlcdgc in ilc passagc bcginning wiil Siimad
llagavaiam 11.12.1.
17 In Siimad llagavaiam 11.12.1 ilc woid "iyagal" mcans "icnunciaiion",
"dalsina" mcans "claiiiy", "yajnal" mcans "woislip ol ilc dcmigods", and
"clandamsi" mcans "conlidcniial maniias". Hcic ilc Loid cxplains, "ly
associaiing wiil My dcvoiccs, onc biings Mc undci lis coniiol. ly pciloiming
yoga oi sanllya onc docs noi biing Mc undci lis coniiol in ilc samc way." Tlai
is ilc mcaning lcic. Tlc dcvoiccs aic ablc io biing ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad undci ilcii coniiol. Tlcicloic ilc dcvoiccs aic noi oidinaiy pcisons.
Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
1S Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"Hcic ilc woid 'viaiani' mcans 'cladasi' and 'oilci vows'."
Howcvci, ol couisc, ilis docs noi mcan ilai oilci Vaisnava vows aic io bc
ncglccicd. Siill, ilis onc vow, ilc cladasi vow, biing a vciy gicai icsuli, and ilus
ilc icgulai obscivancc ol ii slould noi bc avoidcd.
Tlcy wlo aic qualilicd io pciloim pious dccds aic dcsciibcd in ilc
19 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Sii Kisna, is ilc cnjoyci ol
saciilicial ollciings. Yci alilougl His Loidslip cais ilc oblaiions ollcicd in ilc
liic, my dcai King, Hc is siill moic saiislicd wlcn nicc lood madc ol giains and
glcc is ollcicd io Him iliougl ilc mouils ol qualilicd bialmanas."¯
20 Tlc vcisc picccding ilis givcs ilc lollowing cxplanaiion (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.1+.16):
"Wlcn onc is cniiclcd wiil wcalil and lnowlcdgc wlicl aic undci lis lull
coniiol and by mcans ol wlicl lc can pciloim yajna oi plcasc ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, onc musi pciloim saciiliccs, ollciing oblaiions io ilc liic
accoiding io ilc diicciions ol ilc sasiias. In ilis way onc slould woislip ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
Tlc dcvoiccs dcsciibcd lcic aic noi ablc io abandon ilc icgulaicd
pciloimancc ol yajnas.
21 Tlcy wlo aic qualilicd io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc aic dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.19.21):
"Woislip ol My dcvoiccs is mosi impoiiani."
Alici onc is iniiiaicd onc musi icgulaily woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad. Onc is noi ablc io icnouncc ilai woislip.
22 In ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"In ilc Kali-yuga onc wlo ollcis coolcd iicc io Loid Visnu and ilcn cais
ilc icmnanis ol ilai ollciing, obiains ilc pious icsulis ol a six monil lasi."
23 Tlcsc woids do noi dciiaci liom ilc impoiiancc ol obsciving cladasi. Onc
slould icgulaily obscivc cladasi and ilc oilci Vaisnava vows, loi ilai biings a
gicai icsuli. Now wc will icvcal somciling aboui woislipping ilc Supicmc Loid
by obsciving cladasi and ilc oilci Vaisnava vows.
2+ Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis on Siimad-llagavaiam 11.11.32:
"Hcic ilc woid 'saniyajya' mcans 'icnouncing obsiiuciions io iiuc
dcvoiional scivicc, obsiiuciions sucl as lasiing on viddla-cladasi, lailuic io lasi
on lisna-cladasi, and lailuic io ollci loods io ilc Loid on cladasi."
25 Commcniing on ilc woid "blagavad-dlaiman" in a convcisaiion ol Sii
llisma and Sii Yudlisiliia in ilc Iiisi Canio ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.9.27), Siila
Siidlaia Svami cxplains:
"Dvadasi and oilci vows aic plcasing io Loid Haii".
In ilc Tliid Canio ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.1.19), Siila Siidlaia Svami
commcnis on ilc woids "viaiani ccic laii-iosanani":
"Tlis iclcis io cladasi and oilci vows."
Tlc impoiiancc ol cladasi is also sccn in ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc Supicmc
Loid's mcicy io King Ambaiisa, ilc cicsi jcwcl ol ilc dcvoiccs.
Anuccheda 239
1 Now wc will coniinuc ilc discussion. Tlcic aic iwo ways io biing ilc
Supicmc Loid undci onc's coniiol: a piimaiy way and a sccondaiy way. In ilc
piimaiy way onc aiiains puic lovc loi ilc Loid. Tlis way is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (5.6.1S):
woislipablc Dciiy, liicnd and ilc diiccioi ol youi aciiviiics. io say noiling ol ilis,
Hc somciimcs scivcs youi lamily as a mcsscngci oi scivani. Tlis mcans Hc
aiiaincd libciaiion liom ilc Loid vciy casily, bui Hc docs noi vciy casily givc ilc
2 In ilc sccond way io biing ilc Loid undci onc's coniiol onc aiiains a icsuli
dillcicni liom wlai is aiiaincd in ilc liisi way. Tlc gopis aic cxamplcs ol dcvoiccs
wlo cmploycd ilc liisi way, and lanasuia is an cxamplc ol a dcvoicc wlo
cmploycd ilc sccond way. In ilc sccond way ilc dcvoicc is vciy cagci io aiiain
ilc icsuli ol lis clloiis. In ilc lollowing woids ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad Himscll givcs cxamplcs ol boil ways io biing Him undci coniiol (Siimad
3-6 "In cvciy yuga many living cniiiics cnianglcd in ilc modcs ol passion and
ignoiancc gaincd ilc associaiion ol My dcvoiccs. Tlus, sucl living cniiiics as ilc
Daiiyas, Ralsasas, biids, bcasis, Gandlaivas, Apsaias, Nagas, Siddlas, Caianas,
Gulyalas and Vidyadlaias, as wcll as sucl lowci-class luman bcings as ilc
vaisyas, sudias and womcn and oilcis, wcic ablc io aclicvc My supicmc abodc.
Viiiasuia, Piallada Malaiaja and oilci lilc ilcm also aclicvcd My abodc by
associaiion wiil My dcvoiccs, as did pcisonaliiics sucl as Visapaiva, lali
Malaiaja, lanasuia, Maya, Viblisana, Sugiiva, Hanuman, Jambavan, Gajcndia,
Jaiayu, Tuladlaia, Dlaima-vyadla, Kubja, ilc gopis in Vindavana and ilc wivcs
ol ilc bialmanas wlo wcic pciloiming saciilicc."¯¯¯
7 Hcic ilc woid "daiicyal" mcans "ilc asuias and danavas", "yaiudlanal"
mcans "ilc ialsasas". An cxamplc ol somconc wlo iool biiil in ilcsc spccics is
givcn in ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woid "ivasiia". "ivasiia" mcans
"Viiiasuia, wlo in lis picvious biiil lad ilc associaiion ol Loid Sanlaisana,
Naiada Muni and Angiia Muni."
S "Kayadlava" mcans "Piallada, ilc son ol Kayadlu". Wlcn lc was siill in
lis moilci's womb, Piallada lad ilc associaiion ol Naiada Muni. Tlc woid
"adayal" (bcginning wiil) lcic iclcis io many oilci pcisons boin in ilc
picviously dcsciibcd dcmonic spccics.
9 Visapaiva was a danava. Abandoncd by lis naiuial moilci, lc was adopicd
by a gicai sagc and ilus lc bccamc a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu. His sioiy is
iccounicd in anoilci Puiana. lali lad ilc associaiion ol Loid Vamana and
Piallada Malaiaja. Tlis was bccausc lc undcisiood ilc plilosoply ol dcvoiion.
lanasuia lad ilc associaiion ol lali, Siva and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Aliciwaids lis many aims wcic cui oll. Hc undcisiood ilc gloiics ol
Loid Visnu. Hc aiiaincd ilc associaiion ol ilc gicai dcvoicc Loid Siva. Tlis was
lilc laving ilc associaiion ol ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll.
10 Maya was a danava. Ai ilc bcginning ol building ilc asscmbly lousc, lc
lad ilc associaiion ol ilc Pandavas and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Ai
ilc cnd lc aiiaincd ilc associaiion ol ilc Loid. Viblisana was a yaiudlana. Hc
lad ilc associaiion ol Hanuman and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
"Migal" iclcis io many animals, bcginning wiil Sugiiva and cnding wiil
Gajcndia. "Rlsa" iclcis io Jambavan. Hc lad ilc associaiion ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. "Gajal" iclcis io Gajcndia. In lis picvious biiil lc lad
ilc associaiion ol gicai dcvoiccs, and in lis linal biiil lc lad ilc associaiion ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. "Gidlial" iclcis io ilc biid (llagal)
namcd Jaiayu. Hc lad ilc associaiion ol Gaiuda, Dasaiaila and many oilci gicai
souls. Hc diiccily saw boil Sii Siia-dcvi and ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Many gandlaivas and oilcis aic noi spccilically mcniioncd lcic bccausc ilcy aic
noi vciy lamous. Vaisyas and oilcis among ilc luman spccics aic mcniioncd
lcic. "Vanil-pailal" iclcis io Tuladlaia. His gloiious sioiy is iccounicd in ilc
Malablaiaia. Hc lad ilc associaiion ol gandlaivas and Jajali Muni. Tlc
conclusion is ilai onc slould sccl oui ilc associaiion ol gicai dcvoiccs.
"Vyadlal" iclcis io ilc lunici Dlaima. "Sudial" iclcis io ilc lowcsi casic.
11 Tlc sioiy ol Dlaima-vyadla is iccounicd in ilc Vaiala Puiana. In a
loimci biiil in ilc picvious Kali-yuga, wlilc lc was in ilc company ol a Vaisnava
ling namcd Vasu, lc lillcd a bialmana, misialing ilc bialmana loi a dcci. Tlcn
lc bccamc a bialma-ialsasa. Wlcn ilc ling wcni io Visnulola wiilin ilc
maiciial woild, lc cnicicd ilc ling's body. Wlcn ilc ling's cnjoymcni in
Visnulola camc io an cnd, lc again aiiaincd ilc body ol a ling. ly ilc powci ol
ilc icciiaiion ol ilc piayci callcd lialma-paia, lc lcli ilai body. Hc was callcd
Dlaima-vyadla and lc was vciy avcisc io any violcncc. Ai ilc cnd lc saw Loid
Jagannaila and ollcicd piaycis io Him. Lmbiacing ilc Loid, lc aiiaincd sayujya-
mulii.
12 Kubja lad ilc associaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. In lci
picvious biiil slc lad ilc associaiion ol Naiada Muni. Slc is lamous among Loid
Kisna's associaics in Mailuia. Tlc gopis lcic iclcis ilc gopis in gcncial. Tlcy
camc io Viaja, wlcic ilcy maiiicd Loid Kisna and cnjoycd many pasiimcs wiil
Him. Tlcy lad ilc associaiion ol Loid Kisna's cicinal bclovcds. Tlcy saw Loid
Kisna and cnjoycd many pasiimcs wiil Him. In ilis way ilcy associaicd wiil ilc
Loid. Tlc yajna-painis lad associaiion wiil gicai dcvoiccs wlo clanicd ilc
gloiics ol Loid Kisna. Hcic ilc woid "apaic" mcans "daiiyas and oilcis".
Anuccheda 2+0
1 No mcilod ol spiiiiual advanccmcni is bciici ilan ilc associaiion ol
dcvoiccs. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll in ilc
2 "Tlc pcisons I lavc mcniioncd did noi undcigo sciious siudics ol ilc
Vcdic liiciaiuic, noi did ilcy woislip gicai sainily pcisons, noi did ilcy cxccuic
scvcic vows oi ausiciiiics. Simply by associaiion wiil Mc and My dcvoiccs, ilcy
aclicvcd Mc."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc Loid cxplains, "Tlc pcisons I lavc mcniioncd did noi undcigo
sciious siudics ol ilc Vcdic liiciaiuic, noi did ilcy woislip gicai sainily pcisons,
noi did ilcy cxccuic scvcic vows oi ausiciiiics. Simply by associaiion wiil Mc
and My dcvoiccs, ilcy aclicvcd Mc."¯¯¯
Viiiasuia and oilcis may lavc pciloimcd oilci linds ol spiiiiual aciiviiics
in ilcii picvious biiils, bui ii was by associaiing wiil dcvoiccs ilai ilcy linally
aiiaincd spiiiiual succcss. Tlis is also iiuc ol Dlaima-vyadla and oilcis.
+ Hcic ilc woid "mai-sanga" mcans "associaiion wiil Mc oi wiil My
dcvoiccs". In ciilci casc ilcic is associaiion wiil Mc". Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
Tlc associaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is picscni in ilc
associaiion ol His dcvoiccs. ly associaiing wiil ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, onc aiiains
ilc Loid's mcicy. Tlus ilcic is no lauli in ilc dcclaiaiion ilai associaiion wiil
ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is ilc bcsi ol all spiiiiual aciiviiics.
5 In somc siiuaiions onc is ablc io associaic wiil ilc Loid diiccily, and liom
ilis onc aiiains lovc loi ilc Loid. Tlcicloic wc say ilai in ilis siiuaiion ilc woid
"sai" mcans "ilc incainaiion ol ilc Loid". In ilis way ilc Loid givcs His mcicy.
Tlis docs noi dcny ilc inicipiciaiion ol ilc woid "sai" as "dcvoicc".
Anuccheda 2+1
1 Associaiion wiil ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is ilc piimaiy way io biing ilc Loid
undci onc's coniiol. Tlcic is no oilci way. Tlis is icvcalcd in ilc lollowing
dcsciipiion ol ilc gopis and oilcis (Siimad llagavaiam 11.12.S):
2 Tlc inlabiianis ol Vindavana, including ilc gopis, cows, unmoving
cicaiuics sucl as ilc iwin aijuna iiccs, animals, living cniiiics wiil siunicd
consciousncss sucl as buslcs and iliclcis, and snalcs sucl as Kaliya, all aclicvcd
ilc pcilcciion ol lilc by unalloycd lovc loi Mc and ilus vciy casily aclicvcd
Mc."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "blavcna" mcans "wiil lovc, wlicl is aiiaincd only by
associaiing wiil dcvoiccs." Tlis lovc is ilc piimaiy way io biing ilc Loid undci
onc's coniiol.
+ Tlis is cxplaincd in Siimad llagavaiam (9.+.66) wlcic ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"As clasic womcn biing ilcii gcnilc lusbands undci coniiol by scivicc, ilc
puic dcvoiccs, wlo aic cqual io cvciyonc and complcicly aiiaclcd io Mc in ilc
coic ol ilc lcaii, biing Mc undci ilcii lull coniiol."¯
5 Tlc Loid also says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.21):
unllincling laiil and dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis blalii-yoga sysicm, wlicl
giadually incicascs aiiaclmcni loi Mc, puiilics cvcn a luman bcing boin among
dog-caicis. Tlai is io say, cvciyonc can bc clcvaicd io ilc spiiiiual plailoim by ilc
6 Lilc ilc gopis, ilc cows wcic also sponiancously aiiiacicd io ilc Loid.
Hcic ilc woids "nagal" iclcis io ilc yamalaijuna and oilci iiccs, "migal" iclcis
io ilc bcings picviously dcsciibcd, and "nagal" iclcis io Kaliya and oilci
scipcnis. Hcic ii is said ilai boil yamalaijuna and Kaliya aiiaincd ilc samc
cicinal associaiion ol ilc Loid. Hcic ii is said ilai onc bccomcs pcilcci by "sai-
sanga", wlicl was picviously dclincd in iwo ways (as ilc associaiion ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, oi ilc associaiion ol His dcvoiccs). Onc docs
noi aiiain ilc spiiiiual lovc dcsciibcd lcic by piaciicing yoga oi lollowing oilci
non-dcvoiional pails. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam (11.12.2), wlcic
ilc woid "yaila" indicaics ilai dcvoiional scivicc is ilc bcsi ol all spiiiiual pails.
Anuccheda 2+2
1 Tlis is conliimcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"Lvcn ilougl onc cngagcs wiil gicai cndcavoui in ilc mysiic yoga sysicm,
plilosoplical spcculaiion, claiiiy, vows, pcnanccs, iiiualisiic saciiliccs, icacling
ol Vcdic maniias io oilcis, pcisonal siudy ol ilc Vcdas oi ilc icnounccd oidci ol
lilc, siill onc cannoi aclicvc Mc."¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "yam" iclcis "wlicl lovc". Tlis occuis cvcn ilougl (api)
ilcsc dcvoiccs cndcavoui (yainavan) wiil yoga io aiiain lovc loi ilc Loid.
3 To slow ilc mosi cxalicd siaius ol ilc gopis, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad givcs an cxplanaiion ilai bcgins wiil ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"My dcai Uddlava, O bclovcd ol ilc Yadu dynasiy, bccausc you aic My
scivani, wcll-wislci and liicnd, I slall now spcal io you ilc mosi conlidcniial
lnowlcdgc. Plcasc lcai as I cxplain ilcsc gicai mysiciics io you."¯¯¯
+ To icvcal ilc gicaicsi sccici, ilc Loid spcals ilc passagc ilai bcgins wiil
"Tlc icsidcnis ol Vindavana, lcadcd by ilc gopis, wcic always complcicly
aiiaclcd io Mc wiil dccpcsi lovc. Tlcicloic, wlcn My unclc Aliuia biougli My
bioilci lalaiama and Mc io ilc ciiy ol Mailuia, ilc icsidcnis ol Vindavana
sullcicd cxiicmc mcnial disiicss bccausc ol scpaiaiion liom Mc and could noi lind
any oilci souicc ol lappincss."¯¯¯
Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 2+3
1 Lvcn il onc is noi siiuaicd in iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, by associaiing wiil
dcvoiccs lc aiiains ilc goal ol lilc. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol
2 "Associaiion loi scnsc giaiilicaiion is cciiainly ilc pail ol bondagc. lui ilc
samc iypc ol associaiion, pciloimcd wiil a sainily pcison, lcads io ilc pail ol
libciaiion, cvcn il pciloimcd wiiloui lnowlcdgc."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "adliya" mcans "wiiloui lnowlcdgc". Tlc ignoiancc lcic
is ilc misialcn idca ilai Naiada Muni and oilci gicai sagcs aic oidinaiy pcisons.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Dcvaluii.
Anuccheda 2++
1 Tlus ilc icsuli ol associaiing wiil gicai dcvoiccs las bccn dcsciibcd. Tlc
icsuli obiaincd by sciving gicai dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 3.7.19):
2 "ly sciving ilc lcci ol ilc spiiiiual masici, onc is cnablcd io dcvclop
iiansccndcnial ccsiasy in ilc scivicc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc
unclangcablc cncmy ol ilc Madlu dcmon and wlosc scivicc vanquislcs onc's
maiciial disiicsscs."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "ycsam" mcans "ol you gicai dcvoiccs", "scvaya" mcans "by
scivicc", and "juia-silasya" mcans "cicinal". In ilis way onc aiiains a lcsiival ol
lovc loi ilc lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (blagavaial padayo iaii-
iaso blavci). Tlc adjcciivc "iivia" lcic slows ilai by associaiing wiil dcvoiccs
onc aiiains ilc bcsi icsuli ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc icsuli ol associaiing wiil
dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd in ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woid "vyasanaidanal".
"Vyasana" lcic mcans "ilc maiciial woild ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail". Tlc valuc
ol associaiing wiil dcvoiccs is also sccn in ilcsc woids ol Loid (Siimad
"Woislip ol My dcvoiccs is ilc mosi impoiiani."
In ilcsc woids ilc Loid dcclaics, "ly woislipping My dcvoiccs onc aiiains
moic inicnsc lovc loi Mc ilan by woislipping Mc diiccily."
+ Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-
llanda:
"My dcai Dcvi, alilougl ilc Vcdas mcniion woislip ol dcmigods, ilc
woislip ol Loid Visnu is iopmosi and is uliimaicly iccommcndcd. Howcvci,
abovc ilc woislip ol Loid Visnu is ilc icndciing ol scivicc io Vaisnavas, wlo aic
iclaicd io Loid Visnu."¯
5 Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by
Maiiicya Muni io Viduia.
Anuccheda 2+5
1 Tlc icsuli aiiaincd by noi associaiing wiil dcvoiccs is slown in ilc
lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S+.130:)
"Onc wlo acccpis ilis bodily bag ol ilicc clcmcnis (bilc, mucus, and aii)
as lis scll, wlo las an alliniiy loi an iniimaic iclaiionslip wiil lis wilc and
clildicn, wlo considcis lis land woislipablc, wlo ialcs bail in ilc waicis ol ilc
loly placcs ol pilgiimagc bui ncvci ialcs advaniagc ol ilosc pcison wlo aic in
aciual lnowlcdgc, lc is no bciici ilan an ass oi a cow."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "lunapc" mcans "ilc maiciial body, wlicl is mcani loi
dcail, and wlicl is dclilcd wiil ilc ilicc maiciial clcmcnis ol bilc, mucus, and
aii", "blaumc" mcans "ilinling ilc land ol lis biiil io bc lis woislipablc Dciiy",
"yai" mcans "ol wlom", "ablijncsu" mcans "ilcy wlo aic noi wisc lnowcis ol ilc
iiuil", and "aima-buddlil" mcans "lillcd wiil lovc loi ilc maiciial body". Sucl a
pcison is said io bc as lowly as a cow (sa cvc go-llaial). Hc is lilc a wild ass liom
ilc loicsis ol Sindlu oi Sauviia. Hc is lilc a pcison boin in a mlcccla lamily.
Alilougl lc ilinls limscll vciy wisc and iniclligcni, lc docs noi lnow wlai is
ilc iiuil. Tlcicloic lc is lowly and dcgiadcd, ilc woids "blauma ijya-dlil"
mcan ilai lc ilinls ilc land ol lis biiil io bc lis woislipablc dciiy. Hc is io bc
disiinguislcd liom a ncoplyic dcvoicc, wlo las bcgun ilc pioccss ol spiiiiual
clcvaiion. Tlc ncoplyic dcvoicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.+7):
"A dcvoicc wlo laiillully cngagcs in ilc woislip ol ilc Dciiy in ilc icmplc
bui docs noi bclavc piopcily iowaid oilci dcvoiccs oi pcoplc in gcncial is callcd a
pialiia-blalia, a maiciialisiic dcvoicc, and is considcicd io bc in ilc lowcsi
posiiion."¯
3 Tlc posiiion ol ilc dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam +.31.1+):
Tlcsc woids aic noi io bc ialcn liglily. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io ilc asscmblcd sagcs.
Anuccheda 2+6
1 Tlc icsuli aiiaincd by sciving gicai dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.9.12):
"O Loid wlo lavc a loius navcl, il a pcison lappcns io associaic wiil a
dcvoicc wlosc lcaii always lanlcis alici Youi loius lcci, sccling always ilcii
liagiancc, lc is ncvci aiiaclcd io ilc maiciial body oi, in a bodily iclaiionslip, io
ollspiing, liicnds, lomc, wcalil and wilc, wlicl aic vciy, vciy dcai io maiciialisiic
pcisons. Indccd, lc docs noi caic loi ilcm."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "maiiyam" mcans "ilc maiciial body, wlicl is mosi dcai io
ilc condiiioncd soul". Tlc dcvoiccs, lowcvci, loigci aboui ilc maiciial body and
ilc clildicn and oilcis ilai aic in iclaiionslip wiil ilc body.
Anuccheda 2+7
1 Tlai onc slould appiopiiaicly woislip ilc Vaisnavas is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol ilc Iiilasa-samuccaya:
"To gain Loid Visnu's mcicy, onc slould liisi plcasc ilc Vaisnavas. Wlcn
ilc Vaisnavas aic plcascd, ilcn Loid Visnu is mcicilul. Ol ilis ilcic is no doubi.
2 Tlc opposiic ol ilis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Padma
Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda:
"A pcison wlo woislips Loid Govinda bui docs noi woislip ilc Loid's
dcvoiccs, is noi limscll a dcvoicc. Hc is only a picicndci."
3 In Siimad llagavaiam (+.21.12) ii is said:
"Malaiaja Piilu was an uniivallcd ling and posscsscd ilc sccpiic loi
iuling all ilc scvcn islands on ilc suilacc ol ilc globc. No onc could disobcy lis
iiicvocablc oidcis bui ilc sainily pcisons, ilc bialmanas and ilc dcsccndanis ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (ilc Vaisnavas)."¯
+ Tlis cxplanaiion is givcn aboui Sii Piilu Malaiaja's pasiimcs. Somciling
clsc is moic impoiiani ilan biiil in an cxalicd lamily. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
5 "Il onc slows ilc sympioms ol bcing a bialmana, lsaiiiya, vaisya oi sudia,
as dcsciibcd abovc, cvcn il lc las appcaicd in a dillcicni class, lc slould bc
acccpicd accoiding io ilosc sympioms ol classilicaiion."¯
6 In ilc Padma Puiana, Sii Naiada Muni cxplains:
"Wlai moic nccd bc said' lialmanas wlo aic noi Vaisnavas slould ncvci
bc sccn, iouclcd oi spolcn io."
7. In ilc Magla-malaimya ii is said: "Onc wlo icluscs cvcn io lool ai a non-
Vaisnava bialama, considciing lim dcgiadcd lilc a dog-caici, is a iiuc Vaisnava.
Abovc ilc class disiinciions ol oidinaiy sociciy, lc puiilics ilc ilicc woilds.
S "Tlcy wlo aic dcvoicd io ilc Supicmc Loid aic ncvci io bc considcicd
sudias. Tlcy aic all gicai souls. Tlcy wlo aic noi dcvoicd io Loid Visnu aic all
sudias, icgaidlcss ol ilc class ol ilcii biiil."
9 In ilc Iiilasa-samuccaya ii is said:
"O bcsi ol bialmanas, wlcn lc is icmcmbcicd, spolcn io, oi woislippcd, a
Vaisnava, cvcn il boin in a candala lamily, biings gicai puiilicaiion."
10 Il onc sccs a Vaisnava in any oilci way, onc commiis a gicai ollcnsc. Tlis
is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Iiilasa-samuccaya:
"Onc wlo ilinls ilai bccausc ol lis biiil a Vaisnava is a low-class sudia,
oi svapaca, gocs io lcll loi a long iimc."
11 Tlc naiuic ol advanccd dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilc Gaiuda
Puiana wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"Tlc qualiiics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic: 1. lovc loi My dcvoiccs, 2. bcing
vciy plcascd io woislip Mc, 3. bcing vciy plcascd io lcai aboui My gloiics, +.
manilcsiing a clolcd voicc, icais in ilc cycs, and oilci sympioms ol ccsiaiic
lovc,...
12 ...5. dancing in ccsiaiic lovc loi Loid Visnu, 6. bcing licc ol lypociisy, 7.
pcisonally woislipping ilc Loid, and S. noi bcing a piolcssional woislippci, wlo
woislips Loid Visnu only io cain lis livclilood.
13 "Tlcsc aic ilc cigli sympioms ol dcvoiional scivicc. Wlcn ilcsc
sympioms aic manilcsicd in a pcison boin in a mlcccla lamily, ilai pcison is ilc
ling ol bialmanas. Tlai pcison is ilc bcsi ol sagcs. Hc is wisc. Hc is iiuly
lcaincd. To lim gilis slould bc givcn, and wlaicvci lc ollcis slould bc acccpicd.
As Loid Haii is woislippcd, so slould lc also bc woislippcd."
1+ Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll dcclaics:
"Lvcn ilougl a pcison is a vciy lcaincd sclolai ol ilc Sansliii Vcdic
liiciaiuic, lc is noi acccpicd as My dcvoicc unlcss lc is puic in dcvoiional scivicc.
Howcvci, cvcn ilougl a pcison is boin in a lamily ol dog-caicis, lc is vciy dcai io
mc il lc is a puic dcvoicc wlo las no moiivc io cnjoy liuiiivc aciiviiy oi mcnial
spcculaiion. Indccd all icspcci slould bc givcn io lim and wlaicvci lc ollcis
slould bc acccpicd. Sucl dcvoiccs aic as woislipablc as I am."¯
15 Awaic ol ilc gloiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, Duivasa Muni icspccilully
iouclcd ilc lcci ol King Ambaiisa. Howcvci, King Ambaiisa did noi iccipiocaic
by woislipping Duivasa Muni. Sii Uddlava, oilci dcvoiccs and cvcn ilc Supicmc
Loid Himscll lavc ollcicd obcisanccs io bialmanas wlo wcic noi Vaisnavas.
Howcvci, oilci Vaisnavas do noi always do ilis in all ciicumsianccs. Tlc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains (Siimad-llagavaiam 10.6+.+1):
16 "My dcai lollowcis, ncvci iicai a lcaincd bialmana laislly, cvcn il lc las
sinncd. Lvcn il lc aiiacls you plysically oi icpcaicdly cuiscs you, always
coniinuc io ollci lim obcisanccs."¯¯¯
17 To do oilciwisc is io disobcy ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll. Tlcicloic ilc
vcisc liom ilc Magla-malaimya quoicd in icxi 7 ol ilis anucclcda slould bc
undcisiood io mcan ilai onc slould noi bc cagci io associaic wiil Non Vaisnavas.
Tlis is also sccn in ilc way Yudlisiliia, Diaupadi and oilci Vaisnavas dcali wiil
Asvaiilama. A pcison wlo lonouis Vaisnavas slould noi call ilc aciiviiics ol
Vaisnavas inio qucsiion. Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Loid
(llagavad-giia 9.30):
1S "Lvcn il onc commiis ilc mosi abominablc aciion, il lc is cngagcd in
20 In ilc Gaiuda Puiana ii is said:
"Lvcn il lc icluscs io pciloim ilc duiics ol lis asiama, and cvcn il lc acis
badly, a dcvoicc ol Loid Visnu is gloiious lilc ilc iising sun. Hc puiilics all ilc
woilds."
21 Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.33.7)
wlcic Dcvaluii iclls Loid Kapiladcva:
"Ol, low gloiious aic ilcy wlosc iongucs aic claniing Youi loly namc!
Lvcn il boin in ilc lamilics ol dog-caicis, sucl pcison aic woislipablc. Pcisons
wlo clani ilc loly namc ol Youi Loidslip musi lavc cxccuicd all linds ol
ausiciiiics and liic saciiliccs and aclicvcd all ilc good manncis ol ilc Aiyans. To
bc claniing ilc loly namc ol Youi Loidslip, ilcy musi lavc bailcd ai loly placcs
ol pilgiimagc, siudicd ilc Vcdas and lullillcd cvciyiling icquiicd."¯
22 Hcic ilc piimaiy, ciymological mcaning ol ilc woid "svapaca" slould bc
acccpicd. Tlcicloic, cvcn il lc is ol low biiil, and cvcn il lis aciiviiics aic
abominablc, a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is noi io bc icvilcd oi dislonouicd. Howcvci,
ilc dcvoicc limscll may lccl icmoisc loi lis misbclavioui.
23 In ilc Gaiuda Puiana ii is said:
"A pcison wlo, lcaiing laisl woids liom a dcvoicc, icmains pcacclul and
iolciani, bows down bcloic ilc dcvoicc, and spcals swccily io lim, is a iiuc
Vaisnava."
2+ In ilis way ii is slown ilai onc slould scivc ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid.
Tlai scivicc bcgins wiil lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc dcvoiccs. In Siimad
llagavaiam (5.5.2.) ii is said:
"Onc can aiiain ilc pail ol libciaiion liom maiciial bondagc only by
icndciing scivicc io liglly advanccd spiiiiual pcisonaliiics. Tlcsc pcisonaliiics
aic impcisonalisis and dcvoiccs. Wlcilci onc wanis io mcigc inio ilc Loid's
cxisicncc oi wanis io associaic wiil ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, onc slould icndci
scivicc io ilc malaimas. Ioi ilosc wlo aic noi inicicsicd in sucl aciiviiics, wlo
associaic wiil pcoplc lond ol womcn and scx, ilc pail io lcll is widc opcn. Tlc
malaimas aic cquipoiscd. Tlcy do noi scc any dillcicncc bciwccn onc living
cniiiy and anoilci. Tlcy aic vciy pcacclul and aic lully cngagcd in dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlcy aic dcvoid ol angci, and ilcy woil loi ilc bcnclii ol cvciyonc. Tlcy
do noi bclavc in any abominablc way. Sucl pcoplc aic lnown as malaimas."¯
25 ly associaiing wiil gicai souls onc aiiains ilc supicmc auspicious bcnclii.
Tlc Loid cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.26.2S-31):
26 "O gicaily loiiunaic Uddlava, in ilc associaiion ol sucl sainily dcvoiccs
ilcic is consiani discussion ol Mc and ilosc paiialing in ilis claniing and
lcaiing ol My gloiics aic cciiainly puiilicd ol all sins."¯¯¯
27 "Wlocvci lcais, clanis and icspccilully ialcs io lcaii ilcsc iopics aboui
Mc bccomcs laiillully dcdicaicd io Mc and ilus aclicvcs My dcvoiional
scivicc."¯¯¯
2S "Wlai moic icmains io bc accomplislcd loi ilc pcilcci dcvoicc alici
aclicving dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc, ilc Supicmc Absoluic Tiuil, wlosc
qualiiics aic innumciablc and wlo am ilc cmbodimcni ol all ccsiaiic cxpciicncc'
¯¯¯
29 "Jusi as cold, lcai and dailncss aic ciadicaicd loi onc wlo las appioaclcd
ilc saciilicial liic, so dullncss, lcai and ignoiancc aic dcsiioycd loi onc cngagcd in
sciving ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid."¯¯¯
30 In ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.26.27) ilc Loid dcsciibcs
ilc cxalicd qualiiics ol ilc dcvoiccs:
"My dcvoiccs lix ilcii minds on Mc and do noi dcpcnd upon anyiling
maiciial. Tlcy aic always pcacclul, cndowcd wiil cqual vision, and licc liom
posscssivcncss, lalsc cgo, dualiiy and giccd."¯¯¯
In Siimad llagavaiam 11.26.29 ilc woid "blaliim" mcans "lovc".
31 Loid Siva gloiilics ilc dcvoiccs in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
+.2+.570):
"Il onc by clancc associaics wiil a dcvoicc, cvcn loi a liaciion ol a
momcni, lc no longci is subjcci io aiiiaciion by ilc icsulis ol laima oi jnana.
Wlai inicicsi ilcn can lc lavc in ilc bcncdiciions ol ilc dcmigods, wlo aic
subjcci io ilc laws ol biiil and dcail'"¯
32 Sii Saunala Rsi gloiilics ilc dcvoiccs in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.1S.13):
"Tlc valuc ol a momcni's associaiion wiil ilc dcvoicc ol ilc Loid cannoi
cvcn bc compaicd io ilc aiiainmcni ol lcavcnly plancis ol libciaiion liom maiici,
and wlai io spcal ol woildly bcncdiciions in ilc loim ol maiciial piospciiiy,
wlicl aic loi ilosc wlo aic mcani loi dcail."¯
33 In Siimad llagavaiam 11.26.31, ilc Loid givcs an cxamplc. In ilai vcisc
ilc woid "viblavasum" mcans "liic" and "siayamanasya" mcans "ol onc wlo
appioaclcs ilc loic ol a yajna io bcgin woislip". Ioi sucl a pcison cold and
oilci disiicsscs aic icmovcd (apycii). Icai (blayam), wlicl is causcd by wiclcd
pcisons and oilci causcs, is also icmovcd. In ilc samc way a pcison wlo scivcs
ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid (sadlun) bccomcs licc ol ilc maiciial dullncss causcd by
laima and oilci causcs. Tlc ignoiancc ilai is ilc iooi ol ilc lcais cicaicd in ilc
maiciial woild ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail, is ilcn dcsiioycd.
Anuccheda 2+8
1 Now will bc considcicd lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid. Tlis lcaiing
occuis wlcn sounds dcsciibing ilc Loid's namcs, loims, qualiiics and pasiimcs,
ioucl ilc cais. Hcaiing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 6.16.++):
2 "My Loid, ii is noi impossiblc loi onc io bc immcdiaicly liccd liom all
maiciial coniaminaiion by sccing You. Noi io spcal ol sccing You pcisonally,
mcicly by lcaiing ilc loly namc ol Youi Loidslip only oncc, cvcn candalas, mcn
ol ilc lowcsi class, aic liccd liom all maiciial coniaminaiion. Undci ilc
ciicumsianccs, wlo will noi bc liccd liom maiciial coniaminaiion simply by
sccing You'"¯
3 In ilis way by oncc lcaiing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid onc aiiains linal
libciaiion. Howcvci, by icpcaicdly lcaiing ilc loly namc onc aiiains gicai
dcvoiion io ilc Loid, wlicl is bciici ilan libciaiion. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by
King Ciiialciu io Loid Sanlaisana.
Anuccheda 2+9
1 Hcaiing aboui ilc iiansccndcnial loim ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc
"O my Loid, pcisons wlo smcll ilc aioma ol Youi loius lcci, caiiicd by ilc
aii ol Vcdic sound iliougl ilc lolcs ol ilc cais, acccpi Youi dcvoiional scivicc.
Ioi ilcm You aic ncvci scpaiaicd liom ilc loius ol ilcii lcaiis."¯
2 Tlc woid "iu" (bui) in ilis vcisc linis ilc cxisicncc ol ilosc pcisons wlo
do noi lonoui ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial loims, and wlo aic ilus ilc opposiics ol
ilc dcvoiccs. Tlosc pcisons aic icbulcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc picccding
vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.+):
"O Loid, ilosc wlo aic dcsiincd io bc dispaiclcd io ilc pail ol lcll ncglcci
Youi pcisonal loim bccausc ol spcculaiing on maiciial iopics."¯
Tlc woid "asai-piasangal" lcic iclcis io ilcy wlo aic avcisc io ilc Loid.
3 In Siimad llagavaiam 3.9.5. is dcsciibcd gicai dcvoiion io ilc Loid's lcci.
Hcic ilc woid "gandlam" mcans "ilc swcci liagiancc ol ilc woids, loim and
oilci ilings". Tlc dcvoiccs smcll (jiglianii) ilis swcci liagiancc iliougl ilc
lolcs ol ilc cais (laina-vivaiail). As iliougl ilc nosiiils onc smclls a swcci
liagiancc, so iliougl ilc cais ilcy iclisl ilc swccincss ol ilc Loid. Hcic ilc
woid "siuii" mcans "ilc Vcdas and oilci sciipiuics ilai lollow ilc Vcdic
conclusion". Tlc sciipiuics aic ilc bicczc (vaia) ilai caiiics ilc liagiancc ol ilc
Loid's swccincss. "Paiaya blaliya" mcans :wiil dcvoiion claiaciciiscd by
spiiiiual lovc." Tlcn ilc spcalci says, "O Loid, You lavc no powci io lcavc a
pcison wlo las ialcn slclici ol Youi lcci (giliia-caianam)." Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by ilc dcmigod lialma io Loid Gaiblodalasayi Visnu.
Anuccheda 250
1 Hcaiing aboui ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 12.3.1+-15):
"I lavc iclaicd io you ilc naiiaiions ol all ilcsc gicai lings, wlo spicad
ilcii lamc iliougloui ilc woild and ilcn dcpaiicd. My ical puiposc was io icacl
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc and icnunciaiion. Sioiics ol lings lcnd powci and
opulcncc io ilcsc naiiaiions bui do noi in ilcmsclvcs consiiiuic ilc uliimaic
aspcci ol lnowlcdgc.¯¯¯
2 "Tlc pcison wlo dcsiics puic dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna slould lcai
ilc naiiaiions ol Loid Uiiamaslola's gloiious qualiiics, ilc consiani claniing ol
wlicl dcsiioys cvciyiling inauspicious. Tlc dcvoicc slould cngagc in sucl
lisicning in icgulai daily asscmblics and slould also coniinuc lis lcaiing
iliougloui ilc day."¯¯¯
"In ilis vcisc ilc spcalci dcsciibcs ilc dynasiics ol ilc gicai lings.
Howcvci, lc docs ilis wiil a dcsiic io spcal (vivalsaya) aboui iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc (vijnana) and icnunciaiion (vaiiagya). Llaboiaic dcsciipiions (vaco
vibluiil) ol dcpaiicd (paicyusam) lings aic noi ilc uliimaic aspcci ol lnowlcdgc
(paiamaiilyam). In ilc ncxi vcisc ilc woids "niiyam" and "ablilsnam" mcans
:cvciy day".
+ In onc scnsc, lowcvci, ilis siaicmcni is coniiadicicd by ilc laci ilai among
ilcsc dcsciipiions ol ilc gicai lings aic dcsciipiions ol Loid Rama, Loid
Lalsmana and oilci incainaiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. As a
paiasol bcaici lollows a ling, so icnunciaiion lollows ilcsc dcsciipiions ol ilc
Loid. In Siimad llagavaiam (1.1.13) ii is said:
"O cxpcii and ilouglilul mcn, iclisl Siimad llagavaiam, ilc maiuic liuii
ol ilc dcsiic iicc ol Vcdic liiciaiuics. Ii cmanaicd liom ilc lips ol Sii Suladcva
Gosvami. Tlcicloic ilis liuii las bccomc cvcn moic iasiclul, alilougl iis
ncciaican juicc was alicady iclislablc loi all, including libciaicd souls."¯
Alilougl Siimad llagavaiam ilus cxplains ilc ncciai ol iiansccndcnial
iasas, ilosc iasas aic somciimcs ilc sania-iasa and oilci iasa cmploycd in diicci
dcvoiional scivicc, and somciimcs ilcy aic sania-iasa and oilci iasas cmploycd as
lclpcis io lcad onc io diicci dcvoiional scivicc. In ilis way ilc ncciai iasas ol
dcvoiional scivicc aic on dillcicni lcvcls.
5 Hcic ilc woid "gunal" mcans "mcicy and oilci viiiucs". Tlc naiuic ol
ilc Loid's viiiucs is sccn in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol llagavad-giia (11.36):
"O masici ol ilc scnscs, ilc woild bccomcs joylul upon lcaiing Youi
namc, and ilus cvciyonc bccomcs aiiaclcd io You. Alilougl ilc pcilccicd bcings
ollci You ilcii icspccilul lomagc, ilc dcmons aic aliaid, and ilcy llcc lcic and
ilcic. All ilis is iiglily donc."¯
6 Tlc gicai dcvoiccs iclisl lcaiing ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Loid.
Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.16.5-6):
"Plcasc dcsciibc all ilcsc incidcnis il ilcy iclaic io ilc iopics ol Loid Kisna.
Tlc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic accusiomcd io licling up ilc loncy availablc liom
ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid."¯
7 Alilougl ilc woid "guna" lcic alliims ilai ilc Loid's loims and pasiimcs
aic all mosi cxccllcni, ii is ncvciilclcss iiuc ilai ilc Loid las a gicai vaiiciy ol
loims and pasiimcs.
S Hcic ilc woid "blaliim" mcans "lovc" and ilc woid "amalam" mcans
"licc liom ilc dcsiic loi impcisonal libciaiion". Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc
bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 251
1 Tlc lollowing cxplanaiion is givcn (Siimad llagavaiam 5.12.13):
"Wlo aic ilc puic dcvoiccs mcniioncd lcic' In an asscmbly ol puic
dcvoiccs, ilcic is no qucsiion ol discussing maiciial subjccis lilc poliiics and
sociology. In an asscmbly ol puic dcvoiccs, ilcic is discussion only ol ilc
qualiiics, loims and pasiimcs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Hc is
piaiscd and woislippcd wiil lull aiicniion. In ilc associaiion ol puic dcvoiccs, by
consianily lcaiing sucl iopics icspccilully, cvcn a pcison wlo wanis io mcigc inio
ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil abandons ilis idca and giadually bccomcs
aiiaclcd io ilc scivicc ol Vasudcva."¯
2 Tlis is iiuc ol onc wlo dcsiics impcisonal libciaiion. How mucl moic
iiuc, ilcn, ii musi bc loi onc wlo dcsiics only io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc'
Hcic ilc woid "saiim" mcans "licc liom ilc dcsiic io aiiain impcisonal libciaiion
oi anyiling oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc". Tlcsc oilci dcsiics dcviaic onc liom
ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by a bialmana io King
Ralugana.
Anuccheda 252
1 Tlcy wlo aic noi inicicsicd in lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd
in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1.+):
"Gloiilicaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is pciloimcd in ilc
paiampaia sysicm. Tlai is, ii is convcycd liom spiiiiual masici io disciplc. Sucl
gloiilicaiion is iclislcd by ilosc no longci inicicsicd in ilc lalsc, icmpoiaiy
gloiilicaiion ol ilis cosmic manilcsiaiion. Dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid aic ilc iigli
mcdicinc loi ilc condiiioncd soul undcigoing icpcaicd biiil and dcail.
Tlcicloic, wlo will ccasc lcaiing sucl gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid cxccpi a buiclci
oi onc wlo is lilling lis own scll'"¯
2 In ilis vcisc ilicc linds ol pcisons aic dcsciibcd: 1. ilc libciaicd souls, 2.
ilcy wlo aspiic io bccomc libciaicd, and 3. ilc maiciialisis, wlo aic inicicsicd in
scnsc giaiilicaiion. Hcic ilc woid "pasuglnal" mcans "a buiclci oi a lunici".
3 Tlcsc ilicc classcs ol pcisons aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
"O piincc, may you livc a long lilc. O bialmacaii, may you dic now. O
sainily pcison, may you livc oi dic. lui you, O buiclci, don'i ciilci livc oi dic."¯
Noic: Tlc piincc is lcic blcsscd io livc a long lilc, loi wlilc lc livcs lc may
cnjoy many lcdonisiic plcasuics and ilus posiponc ilc sullciing lc will lavc io
cxpciicncc in ilc ncxi lilc as ilc laimic icsuli ol lis many sins. Tlc bialmacaii is
picscnily pciloiming scvcic ausiciiiics. Hc is blcsscd io dic so lis ausiciiiics may
cnd and lc may cnjoy lis icwaid ol blisslul lilc in ilc spiiiiual woild. Tlc saini is
blcsscd ciilci io livc oi io dic. Il lc livcs lc picaclcs ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid in
ilis woild and il lc dics lc iciuins io ilc spiiiiual woild. Liilci dcsiiny is good
loi lim. Tlc buiclci is blcsscd io nciilci livc noi dic. In ilis lilc lc sullcis
bccausc ol lis sins and in ilc ncxi lilc lc will sullci cvcn moic. Tlcicloic lc
slould nciilci livc noi dic.
+ Tlis nyaya alliims ilai a buiclci is noi ablc io iclisl spiiiiual lappincss.
Hc cannoi undcisiand spiiiiual lappincss and, bccausc ii is vciy conlidcniial, lc
cannoi iasic ilc swcci ncciai ol ilc iopics ol ilc Supicmc Loid. lccausc a buiclci
is dcmonic by naiuic lc is lii only io bc ciiiiciscd. lccausc lc is violcni by naiuic
ilc woid "pasuglna" is uscd io dcsciibc lim. Tlc woid "pasuglna" mcans "a
lunici oi a buiclci". Sucl a pcison docs noi considci ilc bcauiy and oilci good
qualiiics ol dcci and oilci animals. Hc is inicicsicd only in laiming oilcis.
lccausc sucl a pcison cannoi iasic ilc ncciai ol Kisna consciousncss, Siimad
llagavaiam dcclaics "vina pasuglnai" (cxccpi a buiclci). lccausc ilcy aic also
avcisc io ilc Supicmc Loid, sucl pcisons aic violcni in iwo ways. Tlis sccond
loim ol violcncc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Tliid Canio (Siimad
5 "Wlo, oilci ilan onc wlo is noi a luman bcing, can cxisi in ilis woild
and noi bc inicicsicd in ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc' Wlo can iclusc ilc ncciai ol
naiiaiions aboui ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad's aciiviiics, wlicl by iiscll can dclivci
onc liom all maiciial pangs'"¯
6 Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King Paiilsii io Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 253
1 Hcaiing dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid's pasiimcs is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids
"Tiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc in iclaiion wiil ilc Supicmc Loid Haii is
lnowlcdgc icsuliing in ilc complcic suspcnsion ol ilc wavcs and wliilpools ol
ilc maiciial modcs. Sucl lnowlcdgc is scll-saiislying duc io iis bcing licc liom
maiciial aiiaclmcni, and bcing iiansccndcnial ii is appiovcd by auiloiiiics. Wlo
could lail io bc aiiiacicd'"
2 Hcic ilc woids "jnanam yai" mcan "lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid's pasiimcs".
Wlai is ilai lnowlcdgc lilc' Tlc vcisc cxplains, "ii icsulis in ilc complcic (a)
suspcnsion (piaiiniviiiam) ol ilc wavcs (uimi) and wliilpools (caliam) ol ilc
maiciial modcs (guna). Sucl lnowlcdgc is scll-saiislying (aima-piasadal) duc io
iis bcing licc liom maiciial aiiaclmcni." Wlai moic may bc said ol ii' "Ii biings
libciaiion (laivalya) as iis icsuli". Tlis iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc is dcsciibcd by
ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 1S.5+):
lialman and bccomcs lully joylul. Hc ncvci lamcnis oi dcsiics io lavc anyiling.
Hc is cqually disposcd iowaid cvciy living cniiiy. In ilai siaic lc aiiains puic
dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯
Tlc Siimad llagavaiam vcisc cxplains, "Tlis lnowlcdgc is ilc pail
(sammaial panilal) by wlicl onc aiiains loving dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid
(blalii-yogal). Simply by lcaiing aboui ilc Loid all ilcsc icsulis aic obiaincd.
Simply by lcaiing aboui Loid Kisna's pasiimcs (laii-lailasu) onc bccomcs lillcd
wiil lappincss (niiviial). Onc no longci linds lappincss in any oilci iling.
Tlcicloic wlo (lal) could lail (na) io bc aiiiacicd (iaiim luiyai)'"
Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 25+
1 Wlai moic may bc said' Siimad llagavaiam (1.5.S) cxplains:
"You lavc noi aciually bioadcasi ilc sublimc and spoilcss gloiics ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlai plilosoply wlicl docs noi saiisly ilc
iiansccndcnial scnscs ol ilc Loid is considcicd woiillcss."¯
2 In Siimad llagavaiam (1.5.13) ii is also said:
"O Vyasadcva, Youi vision is complcicly pcilcci. Youi good lamc is
spoilcss. You aic liim in vow and siiuaicd in iiuillulncss. And ilus You can
3 Tlc Loid's pasiimcs aic dividcd inio iwo gioups: 1. ilc pasiimcs ilai bcgin
wiil cicaiion, and 2. ilc pasiimcs ol ilc Loid's pasiimc-incainaiions. Tlc sccond
gioup is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.6.+6):
+ "O Naiada, now I slall siaic, onc alici anoilci, ilc iiansccndcnial
incainaiions ol ilc Loid lnown as lila-avaiaias. Hcaiing ol ilcii aciiviiics
couniciacis all loul maiicis accumulaicd in ilc cai. Tlcsc pasiimcs aic plcasing io
lcai and aic io bc iclislcd. Tlcicloic ilcy aic in my lcaii."¯
5 Picccding ilis vcisc is ilis siaicmcni (Siimad llagavaiam 2.6.+2):
"Kaianainavasayi Visnu is ilc liisi incainaiion ol ilc Supicmc Loid, and
Hc is ilc masici ol cicinal iimc, spacc, causc and cllccis, mind , ilc clcmcnis, ilc
maiciial cgo, ilc modcs ol naiuic, ilc scnscs, ilc univcisal loim ol ilc Loid,
Gaiblodalasayi Visnu, and ilc sum ioial ol all living bcings, boil moving and
non moving."¯
6 In Siimad llagavaiam 2.6.+6 ilc woid "puiusa" mcans "ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc masici ol iimc and oilci poicncics and ilc
cicaioi ol ilc mind and oilci ingicdicnis ol ilc maiciial woild". Hcic ilc spcalci
says, "I will dcsciibc ilc guna-avaiaias bcginning wiil Loid lialma, and ilc
vibluii-avaiaias bcginning wiil Dalsa, and I also will dcsciibc ilc Loid's pasiimcs
bcginning wiil His pasiimc ol cicaiion."
Tlis vcisc dcclaics, "O Naiada, now I slall siaic, onc alici anoilci, ilc
iiansccndcnial incainaiions ol ilc Loid lnown as lila-avaiaias. Hcaiing ol ilcii
aciiviiics couniciacis all loul maiicis accumulaicd in ilc cai. Tlcicloic ilcy aic in
my lcaii. Hcaiing ol ilcsc aciiviiics icmovcs ilc dcsiic io lcai ol anyiling clsc.
Now I will dcsciibc ilcsc bcauiilul pasiimcs onc alici anoilci. Tlcsc pasiimcs
slould bc complcicly diunl up (by ilc cais)." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Loid
lialma io Naiada Muni.
Anuccheda 255
1 Hcaiing ol ilc pasiimcs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also
gloiilicd in ilc piaycis by ilc Pcisonilicd Vcdas (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.21):
"O Loid, You manilcsi Youi pcisonal loims io piopagaic ilis unlailomablc
scicncc ol ilc scll. Tlc loiiunaic souls wlo can ilus iclicvc ilcmsclvcs ol ilc
laiiguc ol maiciial lilc by diving inio ilc vasi occan ol ncciai wlicl is Youi
pasiimcs, O Loid, no longci dcsiic cvcn libciaiion. Tlcy icnouncc ilc lappincss
ol lamily lilc bccausc ilcy bccn ablc io associaic wiil ilc swaims ol swans wlo
cnjoy ai ilc loius llowci ol Youi lcci."¯¯¯
2 In ilc Iiisi Canio (Siimad llagavaiam 1.2.3+) ii is also said:
"Tlus ilc Loid ol ilc univciscs mainiains all plancis inlabiicd by ilc
dcmigods, mcn and lowci animals. Assuming ilc iolcs ol incainaiions, Hc
pciloims pasiimcs io icclaim ilosc in ilc modc ol puic goodncss."¯
Hcic ilc woid "lilavaiaianuiaial" iclcis io ilc Supicmc Loid.
3 In llagavad-giia (+.9) Loid Kisna Himscll alliims:
"Onc wlo lnows ilc iiansccndcnial naiuic ol My appcaiancc and aciiviiics
docs noi, upon lcaving ilc body, ialc biiil again in ilis maiciial woild, bui aiiains
My cicinal abodc, O Aijuna."¯
+ In ilis way cvcn a condiiioncd soul icsiding in a maiciial body can conquci
ovci dcail and bccomc a pcisonal associaic ol ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlis iiuil is
also conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.1+.5-6):
5 "O waiiioi, ilc inquiiy madc by you is jusi bcliiiing a dcvoicc bccausc ii
conccins ilc incainaiion ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Hc is ilc souicc ol
libciaiion liom ilc clain ol biiil and dcail loi all ilosc wlo aic oilciwisc
dcsiincd io dic."¯
6 "ly lcaiing ilcsc iopics liom ilc sagc (Naiada), ilc son ol King
Uiianapada (Dliuva) was cnliglicncd icgaiding ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and
lc asccndcd io ilc abodc ol ilc Loid, placing lis lcci ovci ilc lcad ol dcail."¯
7 Hcic ilc woid "munina" mcans "by Sii Naiada". In ilis way aic lcaid ilc
iopics ol ilc Loid's incainaiions. Tlus in ilis body onc conqucis ovci dcail.
Tlcn onc bccomcs a pcisonal associaic ol ilc Loid. Tlai is said in ilis vcisc.
S Dliuva Malaiaja's bccoming a pcisonal associaic ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd
in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam +.12.29):
"lcloic gciiing aboaid, Dliuva Malaiaja woislippcd ilc aiiplanc,
ciicumambulaicd ii, and also ollcicd obcisanccs io ilc associaics ol Visnu. In ilc
mcaniimc lc bccamc as biilliani and illuminaiing as molicn gold. Hc was ilus
complcicly picpaicd io boaid ilc iiansccndcnial planc."¯
Maiiicya.
Anuccheda 256
1 Now lcaiing ilc Loid's loly namcs will bc dcsciibcd. Onc slould also
lcai aboui ilc gicai dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid.
2 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.13.+):
"Pcisons wlo lcai liom a spiiiiual masici wiil gicai laboui and loi a long
iimc musi lcai liom ilc mouils ol puic dcvoiccs aboui ilc claiacici and
aciiviiics ol puic dcvoiccs. Puic dcvoiccs always ilinl wiilin ilcii lcaiis ol ilc
loius lcci ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo awaids His dcvoiccs libciaiion."¯
3 Alilougl ii is possiblc loi onc io jump ovci ilc many siagcs ol spiiiiual
advanccmcni and aiiain pcilcciion in a singlc momcni, siill, ilc gcncial pail is
ilai liisi onc lcais ilc Loid's loly namc, and in ilai way onc's lcaii bccomcs
puiilicd. Wlcn onc's lcaii is puiilicd, by lcaiing aboui ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial
loim ilc Loid's loim appcais in onc's lcaii. Wlcn ilc Loid's loim appcais in ilis
way, ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial qualiiics aic ilcn clcaily manilcsicd.
+ As onc malcs spiiiiual advanccmcni and ilc Loid's pasiimcs bccomc
manilcsi, ilc namcs, loims, and qualiiics ol ilc Loid's pcisonal associaics aic also
manilcsi. In ilis way ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ol lcaiing and icmcmbciing aic
dcsciibcd. Tlus onc lcais ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid, gloiics clanicd by ilc gicai
souls. Hcaiing ol ilc Loid's gloiics biings gicai lappincss io ilc dcvoiccs wlo aic
aiiiacicd io ilc Loid. Hcaiing ol ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid is ol iwo linds: 1. lcaiing
ilc Loid's gloiics as ilcy aic icvcalcd by ilc gicai souls, and 2. lcaiing ilc
gloiilicaiion ol ilcsc icvclaiions ilc gicai souls lavc givcn ol ilc Loid's gloiics.
Tlc loimci is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.3.+0):
5 "Tlis Siimad llagavaiam is ilc liiciaiy incainaiion ol God, and ii is
compilcd by Siila Vyasadcva, ilc incainaiion ol God. Ii is mcani loi ilc uliimaic
good ol all pcoplc, and ii is all-succcsslul, all-blisslul and all-pcilcci."¯
6 Tlcsc woids aic spolcn io gloiily Siimad llagavaiam and idcniily iis
auiloi (Siila Vyasadcva). Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 257
1 Siimad llagavaiam is also gloiilicd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
1.1.3):
"O cxpcii and ilouglilul mcn, iclisl Siimad llagavaiam, ilc maiuic liuii
ol ilc dcsiic iicc ol Vcdic liiciaiuics. Ii cmanaicd liom ilc lips ol Sii Suladcva
Gosvami. Tlcicloic ilis liuii las bccomc cvcn moic iasiclul, alilougl iis
ncciaican juicc was alicady iclislablc loi all, including libciaicd souls."¯
2 lccausc ii is ncciai llowing liom Siila Suladcva Gosvami's mouil, Siimad
llagavaiam biings ilc gicaicsi lappincss. lccausc ilcy lavc qualiiics lilc ilis,
ilc Vaisnava sciipiuics, sucl as Sii Kisna-lainamiia, wiiiicn by Sii Lilasula,
slould bc cmbiaccd io onc's lcaii. Hcaiing ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc icvclaiions ilc
gicai souls lavc givcn ol ilc Loid's gloiics is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
3 "My dcai Loid, You aic gloiilicd by ilc sclccicd vciscs uiicicd by gicai
pcisonaliiics. Sucl gloiilicaiion ol Youi loius lcci is jusi lilc sallion paiiiclcs.
Wlcn ilc iiansccndcnial vibiaiion liom ilc mouils ol gicai dcvoiccs caiiics ilc
aioma ol ilc sallion dusi ol Youi loius lcci, ilc loigcilul living cniiiy giadually
icmcmbcis lis cicinal iclaiionslip wiil You. Dcvoiccs ilus giadually comc io ilc
iigli conclusion aboui ilc valuc ol lilc. My dcai Loid, I ilcicloi do noi nccd any
oilci bcncdiciion bui ilc puic oppoiiuniiy io lcai liom ilc mouil ol Youi puic
dcvoicc."¯
+ Tlc lollowing dcsciipiion is givcn in ilc picvious vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam +.20.2+):
"My dcai Loid, I ilcicloic do noi wisl io lavc ilc bcncdiciion ol mciging
inio Youi cxisicncc, a bcncdiciion in wlicl ilcic is no cxisicncc ol ilc ncciaican
bcvciagc ol Youi loius lcci. I wani ilc bcncdiciion ol ai lcasi onc million cais, loi
ilus I may bc ablc io lcai aboui ilc gloiics ol Youi loius lcci liom ilc mouils ol
Youi puic dcvoiccs."¯
Tlc picccding vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam +.20.23) mcans, "O Loid, ilc
bicczc caiiying cvcn a singlc diop ol ilc swccincss ol Youi loius lcci, a bicczc
waliing liom ilc mouil ol Youi puic dcvoiccs, ai oncc cclipscs ilc lappincss ol
impcisonal libciaiion. Tlis bicczcs biings io us, wlo lavc loigoiicn ilc iiuil
aboui You, ilc mcmoiy ol You." Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by King Piilu io Loid
Visnu.
Anucchedas 258 and 259
1 Hcaiing ol ilc Loid's pasiimcs biings gicai gloiy and gicai lappincss. loil
aic dcsciibcd in iwo vciscs ilc liisi ol wlicl lollows (Siimad llagavaiam
+.29.+0):
2 "My dcai ling, in ilc placc wlcic puic dcvoiccs livc, lollowing ilc iulcs
and icgulaiions, and ilus puicly conscious and cngagcd wiil gicai cagcincss in
lcaiing and claniing ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, in ilai
placc il onc gcis a clancc io lcai ilcii consiani llow ol ncciai, wlicl is cxacily
lilc ilc wavcs ol a iivci, onc will loigci ilc ncccssiiics ol lilc, namcly lungci and
iliisi, and bccomc immunc io all linds ol lcai, lamcniaiion and illusion."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "iasmin" mcans "in ilc associaiion ol dcvoiccs", "maladblii
mullaiiial" mcans "gloiilicd by ilc gicai souls", "scsa" mcans "ilc bcsi",
"aviiisal" mcans "wiiloui any idca ol cvci bccoming saiislicd", "gadla" mcans
"aiicniivc", and "asana" mcans "lungci".
+ In ilc sccond ol ilcsc iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam +.29.+1) ii is said:
"lccausc ilc condiiioncd soul is always disiuibcd by ilc bodily ncccssiiics
sucl as lungci and iliisi, lc las vciy liiilc iimc io culiivaic aiiaclmcni io lcaiing
ilc ncciaican woids ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."¯
5 Tlis vcisc mcans, "lccausc ilc condiiioncd soul is always disiuibcd by ilc
bodily ncccssiiics sucl as lungci and iliisi, lc las vciy liiilc iimc io culiivaic
aiiaclmcni io lcaiing ilc ncciaican woids ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad."¯ Tlus ilc condiiioncd souls ncglcci ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid, wlicl aic
clanicd by ilc gicai souls. Insicad ilcy ilinl only ol ilcii own maiciial
lappincss. Tlai is ilc mcaning ol ilcsc iwo vciscs. Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by
Sii Naiada io King Piacinabaili.
Anuccheda 260
1 Hcaiing Siimad llagavaiam is ilc bcsi lind ol lcaiing. Tlis is so bccausc
ilc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam aic mosi gloiious and also bccausc Siimad
llagavaiam is ilc swccicsi ncciai. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids
2 "Tlis bcauiilul llagavaiam, compilcd by ilc gicai sagc Vyasadcva (in lis
lis lcaii."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "mala-muni" mcans "ilc Supicmc Loid, wlosc loius lcci
aic woislippcd by all gicai souls". Tlc woids "lim va paiail" slow ilc gloiy ol
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Vyasa.
Anuccheda 261
1 Ai ilc cnd ol Siimad llagavaiam (12.13.15) ii is said:
"Siimad llagavaiam is dcclaicd io bc ilc csscncc ol all Vcdania
plilosoply. Onc wlo las lcli saiislaciion liom iis ncciaican mcllow will ncvci bc
aiiiacicd io any oilci liiciaiuic."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "iasamiia-iipiasya" mcans "onc wlo is saiislicd by diinling
ilai ncciai". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 262
1 In ilis way ii slould bc undcisiood: Hcaiing ilc loly namc ol ilc Supicmc
and ilc dcsciipiions ol Him biings ilc gicaicsi bcnclii. Tlus lcaiing is ol iwo
linds: 1. lcaiing ilc Loid's gloiics as ilcy aic icvcalcd by ilc gicai souls, and 2.
lcaiing ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilcsc icvclaiions ilc gicai souls lavc givcn ol ilc
Loid's gloiics. Tlc laiici cspccially mcans gloiilicaiion ol Siimad llagavaiam.
2 In Siimad llagavaiam (11.3.+S) ii is said:
"Tlc dcvoicc slould woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilc
paiiiculai pcisonal loim ol ilc Loid ilc dcvoicc linds mosi aiiiaciivc."¯¯¯
Tlus onc slould again and again lcai ilc loly namcs and dcsciipiions ol
ilc loim ol ilc Loid onc linds mosi aiiiaciivc. Onc slould lcai ilcsc dcsciipiions
liom ilc mouil ol a scll-icaliscd soul. ly lcaiing ilc loly namcs and dcsciipiions
ol Loid Kisna, onc aiiains ilc gicaicsi good loiiunc. Tlis is so bccausc Loid
Kisna is ilc oiiginal loim ol ilc Loid. In ilc samc way onc slould also gloiily
Loid Kisna and scivc Him in oilci ways also. Tlus ilc Supicmc Loid slould bc
gloiilicd and ilc bools aboui ilc Loid, bools wiiiicn by gicai souls lilc Siila
Suladcva Gosvami, slould also bc gloiilicd.
3 In ilis way lcaiing aboui ilc Loid is icvcalcd. Hcaiing comcs liisi, bcloic
gloiilying oi ilc oilci mcilods ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid, loi wiiloui liisi
lcaiing onc cannoi aiiain lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid oi ilc dillcicni aciiviiics ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Spccilically, il ilc bools wiiiicn by gicai souls io gloiily ilc
Loid aic noi manilcsicd, ilcn ii is noi possiblc io aiiain ilc good loiiunc ol
lcaiing aboui ilc Loid. Tlcicloic ilosc bools slould also bc gloiilicd, loi ilcy
aic mosi impoiiani.
+ Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowings woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (1.5.11):
"On ilc oilci land, ilai liiciaiuic wlicl is lull ol dcsciipiions ol ilc
iiansccndcnial gloiics ol ilc namc, lamc, loims, pasiimcs, cic., ol ilc unlimiicd
Supicmc Loid is a dillcicni cicaiion, lull ol iiansccndcnial woids diiccicd iowaid
biinging aboui a icvoluiion in ilc impious livcs ol ilis woild's misdiiccicd
civilisaiion. Sucl iiansccndcnial liiciaiuics, cvcn ilougl impcilccily composcd
aic lcaid, sung and acccpicd by puiilicd mcn wlo aic iloiouglly loncsi."¯
"Hcic ilc woid 'sinvanii' mcans 'onc lcais somconc clsc clani ilc Loid's
loly namcs (namani), 'ginanii' mcans 'onc acccpis ilc Loid's loly namcs wlcn
ilcy aic lcaid', and 'gayanii' mcans 'onc pcisonally clanis ilc Loid's loly namcs'."
6 Now will bc discusscd ilc aciiviiics ol gloiilying ilc Loid. As bcloic, ilc
aciiviiics ol gloiilicaiion iclaic io ilc dillcicni lcaiuics ol ilc Loid, bcginning wiil
His loly namc. Tlc gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid's loly namc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc
7 "Tlc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol Loid Visnu is ilc bcsi pioccss ol
aioncmcni loi a ilicl ol gold oi oilci valuablcs, loi a diunlaid, loi onc wlo
bciiays a liicnd oi iclaiivc, loi onc wlo lills a bialmana, oi loi onc wlo indulgcs
in scx wiil ilc wilc ol lis guiu oi oilci supciioi. Ii is also ilc bcsi mcilod ol
aioncmcni loi onc wlo muidcis womcn, ilc ling, oi lis lailci, loi onc wlo
slauglicis cows, and loi all oilci sinlul mcn. Simply by claniing ilc loly namc
ol Loid Visnu, sucl sinlul pcisons may aiiiaci ilc aiicniion ol ilc Supicmc Loid,
wlo ilcicloic considcis, 'lccausc ilis man las clanicd My loly namc, My duiy is
io givc lim pioicciion'."¯
S Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis:
"Hcic ilc woid 'sunisliiam' mcans 'ilc bcsi pioccss ol aioncmcni'. Tlc
icason ilis is so is givcn in ilcsc woids: "Simply by claniing ilc loly namc ol
Loid Visnu, sucl sinlul pcisons may aiiiaci ilc aiicniion ol ilc Supicmc Loid,
wlo ilcicloic considcis, 'lccausc ilis man las clanicd My loly namc, My duiy is
io givc lim pioicciion'."¯
9 Tlc Supicmc Loid is picscni in His loly namc. ly lcaiing ilc loly namc,
ilc gicai dcvoiccs aiiain lovc loi ilc Loid.
10 In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda, in ilc 10S namcs ol Loid Rama, Loid
Siva cxplains: "O goddcss, wlcncvci I lcai a woid ilai bcgins wiil ilc syllablc 'ia',
my lcaii bccomcs lillcd wiil lovc, loi I ilinl, 'will ilc ncxi syllablc malc ilc
woid Rama''"
11 Il ilis is so, ilcn low powcilul musi ilc Loid's loly namc bc in dcsiioying
sins' Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 263
1 Tlc icsuli obiaincd by claniing ilc Loid's loly namc is dcsciibcd in ilc
2 "Wlcn a pcison is aciually advanccd and ialcs plcasuic in claniing ilc
loly namc ol ilc Loid, wlo is vciy dcai io lim, lc is agiiaicd and loudly clanis
ilc loly namc. Hc also laugls, ciics, bccomcs agiiaicd and clanis jusi lilc a
madman, noi caiing loi ouisidcis."¯
3 Tlc woid "cvam" (ilus) in ilis vcisc is cxplaincd by ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.390):
+ Hcic ilc woid "viaial" mcans "aciiviiics", "sva-piiyani" mcans "wlicl aic
dcai", "namani" mcans "ilc namcs ilai aic clanicd", "jaianuiagal" mcans "ilc
lovc ilai is aiouscd by claniing ilc loly namcs, "diuia-ciiial" mcans "ilc lcaii
mcliing wiil lovc", and "lasaii" mcans "puslcd by ccsiaiic lovc, lc laugls". Tlc
woid "nama-liiiya" is in ilc insiiumcnial casc loi ii is by claniing ilc loly namc
ilai onc bccomcs advanccd in spiiiiual lilc. Tlus Siimad-llagavaiam 11.2.+0 is
cxplaincd.
5 Tlc naiuic ol advanccd dcvoiional scivicc is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.+2):
"Dcvoiion, diicci cxpciicncc ol ilc Supicmc Loid, and dciaclmcni liom
oilci ilings, ilcsc ilicc occui simuliancously loi onc wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, in ilc samc way ilai plcasuic, nouiislmcni and iclicl liom lungci
comc simuliancously and incicasingly, wiil cacl biic, loi a pcison cngagcd in
caiing."¯¯¯
6 In ilc commcniaiy ii is said:
"Somconc may pioicsi: 'Tlc supicmc goal is vciy dilliculi io aiiain. Gicai
yogis aiiain ii only alici many biiils. How is ii possiblc ilai onc can aiiain in onc
biiil mcicly by claniing ilc loly namcs ol ilc Loid'' Icaiing ilai somconc may
iaisc ilis objcciion, ilc spcalci ol Siimad llagavaiam givcs ilis cxamplc."
7 In oilci Puianas, in ilc Sii llagavan-nama-laumadi and in ilc Salasia-
nana-blasya ilc lollowing cxplanaiion is givcn:
S "Day and nigli onc may bc lumblc, pcacclul, and lcailcss and onc may cai
liugally, scc wiil spiiiiual vision and conquci ovci slccp. Lvcn il onc docs all ilis,
lis lcaii may siill noi bccomc aiiaclcd io ilc Supicmc Loid. Howcvci, il,
unconccincd aboui ilc opinions ol oilcis, onc always clanis ilc Loid's loly
namcs, ilc loly namcs will malc onc lall in lovc wiil ilc Supicmc Loid."
9 Tlc qualiiics, bcginning wiil lcailcssncss, mcniioncd lcic, aic mcani io
lclp onc bccomc cxclusivcly aiiaclcd io ilc loly namc. Howcvci, ilcy aic noi
paii ol ilc aciiviiics ol gloiilying ilc loly, loi dcvoiional scivicc is indcpcndcni ol
all oilci aciiviiics. Tlai is ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc lollowing
cxplanaiion is givcn in ilc Visnu-dlaimoiiaia Puiana in ilc sioiy ol ilc Ksaiia-
bandlu wlo lad commiiicd gicai sins, vciy gicai sins, and all sins:
10 "Tlc bialmana said: Il you aic noi ablc io do all ilis, ilcn I will icll you
somciling clsc, somciling vciy simplc, somciling you can do vciy casily.
11 "Tlc Ksaiia-bandlu said: I cannoi do wlai you lavc said, loi my mind is
vciy icsilcss. Plcasc icll mc somciling ilai my body and voicc lavc ilc powci io
do.
12 "Tlc bialmana said: Tlcy wlo siumblc wiil lungci and iliisi, ilcy wlo
aic awalc, ilcy wlo aic dicaming, and ilcy wlo icsilcssly wandci in ilis woild
slould always clani 'O Govinda!'"
Kavi io ilc ling ol Vidcla.
Anuccheda 26+
1 In anoilci vcisc ol Siimad llagavaiam (6.2.11) ii is said:
"ly lollowing ilc Vcdic iiiualisiic ccicmonics oi undcigoing aioncmcni,
sinlul mcn do noi bccomc as puiilicd as by claniing oncc ilc loly namc ol Loid
Haii. Alilougl iiiualisiic aioncmcni may licc onc liom sinlul icaciions, ii docs
noi awalcn dcvoiional scivicc, unlilc ilc claniing ol ilc Loid's namcs, wlicl
icminds onc ol ilc Loid's lamc, qualiiics, aiiiibuics, pasiimcs and paiaplcinalia."¯
2 Tlc claniing ol ilc Loid's loly namc noi only dcsiioys sins, ii also
icminds onc ol ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial qualiiics. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 265
1 Ai ilc cnd ol ilc sccond canio ol Siimad llagavaiam, King Paiilsii
cxpicsscs a dcsiic io lnow wlai is ilc liglcsi good. In ilc bcginning ol ilc
sccond canio, Sii Suladcva Gosvami givcs ilis, ilc bcsi ol all answcis (Siimad
llagavaiam 2.1.S-10):
2 "Ai ilc cnd ol ilc Dvapaia-yuga, I siudicd ilis gicai supplcmcni ol Vcdic
liiciaiuic namcd Siimad llagavaiam, wlicl is cqual io all ilc Vcdas, liom my
lailci, Siila Dvaipayana Vyasadcva.¯
3 "O sainily King, I was cciiainly siiuaicd pcilccily in iiansccndcncc, yci I
was siill aiiiacicd by ilc dclincaiion ol ilc pasiimcs ol ilc Loid, wlo is dcsciibcd
by cnliglicncd vciscs.¯
+ "Tlai vciy Siimad llagavaiam I slall icciic bcloic you bccausc you aic ilc
mosi sinccic dcvoicc ol Loid Kisna. Onc wlo givcs lull aiicniion and icspcci io
lcaiing Siimad llagavaiam aclicvcs unllincling laiil in ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc
givci ol salvaiion."¯
5 Alici ilus cxplaining ilc supicmc gloiy ol Siimad llagavaiam Siila
Suladcva Gosvami piocccds io icciic ilc dillcicni paiis ol Siimad llagavaiam.
Tlcic lc cxplains ilc supicmc impoiiancc ol claniing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid.
In ilc lollowing woids lc dcsciibcs ilc supicmc goal and bcsi way io aiiain ii
6 "O King, consiani claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid alici ilc ways ol
lnowlcdgc."¯
"Tlis vcisc mcans, 'No mcilod ol spiiiiual advanccmcni is bciici ilan ilis'.
Hcic ilc woid 'icclaiam' mcans 'ol ilcy wlo lavc maiciial dcsiics'. Tlis mcilod
is ilc way loi ilcm io aiiain ilcii dcsiics. 'Niividyamananam' mcans 'ol ilcy wlo
dcsiic libciaiion'. Tlis mcilod is ilc way loi ilcm io aiiain libciaiion. 'Yoginam'
mcans 'ol ilc jnanis'. Tlis mcilod is ilc way loi ilcm io aiiain ilcii goal. Tlai is
ilc conclusion (niiniiam). No luiilci cvidcncc is nccdcd io piovc ilis poini.
S In ilis way ilc claniing ol ilc loly namcs ol ilc Loid is gicaily gloiilicd.
In Siimad llagavaiam (1.6.26) ii is said:
"Tlus I bcgan claniing ilc loly namc and lamc ol ilc Loid by icpcaicd
icciiaiion, ignoiing all ilc loimaliiics ol ilc maiciial woild. Sucl claniing and
icmcmbciing ol ilc iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol ilc Loid aic bcncdicioiy. So
doing, I iiavcllcd all ovci ilc caiil, lully saiislicd, lumblc and uncnvious."¯
9 In ilc Padma Puiana ii is said ilai icn linds ol ollcnscs io ilc loly namc
aic io bc avoidcd. Sii Sanailumaia cxplains:
"Onc wlo commiis all linds ol ollcnscs may bccomc dclivcicd by ialing
slclici ol Loid Haii. Onc wlo commiis ollcnscs io Loid Haii is an animal, cvcn
ilougl lc may siand on iwo lcci.
10 "Onc wlo ialcs slclici ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid bccomcs dclivcicd by
ilc powci ol ilc loly namc. Hc lalls down wlo commiis ollcnscs io ilc loly
namc, ilc liicnd ol all."
11 Tlc ollcnscs io ilc loly namc aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Padma
Puiana, lialma-llanda, 25.15-1S):
"1. To blasplcmc ilc gicai sainily pcisons wlo aic cngagcd in picacling ol
ilc Haic Kisna maniia is ilc woisi ollcnsc ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc loly namc. Onc
slould noi ciiiicisc a picaclci ol ilc gloiics ol ilc Haic Kisna maniia. Il onc docs
so lc is an ollcndci. Tlc nama-piablu, wlo is idcniical wiil Kisna, will ncvci
iolciaic sucl blasplcmous aciiviiics, cvcn liom onc wlo passcs as a gicai dcvoicc.
Tlc sccond namapaiadla is dcsciibcd as lollows: 2. In ilis maiciial woild ilc loly
namc ol Loid Visnu is all auspicious. Visnu's namc, loim, qualiiics, and pasiimcs
aic all iiansccndcnial, absoluic lnowlcdgc. Tlcicloic, ii onc iiics io scpaiaic ilc
Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad liom His loly namc ol His iiansccndcnial loim,
qualiiics, and pasiimcs, ilinling ilcm io bc maiciial, ilai is ollcnsivc. Similaily,
io ilinl ilc namcs ol ilc dcmigods sucl as Loid Siva io bc as good as ilc namc ol
Loid Visnu, oi, in oilci woids io ilinl Loid Siva and ilc oilci dcmigods io bc
oilci loims ol God and ilcicloic an cqual io Visnu, is also blasplcmous. Tlis is
ilc sccond ollcnsc ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid.¯
12 "3. Tlc iliid ollcnsc ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc loly namc, wlicl is callcd
guioi avajna, is io considci ilc spiiiiual masici io bc maiciial and ilcicloic cnvy
lis cxalicd posiiion. +. Tlc louiil ollcnsc (siuii-sasiia-nindanam) is io blasplcmc
Vcdic liiciaiuic, sucl as ilc loui Vcdas and ilc Puianas. 5. Tlc lilil ollcnsc
(iailaiila-vadal) is io considci ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc io bc cxaggciaiions.
6. Similaily, ilc sixil ollcnsc (laii-namni lalpanam) is io considci ilc loly namc
ol ilc Loid io bc imaginaiy. 7. Tlc scvcnil ollcnsc is dcsciibcd as lollows: To
ilinl ilai sincc ilc Haic Kisna maniia can couniciaci all sinlul icaciions onc may
ilcicloic go on wiil lis sinlul aciiviiics and ai ilc samc iimc clani ilc Haic Kisna
maniia io ncuiialisc ilcm is ilc gicaicsi ollcnsc ai ilc loius lcci ol Haii-nama.¯
13 "S. Tlc cigli ollcnsc is siaicd ilus: Ii is ollcnsivc io considci ilc claniing
ol ilc Haic Kisna maniia io bc a icligious iiiualisiic ccicmony. Pciloiming
icligious ccicmonics, lollowing vows, and piaciicing icnunciaiion and saciilicc aic
all maiciialisiic auspicious aciiviiics. Tlc claniing ol ilc Haic Kisna mala-
maniia musi noi bc compaicd io sucl maiciialisiic icligiosiiy. Tlis is an ollcnsc
ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid. 9. Tlc ninil ollcnsc is dcsciibcd as lollows: Ii is an
ollcnsc io picacl ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc among pcison wlo lavc no
iniclligcncc oi no laiil in ilc subjcci maiici. Sucl pcoplc slould bc givcn ilc
clancc io lcai ilc claniing ol ilc Haic Kisna maniia, bui in ilc bcginning ilcy
slould noi bc insiiucicd aboui ilc gloiics ol ilc spiiiiual signilicancc ol ilc loly
namc. ly consiani lcaiing ol ilc loly namc, ilcii lcaiis will bc puiilicd, and
ilcn ilcy will bc ablc io undcisiand ilc iiansccndcnial posiiion ol ilc loly namc.
¯
1+ "Il onc las lcaid ilc gloiics ol ilc iiansccndcnial loly namc ol ilc Loid
bui ncvciilclcss coniinucs in a maiciialisiic conccpi ol lilc, ilinling 'I am ilis
body and cvciyiling bclonging io ilis body is minc (alam mamcii)', and docs noi
slow icspcci and lovc loi ilc claniing ol ilc Haic Kisna mala-maniia, ilai is an
ollcnsc."¯
15 Tlcsc vciscs slould bc undcisiood in ilc ligli ol ilc lollowing passagc
liom Sii Visnu-yamala, wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxplains:
16 "I loigivc many millions ol ollcnscs commiiicd by onc wlo laiillully
clanis My loly namcs in ilis woild. Ol ilis ilcic is no doubi."
17 In ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc liisi ollcnsc (icxi 11), no mcniioncd was madc ol
plysical violcncc io dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Plysical violcncc and oilci linds ol
iioublcs picscnicd bcloic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid aic all ollcnscs, as dcsciibcd in ilc
Slanda Puiana, wlcic Sii Mailandcya iclls King llagiiaila:
1S "Only lools blasplcmc ilc gicai dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Accompanicd by
ilcii anccsiois, sucl lools lall inio ilc lcll ilai bcais ilc namc Mala-iauiava.
19 "A pcison wlo aiiacls ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid, ciiiiciscs ilcm, laics ilcm,
icluscs io gicci ilcm, is angiy wiil ilcm, and is noi lappy io scc ilcm, lalls down
inio ilc six lclls.
20 Lvcn passivcly io lcai ciiiicism ol ilc dcvoiccs is an ollcnsc. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (10.7+.+0):
21 "Anyonc wlo lcais ciiiicism ol ilc Supicmc Loid oi ol His laiillul dcvoicc
yci lails io immcdiaicly lcavc ilc placc will cciiainly lall down, dcpiivcd ol all ilc
pious cicdii ol lis pasi aciiviiics."¯¯¯
22 Il onc is unablc io do anyiling clsc, onc slould ai lcasi go away. Il onc is
ablc, onc slould cui oui ilc blasplcmci's ionguc. Il onc is unablc io do ilai onc
slould commii suicidc. Saii-dcvi cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam +.+.17):
23 "Il onc lcais an iiicsponsiblc pcison blasplcmc ilc masici and coniiollci
ol icligion, onc slould blocl lis cais and go away il unablc io punisl lim. lui il
onc is ablc io lill, ilcn onc slould by loicc cui oui ilc blasplcmci's ionguc and
lill ilc ollcndci, and alici ilai onc slould givc up lis own lilc."¯
2+ Tlc sccond ollcnsc io ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid (wlicl is dcsciibcd in icxi
11) slould bc undcisiood in ilc ligli ol ilc lollowing woids spolcn by Loid
Kisna in ilc llagavad-giia (10.+1):
25 "Know ilai all opulcni, bcauiilul and gloiious cicaiions spiing liom bui a
spail ol My splcndoui."¯
26 Tlc sccond ollcnsc slould also bc undcisiood in ilc ligli ol ilcsc woids ol
Siimad llagavaiam (10.6S.37):
"Tlc dusi ol Kisna's loius lcci, wlicl is ilc souicc ol lolincss loi all placcs
ol pilgiimagc, is woislippcd by all ilc gicai dcmigods. Tlc piinciplc dciiics ol all
plancis aic cngagcd in His scivicc, and ilcy considci ilcmsclvcs mosi loiiunaic io
ialc ilc dusi ol ilc loius lcci ol Kisna on ilcii ciowns. Gicai dcmigods lilc Loid
lialma and Loid Siva, and cvcn ilc goddcss ol loiiunc and I, aic simply paiis ol
His spiiiiual idcniiiy, and wc also caiclully caiiy ilc dusi on oui lcads. And siill
Kisna is noi io usc ilc ioyal insignia oi cvcn sii on ilc ioyal ilionc.'"¯
27 Ii slould also bc undcisiood in ilc ligli ol ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 3.2S.22):
ilc loly waicis ol ilc Gangcs, wlicl las iis souicc in ilc waici ilai waslcd ilc
Loid's lcci. Tlc Loid's lcci aci lilc ilundcibolis luilcd io slaiici ilc mouniain ol
sin sioicd in ilc mind ol ilc mcdiiaiing dcvoicc. Onc slould ilcicloic mcdiiaic
on ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid loi a long iimc."¯
2S Ii slould also bc undcisiood in ilc ligli ol ilcsc woids spolcn by Loid
lialma (Siimad llagavaiam 2.6.32):
"ly His will, I cicaic, Loid Siva dcsiioys, and Hc Himscll, in His cicinal
loim as ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, mainiains cvciyiling. Hc is ilc powcilul
coniiollci ol ilcsc ilicc cncigics."¯
29 In lis commcniaiy on ilis vcisc, Sii Madlavacaiya quoics ilc lollowing
vciscs liom ilc lialmanda Puiana:
"lccausc Hc clascs away (dia) all iioublcs and sullciings (iu), Loid Visnu
is lnown as Rudia. lccausc Hc is ilc supicmc coniiollci (isana) Hc is lnown as
Isana. lccausc ol His gicaincss (mala) Hc is lnown as Maladcva.
30 "Iiccd liom ilc occan ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail, ilc libciaicd souls diinl
(pibanii) ncciai in ilc spiiiiual sly (nalam). lccausc Hc is ilc mainiainci ol ilc
spiiiiual woild, Loid Visnu is lnown as Pinali.
31-32 "lccausc Hc lappily icmovcs all iioublcs, Loid Visnu is callcd Siva.
lccausc lc icsidcs (vasa) in ilc bodics ol ilc condiiioncd souls, bodics obiaincd
by pasi laima (liiii), Hc is lnown as Kiiiivasa. lccausc Hc puiilics ilc
condiiioncd souls Hc is lnown as Viiinca. lccausc Hc is ilc gicaicsi Hc is lnown
as lialma. lccausc ol His powci and opulcncc Hc is lnown as India.
33 "Tlus ilc onc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Visnu, is addicsscd
by many dillcicni namcs in ilc Vcdas and Puianas."
3+ In ilc Vamana Puiana ii is said:
"Tlcsc namcs, bcginning wiil Naiayana, and also oilci namcs, ilc namcs
ol ilc dcmigods, aic all namcs ol Loid Visnu alonc. Ol ilis ilcic is no doubi."
"As a ling can cxicnd lis iulc lai bcyond ilc splcic ol lis palacc, so ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad can claim ilc namcs ol ilc vaiious dcmigods as
His namcs also."
36 In ilc lialma Puiana ii is said:
"Tlc namcs ol Loid lialma, sucl as Caiuimulla, Saiananda, and Padma-
blu, and ilc namcs ol Loid Siva, sucl as Ugia, llasmadlaia, Nagna, and Kapali
aic also namcs ol Loid Kisna."
37 Tlcicloic in ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc sccond ollcnsc io ilc loly namc (in ilc
Padma Puiana vcisc quoicd in icxi 11) ilc woids "sii-visnol sivasya guna-
namadilam blinnam yo dliya pasyci" mcan "onc wlo sccs ilai all-pcivading, all-
cncompassing Loid Visnu's powcis, namcs, qualiiics, and oilci lcaiuics aic
dillcicni liom ilosc ol Loid Siva".
3S Tlus ilc woids "Visnu" and "Siva" aic noi dillcicni, loi ilcy aic boil
namcs ol Loid Visnu. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc gcniiivc casc cnding in "visnol" as
wcll as ilc usc ol ilc woids "sii" and "ca" (also). Tlcicloic in ilc compound
woid "siva-namapaiadlal (in ilc vcisc quoicd in icxi 13) ilc woid "siva" is a
namc ol Loid Visnu.
39 Now will bc considcicd ilc louiil ollcnsc, blasplcmy ol Vcdic liiciaiuic.
Tlcy wlo, claiming io bc woislippcis ol Daiiaiicya and Rsabladcva, aciually
lollow ilc pail ol ilc blasplcmcis and ailcisis, ilinl ilai ilc gloiics ol ilc loly
namc aic cxaggciaiions (aiila-vadal). Tlcy ilinl ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc aic
imaginaiy (lalpanam). Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Vyasa-giia passagc ol ilc Kuima
Puiana:
+0 "Ailcism is millions and millions ol iimcs woisc ilan commiiiing ollcnscs
io ilc Loid and ilc spiiiiual masici."
+1 Alici lcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc liom ilc pcisonal associaics ol
Loid Visnu, Ajamila dcclaicd (Siimad llagavaiam 6.2.29):
"Ii is now clcai ilai as a conscqucncc ol sucl aciiviiics, a sinlul pcison lilc
mc musi bc iliown inio lcllisl condiiions mcani loi ilosc wlo lavc biolcn
icligious piinciplcs and musi ilcn sullci cxiicmc misciics."¯
+2 Sccing boil lis own misdccds and ilc gloiy ol ilc loly namc, Ajamila said
"I am cciiainly mosi abominablc and unloiiunaic io lavc mcigcd in an
occan ol sinlul aciiviiics, bui ncvciilclcss, bccausc ol my picvious spiiiiual
aciiviiics, I could scc ilosc loui cxalicd pcisonaliiics wlo camc io icscuc mc.
Now I lccl cxcccdingly lappy bccausc ol ilcii visii.¯
"Wcic ii noi loi my pasi dcvoiional scivicc, low could I, a mosi unclcan
lccpci ol a piosiiiuic, lavc goiicn an oppoiiuniiy io clani ilc loly namc ol
Vailunilapaii wlcn I was jusi icady io dic' Cciiainly ii could noi lavc bccn
possiblc."¯
+3 Now will bc considcicd ilc scvcnil ollcnsc: io commii sin on ilc siicngil
ol claniing ilc loly namc. Alilougl ilc powci ol ilc loly namc dcsiioys sins,
ncvciilclcss, a pcison wlo siiivcs io aiiain ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, lcci ilai aic cicinal and lull ol lnowlcdgc and bliss and
aic ilc uliimaic goal ol all luman cndcavouis, and wlo ilcn commiis sins,
ilinling ilc loly namc is mcicilul and will cciiainly giani loigivcncss, commiis
ilc gicaicsi sin. Tlc loly namc will punisl sucl a pcison wiil gicai iioublcs.
Sucl an ollcnsc is cqual io many millions ol oilci sins.
++ Lvcn il onc pciloims aioncmcni by pciloiming many ausiciiiics (yamail),
sucl as ilc yamas and niyamas, oi cvcn il onc is bcaicn by mcn lolding siicls, lc
will noi bccomc puiilicd ol ilai ollcnsc. Lvcn il onc pciloims ilc aioncmcni ol
again and again claniing ilc loly namc, as dcsciibcd in ilc vcisc bcginning wiil
ilc woids "namapaiadla-yulianam" and cvcn il onc is sinccicly dcvoicd io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, as is dcsciibcd in ilc vcisc bcginning wiil ilc
woids "saivapaiadla-lid api", onc will siill lall down.
+5 Wlcn India on ilc siicngil ol woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad wiil an asvamcdla-yajna, lillcd Viiiasuia, India did so on ilc oidci ol
ilc gicai sagcs wlo wislcd io icscuc Viiia liom laving io livc as a dcmon, and lc
also did so wiil ilc puiposc ol saving ilc woilds liom calamiiy. Tlcicloic India's
aciions do noi consiiiuic ilc ollcnsc ol commiiiing sin on ilc siicngil ol claniing
ilc loly namc.
+6 Tlc ciglil ollcnsc is io considci ilc claniing ol ilc Haic Kisna maniia io
bc a icligious iiiualisiic ccicmony. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc
sciipiuics:
+7 "Claniing ilc loly namcs ol Loid Haii is lilc icciiing ilc maniias ol ilc
Vcdas."
Hcic ilc loly namc is gloiilicd by using ilc lind ol compaiison callcd
aiidcsa.
+S Ii is also said:
"Tlc loly namc ol Loid Kisna is ilc swccicsi ol swcci ilings and ilc mosi
auspicious ol auspicious ilings. Ii is ilc iiansccndcnial liuii ol ilc vinc ol all
Vcdic liiciaiuic."
+9 In ilc Sii Visnu-dlaima Puiana ii is also said:
"A pcison wlo clanis ilc iwo syllablcs 'Haii las alicady siudicd ilc loui
Vcdas: Sama, Rg, Yajui and Ailaiva."¯
50 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Goddcss Paivaii cxplains:
"Don'i siudy ilc Rg Vcdas. Don'i siudy ilc Yajui Vcda. Don'i siudy
anyiling ol ilc Sama Vcda. O my son, insicad ol ilc Vcdas, always clani 'O
Govinda!' Always clani ilc loly namcs ol Loid Haii."
51 In ilc Padma Puiana, in ilc 10S Holy Namcs ol Loid Rama, ii is said:
"To oncc icciic onc namc ol Loid Visnu is bciici ilan icciiing all ilc
Vcdas."
52 Now will bc considcicd ilc ninil ollcnsc, wlicl is io insiiuci ilc laiillcss.
Ii is an ollcnsc io icvcal ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc io pcisons iapi in ilouglis ol
"i" and "minc". Tlis is so bccausc sucl pcisons will noi bc icspccilul io ilc loly
namc.
53 A pcison wlo clanis ilc loly namc in oidci io aiiain wcalil, ilc lappincss
ol lis maiciial body, oi oilci maiciial ilings, also commiis an ollcnsc. Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Padma Puiana, Namapaiadla-blanjana-
sioiia (quoicd in anucclcda 153, icxi 16):
"O bialmana, wlcn, pionounccd piopcily oi noi, ii appcais on ilc voicc,
walls on ilc pail ol ilc mcmoiy, a singlc uiiciancc ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid
caiiics onc bcyond ilc woild ol biiil and dcail. Howcvci, il ilc clanici commiis
ollcnscs, oi il lc clanis io aiiain wcalil, lollowcis, oi ilc lappincss ol ilis
maiciial body, lc will bc iliown inio ilc woild ol biiil and dcail, and lis
claniing will noi quiclly biing ilc dcsiicd icsuli."
In ilis way ilc icn ollcnscs aic dcsciibcd. Tlc laic ol ilcy wlo commii
ilcsc ollcnscs is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Padma Puiana,
Vaisalla-malaimya:
5+ "Tlcy wlo aic disicspccilul io ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid,
loi ilai sinlul dccd go io a iciiiblc lcll.
55 Ioi ilcsc ollcnscs ilcic is noi aioncmcni oilci ilan coniinuing io clani
ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
56 "Tlc claniing ol Haic Kisna is iccommcndcd loi pcison wlo commii
ollcnscs, bccausc il ilcy coniinuc claniing ilcy will giadually clani ollcnsclcss.
Lvcn il in ilc bcginning onc clanis wiil ollcnscs, onc will bccomc licc liom sucl
ollcnscs by claniing again and again."¯
57 Tlus ilc icpcaicd claniing ol ilc loly namc puiilics onc liom ollcnscs io
ilc dcvoiccs and oilci ollcnscs also. Tlis is sccn in ilc aciiviiics ol King
Ambaiisa, wlcic ilc ollcnscs (ol Duivasa) wcic loigivcn in ilai way.
5S Tlis is also dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Nama-laumudi:
"Ollcnscs io gicai dcvoiccs may bc puslcd away ciilci by cxpciicncing ilc
calamiiics ilcy biing, oi by aiiaining ilc mcicy ol ilc ollcndcd dcvoicc."
59 Tlc conclusion, ilcn, is ilai onc slould ialc slclici ol ilc loly namc
alonc. Tlis is cloqucnily alliimcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad
lnowlcdgc."¯
60 Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Siila
Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 266
1 Tlis is also cxplaincd in ilc Naiada Puiana, wlcic Sii Naiada dcclaics:
"Lvcn ilc manus and ilc lings ol ilc sagcs cannoi cioss io ilc laiilci
sloic ol ilc gloiics ol ilc loly namc. How can I, wlosc iniclligcncc is vciy wcal,
piopcily woislip ilc loly namc'"
2 Now will bc considcicd ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial loim ol ilc
Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.30.3):
"Oncc ilcii cycs wcic lixcd upon His iiansccndcnial loim, womcn wcic
unablc io wiildiaw ilcm, and oncc ilai loim lad cnicicd ilc cais ol ilc sagcs and
bccomc lixcd in ilcii lcaiis, ii would ncvci dcpaii. Wlai io spcal ol acquiiing
lamc, ilc gicai pocis wlo dcsciibcd ilc bcauiy ol ilc Loid's loim would lavc ilcii
woids invcsicd wiil iiansccndcnially plcasing aiiiaciion. And by sccing ilai loim
on Aijuna's claiioi, all ilc waiiiois on ilc baiilclicld ol Kuiulsciia aiiaincd ilc
libciaiion ol gaining a spiiiiual body similai io ilc Loid's."¯¯¯
3 Tlis vcisc cxplains ilai ilc pocis wlo dcsciibcd ilc bcauiy ol ilc Loid's
loim would lavc ilcii woids invcsicd wiil iiansccndcnially plcasing aiiiaciion.
Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc loui Kumaias in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
3.15.+9):
"O Loid, wc piay ilai You lci us bc boin in any lcllisl condiiion ol lilc,
jusi as long as oui lcaiis and minds aic always cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol Youi
loius lcci, oui woids aic madc bcauiilul (by spcaling ol Youi aciiviiics) jusi as
iulasi lcavcs aic bcauiilicd wlcn ollcicd unio Youi loius lcci, and as long as oui
cais aic always lillcd wiil ilc claniing ol Youi iiansccndcnial qualiiics."¯
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc ling io Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 267
1 Now will bc considcicd ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol
ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.22):
advanccmcni ol lnowlcdgc, namcly ausiciiiics, siudy ol ilc Vcdas, saciilicc,
claniing ol lymns, and claiiiy, culminaics in ilc iiansccndcnial dcsciipiions ol
2 Hcic ilc woid "siuia" mcans "siudy ol ilc Vcdas", "svisia" mcans
"saciiliccs and oilci iiiuals io woislip ilc Loid", "sulia" mcans "japa-claniing ol
maniias", "buddli" mcans "ilc lnowlcdgc aiiaincd by siudying ilc sciipiuics",
and "daiia" mcans "claiiiy". Wlcn ilcsc aic ollcicd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad, ilcy biing a icsuli ilai is cicinal (avicyuio iilal). Wlai is ilai
icsuli' Tlc vcisc cxplains, "Tlcy culminaic in ilc iiansccndcnial dcsciipiions ol
ilc Loid, wlo is dclincd in cloicc pociiy". Wlcn ilc dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid's
iiansccndcnial qualiiics aic manilcsi ilcn aiiiaciion io ilc Loid and lovc loi ilc
Loid aic also manilcsi. lccausc ilcsc aic lillcd wiil cicinal bliss and gloiy, ilc
woids "inlalliblc puiposc (avicyuio iilal) aic uscd lcic. Tlc woid "avicyuia"
lcic indicaics ilai ilc icsuli obiaincd lcic is aiiiaciion io ilc Loid and lovc loi
Him. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Vyasa io Sii Naiada.
Anuccheda 268
1 Now will bc considcicd ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial pasiimcs ol
ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.S.+):
"Pcisons wlo lcai Siimad llagavaiam icgulaily and aic always ialing ilc maiici
vciy sciiously will lavc ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna manilcsicd in ilcii
lcaiis wiilin a sloii iimc."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "naii-diiglcna" mcans "in a vciy sloii iimc", and "visaic"
mcans "is manilcsicd". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Paiilsii.
Anuccheda 269
1 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 12.12.+9-50):
"Woids ilai do noi dcsciibc ilc iiansccndcnial Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad bui
insicad dcal wiil icmpoiaiy maiicis aic simply lalsc and usclcss. Only ilosc
woids ilai manilcsi ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid aic aciually
iiuillul, auspicious and pious."¯¯¯
2 "Tlosc woids dcsciibing ilc gloiics ol ilc all-lamous Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad aic aiiiaciivc, iclislablc and cvci licsl. Indccd, sucl woids aic a
pcipciual lcsiival loi ilc mind, and ilcy diy up ilc occan ol misciy."¯
3 Hcic ilc woids "asaiii asai-laila na lailyaic" mcan "Woids ilai do noi
dcsciibc ilc iiansccndcnial Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and His dcvoiccs, bui insicad
dcal wiil icmpoiaiy maiicis aic simply lalsc and usclcss." Tlc woids "yad
uiiamaslola-yaso nugiyaic" mcan "Only woids dcsciibing ilc gloiics ol ilc
pasiimcs ol ilc all-lamous Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic iiuc." Wly aic sucl woids
iiuc and auspicious' Tlc icply is givcn wiil ilc woid "blagavad-gunodayam",
wlicl mcans "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad pcisonally appcais in ilc
lcaii ol onc wlo clanis His gloiics. Tlus ilc Loid givcs ilc dcvoicc ilc gili ol
lovc loi Him." Tlai is ilc mcaning.
+ In ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"O King, as an allcciionaic cow gocs io lci call, so Loid Haii gocs wlcicvci
His gloiics aic clanicd."
5 In ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana and Slanda Puiana ilc Supicmc Loid
dcclaics:
"I will ncvci lcavc any pcison wlo always iccounis My gloiics, oi dcliglis
in lcaiing My gloiics, oi wlosc lcaii cnjoys dcsciipiions ol My gloiics."
6 Siimad llagavaiam 12.12.50 (quoicd in icxi 2) mcans ilai il onc las a
swcci singing voicc, onc slould sing songs dcsciibing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid.
Sucl songs aic piaiscd in ilai vcisc.
7 Tlc singing ol ilc loly namcs ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids
S Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.69.+5):
"Loid Haii is ilc uliimaic causc ol univcisal cicaiion, mainicnancc and
dcsiiuciion. My dcai ling, anyonc wlo clanis aboui, lcais aboui, oi simply
appicciaics ilc cxiiaoidinaiy aciiviiics Hc pciloimcd in ilis woild, wlicl aic
impossiblc io imiiaic, will suicly dcvclop dcvoiion loi ilc Supicmc Loid, ilc
bcsiowci ol libciaiion."¯¯¯
9 Il onc is noi ablc io sing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid, oi il a pcison vciy cxpcii in
singing ilosc gloiics is picscni, onc may lcai ilosc songs. Lvcn il onc ilinls lc
will noi lilc io lcai, lc will in iiuil lccl gicai lappincss by lcaiing ilcsc songs.
10 In ilc Sii Visnu-dlaima Puiana, Loid Visnu cxplains:
"Il onc's lcaii is aiiiacicd by music, onc slould placc lis ilouglis in Mc
and sing songs gloiilying Mc."
11 In ilc Padma Puiana, Kaiiiila-malaimya, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad dcclaics:
"I am noi in Vailunila, noi in ilc lcaii ol ilc yogis, I icmain wlcic my
dcvoiccs cngagc in gloiilying My aciiviiics.¯
12 "Wlcn sucl dcvoiccs aic woislippcd wiil sccnis, inccnsc, and oilci
ollciings, ilai woislip is bciici ilan woislip ol Mc. Tlai woislip biings Mc gicai
plcasuic. I am noi as mucl plcascd wlcn I am woislippcd diiccily."
13 Sucl dcvoiccs biing gicai good io all oilci living cniiiics, wlai io spcal ol
io ilcmsclvcs. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Nisimla Puiana, wlcic Sii Sii Piallada
cxplains:
1+ "O Loid Nisimla, ilc sainily dcvoiccs wlo clccilully sing Youi loly
namcs aic ilc iiuc liicnds ol all living bcings."
15 Wlcn many pcoplc mcci io gloiily (liiiana) ilc Loid, sucl gloiilicaiion is
callcd sanliiiana. lccausc ii is vciy wondcilul, sanliiiana is bciici ilan liiiana.
Nama-sanliiiana (ilc gicai claniing ol ilc Loid's loly namc), is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wlo dcsccndcd io ilis woild
io dclivci ilc pcoplc ol Kali-yuga (Silsasiala 3):
16 "Onc wlo ilinls limscll lowci ilan ilc giass, wlo is moic iolciani ilan a
iicc, and wlo docs noi cxpcci pcisonal lonoui bui is always picpaicd io givc all
icspccis io oilcis, can vciy casily always clani ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid."¯
Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 270
1 ly cngaging in ilc dcvoiional aciiviiy ol liiiana (claniing ilc Loid's
gloiics) cvcn ilc lallcn souls wlo lavc nciilci wcalil, biiil in a good lamily,
viiiucs, noi pious dccds, may aiiain ilc sloiclcss mcicy ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc Vcdas, Puianas, and oilci
sciipiuics.
2 Tlc lallcn condiiion ol ilc pcoplc in Kali-yuga is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids ol ilc bialma-vaivaiia Puiana:
"In ilc Kali-yuga cvcn cxpcii and iniclligcni pcisons will noi pciloim
ausiciiiics, yoga, Vcdic siudy, yajnas oi pious dccds."
3 Tlc dcvoiional aciiviiy ol claniing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid appcais among
ilc lallcn pcoplc ol Kali-yuga, casily givcs io ilcm all ilc icsulis ol ilc dillcicni
spiiiiual aciiviiics picsciibcd loi ilc oilci yugas, and ilus biings ilcm all spiiiiual
succcss. Tlis is so bccausc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is cspccially
saiislicd by ilc claniing ol His gloiics.
+ In ilc Slanda Puiana, Caiuimasya-malaimya, ii is said:
"Haii-liiiana (ilc gloiilicaiion ol Loid Haii) is ilc bcsi ol all ausiciiiics.
Lspccially in Kali-yuga, onc slould pciloim Haii-liiiana io plcasc Loid Visnu."
5 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
12.3.52):
"Wlaicvci icsuli was obiaincd in Saiya-yuga by mcdiiaiing on Visnu, in
Ticia-yuga by pciloiming saciiliccs and in Dvapaia-yuga by sciving ilc Loid's
loius lcci can also bc obiaincd in Kali-yuga simply by claniing ilc Haic Kisna
mala-maniia."¯
6 Wlaicvci was obiaincd by any spiiiiual pail in ilc Saiya-yuga oi any oilci
yuga is all obiaincd in ilc Kali-yuga by Haii-liiiana.
7 Ii is also said (Sii Visnu Puiana 6.2.17):
"Wlaicvci is aclicvcd by mcdiiaiion in Saiya-yuga, by ilc pciloimancc ol
yajna in Ticia-yuga, oi by ilc woislip ol Kisna's loius lcci in Dvapaia-yuga is also
obiaincd in ilc agc ol Kali simply by claniing and gloiilying Loid Kcsava."¯
S Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Siila
Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 271
"Tlosc wlo aic advanccd and liglly qualilicd and aic inicicsicd in ilc
csscncc ol lilc lnow ilc good qualiiics ol Kali-yuga. Sucl pcoplc woislip ilc agc
ol Kali bccausc in ilis agc, simply by claniing ilc Haic Kisna mala-maniia, onc
can advancc in spiiiiual lnowlcdgc and aiiain lilc's goal."¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans, "Knowing iis good qualiiy, wlicl is ilc mcilod ol
liiiana and noi inicicsicd in iis vaiious laulis, ilcy woislip ilc agc ol Kali." Tlai
good qualiiy is icvcalcd in ilcsc woids: "In ilai agc simply by sanliiiana, and by
no oilci mcans, onc aiiains all ilai was obiaincd in ilc Saiya-yuga and ilc oilci
yugas by pciloimancc ol mcdiiaiion and by a ilousand oilci mcilods ol spiiiiual
aiiainmcni."
Anuccheda 272
1 Tlc gloiy ol liiiana is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.5.37):
"Indccd, ilcic is no liglci possiblc gain loi cmbodicd souls loiccd io
wandci iliougloui ilc maiciial woild ilan ilc Supicmc Loid's sanliiiana
movcmcni, by wlicl onc can aiiain ilc supicmc pcacc and licc oncscll liom ilc
cyclc ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail."¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woids "aial" and "yaial" boil mcan "ilan liiiana". "Paiamam
saniim" mcans ilcic is no pcacc bciici ilan wlai is obiaincd by pciloiming
liiiana. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(11.19.36):
"Tlc woid "sama" (pcacclulncss) oi sania-iasa indicaics ilai onc is
aiiaclcd io ilc loius lcci ol Kisna."¯
3 Tlcsc woids ol ilc Loid alliim ilai by pciloimancc ol liiiana onc aiiains
laiil in ilc Loid lai gicaici ilan ilc laiil aiiaincd by mcdiiaiion oi any oilci
spiiiiual piaciicc. ly liiiana ilc cyclc ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail is biougli io an
cnd. ly mcdiiaiion pciloimcd in ilc Saiya-yuga onc docs noi aiiain ilis samc
dccp laiil in ilc Supicmc Loid.
+ In ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"In Kali-yuga ilc gicai dcvoiccs woislip ilc Loid by pciloiming liiiana."
5 Tlcsc woids ol ilc Slanda Puiana gloiily ilc pciloimancc ol liiiana,
wlicl biings gicai laiil in ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlc Loid, wlo is vciy mcicilul io
ilc lallcn souls, docs noi icvcal any spiiiiual pail bciici ilan liiiana. Il somconc
says ilai simply by moving ilc lips in liiiana onc docs noi aiiain ilc samc icsuli
obiaincd by mcdiiaiion oi oilci spiiiiual piaciiccs, lc slould noi bc bclicvcd.
Anuccheda 273
1 Hcaiing ilai ilc pcoplc wlo livc in Kali-yuga lavc gicai laiil in ilc
Supicmc Loid, ilc gicai souls piay ilai ilcy may also ialc biiil in Kali-yuga.
Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.3S):
2 "My dcai King, ilc inlabiianis ol Saiya-yuga and oilci agcs cagcily dcsiic
io ialc biiil in ilis agc ol Kali, sincc in ilis agc ilcic will bc many dcvoiccs ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, Naiayana."¯¯¯
3 In ilis way ilc pcoplc ol Kali-yuga will lavc gicai dcvoiion and lovc loi ilc
Loid, as was dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.37 (quoicd in anucclcda 272,
icxi 1).
+ Gicai dcvoiion io ilc Loid is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 6.1+.5):
lnowlcdgc ol libciaiion, onc may bc a dcvoicc ol Loid Naiayana oi Kisna. Sucl
dcvoiccs, wlo aic lully pcacclul aic cxiicmcly iaic."¯
5 Ii is noi possiblc io adcquaicly dcsciibc ilc viiiucs ol pciloiming liiiana in
Kali-yuga. To clani ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid only dcvoiion is nccdcd. Tlcic aic
no icsiiiciions accoiding io iimc and placc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc Visnu-dlaima
Puiana, in ilc sioiy ol ilc lsaiia-bandlu, wlcic ii is said:
6 "O lunici, in claniing ilc loly namcs ol Loid Kisna ilcic aic no
icsiiiciions ol iimc, placc oi acccpiing icmnanis."
7 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Padma Puiana-Vaisalla-malaimya, and Visnu-
dlaima Puiana ii is said:
"Onc slould clani ilc loly namcs ol Loid Kisna, wlo lolds ilc calia,
always and cvciywlcic."
S In ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"Tlc loly namc ol Loid Kisna lullils all dcsiics. Ii is indcpcndcni. Ii docs
noi dcpcnd on ilc icsiiiciions ol iimc, placc, siiuaicd, oi puiilicaiion."
"Ioi onc wlo las Loid Kisna in lis lcaii, ilc Kali-yuga bccomcs Saiya-
yuga. Ioi onc wlo docs noi lavc Loid Kisna in lis lcaii, ilc Saiya-yuga bccomcs
Kali-yuga."
10 Onc slould noi ilinl, "Ii is bccausc in ilc Kali-yuga ii is noi possiblc io
aiiain succcss by any oilci mcans, ilai a liiilc cndcavoui in liiiana biings a gicai
icsuli."
11 In Sii Visnu Puiana (6.S.55) ii is said:
"Onc wlo lixcs lis mind on ilc Supicmc Loid ncvci gocs io lcll. Wlcn
onc mcdiiaics on ilc Loid cvcn Svaigalola sccms an obsiaclc. Wlcn onc's lcaii
gocs io ilc Loid cvcn lialmalola sccms small and pailciic. Siaying in His
dcvoicc's puic lcaii, ilc cicinal Loid givcs ilc gili ol libciaiion. Wly slould
anyonc bc suipiiscd, ilcn, ilai sins ai oncc pciisl wlcn ilc inlalliblc Supicmc
Loid is gloiilicd'"
12 Tlcsc woids ol Sii Visnu Puiana slow ilai ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid is
mucl moic impoiiani ilan mcdiiaiion, wlicl lcads in siagcs io samadli. Tlis is
also conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.1.11):
lnowlcdgc."¯
13 In ilc Vaisnava-ciniamani ii is said:
"ly mcicly moving onc's lips io gloiily Loid Visnu, onc aiiains a icsuli
bciici ilan wlai is aiiaincd by long and dilliculi mcdiiaiions."
1+ Ii is also said in ilc sciipiuics:
"Onc on wlosc mouil ilc loly namcs ol Loid Kisna always siay musi
alicady lavc woislippcd ilc Loid loi lundicds ol biiils."
15 Howcvci, in ilc Namapaiadla-blanjana-sioiia ii is said:
"Onc wlo commiis all linds ol ollcnscs may bccomc dclivcicd by ialing
slclici ol Loid Haii. Onc wlo commiis ollcnscs io Loid Haii is an animal, cvcn
ilougl lc may siand on iwo lcci."
16 In cvciy yuga liiiana (gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid) is cqually powcilul.
Howcvci, by ilc mcicy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ii is cspccially io
bc pciloimcd in Kali-yuga. Tlcicloic in Kali-yuga ii is piaiscd as bcing mosi
impoiiani. In Kali-yuga ilc oilci aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc slould bc
pciloimcd in conncciion wiil liiiana.
17 Tlc impoiiancc ol liiiana in Kali-yuga is dcsciibcd by ilcsc woids (Siimad
"In ilc agc ol Kali, iniclligcni pcisons pciloim congicgaiional claniing io
woislip ilc incainaiion ol Godlcad, wlo consianily sings ilc namcs ol Kisna.
Alilougl His complcxion is noi blaclisl Hc is Kisna Himscll. Hc is accompanicd
by His associaics, scivanis, wcapons and conlidcniial companions."¯
1S Tlai ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid is supicmcly indcpcndcni
and impoiiani is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Sii Naiada Puiana 3.126):
"In ilis agc ol quaiicl and lypociisy, ilc only mcans ol dclivciancc is ilc
claniing ol ilc loly namcs ol ilc Loid. Tlcic is no oilci way. Tlcic is no oilci
way. Tlcic is no oilci way."¯
19 Tlis iiuil is also cloqucnily cxplaincd in Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.36-3S.
Kaiablajana io Malaiaja Nimi.
Anuccheda 27+
1 Tlus ii is slown ilai in Kali-yuga by ilc claniing ilc loly namcs ol ilc
Loid onc aiiains gicai dcvoiion io Him. Howcvci, ilcy wlo commii ollcnscs io
ilc loly namc icmain ouisidc ol ilc splcic ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (12.3.+3-++):
2 "O King, in ilc agc ol Kali pcoplc's iniclligcncc will bc divciicd by ailcism,
and ilcy will almosi ncvci ollci saciilicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
wlo is ilc supicmc spiiiiual masici ol ilc univcisc. Alilougl ilc gicai
pcisonaliiics wlo coniiol ilc ilicc woilds all bow down io ilc loius lcci ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, ilc pciiy and misciablc luman bcings ol ilis agc will noi do so.¯¯¯
3 "Tciiilicd, aboui io dic, a man collapscs on lis bcd. Alilougl lis voicc is
laliciing and lc is laidly conscious ol wlai lc is saying, il lc uiicis ilc loly namc
ol ilc Supicmc Loid lc can bc liccd liom ilc icaciion ol lis liuiiivc woil and
aclicvc ilc supicmc dcsiinaiion. lui siill pcoplc in ilc agc ol Kali will noi
woislip ilc Supicmc Loid."¯¯¯
+ Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva
Gosvami.
Anuccheda 275
1 In ilis way liiiana is cxplaincd. To bc includcd wiilin liiiana aic lumblc
piaycis and appcals io onc's woislipablc Dciiy. Tlc Siimad llagavaiam's
dcsciipiion ol ilc gloiilicaiion ol ilc Loid's loly namcs and oilci lcaiuics aic
mosi subsianiial and signilicani ilan ilosc lound in oilci puianas. In Kali-yuga
ilc Siimad llagavaiam is cspccially piaiscd. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
woids (Siimad llagavaiam 1.3.+3):
2 "Tlis llagavaia Puiana is as biilliani as ilc sun, and ii las aiiscn jusi alici
ilc dcpaiiuic ol Loid Kisna io His own abodc, accompanicd by icligion,
lnowlcdgc, cic. Pcisons wlo lavc losi ilcii vision duc io ilc dcnsc dailncss ol
ignoiancc in ilc agc ol lali slall gci ligli liom ilis Puiana."¯
3 Il a pcison las a puic lcaii, cngagcs in ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ilai bcgin
wiil suiicndci, and docs noi abandoning ilc pioccss ol claniing ilc Loid's loly
namc, a pioccss dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 2.1.11), lc will lind limscll
cngagcd in smaianam (mcdiiaiion) wlicl lis mind is lixcd on ilc Supicmc Loid.
Mcdiiaiion las many loims, bcginning wiil mcdiiaiion ol ilc Loid's loly namcs.
Mcdiiaiion is dcsciibcd in a gcncial way by ilc Supicmc Loid Himscll in ilc
+ "Tlc aciual yoga sysicm as iaugli by My dcvoiccs, lcadcd by Sanala-
lumaia, is simply ilis: Having wiildiawn ilc mind liom all oilci objccis, onc
slould diiccily and appiopiiaicly absoib ii in Mc."¯
5 Hcic ilc woid "yaila" mcans "piopcily". Tlis vcisc mcans "Onc slould
absoib ilc mind in mc." In ilc Slanda Puiana, Loid lialma dcclaics:
"ly sciuiinisingly icvicwing all ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics and judging ilcm
Tiuil, and ilus Hc alonc slould bc woislippcd."¯
Anuccheda 276
1 Mcdiiaiion on ilc loly namc is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc
Jabali-samliia:
"Onc wlo dcsiics libciaiion slould always clani, sing, gloiily and
icmcmbci ilc loly namc ol Loid Haii."
2 A puic lcaii is nccdcd in oidci io succcsslully mcdiiaic on ilc loly namc.
Mcdiiaiion on ilc loly namc is noi as powcilul and cllcciivc as claniing ilc loly
namc. Tlis is so, alilougl ii is noi cxpicssly siaicd in ilis quoic. Mcdiiaiion on
ilc Loid's loim is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (12.12.55):
3 Rcmcmbiancc ol Loid Kisna's loius lcci dcsiioys cvciyiling inauspicious
and awaids ilc gicaicsi good loiiunc. Ii puiilics ilc lcaii and bcsiows dcvoiion
loi ilc Supicmc Soul, along wiil lnowlcdgc cniiclcd wiil icalisaiion and
icnunciaiion."¯¯¯
+ Hcic ilc woid "paiamaimani" mcans "Sii Kisna" and "blaliim" mcans
"loving dcvoiional scivicc". Lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc
piimaiy icsuli obiaincd by dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc oilci icsulis accompany ilai
piimaiy icsuli. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 277
1 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S0.11):
"Tlc Loid ol ilc blojas, Visnis and Andlalas is noi ai Dvaiala. Hc givcs
Himscll away io anyonc wlo simply icmcmbcis His loius lcci. Wlai doubi is
ilcic ilcn ilai Hc, ilc spiiiiual masici ol ilc univcisc, is willing io bcsiow
piospciiiy and cnjoymcni upon a dcvoicc wlo cngagcs in woislipping Him, cvcn
ilougl ilcsc maiciial bcncliis aic noi vciy dcsiiablc'"¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "smaiaial" mcans "ol onc wlo mcdiiaics". Tlc supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad diiccily appcais bcloic a dcvoicc wlo mcdiiaics on Him.
Hc bccomcs submissivc io sucl a dcvoicc. Tlai is ilc mcaning. "Aiila-laman" is
in ilc pluial bccausc ii includcs libciaiion and ilc oilci goals ol lilc. Hcic ilc
paiablc ol "linga-samavaya-nyaya" is appiopiiaic. Mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid's loim is
also gloiilicd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Gaiuda Puiana:
3 "Wlcn cvcn a momcni passcs wiiloui icmcmbiancc ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, onc slould biiicily lamcni as il lis piccious wcalil lad
suddcnly bccn siolcn by a band ol ilicvcs."
+ Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn io
Siidama Vipia by His wilc.
Anuccheda 278
1 Now ilc dillcicni siagcs ol mcdiiaiion (as dcsciibcd bcloic) on ilc Loid's
qualiiics, associaics, scivicc, and pasiimcs will now bc considcicd. Mcdiiaiion
piocccds in livc siagcs. Tlc liisi siagc is smaiana, wlcic ilc mind is somciimcs
aiiiacicd io ilc Loid. Tlc ncxi siagc is dlaiana, wlcic ilc mind is moic
complcicly aiiiacicd io ilc Loid. Tlc ncxi siagc is dlyana, wlcic onc spccilically
mcdiiaics on ilc loim ol ilc Loid. Tlc ncxi siagc is dliuvanusmiii, wlcic onc's
mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid bccomcs lilc a llood ol ncciai. Tlc linal siagc ol
mcdiiaiion is samadli, wlcic ilc Loid alonc is picscni in onc's ilouglis.
2 Smaiana is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Naiada Puiana:
"Licinal Loid Naiayana is plcascd wiil cvcn a sinnci wlo somclow oi
oilci icmcmbcis Him. Ol ilis ilcic is no doubi."
3 Dlaiana is dcsciibcd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilcsc
"Tlc mind ol onc mcdiiaiing upon ilc objccis ol scnsc giaiilicaiion is
cciiainly cnianglcs in sucl objccis, bui il onc consianily icmcmbcis Mc, ilcn ilc
mind is absoibcd in Mc."¯¯¯
+ Dlyana is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Nisimla Puiana and oilci
sciipiuics:
"Lvcn a sinnci wlo cngagcs in undividcd mcdiiaiion on ilc loius lcci ol
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad linds ilai all lis iioublcs bccomc
iiansloimcd inio blcssings.
5 Hcic ilc woid "niidvandvam" mcans "ignoiing ilc iioublcs causcd by lcai,
cold, and oilci dualiiics", and "iiiiam" mcans "spolcn by ilc sciipiuics". Lvcn a
sinnci cngagcd in sucl mcdiiaiion linds ilai all ilis iioublcs bccomc iiansloimcd
inio blcssings. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
6 Dliuvanusmiii is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (3.29.11-
12):
ccsiasy, uniniciiupicd by any maiciial condiiion, llows iowaids ilc Supicmc
Loid."¯¯¯
7 Dliuvanusmiii is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.53):
can ncvci loigci ilosc loius lcci in any ciicumsiancc. Hc will noi givc up lis
slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid loi a singlc momcni, indccd, noi loi lall a
momcni, cvcn in cxclangc loi ilc bcncdiciion ol iuling and cnjoying ilc opulcncc
ilc Vaisnavas."¯¯¯
S Siila Ramanuja Acaiya las also discusscd ilis iopic in lis commcniaiy on
ilc liisi suiia ol Vcdania-suiia.
9 Samadli is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 12.10.9):
"lccausc Mailandcya's maiciial mind lad sioppcd lunciioning, ilc sagc
lailcd io noiicc ilai Loid Siva and lis wilc, ilc coniiollcis ol ilc univcisc, lad
pcisonally comc io scc lim. Mailandcya was so absoibcd in mcdiiaiion ilai lc
was unawaic ol ciilci limscll oi ilc cxicinal woild."¯¯¯
10 Hcic ilc woid "iayol" mcans "ol Loid Siva and lis wilc". lccausc ilcy aic
boil poicncics and amsas ol ilc Loid ilcy aic lcic callcd "jagad-aimanol", wlicl
mcans "ilc cicaiois ol ilc univcisc". Tlc woid "iuddla-dli-viiiil" mcans "iapi
in mcdiiaiion on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad."
lcloic ilis vcisc ii was said (Siimad llagavaiam 12.10.6):
"Suicly ilis sainily bialmana docs noi dcsiic any bcncdiciion, noi cvcn
libciaiion iiscll, loi lc las aiiaincd puic dcvoiional scivicc unio ilc incxlausiiblc
In ilis way ii is slown ilai ilc samadli dcsciibcd lcic is dillcicni liom ilc
samadli ol ilc impcisonalisis, wlicl is callcd asampiajnaia-samadli.
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suia Gosvami.
Anuccheda 279
1 Wlcn onc ilinls only ol ilc Loid's pasiimcs and oilci lcaiuics and docs
noi ilinl ol anyiling clsc, ilai is samadli. Tlc lollowing dcsciipiion is givcn in
"O Vyasadcva, youi vision is complcicly pcilcci. Youi good lamc is
spoilcss. You aic liim in vow and siiuaicd in iiuillulncss. And ilus you can
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc dcsciibcs ilc dcvoiccs in ilc
dasya, sallya, vaisalya, and madluiya iasas. Tlc dcvoiccs in sania-iasa gcncially
do noi mcdiiaic on ilc Loid's pasiimcs. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids
ol Siimad llagavaiam (12.12.690):
3 "Lci mc ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio my spiiiiual masici, ilc son ol
Vyasadcva, Suladcva Gosvami. Ii is lc wlo dclcais all inauspicious ilings wiilin
ilis univcisc. Alilougl in ilc bcginning lc was absoibcd in ilc lappincss ol
lialman icalisaiion and was living in a sccludcd placc, giving up all oilci iypcs ol
consciousncss, lc bccamc aiiiacicd by ilc mosi mclodious pasiimcs ol Loid Sii
Kisna. Hc ilcicloic mcicilully spolc ilc supicmc Puiana, lnown as Siimad
llagavaiam, wlicl is ilc biigli ligli ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil and wlicl dcsciibcs
ilc aciiviiics ol Loid Kisna."¯¯¯
+ Tlc vcisc quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Sii
Naiada io Sii Vyasa.
Anuccheda 280
1 Il onc is ablc and cagci io do ii, onc may, wiiloui abandoning claniing and
icmcmbciing ilc Loid's loly namc, bccomc aciivc in sciving ilc Loid's loius lcci.
In oidci io aiiain ilc pcilcciion ol scivicc and mcdiiaiion, somc dcvoiccs aic
cngagcd in ilis way.
2 In ilc Visnu-ialasya ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"O Naiada, ilc mcdiiaiing yogis do noi plcasc mc as mucl as ilcy wlo
boil mcdiiaic on mc and scivc Mc wiil dcvoiion."
3 Tlc woid "yogal" lcic mcans "samadli". Tlc woid "pada-scva" mcans
"scivicc wiil dcvoiion". Tlai scivicc is pciloimcd icspccilully and in ilc piopci
iimc, placc and siiuaiion. Ii is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
+ "ly ilc inclinaiion io scivc ilc loius lcci ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
giadually incicascs."¯
5 Tlc woid "iapasvinam" mcans "ol ilcy wlo aic sullciing in ilc woild ol
icpcaicd biiil and dcail", and "malam" mcans "ilc many linds ol maiciial
dcsiics". Tlc Loid's lcci aic gloiilicd in ilc cxamplc bcginning wiil ilc woid
"yaila". Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King Piilu io Loid Visnu.
Anuccheda 281
1 Scivicc io ilc Loid's lcci is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
"O all-powcilul onc, I dcsiic no boon oilci ilan scivicc io Youi loius lcci,
ilc boon mosi cagcily sougli by ilosc licc ol maiciial dcsiic. O Haii, wlai
cnliglicncd pcison wlo woislips You, ilc givci ol libciaiion, would cloosc a
boon ilai causcs lis own bondagc'"¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "alincana" mcans "wiiloui any maiciial dcsiics, cvcn up io
ilc dcsiic loi libciaiion." Tlc icason ilc dcvoicc las no maiciial dcsiics is givcn
in ilcsc woids:
"O Haii, wlai cnliglicncd pcison wlo woislips You, ilc givci ol
libciaiion, would cloosc a boon ilai causcs lis own bondagc'"¯¯¯
Anuccheda 282
"Tlcicloic, O Loid, laving pui asidc all objccis ol maiciial dcsiic, wlicl
aic bound io ilc modcs ol passion, ignoiancc and goodncss, I am appioacling
You, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, loi slclici. You aic noi covcicd by
mundanc dcsignaiions. Railci, You aic ilc Supicmc Absoluic Tiuil, lull in puic
lnowlcdgc and iiansccndcnial io ilc maiciial modcs."¯¯¯
2 Tlcsc vciscs aic addicsscd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
cicinal and pcilcci in lnowlcdgc and bliss, and wlosc lcci aic ilc piopci objcci ol
dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King Muculunda io ilc Supicmc
Anuccheda 283
1 Includcd wiilin sciving ilc Loid's lcci aic sccing, ioucling,
ciicumambulaiing, and bowing down bcloic ilc Dciiy, as wcll as visiiing ilc
icmplc ol ilc Loid, and ilc pilgiimagcs placcs sacicd io ilc Loid, sucl as
Mailuia, Dvaiala, Jagannaila Puii, and ilc Gangcs. As long as onc livcs onc
slould suiicndci io ilc Loid and livc ncai ilc Loid's icmplc. Tlcy wlo livc by
ilc Gangcs and ai oilci sacicd placcs aic all gicai dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Scivicc io
ilc Loid linds iis linal cxpicssion in scivicc io ilc gicai dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid.
Tlcicloic ilc Gangcs and oilci sacicd placcs inspiic lcclings ol dcvoiion in ilc
living cniiiics.
2 Scivicc io ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.2.16):
"O iwicc boin sagcs, by sciving ilosc dcvoiccs wlo aic complcicly liccd
3 Tlc woid "punya-iiiila" lcic also mcans ilc Gangcs and oilci loly placcs.
Tlc Gangcs is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Tliid Canio (Siimad llagavaiam
3.2S.22):
ilc loly waicis ilai waslcd ilc Loid's loius lcci."¯
+ Tlc commcniaioi cxplains ilai Loid Siva is callcd by ilc namc Siva
bccausc lc las aiiaincd ilc liglcsi lappincss. Happincss lilc ilai is aiiainablc
only by dcvoiional scivicc. No lappincss is gicaici ilan ilc lappincss ol
dcvoiional scivicc.
5 Tlc lialma Puiana gloiilics Jagannaila Puii in ilcsc woids:
"Tlc iiansccndcnial signilicancc ol Puiusoiiama-lsciia, wlicl is ilc
cigliy-squaic milc licld ol Jagannaila, cannoi bc piopcily dcsciibcd. Lvcn ilc
dcmigods liom liglci planciaiy sysicms scc ilc inlabiianis ol ilis Jagannaila
Puii as laving cxacily ilc samc bodily lcaiuics posscsscd by onc in Vailunila.
Tlai is, ilc dcmigods scc ilc inlabiianis ol Jagannaila Puii as bcing loui-
landcd."¯
"Ioi a pcison wlo las livcd in Dvaiala loi six monils, loi onc monil, oi
cvcn loi onc loiinigli ilcic is awaiiing clcvaiion io ilc Vailunilalolas and all ilc
pioliis ol saiupya-mulii (ilc piivilcgc ol laving ilc samc loui-landcd bodily
lcaiuics as Naiayana)."¯
7 In ilc Padma Puiana, Paiala-llanda, ii is said:
"How wondcilul ii is ilai simply by icsiding in Mailuia cvcn loi onc day,
onc can aclicvc a iiansccndcnial loving aiiiiudc iowaid ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad! Tlis land ol Mailuia musi bc moic gloiious ilan Vailunila-dlama,
ilc lingdom ol God!"¯
S In ilc Adi-Vaiala Puiana ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"My biiilplacc is vciy dcai io mc."
9 A placc wlcic Loid Kisna is woislippcd is ilc bcsi ol all loly placcs.
lccausc Loid Kisna is ilc oiiginal Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, any placc
sacicd io Loid Kisna givcs ilc supicmc goal ol lilc io all wlo comc ilcic.
10 In ilc Adi-Vaiala Puiana ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"Any pcison wlo bccomcs aiiiacicd io placcs oilci ilan Mailuia will cciiainly bc
capiivaicd by ilc illusoiy cncigy."¯
11 lccausc Tulasi-dcvi is vciy dcai io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
scivicc io lci is includcd in ilc gcncial caicgoiy ol scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid.
12 In ilc Agasiya-samliia and ilc Gaiuda-samliia ii is said:
"As Siia-dcvi is dcai io Loid Rama, ilc masici ol ilc ilicc woilds, so is
Tulasi-dcvi, wlo puiilics cvciyonc."
"Lspccially in ilc agc ol Kali ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is
ilc masici ol ilc dcmigods and univciscs, is aiiiacicd io ilc Tulasi loicsi. Hc is
noi aiiiacicd io any oilci placc.
1+ "Tlcy wlo piopcily plani a Tulasi iicc oi gazc upon a Tulasi loicsi, go io
ilc supicmc abodc ol ilc Loid."
15 In ilc Slanda Puiana, in ilc piaycis io Tulasi-dcvi, ii is said:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo dcsiioys ilc dcmons' piidc, is
plcascd cvcn jusi io lcai ilc namc Tulasi.
In ilis way scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd.
Tlai scivicc also includcs scivicc io ilc Gangcs and all clsc sacicd io ilc Loid.
16 Now will bc considcicd woislip ol ilc Loid (aicana), wlicl bcgins wiil
ilc inviiaiion (avalana) io ilc Loid io appcai. Il onc las laiil in ilc pail ol
woislip, onc slould ialc slclici ol a bona lidc spiiiiual masici and asl qucsiions
ol lim. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.3.+S):
17 Alilougl in ilc opinion ol Siimad-llagavaiam ilc pail ol woislipping ilc
Dciiy, as ii is dcsciibcd in ilc Pancaiaiias and oilci sciipiuics, is noi compulsoiy,
and wiiloui cngaging in Dciiy woislip onc may aiiain ilc linal goal ol lilc by
cngaging in cvcn only onc ol ilc ninc pioccsscs ol dcvoiional scivicc, pioccsscs
ilai bcgin wiil suiicndci, ncvciilclcss, in ilc opinion ol ilcy wlo lollow ilc pail
ol Naiada Muni and oilci gicai sagcs, by acccpiing iniiiaiion liom a bona lidc
spiiiiual masici onc aiiains a iclaiionslip wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, a iclaiionslip csiablislcd iliougl ilc lcci ol onc's spiiiiual masici, and
wlcn onc is ilus iniiiaicd, ilc pioccss ol Dciiy woislip is compulsoiy.
1S Tlcicloic in ilc Agama-sasiia ii is said:
"Dilsa is ilc pioccss by wlicl onc can awalcn lis iiansccndcnial
lnowlcdgc and vanquisl all icaciions causcd by sinlul aciiviiy. A pcison cxpcii in
ilc siudy ol ilc icvcalcd sciipiuics lnow ilis pioccss as dilsa.¯
19 "Ii is ilc duiy ol cvciy luman bcing io suiicndci io a bona lidc spiiiiual
masici. Giving lim cvciyiling: body, mind and iniclligcncc, onc musi ialc a
Vaisnava iniiiaiion liom lim."¯
20 Tlc woids "divyam jnanam" (iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc) lcic iclcis io ilc
dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial loim in sacicd maniias. Claniing ilosc
maniias csiablislcs a iclaiionslip wiil ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda's dcsciipiion ol ilc cigli-syllablc maniia. Tlus loi
wcalily louscloldcis ilc pail ol Dciiy woislip is mosi impoiiani.
21 Tlc sagcs icll Malaiaja Vasudcva (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S+.37):
"Tlis is ilc mosi auspicious pail ol piogicss loi a icligious louscloldci ol
ilc iwicc-boin oidcis: io laiillully woislip ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wiil lis
unconiaminaicd posscssions wlicl lavc bccn acquiicd by jusi mcans."¯¯¯
22 A wcalily louscloldci wlo acis lilc a pcnnilcss pcison and sccls io scivc
ilc Loid only by mcdiiaiing on Him oi pciloiming similai sciviccs and noi by
spcnding moncy loi ilc causc ol ilc Loid is a lypociiic and a misci. Sucl a
pcison is ciilci maiciialisiic oi lazy. Hc is ai lauli bccausc lc docs noi lavc laiil
in ilc Loid.
23 Sucl a pcison is ai iisl ol lalling down, as is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 1.3.3S):
"Only ilosc wlo icndci unicscivcd, uniniciiupicd, lavouiablc scivicc unio
ilc loius lcci ol Loid Kisna, wlo caiiics ilc wlccl ol ilc claiioi in His land, can
lnow ilc cicaioi ol ilc univcisc in His lull gloiy, powci and iiansccndcncc."¯
2+ Gcncial spcaling, loi louscloldcis ilc pail ol Dciiy woislip (aicana) is
bciici ilan ilc pail ol diicci scivicc (paiicaiya). Tlis is bccausc ol ilc many iulcs
io bc lollowcd in ilc pail ol Dciiy woislip. Houscloldcis slould ollci yajnas io
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and noi io ilc dcmigods. ly woislipping ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad all ilc dcmigods aic auiomaiically plcascd in ilc
samc way ilai ilc bianclcs, lcavcs, and oilci paiis ol a iicc aic nouiislcd wlcn
waici is givcn io ilc iicc's iooi. Iailuic io woislip ilc Loid in ilis way is a gicai
lauli loi a louscloldci.
25 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Sii Piallada cxplains: "O King, do noi cai in ilc
lomc ol onc wlo docs noi woislip ilc Dciiy ol Loid Kisna. Tlc lood ilcic is noi
lii io bc caicn."
26 Any iniiiaicd dcvoicc wlo lails in ilis duiy lalls inio lcll. Tlis is dcsciibcd
in ilc sciipiuics. Ioi cxamplc, in ilc Visnu-dlaimoiiaia Puiana ii is said:
"Onc slould woislip Loid Haii oncc, iwicc, oi ilicc iimcs cacl day. Onc
wlo cais wiiloui liisi ollciing ilc lood io ilc Loid gocs io lcll."
27 Il onc is noi ablc oi qualilicd io cngagc in Dciiy woislip, ilcn ilc Agni
Puiana givcs ilis picsciipiion:
"Onc wlo wiil laiil and dcvoiion gazcs ai Loid Haii alici oi wlilc ilc
Loid is woislippcd, plcascs ilc Loid. Tlai dcvoicc aiiains ilc bcncliis ol
piaciicing yoga."
2S Tlc woid "yoga" lcic mcans "ilc yoga oi dcvoiional scivicc as is dcsciibcd
in ilc Pancaiaiias and oilci Vaisnava sciipiuics". In somc ciicumsianccs ii is
appiopiiaic io pciloim Dciiy woislip in mcdiiaiion. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda:
"O bclovcd, cvciyonc slould mcdiiaic on woislipping ilc Dciiy ol ilc
Loid."
29 In ilc pail ol Dciiy woislip onc musi liisi bc iniiiaicd. Tlcn ilcic aic
many iulcs ilai musi bc lollowcd. Tlcsc iulcs aic dcsciibcd in ilc sciipiuics.
30-31 Iniiiaiion is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Agama-sasiia:
"Lvcn ilougl boin in a bialmana lamily, onc cannoi cngagc in Vcdic
iiiuals wiiloui bcing iniiiaicd and laving a sacicd ilicad. Alilougl boin in a
bialmana lamily, onc bccomcs a bialmana alici iniiiaiion and ilc sacicd ilicad
ccicmony. Unlcss onc is iniiiaicd as a bialmana, lc cannoi woislip ilc loly
namc piopcily."¯
32 Tlc iulcs ol sciipiuic aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Visnu-ialasya:
"ly lollowing ilc iulcs ol woislip and icspccilully woislipping ilc Dciiy
ol Loid Haii, onc aiiains a icsuli a lundicd iimcs bciici ilan ilc icsuli ol
woislipping in ignoiancc ol ilc iulcs."
33 Hcic ilc woid "blaliya" mcans "wiil gicai icspcci". Onc wlo woislips in
ilis way aiiains a icsuli a lundicd iimcs gicaici. Onc wlo docs noi woislip in
ilis way docs noi aiiain sucl a icsuli. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic. Tlc iulcs ol
woislip aic undcisiood accoiding io ilc icaclings ol ilc Vaisnava-sampiadaya.
3+ In ilc Visnu-ialasya ii is said:
"Onc slould acccpi woids ol icacling ollcicd by pcisons wlo always
woislip Loid Visnu wiil ilcii body, mind, woids and dccds. Sucl pcisons aic
lilc Loid Visnu Himscll."
35 In ilc Kuima Puiana, ii is said:
"Onc slould asl qucsiions ol sainily Vaisnava bialmanas lcaincd in ilc
Vaisnava sciipiuics, aciing piopcily, and liim in ilcii vows. Onc slould caiclully
lollow wlai ilcy icacl."
36 In ilc Vaisnava Taniia ii is said:
"Onc slould noi lollow ilc icaclings ol a pcison wlo is noi always
dcvoicd io lis spiiiiual masici, io ilc claniing ol japa and io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Visnu."
37 Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (9.+.21):
"In pciloiming lis picsciibcd duiics as ling, Malaiaja Ambaiisa always
ollcicd ilc icsulis ol lis ioyal aciiviiics io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
Kisna, wlo is ilc cnjoyci ol cvciyiling and is bcyond ilc pciccpiion ol maiciial
scnscs. Hc cciiainly iool advicc liom bialmanas wlo wcic laiillul dcvoiccs ol
ilc Loid, and ilus lc iulcd ilc planci caiil wiiloui dilliculiy."¯
3S Tlis passagc dcsciibcs King Ambaiisa. Tlc Siimad llagavaiam vcisc
quoicd in ilc bcginning ol ilis anucclcda was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 28+
1 Tlc subsiancc ol all ilc Vcdic maniias is ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol
ilc Loid. Lvciy maniia bcgins wiil ilc piclix nama Om and cvcniually addicsscs
by namc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. ly ilc supicmc will ol ilc Loid
ilcic is a spccilic poicncy in cacl and cvciy maniia clanicd by gicai sagcs lilc
Naiada Muni and oilci isis. Claniing ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid immcdiaicly
icnovaics ilc iiansccndcnial iclaiionslip ol ilc living bcing wiil ilc Supicmc
Loid. To clani ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid onc nccd noi dcpcnd upon oilci
paiaplcinalia, loi onc can immcdiaicly gci all ilc dcsiicd icsulis ol conncciing oi
linling wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Ii may ilcicloic bc qucsiioncd
wly ilcic is a ncccssiiy loi luiilci spiiiiual aciiviiics in dcvoiional scivicc loi onc
wlo cngagcs in ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid.¯
2 Tlc answci is ilai alilougl ii is coiicci ilai onc wlo lully cngagcs in
claniing ilc loly namc nccd noi dcpcnd upon ilc pioccss ol iniiiaiion, gcncially
a dcvoicc is addicicd io many abominablc maiciial labiis duc io maiciial
coniaminaiion liom lis picvious lilc. In oidci io gci quicl iclicl liom all ilcsc
coniaminaiions, ii is icquiicd ilai onc cngagc in ilc woislip ol ilc Loid in ilc
icmplc. Tlc woislip ol ilc Dciiy in ilc icmplc is csscniial io icducc onc's
icsilcssncss duc io ilc coniaminaiions ol condiiional lilc. Tlus Naiada in lis
pancaiaiiili vidli, and oilci gicai sagcs lavc somciimcs siicsscd ilai sincc cvciy
condiiioncd soul las a bodily conccpi ol lilc aimcd ai scnsc cnjoymcni ilc iulcs
and icgulaiions loi woislipping ilc Dciiy in ilc icmplc aic csscniial.¯
3 In ilc Ramaicana-candiila ii is said ol Loid Ramacandia:
"Among Vaisnava-maniias, ilc Rama-maniia is ilc bcsi. Tlc Rama-maniia
is millions and millions ol iimcs moic cllcciivc ilan Gancsa-maniias oi maniias
loi ilc oilci dcmigods.
+ "O ling ol bialmanas, cvcn il onc is noi iniiiaicd and las noi pciloimcd
ciilci puiascaiya ol nyasa, lc can aiiain pcilcciion simply by claniing ilc Rama-
maniia."
5 Vaisnava maniias do noi nccd io bc puiilicd by ilc pioccsscs bcginning
wiil sadlya. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol ilc Maniiadcva-
pialasila:
"In claniing Sauia-maniias, Nisimla-maniias, and oilci Vaisnava-maniias
ilcic is no nccd io pciloim ilc puiilying iiiuals lnown as sadlya, siddla,
susiddla and aii."
6 In anoilci Taniia ii is said:
"Maniias gloiilying Loid Nisimla, Loid Suiya Naiayana and Loid Vaiala,
maniias wiil ilc sacicd syllablc Om, and maniias liom ilc Vcdas do noi icquiic
io bc puiilicd by pciloiming siddla oi oilci iiiuals."
7 In ilc Sanailumaia-samliia ii is said:
"O Naiada, maniias gloiilying Loid Gopala aic all scll-manilcsi. Tlai is
wly ilcic is no nccd io puiily ilcm wiil sadlya, siddla, susiddla, and aii."
S In anoilci sciipiuic ii is said:
"To all vainas and asiamas, io womcn, and io cvciy social class, ilc
Gopala-maniia quiclly gianis wlaicvci is dcsiicd."
9 Tlc iulcs ol claniing maniias aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc lialma-
yamala:
"Dcvoiional scivicc pciloimcd wiiloui iclcicncc io ilc Vcdas, Puianas,
Pancaiaiias, cic., musi bc considcicd scniimcnialism and ii causcs noiling bui
disiuibancc io sociciy."¯
10 Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc Iouiil Canio ol Siimad llagavaiam (+.1S-35),
wlcic ilc caiil-goddcss says:
"To bcnclii all luman sociciy, noi only in ilis lilc bui in ilc ncxi, ilc gicai
sccis and sagcs lavc picsciibcd vaiious mcilods conducivc io ilc piospciiiy ol ilc
pcoplc in gcncial.¯
11 "Onc wlo lollows ilc piinciplcs and insiiuciions cnjoincd by ilc gicai
sagcs ol ilc pasi can uiilisc ilcsc insiiuciions loi piaciical puiposcs. Sucl a
pcison can vciy casily cnjoy lilc and plcasuics.¯
12 "A loolisl pcison wlo manulaciuics lis own ways and mcans iliougl
mcnial spcculaiion and docs noi iccognisc ilc auiloiiiy ol ilc sagcs wlo lay down
unimpcaclablc diicciions is simply unsucccsslul again and again in lis
aiicmpis."¯
13 In ilc Padma Puiana, Loid Naiayana iclls Naiada Muni:
"O sagc, onc wlo is My dcvoicc and woislips My Dciiy loim accoiding io
ilc iulcs and icgulaiions ncvci mccis, cvcn in dicam, any iioublcs oi obsiaclcs.
Hc bccomcs complcicly lcailcss."
1+ Dciiy woislip is ol iwo linds: 1. lcvala (iiansccndcnial) and 2. laima-
misia (mixcd wiil liuiiivc aciiviiics). Tlc liisi lind, wlicl is pciloimcd by
laiillul dcvoiccs wlo lavc icnounccd all maiciial dcsiics, is dcsciibcd by Sii
Aviiloiia in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.3.+7):
"Onc wlo dcsiics io quiclly cui ilc lnoi ol lalsc cgo, wlicl binds ilc
spiiii soul, slould woislip ilc Supicmc Loid, Kcsava, by ilc icgulaiions lound in
Vcdic liiciaiuics sucl as ilc ianiias."¯¯¯
15 Sii Naiada Muni also givcs ilis cxplanaiion (Siimad llagavaiam +.29.+6):
"Wlcn a pcison is lully cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc, lc is lavouicd by ilc
Loid, wlo bcsiows His causclcss mcicy. Ai sucl iimc ilc awalcncd dcvoicc givcs
up all maiciial aciiviiics and iiiualisiic pciloimanccs mcniioncd in ilc Vcdas."¯
16 In ilc Sii Agasiya-samliia ii is said:
"As ilc duiics and piolibiiions ol ilc laima-landa poiiion ol ilc Vcdas
cannoi appioacl a libciaicd soul, so ilcy also cannoi ioucl a dcvoicc ol Loid
Rama."
17 Tlcy wlo aic vciy aiiaclcd io maiciial aciiviiics, wlosc laiil in maiciial
naiuic and wlo do noi undcisiand ilc iiuil ol dcvoiional scivicc aic oidcicd, "Do
noi ncglcci ilc iulcs and icgulaiions ol ilc laima-landa poiiion ol ilc Vcdas".
Tlis is so loi ilosc louscloldcis wlo aic aiiaclcd io ilc ilings ol ilis woild.
1S-19 Tlc iulcs ol Dciiy woislip aic dcsciibcd by Loid Kisna in ilcsc woids ol
Siimad llagavaiam (11.27.6-11):
"My dcai Uddlava, ilcic is no cnd io ilc innumciablc Vcdic picsciipiions
loi cxccuiing Dciiy woislip, so I slall cxplain ilis iopic io you biiclly, onc sicp ai
a iimc.¯¯¯
"Onc slould caiclully woislip Mc by sclcciing onc ol ilc ilicc mcilods by
wlicl I icccivc saciiliccs: Vcdic, Taniiic, oi mixcd.¯¯¯
"Now plcasc lisicn laiillully as I cxplain cxacily low a pcison wlo las
aclicvcd iwicc-boin siaius iliougl ilc iclcvani Vcdic picsciipiions slould
woislip Mc wiil dcvoiion.¯¯¯
"A iwicc-boin pcison slould woislip Mc, lis woislipablc Loid, wiiloui
dupliciiy, ollciing appiopiiaic paiaplcinalia in loving dcvoiion io My Dciiy loim,
oi io a loim ol Mc appcaiing upon ilc giound, in liic, in ilc sun, in waici, oi
wiilin ilc woislippci's own lcaii.¯¯¯
"Onc slould liisi puiily lis body by clcansing lis iccil and bailing. Tlcn
onc slould pciloim a sccond clcansing by smcaiing ilc body wiil caiil and
claniing boil Vcdic and Taniiic maniias.¯¯¯
"Iixing ilc mind on Mc, onc slould woislip Mc by lis vaiious picsciibcd
duiics, sucl as claniing ilc Gayaiii maniia ai ilc ilicc junciuics ol ilc day. Sucl
pciloimanccs aic cnjoincd by ilc Vcdas and puiily ilc woislippci ol icaciions io
liuiiivc aciiviiics."¯¯¯
Tlc dcsciipiion also coniinucs in ilc vciscs ilai lollow in Siimad
llagavaiam's Llcvcnil Canio.
20 Tlc mcaning ol ilcsc vciscs is clcai. Tlcsc vciscs wcic spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 285
1 In ilc Sii Naiada-pancaiaiia, in ilc bcginning ol His dcsciipiion ol laiil,
Loid Naiayana cxplains: "O Naiada, cvcn a libciaicd soul wlo bccausc ol an
cmcigcncy oi a calamiiy docs noi pciloim lis oidinaiy duiics, is gicaily ai lauli.
2 "Tlcicloic cvciy wisc man slould caiclully pciloim cvcn ilc mosi
oidinaiy duiics uniil ilc iimc lis maiciial body pciislcs."
3 Dciiy woislip mixcd wiil oidinaiy duiics (laima) is ol iwo linds. In Sii
Naiada-pancaiaiia ii is said ilai all linds ol woislip slould bc donc wiil
iclcicncc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc Supcisoul picscni in
cvciyonc's lcaii.
+ In ilc Visnu-yamala ii is said:
"Wiil waici ilai las waslcd ilc lcci ol Loid Visnu onc may ollci iaipana
io ilc piias. Onc may lonoui ilc dcmigods by ollciing ilcm lood liisi ollcicd io
Loid Visnu."
5 Gancsa, Duiga, Visvalscna, and oilci dcmigods woislip and scivc ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in His abodc ol Vailunila. Tlc Gancsa, Duiga
and oilci dcmigods mcniioncd lcic aic dillcicni liom ilc Gancsa, Duiga and
oilci dcmigods picscni in ilc maiciial woild. Tlis is so bccausc ilc spiiiiual
woild ol Vailunila is dillcicni liom ilc maiciial woild. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (2.9.10):
"In ilc pcisonal abodc ol ilc Loid, ilc maiciial modcs ol ignoiancc and
passion do noi picvail, noi is ilcic any ol ilcii inllucncc in goodncss. Tlcic is no
picdominancc ol ilc inllucncc ol iimc, so wlai io spcal ol ilc illusoiy, cxicinal
cncigy. Ii cannoi cnici ilai icgion. Wiiloui disciiminaiion, boil ilc dcmigods
and ilc dcmons woislip ilc Loid as dcvoiccs."¯
6 In ilis way ilc dcmigods ol Vailunila aic all inicinal poicncics ol ilc Sii
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. In ilc cigliccn-syllablc maniia gloiilying Loid
Kisna, ilc namc "Duiga" iclcis io ilc goddcss wlo csiablislcs ilc vaiious
aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlis is
sccn in ilc Vcdas, Taniias, and oilci sciipiuics.
7 In ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia, in a convcisaiion ol Siuii and Vidya, ii is said:
"lccausc Slc is willing io sullci all iioublcs in oidci io woislip and scivc
lci bclovcd Loid and givc Him ncciai lappincss ilai ncvci siops, ilc goddcss wlo
is ilc poicncy ol dcvoiional scivicc is callcd "Duiga" by ilc sainily Vaisnavas."
S Tlis Goddcss Duiga is noi dillcicni liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Gauiamiya-lalpa:
"Goddcss Duiga is idcniical wiil Loid Kisna. Loid Kisna is idcniical wiil
Goddcss Duiga."
9 Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc woids:
"O Goddcss Duiga, You aic ilc picsiding Dciiy ol ilc cigliccn syllablc
maniia."
10 Somc say ilai s ilc Supicmc Loid's univcisal loim (viiai-puiusa) is noi
dillcicni liom His loim in ilc spiiiiual woild (mala-puiusa), so ilc Duiga in ilc
maiciial woild is noi dillcicni liom ilc Duiga in ilc spiiiiual woild. Tlc iiuil is
ilai ilc Duiga in ilc maiciial woild is a paiiial cxpansion ol Goddcss Maya. Tlc
Duiga in ilc maiciial woild is cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol pioicciing ilc cigliccn-
syllablc maniia. Slc is a maidscivani ol ilc Duiga in ilc spiiiiual woild, wlo is
an inicinal poicncy ol ilc Loid. Slc is noi ilc dciiy ilai coniiols scivicc io ilc
Loid.
11 In a passagc ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda, a passagc wlcic ilc
spiiiiual woild ol Vailunila, wlicl is bcyond ilc ioucl ol ilc illusoiy poicncy
maya, is dcsciibcd, ii is said:
"Tlc louiil iampaii suiiounding Vailunila is guaidcd by Saiya, Acyuia,
Anania, Visvalscna, Gancsa, Sanllanidli and Padmanidli.
12 "Tlc sagcs say ilai in ilc scvcnil iampaii ilc casi is guaidcd by India, ilc
souilcasi by Agni, ilc souil by Yama, ilc souilwcsi by Naiiiia, ilc wcsi by
Vaiuna, ilc noiilwcsi by Vayu, ilc noiil by Soma and ilc noiilcasi by Siva.
13 "In ilc spiiiiual woild aic many Sadlyas, Maiuis, and Visvadcvas. Tlcsc
cicinally libciaicd souls aic dillcicni liom ilc dcmigods ilai icsidc in ilc uppci
plancis ol ilc maiciial woild.
1+ "Tlc dcmigods ilai icsidc in ilc uppci plancis ol ilc maiciial woild aic
noi cicinal. Tlcy aspiic io aiiain ilc cicinal spiiiiual woild. Tlai is ilc
conclusion ol ilc Vcdas."
15 Also, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad manilcsis many dillcicni loims
in ilc spiiiiual woild. In ilc bcginning ol iis dcsciipiion ol ilc dillcicni Dciiics in
ilc cigliccn-syllablc maniia, ii is said in ilc Tiailolya-sammolana Taniia:
16 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las dillcicni loims wiil dillcicni
namcs, sucl as Dcva-dcva (ilc masici ol ilc dcmigods), Gopa-vcsa-dlaia (Hc wlo
is a cowlcid boy) and Haii (Hc wlo icmovcs all ilai is inauspicious)."
17 Tlc puic dcvoiccs do noi misundcisiand ilc namcs ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad io bc namcs ol oidinaiy dcmigods. Siill, bccausc ilcy aic
scivanis ol ilc Loid in ilc spiiiiual woild ol Vailunila, ilc Visvalscna and oilci
dcmigods ol ilc spiiiiual woild slould bc givcn all lonoui.
1S Tlai ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid slould bc givcn all lonoui is cxplaincd in
ilcsc woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (10.S+.13):
"A luman bcing wlo idcniilics ilis body madc ol ilicc clcmcnis wiil lis
scll, wlo considcis ilc by-pioducis ol ilc body io bc lis linsmcn, wlo considcis
ilc land ol biiil as woislipablc, and wlo gocs io ilc placc ol pilgiimagc simply io
ialc a bail iailci ilan mcci mcn ol iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, is io bc considcicd
as an ass oi a cow."¯
19 Tlc ollcnsc ol noi lonouiing ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd in ilcsc
woids ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia -llanda:
"A pcison wlo woislips Loid Govinda bui docs noi woislip ilc Loid's
dcvoiccs, is noi limscll a dcvoicc. Hc is only a picicndci."
20 Tlc woislip ol ilc Loid's dcvoiccs is also dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol
Siimad-llagavaiam (11.27.29):
"Wiil ollciings sucl as piolsana onc slould woislip Duiga, Vinayala,
Vyasa, Visvalscna, ilc spiiiiual masicis and ilc vaiious dcmigods. All ilcsc
pcisonaliiics slould bc in ilcii piopci placcs lacing ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid."¯¯¯
21 In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda ii is said:
"Onc slould noi woislip dcmigods noi mcniioncd in ilc Vcdas. Onc
slould noi ilinl ilc dcmigods aic indcpcndcni ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.
22 "Onc slould woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Naiayana,
wlo is woislippcd by all ilc woilds, and onc slould also woislip ilc dcmigods
ilai aic His associaics.
23 "To ilcsc dcmigods onc slould ollci ilc icmnanis ol wlai was cnjoycd by
Loid Haii. A Vaisnava slould pciloim a yajna wlcn lc ollcis Loid Haii's
icmnanis io ilcm."
2+ Siimad llagavaiam 11.27.29 (quoicd in icxi 20) was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 286
1 Tlinling ilc woislip ol ilcm io bc paii ol ilc woislip ol ilc Loid's
associaics, onc slould noi woislip glosis and oilci lilc bcings. Tlis is so
bccausc ilcy aic noi associaics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc
woislip ol ilcm is loibiddcn.
"Woislip ol yalsas, pisacas, as wcll as glosis and dcmons wlo diinl liquoi
and cai llcsl, and cvcn woislip ol ilc dcmigods wlo icsidc in ilc liglci maiciial
plancis, is considcicd sinlul lilc diinling liquoi.
3 Lvcn ilc so-callcd compulsoiy woislip ol ilc maiciial dcmigods is
loibiddcn wlcn ilai woislip involvcs liquoi oi oilci abominablc ilings. In ilc
samc way, ii is also loibiddcn io woislip Loid lalaiama wiil ollciings ol vaiuni
liquoi.
+ Now will bc considcicd, in iclaiion io ilc woislip ol ilc Supicmc Loid's
abodc, ilc cxisicncc ol impuiiiy, ilc ilicc maiciial modcs, and oilci inauspicious
ilings. Tlc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda and ilc lialma-samliia boil alliim
ilai ilcsc inauspicious ilings cannoi ioucl ilc iiansccndcnial abodc ol ilc
Supicmc Loid. Somc pcoplc, claiming ilai ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia givcs a dillcicni
vicw, quoic ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woids "Tlc loui inauspicious ilings,
bcginning wiil impiciy, aic cngagcd in cicaiing cvil." Howcvci, ilc ical mcaning
ol ilis passagc is ilai impiciy and oilci inauspicious ilings aic poicncics ol ilc
all-pcivading Supcisoul.
5 In ilc woislip ol ilc Loid's abodc, ilc slocs ol ilc spiiiiual masici aic io
ilc lcli ol ilc Supicmc Loid. On ilc local lcvcl, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad incainaics iliougl His icpicscniaiivc, ilc spiiiiual masici. In ilis way
ilc spiiiiual masici is a loim ol ilc Loid. Wlcn ilc Loid appcais diiccily, in His
oiiginal loim as ilc masici ol all, His cmpowcicd incainaiion ol ilc spiiiiual
masici is ai His lcli sidc.
6 In ilc woislip ol Loid Ramacandia and oilci loims ol ilc Loid, Mainda,
Dvivida and oilcis aic ilc puic dcvoiccs wlo associaic wiil ilc Loid in His
cicinal iiansccndcnial abodc. Wlcn Aliuia was bccoming puiilicd ol all sins, lc
could scc Piallada and oilci pcisonal associaics ol ilc Loid (Siimad llagavaiam
10.39.5+). Wlcn King Piilu millcd ilc caiil, Piallada bccamc ilc call. Ai ilosc
iwo iimcs Piallada did noi ialc biiil. Howcvci, duiing ilc Calsusa-manvaniaia
lc did ialc biiil as Hiianyalasipu's son.
7 Many oilci pcisonal associaics ol Loid Rama and ilc oilci cicinally
manilcsicd loims ol ilc Loid also appcai in ilc maiciial woild io assisi ilc Loid
wlcn Hc incainaics ilcic. Mainda, Dvivida, and ilc oilci cicinal associaics ol ilc
Loid aic individual spiiii souls, alilougl ilcy aic givcn spccial powcis (saliy-
avcsa) by ilc Loid. Howcvci, ilcic aic also iioublcs picscnicd by lali, wlo was
Sugiiva's cncmy, and many oilci dcmons also, and ai a laici iimc ilcic aic also
iioublcs picscnicd by Naialasuia, wlo was ilc cncmy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad, and many oilci dcmons also. Tlus a gicai vaiiciy ol pcisons
associaic wiil ilc Loid wlcn Hc appcais in ilc maiciial woild.
S Wlcn Loid Kisna manilcsis His pasiimcs in Golula, Sii Rulmini and His
oilci associaics in Dvaiala aic also picscni. Tlcy aic noi opcnly picscni bui ilcy
aic picscni as Vimala and oilci poicncics ol ilc Loid. lccausc ilcy aic noi opcnly
picscni ilcy aic noi mcniioncd in mcdiiaiions on ilc Loid's Golula's pasiimcs.
9 Rulmini and ilc oilci associaics ol ilc Loid ai Dvaiala aic also picscni in
Golula. Tlcic ilcy bcai oilci namcs, sucl as ilc namc Radla. Tlc concl-disc,
and club ilc Loid caiiics in Dvaiala aic picscni in Golula as ilc concl, disc, and
club ilai aic auspicious mailings on ilc Loid's lcci. As ilc Gangcs and Yamuna
aic boil picscni in Dvaiala, so ilcy aic boil picscni in Golula, ilc Gangcs bcing
ilc lamous Manasa-ganga on Govaidlana Hill. Visvalscna and oilci associaics ol
ilc Loid ai Dvaiala aic picscni in Golula as lladiascna and oilcis. Wlcn Loid
Kisna's abodc ol Golula is woislippcd, ilcn ilc occan ol mill ai Svciadvipa is
also woislippcd auiomaiically. lccausc in Golula a gicai llood ol mill llows liom
many millions ol cows, Golula is also lnown by ilc namc Svciadvipa.
10 Tlis is cxplaincd in Sii lialma-samliia (5.56) wlcic ai ilc cnd ol a
dcsciipiion ol Golula ii is said:
"In Vindavana, spiiiiual cows aic always supplying spiiiiual mill. Noi a
singlc momcni is wasicd ilcic. In oilci woids, ilcic is no pasi, picscni oi luiuic.
Noi a singlc paiiiclcs ol iimc is wasicd. Wiilin ilis maiciial univcisc ilc dcvoiccs
woislip ilai iiansccndcnial abodc as Golola Vindavana."¯
11 Tlis is also conliimcd in oilci sciipiuics. In ilc iiansccndcnial abodc ol
ilc Loid ilc sun, moon, and liic aic noi maiciial. Tlis is so bccausc in ilai abodc
ilcic is no cxccssivc lcai oi cold. lccausc cvciyiling is all-auspicious and all-
plcasing, noiling in ilai abodc is maiciial.
12 Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Nisimla-iapani Upanisad
(1.5.10):
"In ilc iiansccndcnial abodc ol Sii Kisna, ilc masici ol all maniias, ilcic
aic no sullciings. Tlcic ilc sun docs noi slinc, ilc wind docs noi blow, ilc
moon docs noi slinc, ilc siais do noi slinc, liic docs noi buin, dcail cannoi
cnici, and ilcic aic no dclccis."
13 Tlus ii is cxplaincd ilai ilc pcisonal associaics ol ilc Loid cngagc in puic
dcvoiional scivicc, licc liom any ioucl ol liuiiivc aciion.
1+ Now, as lai as I can undcisiand ii, I will discuss ilc puiiiy and oilci
viiiucs ol ilc puic dcvoiccs. Tlc puiiiy ol ilc puic dcvoiccs is ilai, dcsiiing io
scivc ilc Loid in a spccilic way, ilcy mcdiiaic on ilc loim ol a spccilic pcisonal
associaic ol ilc Loid. In ilis way ilcy aci io aiiain ilc goal ol diiccily sciving ilc
Loid in a paiiiculai way.
15 Wlcncvci ilcy mcdiiaic on ilc spccilic loim ol ilc Loid ilcy dcsiic io
aiiain, ilcy also mcdiiaic on bccoming His pcisonal associaic. Tlcy do ilis
bccausc puic dcvoiccs laic ilc impcisonalisis' alangialopasana mcdiiaiion, wlcic
onc imagincs io lavc bccomc idcniical wiil ilc Loid.
16 Wlcn ii is said ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and ilc individual
spiiii souls aic onc ii is mcani only in a vciy gcncial scnsc. Tlcy aic onc only in
ilc scnsc ilai ilc individual spiiii souls aic ilc spiiiiual poicncy ol ilc Loid and
in ilc scnsc ilai boil ilc Loid and His pcisonal associaics lavc spiiiiual loims.
Onc slould ollci nyasas and oilci ilings io ilc lcci ol ilc Loid's loim as Kcsava
oi His oilci loims. Onc slould mcdiiaic on ilc vaiious loims ol ilc Loid, clani
ilc appiopiiaic vaiious maniias, and ioucl ilc limbs ol ilc Loid. Onc slould noi
mcdiiaic on ilc vaiious maiciial dcmigods. Tlai is noi appiopiiaic loi ilc
dcvoiccs.
17 Now will bc dcsciibcd ilc piimaiy lind ol mcdiiaiion, wlcic ilc yogi-
dcvoicc mcdiiaics on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad icsiding in His
iiansccndcnial abodc in ilc loius llowci ol ilc dcvoicc's lcaii. Tlis mcdiiaiion is
dcsciibcd in ilc sciipiuics in ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woids "Onc slould
mcdiiaic on Loid Kisna icsiding in bcauiilul Vindavana."
1S Now will bc considcicd woislipping ilc Loid in mcdiiaiion. Onc slould
mcdiiaic on ilc Kama-gayaiii maniia in a ciiclc ol ligli and ilcic onc slould
mcdiiaic on Golola Vindavana. In lialma-samliia (5.37) ii is said:
"I woislip Govinda, ilc piimcval Loid, wlo icsidcs in His own icalm,
Golola."¯
Tlis is cciiainly so, loi ilc woid "cva" (cciiainly) is uscd lcic.
19 Loid Kisna, ilc masici ol Vindavana, docs noi pcisonally siay on ilc sun
planci. Tlcic Hc siays in a loim ol ligli. In onc's lcaii onc slould mcdiiaic on
ilc woislip ol Loid Kisna, ilc samc lind ol woislip ilai is pciloimcd cxicinally.
In ilis way onc slould also woislip ilc Loid's lluic and oilci paiaplcinalia. In
ilis way onc slould cnici ilc spiiiiual cllulgcncc ilai cmanaics liom Loid Kisna's
iiansccndcnial bodily limbs. Wlcn onc las ilus cnicicd, onc may mcdiiaic on
Loid Kisna's lacc and ilc oilci paiis ol His iiansccndcnial body.
20 In ilis way onc gazcs on ilc Loid's lluic and oilci oinamcnis. Onc docs
ilis io gazc on Loid Kisna, and onc also gazcs on ilc Loid's dcai associaics and
paiaplcinalia. Onc docs noi mcdiiaic on onc's own body. Tlis is so bccausc ol
ilc picviously cxplaincd icason.
21 Wlcn onc woislips ilc Loid in mcdiiaiion onc slould mcdiiaic on ilc
Loid's pasiimcs and associaics as ilcy aciually wcic wlcn ilcy appcaicd in ilis
woild. Wiil ilc powci ol onc's cicaiivc imaginaiion onc slould noi invcni idcas
ol low ilcy aic. Onc slould mcdiiaic on ilcm as ilcy aic in iiuil. As ilcy
appcaicd in ilc maiciial woild duiing ilc iimc ol ilc Loid's advcni ilcic, so ilcy
also appcai in ilc spiiiiual woild cicinally, wlcic ilcii numbcis aic wiiloui limii.
22 In ilc spiiiiual woild ilc dcmons aic noi alivc. Tlcy aic mcicly ioys, lilc
puppcis.
23 In Siimad llagavaia (10.1+.61) ii is said:
"In ilis way ilc boys spcni ilcii clildlood in ilc land ol Vindavana
playing lidc-and-go-sccl, building play biidgcs, jumping aboui lilc monlcys and
cngaging in many oilci sucl gamcs."¯¯¯
Noic: In ilcsc pasiimcs ilc boy Kisna imiiaics in play ilc pasiimcs ol Loid
Ramacandia.
2+ In ilcsc woids ii is sccn ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
somciimcs plays by imiiaiing His own pasiimcs in His vaiious incainaiions. Tlis
is caiclully slown, wiil piopci logical aigumcnis in Sii llagavai-sandaibla and
oilci bools.
25 Now ilc gloiics ol woislipping ilc Loid in onc's mcdiiaiion will bc
dcsciibcd. In ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia, Loid Naiayana cxplains:
"ly woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in onc's mcdiiaiion,
onc bccomcs licc liom old-agc, discasc and lcai."
26 In ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia, Loid Naiayana again cxplains:
"O sagc, I am plcascd wiil any pcison wlo wiil gicai dcvoiion woislips
Mc in mcdiiaiion."
27 Woislip pciloimcd in mcdiiaiion is indcpcndcni ol oilci linds ol
woislip. Tlc Dciiy ol ilc Loid conccivcd in mcdiiaiion is onc ol ilc cigli linds
ol Dciiics. Tlis Dciiy is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (11.3.50);
"Gailciing wlaicvci ingicdicnis aic availablc, onc slould woislip ilc
Dciiy, ciilci in His cxicinal loim, oi conccivcd in mcdiiaiion wiilin ilc dcvoicc's
lcaii."
Tlis is so bccausc Sii Aviiloiia las uscd ilc woid "va" (oi) in ilis vcisc.
2S Now ilc dillcicni linds ol Dciiics will bc considcicd. lccausc Hc las
many dillcicni loims, ilc Loid manilcsis as many dillcicni linds ol Dciiics, sucl
as His loim as Salagiama-sila. In ilc sciipiuics ii is said:
"Wlcicvci is a Salagiama-sila sionc, ilcic Loid Haii is pcisonally picscni."
29 Tlc closcn Dciiy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad biings all
pcilcciion io ilc woislippci. Tlis occuis sponiancously, wiiloui clloii.
Woislipping ilc closcn Dciiy ol ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad
llagavaiam (11.3.+S) ii is said:
"Tlc dcvoicc slould woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilc
paiiiculai pcisonal loim ol ilc Loid ilc dcvoicc linds mosi aiiiaciivc."¯¯¯
30 Ioi cacl ol ilc Loid's loims, bcginning wiil His oiiginal loim ol Loid
Kisna, ilcic is a iiansccndcnial abodc, bcginning wiil ilc abodc ol Mailuia-
mandala. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(10.1.2S):
"Tlc ciiy and disiiici ol Mailuia aic vciy iniimaicly connccicd wiil Kisna,
loi Loid Kisna livcs ilcic cicinally."¯
31 Ioi cacl ol ilcsc abodcs, bcginning wiil Mailuia and Vindavana, ilcic aic
maniias and ways ol mcdiiaiion. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Sii Gopala-iapani Upanisad
and oilci sciipiuics. Tlus onc slould mcdiiaic on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad as Hc appcais in Mailuia and His oilci iiansccndcnial abodcs. Also onc
slould mcdiiaic on ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as bcing idcniical wiil
His Dciiy loim.
32 Tlai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is idcniical wiil His Dciiy loim
is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol sciipiuic:
"Hc commiis an ollcnsc wlo ilinls ilc Dciiy ol ilc Supicmc Loid is
mcicly a siaiuc madc ol sionc."
33 Aboui His Dciiy loim, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics
"Tlc Dciiy loim ol ilc Loid, wlo is ilc slclici ol all living cniiiics can bc
csiablislcd in iwo ways: icmpoiaiily oi pcimancnily. lui a pcimancni Dciiy,
laving bccn callcd, can ncvci bc scni away, My dcai Uddlava."¯¯¯
3+ Hcic ilc woid "piaiisila" mcans "ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid", "jiva" mcans "ol
Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wlo givcs lilc io all living bcings", and
"mandiiam" mcans "ilc abodc ol Mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, an
abodc ilai is ilc lomc ol My vaiious piimaiy and sccondaiy bodily lcaiuics, oi in
oilci woids My iiansccndcnial body". Oi ilc woid "mandiiam" may also mcan
"ilc Dciiy loim ilai is My lomc bccausc ii las bccn insiallcd by ilc piopci
iiiual". Tlcsc aic ilc mcanings. In ilc Hayasiisa-pancaiaiia, in ilc dcsciipiion ol
insialling ilc Dciiy, is givcn ilc lollowing maniia loi inviiing ilc Loid io appcai
as ilc Dciiy:
"O Loid Visnu, plcasc comc lcic."
Anoilci maniia loi ilis puiposc is givcn in ilcsc woids:
35 "O Loid, plcasc placc Youi all-lnowing loim, a loim ilai is ilc Supicmc
iiuil, in ilis Dciiy loim. Plcasc walc up, conscious and alivc, as ilis Dciiy loim."
36 Tlc woid "jiva-mandiiam" may also bc inicipicicd io mcan "ilc Dciiy
loim, wlicl is diiccily ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc slclici ol all
living cniiiics". In ilis way ilc gicai dcvoiccs scc ilai ilc Dciiy is diiccily ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll. Tlc Loid and ilc Dciiy aic noi
dillcicni.
37 Tlis is conliimcd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll.
Spcaling aboui His Dciiy loim, ilc Loid dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 11.27.32):
"My dcvoicc slould ilcn lovingly dccoiaic Mc wiil cloiling, a bialmana
ilicad, vaiious oinamcnis, mails ol iilala and gailands, and lc slould anoini My
body wiil liagiani oils, all in ilc picsciibcd mannci."¯¯¯
3S Hcic ilc woids "mam" (io Mc) and "sa-picma" (wiil lovc) slould bc
noicd.
39 In ilc Visnu-dlaima Puiana, Loid Visnu dcsciibcs His Dciiy loim io King
Ambaiisa in ilcsc woids: "Plcasc placc all youi ilouglis in My Dciiy loim. Lcavc
all oilci slclicis and ialc slclici ol My Dciiy loim alonc. Dcvoicdly woislip My
Dciiy. Mcdiiaic on My Dciiy, wlo is lind io ilc dcvoiccs.
+0 "Wlcn onc is walling, sianding, slccping, caiing, in lioni, bclind, abovc,
oi bclow, onc slould always ilinl ol ilc Dciiy, lnowing lull wcll ilai ilc Dciiy
and I aic ilc samc pcison.
+1 Tlc mcilod ol inviiing ilc Loid io appcai as ilc Dciiy and ilc mcilod ol
woislipping ilc Dciiy aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Agama-sasiia:
"'Avalanam' is wlcn onc icspccilully inviics ilc Loid io appcai as ilc
Dciiy. 'Samsilaapananm' is wlcn wiil dcvoiion onc causcs ilc Loid io cnici ilc
Dciiy.
+2 "'Sannidlapanam' is wlcn onc says io ilc Dciiy, 'I am Youis'. In ilis way
onc sccs limscll as a scivani ol ilc Dciiy. 'Sanniiodlanam' is wlcn onc coniinucs
ilc iiiual ol woislip uniil ii is complcicd. 'Salali-laianam' is wlcn ilc Loid
icvcals all ilc limbs ol His iiansccndcnial loim."
+3 Wlcn ilc sciipiuics dcclaic ilai sudias and oilci low-casic pcisons aic noi
allowcd io woislip ilc Dciiy, ilc sciipiuics iclci io sudias ilai aic noi Vaisnavas.
Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc sciipiuics:
"Tlcy wlo aic dcvoiccs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic ncvci
sudias. Tlcy aic all cxalicd dcvoiccs. Howcvci, ilcy wlo aic noi dcvoicd io Loid
Visnu aic all sudias, icgaidlcss ol ilc casic ol ilcii biiil."
++ In ilc Scvcnil Canio ol Siimad llagavaiam (7.1+.3+) Sii Naiada cxplains:
"O ling ol ilc caiil, ii las bccn dccidcd by cxpcii, lcaincd sclolais ilai
only ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna, in wlom all ilai is moving oi
non moving wiilin ilis univcisc is icsiing and liom wlom cvciyiling is coming,
is ilc bcsi pcison io wlom cvciyiling musi bc givcn."¯
In ilis way ii is alliimcd ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc
liglcsi objcci ol woislip. Tlcicloic ilc jnani plilosoplcis wlo dcsiic libciaiion
slould ialc slclici ol dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
+5 In Siimad-llagavaiam (7.15.2) ii is said:
"A pcison dcsiiing libciaiion loi lis loiclailcis oi limscll slould givc
claiiiy io a bialmana wlo adlcics io impcisonal monism (jana-nisila). In ilc
abscncc ol sucl an advanccd bialmana, claiiiy may bc givcn io a bialmana
addicicd io liuiiivc aciiviiics (laima-landa)."¯
In ilcsc woids ii is said ilai ilc jnanis (impcisonalisis) aic ilc bcsi objccis
ol claiiiy. Howcvci, in anoilci placc in ilc sciipiuics ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad dcclaics:
+6 "Lvcn ilougl a pcison is a vciy lcaincd sclolai ol ilc Sansliii Vcdic
liiciaiuics, lc is noi acccpicd as My dcvoicc unlcss lc is puic in dcvoiional
scivicc. Howcvci, cvcn ilougl a pcison is boin in a lamily ol dog-caicis, lc is
vciy dcai io Mc il lc is a puic dcvoicc wlo las no moiivc io cnjoy liuiiivc aciiviiy
oi mcnial spcculaiion. Indccd, all icspcci slould bc givcn io lim, and wlaicvci
lc ollcis slould bc acccpicd. Sucl dcvoiccs aic as woislipablc as I am."¯
+7 In Siimad llagavaiam (10.9.21) ii is said:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna, ilc son ol moilci Yasoda, is
acccssiblc io dcvoiccs cngagcd in sponiancous loving scivicc, bui Hc is noi as
casily acccssiblc io mcnial spcculaiois, io ilosc siiiving liom scll-icalisaiion by
scvcic ausiciiiics and pcnanccs, oi io ilosc wlo considci ilc body ilc samc as ilc
scll."¯
+S Ii is also said in Siimad llagavaiam (6.1+.5):
lnowlcdgc ol libciaiion, onc may bc a dcvoicc ol Loid Naiayana oi Kisna. Sucl
dcvoiccs wlo aic lully pcacclul, aic cxiicmcly iaic."¯
+9 In ilcsc woids ii is conliimcd ilai a dcvoicc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad is ilc mosi cxalicd. How mucl moic, ilcn, musi ii bc iiuc ilai ilc
woislip ol ilc Dciiy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, a Dciiy woislippcd
by ilcsc cxalicd dcvoicc, is ilc mosi cxalicd loim ol woislip' Tlcicloic ii is said
in ilc sciipiuics:
"Lvcn il all onc's pasi laima las alicady bccn buincd away by ilc liic ol
iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc, il onc loolislly docs noi lollow ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid as
Hc gocs in pioccssion onc will bccomc a bialma-ialsasa in ilc ncxi biiil."
50 In Siimad llagavaiam (7.1+.3+-35) ilc lollowing cxplanaiion is givcn:
"O King ol ilc caiil, ii las bccn dccidcd by cxpcii, lcaincd sclolais ilai
only ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Kisna, in wlom all ilai is moving and
unmoving wiilin ilis univcisc is icsiing and liom wlom cvciyiling is coming, is
ilc bcsi pcison io wlom cvciyiling musi bc givcn."¯
51 "O King Yudlisiliia, ilc dcmigods, many gicai sagcs and sainis including
cvcni lc loui sons ol Loid lialma, and I myscll wcic picscni ai youi Rajasuya
saciilicial ccicmony, bui wlcn ilcic was a qucsiion ol wlo slould bc ilc liisi
pcison woislippcd cvciyonc dccidcd upon Loid Kisna, ilc Supicmc Pcison."¯
52 Hcic ilc woid "iaiia" (ilcic) mcans "in ilc Rajasuya-yajna".
Anuccheda 287
1 In Siimad llagavaiam (10.1+.36) ii is said:
"Tlc cniiic univcisc, wlicl is lull ol living cniiiics, is lilc a iicc wlosc iooi
is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Acyuia (Kisna). Tlcicloic simply by
woislipping Loid Kisna onc can woislip all living cniiiics."¯¯¯
2 Tlus by plcasing ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad onc also plcascs all
living cniiiics auiomaiically. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
Anuccheda 288
1 In Siimad llagavaiam (7.1+.37) ii is also said:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las cicaicd many icsidcniial placcs
lilc ilc bodics ol luman bcings, animals, biids, sainis, and dcmigods. In all ol
ilcsc innumciablc bodily loims, ilc Loid icsidcs wiil ilc living bcing as
Paiamaima. Tlus Hc is lnown as ilc puiusavaiaia."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "jiva" mcans "ilc givci ol lilc". Tlis woid iclcis io ilc
Supcisoul, wlo is picscni in ilc lcaiis ol all condiiioncd living bcings.
Anuccheda 289
1 In Siimad llagavaiam (7.1+.3S) ii is also said:
"O King Yudlisiliia, ilc Supcisoul in cvciy body givcs iniclligcncc io ilc
individual soul accoiding io lis capaciiy loi undcisianding. Tlcicloic ilc
Supcisoul is ilc clicl wiilin ilc body. Tlc Supcisoul is manilcsicd io ilc
individual soul accoiding io ilc individual's compaiaiivc dcvclopmcni ol
lnowlcdgc, ausiciiiy, pcnancc and so on."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "iasmai" mcans "ilan ilc liglci and lowci", and "puiusal
paiiam" mcans "ilc pcison wlo is ilc objcci". Tlus ii is sccn ilai ilc dcvoiccs ol
ilc Loid aic bciici ilan ilc impcisonalisis. Tlcicloic, as lai as onc las
lnowlcdgc ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, so lai is onc advanccd in
spiiiiual lilc.
Anuccheda 290
1 Sccing ilai in ilc couisc ol iimc laulis lad bccamc manilcsicd among ilc
dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid, ilc Vcdas icvcalcd anoilci way io woislip ilc Loid. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.1+.39):
2 "My dcai King, wlcn gicai sagcs and sainily pcisons saw muiually
disicspccilul dcalings ai ilc bcginning ol Ticia-yuga, Dciiy woislip in ilc icmplc
was iniioduccd wiil all paiaplcinalia."¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans, "Sccing ilc muiually disicspccilul dcalings, ilcy
iniioduccd Dciiy woislip." In ilis way ilc pail ol Dciiy woislip was icvcalcd.
+ Dciiy woislip is ilc bcsi mcans ol spiiiiual advanccmcni loi ilcy wlo lavc
ilcsc linds ol laulis. In ilc sciipiuics ii is said:
"Dciiy woislip is mcani loi pcoplc ol Ticia-yuga wlo aic all lcss
iniclligcni."
Dciiy woislip is also dcsciibcd in ilc convcisaiions ol lialma, Ambaiisa,
and oilci gicai souls as iccoidcd in ilc Nisimla Puiana and oilci sciipiuics.
Anuccheda 291
1 In Siimad llagavaiam (7.1+.+0) ii is said:
"Somciimcs a ncoplyic dcvoicc ollcis all ilc paiaplcinalia loi woislipping
ilc Loid, and lc laciually woislips ilc Loid as ilc Dciiy, bui bccausc lc is
cnvious ol ilc auiloiiscd dcvoiccs ol Loid Visnu, ilc Loid is ncvci saiislicd wiil
lis dcvoiional scivicc."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "iaial" mcans "bccausc ol bcing lilc ilis," and "lccii"
mcans "ilcy wlo aic dcvoicd io Dciiy woislip and convinccd ilai Dciiy woislip
is ilc bcsi pail". Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Hcic somconc may objcci: Lvcn il onc ollcnds oilcis lc can siill aiiain
pcilcciion by woislipping ilc Dciiy.
Icaiing ilai somconc may malc ilis claim, Siimad llagavaiam spcals ilis
vcisc. Wiil a dcsiic io icluic ilis idca and csiablisl ilc iiuil ilai onc slould bc
icspccilul io oilcis, Siimad llagavaiam spcals ilc woids ilai bcgin wiil ilc
pliasc "upasiapi".
Anuccheda 292
1 Tlc woid "puiusa" in ilc picvious vcisc is cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ol
Siimad-llagavaiam (7.1+.+1):
"My dcai King, ol all pcisons a qualilicd bialmana musi bc acccpicd as ilc
bcsi wiilin ilis maiciial woild bccausc sucl a bialmana, by piaciicing ausiciiiy,
Vcdic siudics and saiislaciion, bccomcs ilc counicipaii body ol ilc Supicmc
2 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai ilcy lnow ilai sucl a pcison is ilc bcsi.
Anuccheda 293
1 Tlc bialmanas, wlo wcic also dcsciibcd in ilc picvious vcisc, aic again
gloiilicd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (7.1+.+2):
"My dcai King Yudlisiliia, ilc bialmanas, cspccially ilosc cngagcd in
picacling ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid iliougloui ilc cniiic woild, aic iccogniscd and
woislippcd by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc lcaii and soul ol
all cicaiion. Tlc bialmanas, by ilcii picacling, sanciily ilc ilicc woilds wiil ilc
dusi ol ilcii loius lcci, and ilus ilcy aic woislipablc cvcn loi Kisna."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "jagad-aimanal" mcans :cngagcd in picacling ilc iiuil ol
spiiiiual lilc io ilc pcoplc, and ilus convincing ilcm io lollow ilc icsiiiciions ol
spiiiiual lilc". Tlc woid "daivaiam" mcans "woislipablc". Tlis vcisc was spolcn
by Sii Naiada io King Yudlisiliia.
Anuccheda 29+
1 In ilc bcginning ol ilc ncxi clapici (clapici 15 ol ilc scvcnil canio), ilc
bialmanas wlo aic ilc bcsi ol all oilci bialmanas aic dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
iwo vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 7.15.1-2):
2 "My dcai King, somc bialmanas aic vciy mucl aiiaclcd io liuiiivc
aciiviiics, somc aic aiiaclcd io ausiciiiics and pcnanccs, and siill oilcis siudy ilc
Vcdic liiciaiuic, wlcicas somc, alilougl vciy lcw, culiivaic lnowlcdgc and
piaciicc dillcicni yogas, cspccially blalii-yoga."¯
3 "A pcison dcsiiing libciaiion loi lis loiclailcis oi limscll slould givc
claiiiy io a bialmana wlo adlcics io impcisonal monism (jnana-nisila). In ilc
abscncc ol sucl an advanccd bialmana, claiiiy may bc givcn io a bialmana
addicicd io liuiiivc aciiviiics (laima-landa)."¯
+ Tlis vcisc mcans ilai loi ilcy wlo dcsiic impcisonal libciaiion ilc mosi
impoiiani lind ol woislip is woislip ol a jnani (impcisonalisi). Wlcn a jnani is
noi picscni, ilcn oilci pcisons may bc woislippcd. Howcvci, ilcy wlo dcsiic io
aiiain dcvoiional scivicc and puic lovc ol God slould woislip a dcvoicc wlo lovcs
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Sucl a dcvoicc always ilinls ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is ilc slclici ol all. Tlcicloic ilc woislip
ol sucl a dcvoicc is ilc bcsi ol all linds ol woislip.
5 lccausc Hc is ilc slclici in wlicl cvciyiling icsis, bccausc Hc las
cxiiaoidinaiy powcis, and bccausc Hc is all-pcivading, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, Loid Visnu is pcisonally picscni as ilc Salagiama-sila and His oilci
Dciiy loims. Hc is ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul. Hc is noi lilc a luman bcing.
Jagannaila Puii and ilc oilci placcs wlcic Hc icsidcs aic vciy loly placcs ol
pilgiimagc. Lvcn ilc insccis and woims wlo livc in ilcsc sacicd placcs aiiain ilc
liglcsi goal ol lilc. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc woids ol sciipiuic.
"Any placc wlcic ilcic is a Salagiama-sila bccomcs sacicd loi 2+ milcs. All
claiiiy, japa and yajna pciloimcd ilcic bccomcs muliiplicd by many millions ol
iimcs."
"Any luman bcing, oi any inscci oi woim loi ilai maiici, wlo dics wiilin
iwo milcs ol a Salagiama-sila gocs io ilc spiiiiual woild ol Vailunila."
S Tlc conclusion, ilcn, is ilai woislip ol ilc Dciiy ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc bcsi lind ol woislip. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii
Naiada io King Yudlisiliia.
Anuccheda 295
1 Oilci placcs wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is pcisonally
manilcsicd aic dcsciibcd by ilc Loid Himscll in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
11.11.+2-+6):
2 "O sainily Uddlava, plcasc lnow ilai you may woislip Mc in ilc sun, liic,
bialmanas, cows, Vaisnavas, sly, wind, waici, caiil, individual soul and all living
cniiiics.¯¯¯
3-5 "My dcai Uddlava, onc slould woislip Mc wiilin ilc sun by claniing
sclccicd Vcdic maniias and by pciloiming woislip and ollciing obcisanccs. Onc
may woislip Mc wiilin liic by ollciing oblaiions ol glcc, and onc may woislip
Mc among ilc bialmanas by icspccilully iccciving ilcm as gucsis, cvcn wlcn
uninviicd. I can bc woislippcd wiilin ilc cows by ollciings ol giass and oilci
suiiablc giains and paiaplcinalia loi ilc plcasuic and lcalil ol ilc cows, and onc
may woislip Mc wiilin ilc Vaisnavas by ollciing loving liicndslip io ilcm and
lonouiing ilcm in all icspccis. Tliougl sicady mcdiiaiion I am woislippcd
wiilin ilc innci spacc ol ilc lcaii, and wiilin ilc aii I can bc woislippcd by
lnowlcdgc ilai piana, ilc lilc aii, is ilc clicl among clcmcnis. I am woislippcd
wiilin waici by ollciings ol waici iiscll, along wiil oilci clcmcnis sucl as llowcis
and iulasi lcavcs, and onc may woislip Mc wiilin ilc caiil by piopci applicaiion
ol conlidcniial sccd maniias. Onc may woislip Mc wiilin ilc individual living
cniiiy by ollciing lood and oilci cnjoyablc subsianccs, and onc may woislip Mc
wiilin all living cniiiics by sccing ilc Supcisoul wiilin all ol ilcm, ilus
mainiaining cqual vision.¯¯¯
6. "Tlus, in ilc picviously mcniioncd placcs ol woislip and accoiding io ilc
pioccsscs I lavc dcsciibcd, onc slould mcdiiaic on My pcacclul, iiansccndcnial
loim wiil loui aims lolding a conclslcll, Sudaisana disc, club and loius llowci.
In ilis way, onc slould woislip mc wiil lixcd aiicniion."¯¯¯
"Now clcvcn objccis ol woislip will bc dcsciibcd. Hcic ilc woid 'bladia'
is in ilc vocaiivc casc. In ilc liisi ilicc vciscs (+2-++), ilc Loid dcsciibcs
dillcicni objccis ol woislip and dillcicni mcilods ol woislip. Hcic ilc woid
'iiayya vidyaya' mcans 'wiil piaycis, woislip and oilci linds ol scivicc', 'anga'
mcans 'O Uddlava', 'mullya-dliya' mcans 'by sccing ilc iiuil aboui ilc bicail ol
lilc', 'ioyc' mcans 'wiil waici and oilci ilings', 'diavyail' mcans 'wiil iaipana and
oilci ollciings', 'silandilc' mcans ;on ilc giound', and 'maniia-lidayail' mcans
'wiil conlidcniial maniias and nyasas'. Tlcn, in vcisc +6, ilc Loid dcsciibcs ilc
way ilcsc objccis ol woislip slould bccomc objccis ol mcdiiaiion. Hcic ilc woid
'iii' mcans 'in ilis way', and 'csu' mcans 'in ilcsc objccis ol woislip.'
S Tlc loui-aimcd, all-pcivading Supcisoul may bc woislippcd in iwo ways.
Tlc liisi way is io woislip Him in ilc icmplc, loi cxamplc by sccniing ilc icmplc
wiil liagiani oils. Tlc sccond way is dcsciibcd in ilcsc vciscs in ilc woids
'vaisnavc bandlu-sai-liiya' (onc may woislip mc wiilin ilc Vaisnavas by ollciing
loving liicndslip io ilcm and lonouiing ilcm in all icspccis) and "gosv anga
yavasadina" (I can bc woislippcd wiilin ilc cows by ollciings ol giass and oilci
suiiablc giains). Tlus onc slould lonoui and bcliicnd ilc Vaisnavas and
undcisiand ilai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc supicmc masici. Tlis
is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.+6):
"An inicimcdiaic, sccond class dcvoicc slows lovc io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and is liicndly io all dcvoiccs."¯
Hcic ii is said ilai giass slould bc ollcicd io ilc cows. Ii is noi piopci, ol
couisc, io malc sucl an ollciing io ilc loui-aimcd Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, loi ilai is noi piopci lood loi Him.
9 Tlc Supicmc Loid las alicady cxplaincd (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.+1);
"Wlaicvci is mosi dcsiicd by onc wiilin ilis maiciial woild, and wlaicvci
is mosi dcai io oncscll, onc slould ollci ilai vciy iling io mc. Sucl an ollciing
qualilics onc loi cicinal lilc."¯¯¯
10 Diicci scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is dcsciibcd in
Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.++ (quoicd in icxi + ol ilis anucclcda) in ilc woids
"lidi llc dlyana-nisilaya" (iliougl sicady mcdiiaiion I am woislippcd wiilin
ilc innci spacc ol ilc lcaii) and "ioyc diavyais ioya-puiasliiail" (I am
woislippcd wiilin waici by ollciings ol waici iiscll).
11 Tlcsc woids dcsciibc mcdiiaiion on ilc Supcisoul, wlo is picscni in liic
and ilc oilci maiciial clcmcnis. Tlcsc woids do noi dcsciibc ilc loim ol ilc
Loid closcn by ilc dcvoiccs, a loim ilai is ilc slclici ol all and is scivcd wiil
gicai lovc. Tlis is so bccausc ilai loim, wlicl is scivcd wiil spiiiiual lovc, is
ilougli by ilc dcvoiccs io lavc dclicaic lcaiuics (and ilcicloic ii is noi
appiopiiaic io ilinl ol Him as bcing picscni in liic and in vaiious laisl
condiiions ilai picscni ilcmsclvcs io ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul).
12 Tlc loim ol ilc Loid closcn by ilc dcvoiccs is dcsciibcd by ilc Loid
Himscll in ilcsc woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (11.27.32):
"My dcvoicc slould ilcn lovingly dccoiaic Mc wiil cloiling, a bialmana
ilicad, vaiious oinamcnis, mails ol iilala and gailands, and lc slould anoini My
body wiil liagiani oils, all in ilc picsciibcd mannci."¯¯¯
13 In ilis way ilc sciipiuics dcsciibc ilc dcvoiccs' loving scivicc io ilc
1+ In ilc Naiada Puiana ii is said:
"O bialmanas, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is aiiaincd only by
dcvoiional scivicc. Hc is ncvci aiiaincd mcicly by collcciing moncy. Wlcn Hc is
woislippcd wiil dcvoiion, Loid Visnu gianis ilc dcsiics ol His dcvoiccs.
15 "Wlcn Hc is woislippcd wiil a liiilc waici, Loid Haii, wlo is ilc masici ol
ilc univciscs and ilc dcsiioyci ol all sullciings, is ai oncc plcascd. Hc is lilc a
iliisiy man givcn a cup ol clcai waici."
16 Ol couisc, in ilis cxamplc ii slould undcisiood ilai ilc Supicmc Loid is
ilc oiigin ol cvciyiling (including ilc waici ilai is ollcicd io Him). To ilinl
oilciwisc is io commii a gicai blundci. To woislip ilc Loid by ialing Him io a
plcasani lalc is piaiscwoiily in ilc loi summci bui noi piaiscwoiily duiing ilc
monsoon.
17 In ilc Gaiuda Puiana ii is said: Tlcy wlo in ilc summci woislip Loid
Kcsava by ialing Him io a plcasani lalc and ollciing Him many dillcicni llowcis
bccomc licc liom ilc ioiiuics ol Yamaiaja.
1S "O bcsi ol lings, ilcy wlo ialc Loid Jagannaila io a plcasani lalc duiing
ilc monsoon scason spcnd a long iimc in lcll."
19 Tlis is also cxplaincd in oilci sciipiuics. Many lundicds ol iulcs aic givc
loi ilc appiopiiaic iimcs and placcs ol vaiious linds ol sciviccs ollcicd io ilc
Loid. To ollci ilcsc sciviccs ai oilci iimcs is loibiddcn. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc
Visnu-yamala in ilc passagc ilai bcgins, "Now ilc ways io scivc Loid Visnu in ilc
vaiious icasons will bc dcsciibcd.
20 Tlc Supicmc Loid also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.11.+1):
"Wlaicvci is mosi dcsiicd by onc wiilin ilis maiciial woild, and wlaicvci
is mosi dcai io oncscll, onc slould ollci ilai vciy iling io mc. Sucl an ollciing
qualilics onc loi cicinal lilc."¯¯¯
21 In ilis way ilc appiopiiaic maniias, mcdiiaiions, and placcs as wcll as ilc
appiopiiaic plcasing and bcauiilul loims, iasics, sccnis, iouclcs and sounds, aic
undcisiood. Onc wlo docs noi lollow ilcsc iulcs linds lis woislip ol ilc Loid is
pciloimcd in vain. In ilis way ilc Loid's loim as ilc Supcisoul, wlo is picscni in
liic and oilci lilc placcs in ilis woild, is undcisiood.
Anuccheda 296
1 Now ollciing loodsiulls io ilc Loid will bc discusscd. In Siila
Kcsavacaiya's Kiama-dipila, in ilc dcsciipiion ol ilc Aniiuddla-maniia, ii is said
ilai puic dcvoiccs ol Loid Kisna dcsiic a mula-maniia gloiilying Loid Kisna.
2 Wlcn ilc Loid cais His mcal, onc slould mcdiiaic on a liic oi a ligli
coming liom ilc Loid's mouil. As ilc Loid cnjoys His mcal onc slould mcdiiaic
on ilc Loid's mouil smiling wiil lappincss. lccausc Loid Kisna cnjoys pasiimcs
lilc ilosc ol a luman bcing, Hc cnjoys His mcals in ilc samc way mcals aic
cnjoycd in ilc woild ol luman bcings.
3 Now claniing japa will bc considcicd. Lvcn ilougl ilcic aic many
dillcicni Vaisnava maniias wiil dillcicni mcanings, ilcsc maniias all biing ilc
linal goal ol lilc. In ilc cigli-syllablc maniia and oilci Vaisnava maniias ilc
puiposc is io suiicndci io ilc Loid, cvcn wlcn ilc maniia docs noi addicss ilc
Loid in ilc daiivc casc.
+ Onc slould lollow ilc vaiious iulcs ol Dciiy woislip wlcn ilcy aic
appiopiiaic. All ilc vaiious aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc uliimaicly lcad io ilc
pcilcciion ol puic dcvoiional scivicc. Siill, ilosc aciiviiics aic ol a gicai vaiiciy.
Somc aic considcicd puic dcvoiional scivicc and oilcis aic noi puic dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlc Loid Himscll dcsciibcs icsuli ol Dciiy woislip in ilcsc woids ol
Siimad llagavaiam (11.27.+9):
5 "ly woislipping Mc iliougl ilc vaiious mcilods picsciibcd in ilc Vcdas
and ianiias, onc will gain liom Mc lis dcsiicd pcilcciion in boil ilis lilc and ilc
ncxi."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 297
1 Tlc Supicmc Loid also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.27.53):
"lui onc wlo simply cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc wiil no considciaiion ol
liuiiivc icsulis aiiains Mc. Tlus wlocvci woislips Mc accoiding io ilc pioccss I
lavc dcsciibcd will uliimaicly aiiain puic dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc."¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "naiiapclsycna" mcans (licc liom maiciial dcsignaiions",
and "blalii-yogcna" mcans "wiil lovc". Tlc sccond lall ol ilis vcisc mcans, "In
ilis way Dciiy woislip is pciloimcd." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc
Anuccheda 298
1 Acccpiing llowcis ollcicd io ilc Loid and diinling waici ilai las waslcd
ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid aic somc ol ilc signs by wlicl a Vaisnava is lnown. Tlc
gicai gloiics ol ilcsc many signs aic dcsciibcd in ilousands ol sciipiuics.
2 Now ilc pcisons wlo aic qualilicd io woislip ilc Loid will bc dcsciibcd.
In Siimad llagavaiam (11.27.+) ii is said:
"Tlis pioccss is acccpicd by and appiopiiaic loi all ilc occupaiional and
spiiiiual oidcis ol sociciy. Tlcicloic I considci woislip ol You in Youi Dciiy loim
io bc ilc mosi bcnclicial ol all spiiiiual piaciiccs, cvcn loi womcn and sudias."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "saiva-vainanam" mcans "ol ilc ilicc vainas".
+ In ilc Smiiy-aiila-saia, as wcll as in ilc Vaisalla-malaimya poiiion ol ilc
Padma Puiana, ii is said:
"Iollowing ilc pail dcsciibcd in ilc Agama-sasiias, womcn and sudias
may, ilinling ol Him as ilc Loid in ilcii lcaiis, cngagc in ilc Dciiy woislip ol
Loid Visnu.
5 "ly claniing ilc Loid's loly namcs, cvcn sudias may woislip ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. All may woislip ilc Loid by lollowing ilc pail ol ilc
Agama-sasiias, wlicl lollow in ilc looisicps ol ilc Vcdas.
6 "Womcn wlo aic dcai and lind io ilcii lusbands aic also qualilicd io
woislip Loid Visnu. Tlis is ilc cicinal icacling ol ilc Vcdas."
"Loid Kisna is plcascd wiil anyonc wlo is in cigli ways dcvoicd io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc iniiiaiing spiiiiual masici, and ilc sacicd
maniias gloiilying ilc Loid.
S "1. Onc slould bc allcciionaic io ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. 2. Onc slould
bc vciy lappy io woislip ilc Loid. 3. Wiil a puic lcaii onc slould icgulaily
woislip ilc Loid. +. In woislipping ilc Loid onc slould bc licc ol piidc and
lypociisy.
9 "5. Onc slould bc cagci io lcai aboui ilc Loid. 6. Onc slould cngagc
onc's body in ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid. 7. Onc slould always icmcmbci ilc Loid.
S. Onc slould malc ilc claniing ol ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid onc's lilc and soul.
10 "Tlcsc aic ilc cigli aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl cvcn a pcison in
a mlcccla lamily may pciloim. Anyonc wlo cngagcs in ilcsc cigli aciiviiics ol
dcvoiional scivicc bccomcs a sainily sagc. Hc bccomcs loncsi, iiuillul, lamous,
and gloiious among mcn."
11 In ilc iaiiva-sagaia ii is said:
"As bcll-mcial is iuincd io gold wlcn mixcd wiil mcicuiy in an alclcmical
pioccss, so onc wlo is piopcily iiaincd and iniiiaicd by a bona lidc spiiiiual
masici immcdiaicly bccomcs a bialmana."¯
12 In Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.21 ii is said:
"In Saiya -yuga ilc Loid is wliic and loui-aimcd, lad maiicd locls and
wcais a gaimcni ol iicc bail. Hc caiiics a blacl dccislin, a sacicd ilicad, piayci
bcads and ilc iod and waicipoi ol a bialmacaii."¯¯¯
13 In ilc dillcicni yuga ilc Supicmc Loid appcais in dillcicni incainaiions
and is woislippcd in dillcicni ways. A spccilic incainaiion is csiablislcd as ilc
incainaiion loi a spccilic yuga. In ilis way ilc upasana-sasiias cxplain ilc
incainaiions loi ilc loui yugas. Lvcn wlcn ilc iimc is noi appiopiiaic loi a
cciiain mcilod ol woislip, onc may siill woislip ilc Loid in ilai way. Tlus, ilc
sciipiuics cxplain, in cvciy yuga onc may, as onc wislcs, woislip any loim ol ilc
Loid wiil any ol ilc piopci mcilods ol woislip.
1+ Tlis is also dcsciibcd in Siimad-llagavaiam 11.27.+ (wlicl was quoicd in
icxi 2 ol ilis anucclcda). Tlai vcisc was spolcn by Uddlava io ilc Supicmc
Anuccheda 299
1 In ilis way ilc woislip ol ilc Dciiy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
las bccn cxplaincd. In ilc Agama-sasiias and oilci sciipiuics oilci aspccis ol
Dciiy woislip aic also discusscd. Includcd in ilcsc aic Sii Kisna-janmasiami,
Kaiiiila-viaia, Lladasi, Magla-snana and oilci auspicious vows.
2 In ilc Visnu-ialasya, in a convcisaiion ol lialma and Naiada, Janmasiami
is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids:
"Wiil dcvoiion, and wiiloui clcaiing on onc's iiuc linancial siiuaiion, ilc
dcvoiccs slould obscivc ilc biiilday ol Dcvali's son. Onc wlo docs noi obscivc
ilis loly day will siay in lcll loi ilc lilciimcs ol louiiccn Indias."
3 Ii is also said:
"Onc wlo ncglccis Sii Kisna-janmasiami and lollows anoilci vow in iis
placc docs noi aiiain any pious mciii ilai las cvcn bccn sccn oi lcaid ol
anywlcic."
+ Noi clcaiing on onc's iiuc linancial siiuaiion is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol
ilc Ligli Canio (Siimad llagavaiam S.19.37):
"Tlcicloic onc wlo is in lull lnowlcdgc slould dividc lis accumulaicd
wcalil in livc paiis: loi icligion, loi icpuiaiion, loi opulcncc, loi scnsc
giaiilicaiion and loi ilc mainicnancc ol lis lamily mcmbcis. Sucl a pcison is
lappy in ilis woild and in ilc ncxi."¯
5 Now Kaiiiila will bc dcsciibcd. In ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"O clild, all loly placcs icsidc in ilc monil ol Kaiiiila, wlicl is cicinally
dcai io Loid Kisna. Wlaicvci pious dccds onc pciloims io plcasc Loid Visnu
duiing ilc monil ol Kaiiiila biings a bcnclii ilai is cicinal. O Naiada, I spcal io
you ilc iiuil.
6 "A pcison wlo icluscs io lollow ilc vow ol ilis monil, wlicl is vciy dcai
io Loid Damodaia, loscs lis pious dccds and ialcs biiil as an animal.
7 Now cladasi will bc dcsciibcd. Lvcn ilcy wlo aic noi Vaisnavas slould
icgulaily obscivc cladasi. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Visnu-
dlaima Puiana:
"Wlcilci a Vaisnava oi a woislippci ol Suiya, onc slould icgulaily
obscivc cladasi."
S In ilc Sauia Puiana ii is said:
"Wlcilci a Vaisnava, a woislippci ol Loid Siva, oi a woislippci ol Suiya,
onc slould icgulaily obscivc cladasi."
9 In ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia, in ilc discussion ol duiics io bc pciloimcd alici
iniiiaiion, alici ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc woids "samayams ca piavalsyami",
ii is said:
"Duiing cladasis ol boil palsas onc slould noi cai. Ai ilai iimc onc
slould lccp an all-nigli vigil and onc slould woislip ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad."
10 In ilc Visnu-yamala, in ilc discussion ol ilc dig-viddla cladasi, ii is said:
"Onc slould noi aci impiously on ciilci ilc sulla oi ilc lisna cladasis,
wiiloui disiinciion. In ilc samc way, on cladasi onc slould noi, il onc is ablc, cai
liuiis oi oilci loods. Onc slould noi pciloim a siaddla ccicmony on cladasi.
On dvadasi on slould noi slccp duiing ilc day and onc slould noi picl iulasi
lcavcs."
11 Duiing dvadasi onc slould noi bailc Loid Visnu duiing ilc dayiimc. In
ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda, in ilc dcsciipiion ol Vaisnava-dlaima, ii is
said:
"Onc slould obscivc ilc vow ol dvadasi".
12 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Kasi-llanda, Saupaina-dvaiala-malaimya,
Candiasaima iccounis ilc lollowing vow ol dcvoiional scivicc:
13 "O Loid Kisna, plcasc lcai my vow. Ioi ilis day on I will ncvci cai duiing
cladasi. On cvciy cladasi I will obscivc an all-nigli vigil.
1+ "Wiil gicai dcvoiion I will woislip You cvciy day. I will noi obscivc ilc
viddla-cladasis. To plcasc You I will obscivc ilc cigli mala-dvadasis. Tlis is my
vow."
15 In ilc Agni Puiana ii is said:
"On cladasi onc slould noi cai. Tlai is ilc gicai vow ol ilc Vaisnavas."
"Il a Vaisnava loolislly cais duiing cladasi, lc woislips Loid Visnu in
vain. Hc will go io a iciiiblc lcll."
17 In ilc Maisya and llavisya Puianas ii is said:
"Onc slould lasi on ilc sulla and lisna cladasis and bical ilc lasi on
dvadasi. Tlai is ilc gicai vow ol ilc Vaisnavas."
1S In ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"Hc wlo cais duiing cladasi muidcis lis moilci, lailci, bioilci and
spiiiiual masici. Hc lalls liom ilc pail ilai lcads io Visnulola.
19 Tlc Vaisnavas always lasi on cladasi. On cladasi ilcy will noi cvcn cai
mala-piasadam, wlai io spcal ol oilci loods, wlicl ilcy aic loibiddcn io cai ai
any iimc.
20 In ilc Naiada-pancaiaiia ii is said:
"O Naiada, onc musi always acccpi ilc icmnanis ol lood ollcicd io ilc
Loid. Howcvci, on cladasi onc musi noi acccpi ilcm. Lvcn Goddcss Lalsmi, and
lci pccis obscivc cladasi. Wlai, ilcn, can bc said ol oilci pcisons'"
21 In ilc lialmanda Puiana ii is said:
"Wiiloui liisi ollciing ilcm io Loid Visnu, onc slould noi cnjoy oi
consumc any lcal, llowci, liuii, waici, lood, diinl, oi mcdicinc.
22 "Tlcy wlo do cnjoy oi consumc ilcsc ilings wiiloui ollciing ilcm liisi
slould pciloim aioncmcni. Onc slould always ollci all ol ilcsc ilings liisi io
Loid Visnu bcloic onc consumcs oi cnjoys ilcm oncscll."
23 Now will bc discusscd ilc impoiiancc ol always obsciving an all-nigli vigil
on cladasi. In ilc Slanda Puiana, Loid Siva iclls Goddcss Uma:
"Tlcy wlo do noi obscivc an all-nigli vigil on cladasi aic icbulcd by ilc
Vaisnavas and ilcii piciy is dcsiioycd.
2+ "Tlcy wlo ncvci considci obsciving an all-nigli vigil on dvadasi aic noi
qualilicd io woislip Loid Kisna."
25 ly obsciving cladasi and dvadasi onc plcascs Loid Visnu. Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia llanda:
"O goddcss, now I will dcsciibc ilc obscivancc ol dvadasi. Simply by
lcaiing ilcsc woids onc plcascs Loid Kisna."
26 In ilc llavisya Puiana ii is said:
"Sacicd cladasi dcsiioys all sins. Ii is a lamp ilai liglis ilai pail ol
dcvoiion io Loid Visnu. Ii lcads onc io ilc liglcsi goal ol lilc."
27 ly slowing low cladasi is obscivcd by Sii Ambaiisa and oilci gicai souls
wlo lavc laiil in dcvoiional scivicc alonc and wlo cai only mala piasadam
ollcicd io ilc Loid, Siimad llagavaiam alliims ilai ilc obscivancc ol cladasi is
an impoiiani paii ol dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Visnu.
2S In ilc Padma Puiana, Kaiiiila-malaimya, is iold ilc sioiy ol low by
obsciving cladasi duiing ilc monil ol laiiiila a bialmana's dauglici bccamc
Loid Kisna's dcai Saiyablama. Wlai moic nccd bc said'
29 Now ilc monil ol Magla will bc discusscd. In ilc Gaiuda Puiana ii is
said:
"O lcadci ol ilc dcmigods, O lusband ol Saci, ilc iaic monil ol Magla is
vciy dcai io ilc Vaisnavas, dcvas, isis and munis. Ii is cspccially dcai io Loid
Madlava."
30 In ilc Slanda Puiana, in a convcisaiion ol lialma and Naiada, ii is said:
"O Naiada, ycai alici ycai onc slould icgulaily bailc duiing ilc monil ol
Magla. Onc slould do ilis io plcasc Loid Kisna and io dcsiioy all onc's pasi sins."
31 In ilc llavisya Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda ii is said:
"A pcison wlo icnounccs scnsc plcasuics and bailcs ai dawn duiing ilc
monil ol Magla gocs io Visnulola wiil iwcniy onc gcnciaiions ol lis linsmcn."
32 Many oilci vows bcginning wiil Sii Rama-navami and Vaisalla-viaia
slould also bc undcisiood lcic. All aic includcd as pious dccds.
33 Pious dccds aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (3.1.19):
"Wlilc so iiavcising ilc caiil, lc simply pciloimcd duiics io plcasc ilc
Supicmc Loid Haii. His occupaiion was puic and indcpcndcni. Hc was
consianily sanciilicd by ialing lis bail in loly placcs, alilougl lc was in ilc
dicss ol a mcndicani and lad no laii dicssing noi a bcd on wlicl io lic. Tlus lc
was always unsccn by lis vaiious iclaiivcs."¯
3+ Hcic ilc woid "viaiani" mcans "many vows, bcginning wiil cladasi". Tlis
vcisc dcsciibcs ilc aciiviiics ol Viduia. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva
Gosvami.
Anuccheda 300
1 In ilis way ilc dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid lollow ilcsc vaiious vows io plcasc
ilcii closcn Dciiy.
2 Tliiiy iwo ollcnscs in ilc pail ol sciving ilc Loid's lcci and sciving His
Dciiy loim aic dcsciibcd in ilc Agama-sasiias, wlcic ii is said:
"Onc slould noi wcai slocs oi iidc on a palanquin wlcn onc cnicis ilc
lousc ol ilc Loid."
In ilc Vaiala Puiana ii is said:
"Onc slould noi cai ilc lood lnown as iajanna."
Moic ollcnscs aic dcsciibcd in ilc passagc ilai bcgins wiil ilc woids,
"Ouisidc ol My sciipiuics."
3 In ilc Vaiala Puiana ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad says:
"O caiil goddcss, Vaisnavas slould caiclully avoid commiiiing ollcnscs in
ilcii woislip ol Mc."
+ In Siimad llagavaiam (11.27.17-1S) ii is said:
5 "Onc slould woislip Mc in ilc loim ol waici by ollciing waici iiscll.
Aciually, wlaicvci is ollcicd io Mc wiil laiil by My dcvoicc, cvcn il only a liiilc
waici, is mosi dcai io Mc. Lvcn vciy opulcncc picscniaiions do noi saiisly Mc il
ilcy aic ollcicd by non dcvoiccs."¯¯¯
6 Tlc woids "laiil" and "dcvoiion" indicaic icspcci loi ilc Supicmc Loid.
All ollcnscs lavc disicspcci ol ilc Loid as ilcii naiuic. Tlcic is disicspcci loi ilc
Loid's siaius as ilc supicmc masici, and ilcic is also disicspcci boin liom
ignoiancc. Tlcicloic disicspcci, wlicl is ilc cicaioi ol ollcnscs, slould bc givcn
up. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.
Anuccheda 301
1 Disicspcci io gicai souls dcsiioys cvciyiling. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc
lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (+.31.21):
2 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad bccomcs vciy dcai io ilosc dcvoiccs
wlo lavc no maiciial posscssions bui aic lully lappy in posscssing ilc dcvoiional
scivicc ol ilc Loid. Indccd, ilc Loid iclislcs ilc dcvoiional aciiviiics ol sucl
dcvoiccs. Tlosc wlo aic pullcd up wiil maiciial cducaiion, wcalil, aiisiociacy
and liuiiivc aciiviiy aic vciy pioud ol posscssing maiciial ilings, and ilcy olicn
dciidc ilc dcvoiccs. Lvcn il sucl pcoplc ollci ilc Loid woislip, ilc Loid ncvci
acccpis ilcm."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woids "adlana" and "aima-dlana" iclci io ilcy wlosc only
wcalil is ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Sucl pcison aic vciy dcai (piiya)
io ilc Loid. Tlc Loid (laiil) iclislcs (iasajna) ilc scivicc ol His dcvoiccs. Wlai
pcisons aic loolisl and uniniclligcni' Tlis qucsiion is answcicd in ilc woids
bcginning wiil "siuia". Hcic ilc woid "papam" mcans "ollcnsc". Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Sii Naiada io ilc Piaccias.
Anuccheda 302
"O my dcai loid, you aic ilc liicnd ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad,
wlo is ilc liicnd ol all living cniiiics. You aic ilcicloic cqual io cvciyonc, and
you aic licc liom ilc bodily conccpiion. Alilougl I lavc commiiicd an ollcnsc by
insuliing you, I lnow ilai ilcic is no loss oi gain loi you duc io my insuli. You
aic lixcd in youi dciciminaiion, bui I lavc commiiicd an ollcnsc. lccausc ol ilis,
cvcn ilougl I may bc as siiong as Loid Siva, I slall bc vanquislcd wiiloui dclay
duc io my ollcnsc ai ilc loius lcci ol a Vaisnava."¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by King
Ralugana io Sii llaiaia.
Anuccheda 303
1 Il onc loolislly ollcnds a dcvoicc, onc slould iiy io aiiain ilc mcicy ol ilc
2 In Slanda Puiana, Avanii-llanda, Vyasa cxplains:
"Il a luman bcing daily icads llagavad-giia, Loid Kcsava loigivcs ilc iliiiy
iwo linds ol ollcnscs lc commiis."
3 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Dvaiala-malaimya ii is said:
"Onc wlo icciics oi lcais ilc ilousand namcs ol ilc Loid is noi iouclcd
by cvcn a ilousand ollcnscs."
+ In ilc Slanda Puiana, Rcva-llanda, ii is said:
"Il on dvadasi a pcison lccps an all-nigli vigil io plcasc Loid Visnu, and
ilcn icciics piaycis gloiilying Tulasi-dcvi, ilcn Loid Kcsava loigivcs ilc iliiiy iwo
linds ol ollcnscs lc commiis."
5 In anoilci passagc ol ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"Il onc planis a Tulasi iicc, cspccially duiing ilc monil ol Siavana (July-
Augusi), ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad loigivcs ilousands ol ilc ollcnscs
lc commiis."
6 In ilc Slanda Puiana, Kaiiiila-malaimya, ii is said:
"Il onc woislips Salagiama-sila and Tulasi-dcvi iogcilci, ilcn Loid Kcsava
loigivcs ilc iliiiy iwo linds ol ollcnscs lc commiis."
7 In anoilci passagc ol ilc Slanda Puiana ii is said:
"Il a pcison wlosc body is dccoiaicd wiil ilc wcapons ol Loid Kisna
cngagcs in ilc woislip ol Loid Kisna, ilc Loid Kisna again and again loigivcs
ilousands ol lis ollcnscs."
S In ilc Adi-Vaiala Puiana, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"A pcison wlo in ilc middlc ol ilc ycai lasis and bailcs in ilc Ganga ai
My sacicd Sulaia-iiiila bccomcs puic in lcaii.
9 "An ollcndci wlo ilus lasis and bailcs ai Mailuia also bccomcs puic in
lcaii. A dcvoicc wlo ilus scivcs boil loly placcs as il ilcy wcic onc bccomcs
licc liom ilc ollcnscs commiiicd in ilousands ol biiils."
10 Hcic ilc woid "saulaialc" mcans "ilc loly placc namcd Sulaia-iiiila". A
gicai ollcndci wlo ollcis piaycis io ilc Loid oi loi a long iimc clanis ilc loly
namc ol ilc Loid aiiains ilc mcicy ol ilc Loid. Sucl a pcison is loigivcn.
Wiiloui ilc Loid's mcicy onc is noi loigivcn.
11 Dalsa iclls Loid Siva (Siimad llagavaiam (+.7.15):
"I did noi lnow youi lull gloiics. Ioi ilis icason, I ilicw aiiows ol slaip
woids ai you in ilc opcn asscmbly, alilougl you did noi ialc ilcm in accouni. I
was going down io lcll bccausc ol my disobcdicncc io you, wlo aic ilc mosi
icspcciablc pcisonaliiy, bui you iool compassion upon mc and savcd mc by
awaiding punislmcni. I icqucsi ilai you bc blcsscd by youi own mcicy, sincc I
cannoi saiisly you by my woids."¯
12 Moic will bc said ol ilis laici in ilis bool.
13 Now ollciing obcisanccs will bc discusscd. Alilougl ollciing obcisanccs
may bc considcicd a paii ol Dciiy woislip, ii is also scpaiaic, in ilc samc way
gloiilying and icmcmbciing ilc Loid aic scpaiaic. Tlus ollciing obcisanccs will
bc considcicd scpaiaicly lcic. Tlc oilci aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc may also
bc considcicd in ilis way.
1+ Now will bc discusscd ilc iiuil ilai ollciing obcisanccs may bc considcicd
scpaiaicly liom Dciiy woislip. Hcaiing ilc gloiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid's
limiilcss iiansccndcnial qualiiics and opulcnccs, somc dcvoiccs may lccl vciy
lumblc, lowly and unqualilicd io scivc ilc Loid's lcci. Tlus ilcy may dccidc only
io ollci obcisanccs io ilc Loid and noi diiccily cngagc in Dciiy woislip. In ilis
way ollciing obcisanccs is considcicd scpaiaic liom Dciiy woislip.
15 In ilc Nisimla Puiana ii is said:
"Ollciing obcisanccs is ilc bcsi ol all yajnas. ly oncc ollciing sasianga
(dandavai) obcisanccs onc aiiains Loid Haii."
16 Ollciing obcisanccs is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(10.1+.S), wlcic lialma iclls Loid Kisna:
"Onc wlo sccls Youi compassion and ilus iolciaics all linds ol advcisc
condiiions duc io ilc laima ol lis pasi dccds, wlo cngagcs always in Youi
dcvoiional scivicc wiil lis mind, woids and body, and wlo always ollcis
obcisanccs unio You is cciiainly a bona lidc candidaic loi bccoming libciaicd."¯
17 Tlc icason wly ilc dcvoiccs ollci obcisanccs io ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.7):
"In iimc, gicai scicniisis may bc ablc io couni all ilc aioms ol ilc univcisc,
all ilc siais and plancis in ilc sly, and all ilc paiiiclcs ol snow, bui wlo among
ilcm can couni ilc unlimiicd iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad' Hc dcsccnds on ilc suilacc ol ilc globc loi ilc bcnclii ol all living
cniiiics."¯
1S Hcic ilc woid "iai" mcans "ilcicloic", and "namal" mcans "obcisanccs".
Tlc ninil woid "mulii-padc" mcans "You wlo aic ilc slclici ol libciaiion". Tlis
is conliimcd by ilc icnil woid. Oi, il ii is considcicd ilc lilil woid accoiding io
piosc oidci, ilc woid "mulii" may also mcan "spiiiiual lovc". Tlc woid "padc"
ilcn mcans "ilc objcci". "Mulii-padc" ilcn mcans "You, ilc oiiginal Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo aic ilc objcci ol ilc dcvoiccs' lovc". Tlc woid
"daya-blal" mcans "an inlciiioi, lilc a pcison wlo inlciiis somciling liom lis
bioilci". Tlc vcisc ilcn mcans, "O Loid, You bccomc lavouiablc io sucl a
pcison in ilis way". Tlis inicipiciaiion (ilai ii docs noi mcan "libciaiion") ol ilc
woid "mulii" musi bc coiicci, loi libciaiion iiscll is aiiaincd by mcicly oncc
ollciing obcisanccs io ilc Loid. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol ilc
Visnu-dlaima Puiana:
19 "Wlcn a pcison oncc ollcis obcisanccs io Loid Kisna, ilai ollciing ol
obcisanccs bccomcs a guidc io lcad lim oui liom ilc liiglicning and impassablc
junglc ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail."
"Hcic ilc woid 'su-samilsamanal' mcans 'waiiing'."
Tlis woids ilus mcans ilai cvciy momcni ilc dcvoicc cxpccis ilc Loid's
causclcss, limiilcss mcicy (anulampam). Sccing and mcdiiaiing in ilis way in lis
lcaii (lida), ilc dcvoicc bccomcs blisslul. Also, wiil lis woids (vaca) and body
(vapusa) ilc dcvoicc ollcis obcisanccs (namo vidadlai). Tlai is ilc cxplanaiion
ol ilis vcisc.
21 Onc slould avoid ilc vaiious ollcnscs in ollciing obcisanccs. Tlcsc aic
dcsciibcd in ilc Visnu-smiii and oilci sciipiuics as bcing: 1. ollciing obcisanccs
wiil onc land, 2. ollciing obcisanccs wlcn ilc body is complcicly covcicd wiil
cloil, 3. ollciing obcisanccs diiccily lacing ilc Loid, oi liom bclind oi liom ilc
lcli sidc and +. ollciing obcisanccs vciy closc io ilc Loid wiilin ilc innci Dciiy
ioom. Tlc vcisc discusscd lcic (Siimad llagavaiam 10.1+.S) was spolcn by Loid
lialma io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Anuccheda 30+
1 Now sciviioislip will bc discusscd. A gcncial dcsciipiion ol sciviioislip io
Loid Visnu is givcn in ilcsc woids ol ilc sciipiuics:
"Alici a ilousand biiils onc comcs io undcisiand: 'I am ilc scivani ol Loid
Vasudcva, ilc mainiainci ol all ilc woilds'."
2 In ilis way onc cngagcs in dcvoiional scivicc. ly ilinling in ilis way onc
aiiains pcilcciion. Moic will bc said ol ilis laici in ilis bool.
3 Ai ilc cnd ol ilc passagc bcginning wiil ilc vcisc quoicd in icxi 1 aic
ilcsc woids:
"Wlai ilcn can bc said ol ilosc pcisons wlo coniiol ilcii scnscs and lavc
givcn ilcii livcs io ilc scivicc ol ilc Loid'"
+ Sii Piallada spcals ilc lollowing piaycis (Siimad llagavaiam 7.9.50):
"Tlcicloic, O Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc bcsi ol all pcison io
wlom piaycis aic ollcicd, I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs unio You bccausc
wiiloui icndciing six linds ol dcvoiional scivicc unio You: ollciing piaycis,
dcdicaiing all ilc icsulis ol aciiviiics, woislipping You, woiling on Youi bclall,
always icmcmbciing Youi loius lcci and lcaiing aboui Youi gloiics, wlo can
aclicvc ilai wlicl is mcani loi ilc paiamalamsas'"¯
In ilc commcniaiy on ilis vcisc ii is said ilai scivicc io ilc Loid includcs
ollciing icspccilul obcisanccs, ollciing piaycis, dcdicaiing all ilc icsulis ol
aciiviiics, woislipping You, woiling on ilc Loid's bclall, always icmcmbciing ilc
Loid's loius lcci and lcaiing aboui ilc Loid's gloiics.
5 Sii Uddlava dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 11.6.+6):
"Simply by dccoiaiing ouisclvcs wiil ilc gailands, liagiani oils, cloilcs
mcals, wc, Youi scivanis, will indccd conquci Youi illusoiy cncigy."¯¯¯
6 Tlc dillcicni aciiviiics ol scivicc aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad
llagavaiam (9.+.1S-20):
"Malaiaja Ambaiisa always cngagcd lis mind in mcdiiaiing upon ilc loius
lcci ol Kisna, lis woids in dcsciibing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid, lis lands in
clcansing ilc Loid's icmplc, and lis cais in lcaiing ilc woids spolcn by Kisna oi
aboui Kisna. Hc cngagcd lis cycs in sccing ilc dciiy ol Kisna, Kisna's icmplcs and
Kisna's placcs lilc Mailuia and Vindavana, lc cngagcd lis scnsc ol ioucl in
ioucling ilc bodics ol ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, lc cngagcd lis scnsc ol smcll in
smclling ilc liagiancc ol iulasi ollcicd io ilc Loid, and lc cngagcd lis ionguc in
iasiing ilc Loid's piasada. Hc cngagcd lis lcgs in walling io ilc loly placcs and
icmplcs ol ilc Loid, lis lad in bowing down bcloic ilc Loid, and all lis dcsiics in
sciving ilc Loid, iwcniy loui louis a day. Indccd, Malaiaja Ambaiisa ncvci
dcsiicd anyiling loi lis own scnsc giaiilicaiion. Hc cngagcd all lis scnscs in
dcvoiional scivicc, in vaiious cngagcmcnis iclaicd io ilc Loid. Tlis is ilc way io
incicasc aiiaclmcni loi ilc Loid and bc complcicly licc liom all maiciial
dcsiics."¯
7 Tlis vcisc mcans ilai lis dcsiics (lamam) wcic placcd in scivicc (dasyc).
Tlc woid "ca" (and) mcans ilai lc ilougl, 'I am a scivani ol Loid Kisna. I will
scivc Him'. Tlai was lis dcsiic. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic. Hc did noi dcsiic io
cnjoy ilc scnsc giaiilicaiion availablc in Svaigalola oi oilci placcs (na iu lama-
lamyaya). Hc lad no dcsiics oilci ilan dcvoiional scivicc.
S Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 305
1 Woislip ol ilc Loid ilai is pciloimcd wiil ilc aciiviiics ol scivicc is ilc
bcsi lind ol woislip. In Siimad llagavaiam (9.5.16) ii is said:
"Wlai is impossiblc loi ilc scivanis ol ilc Loid' ly ilc vciy lcaiing ol
His loly namc onc is puiilicd."¯
2 Il onc somclow oi oilci lcais ilc loly namc ol ilc Supicmc Loid, ilcn
wlai moic nccd lc do io bccomc puiilicd' ly lcaiing ilc Loid's loly namc onc
ilinls, "I am a scivani ol ilc Loid". Wlai spiiiiual aciiviiics and wlai spiiiiual
aiiainmcni ilcn icmain undonc (avasisyaic) by lim' No spiiiiual aciiviiy is bciici
ilan wlai lc las donc. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Duivasa
Muni io King Ambaiisa.
Anuccheda 306
1 Now ilinling ol ilc Loid as onc's liicnd will bc dcsciibcd. lcing a liicnd
ol ilc Loid and dcsiiing His wcllaic is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad
llagavaiam (10.1+.32):
"How gicaily loiiunaic aic Nanda Malaiaja, ilc cowlcid mcn and all ilc
inlabiianis ol Viajablumi! Tlcic is no limii io ilcii loiiunc bccausc ilc Absoluic
Tiuil, ilc souicc ol iiansccndcnial bliss, ilc cicinal Supicmc lialman, las
bccomc ilcii liicnd."¯
Hcic ilc woid "miiia" indicaics liicndslip wiil ilc Loid.
2 In ilc Ramaicana-dipila ii is said:
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad now siays in a placc as il Hc wcic a
luman bcing. Many gicai dcvoiccs lavc comc io scc Him and io aci lilc His
liicnds and iclaiivcs."
3 Iniimaic lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, as His liicnd oi
iclaiivc, is cvcn bciici ilan bcing a scivani ol ilc Loid. Iiicndslip loi ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is in ilis way dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdic sciipiuics.
Tlis is noi suipiising. Tlai onc musi lavc a naiuic lilc ilc Loid's io ilus
appioacl Him is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol ilc sciipiuics:
"ilc Loid cannoi bc scivcd by onc wlosc naiuic is noi lilc ilc Loid's
naiuic."
Somciimcs ii is said ilai bcing ilus in an cqual posiiion wiil ilc Loid is an
impcdimcni io iiuc dcvoiional scivicc. Tlc puic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid icjcci ilis
idca. Tlcy acccpi ilai liicndslip wiil ilc Loid is vciy lavouiablc loi dcvoiional
scivicc.
+ Sciviioislip and liicndslip aic iwo ways ol diicci dcvoiional scivicc io ilc
Loid. Tlis is slown in ilc lollowing Siimad-llagavaiam vcisc and iis
commcniaiy. Tlcic Siidama Vipia dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S1.36):
"Lilc alici lilc may I lavc a iclaiionslip ol lovc, liicndslip, sympaily and
scivicc iowaid Him, ilc supicmcly compassionaic icscivoii ol all iiansccndcnial
qualiiics. And may I culiivaic my liim aiiaclmcni io Him by ilc piccious
associaiion ol His dcvoiccs."¯¯¯
"Sccing Loid Kisna's lovc loi His dcvoiccs, Siidama Vipia piays loi
dcvoiion io ilc Loid. Hcic ilc woid "saulidam" mcans :lovc", "sallyam" mcans
"bcing ilc wcll-wislci", "maiiiim" mcans "bcncliiing Him", and "dasyam" mcans
:bcing His scivani and oidci-caiiici". Siidama piays, "Lci my (mc) iclaiionslip
wiil Him bc (syai) lilc ilis. Lci ii noi bc a iclaiionslip ol awc inspiicd by His
gicai opulcnccs".
6 lccausc ii is ilc goal ol ilc ninc mcilods ol dcvoiional scivicc, puic lovc
loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is noi includcd among ilc iicms discusscd
lcic. Howcvci, bcing a liicnd ol ilc Loid and bcing His wcll-wislci aic includcd.
Iiicndslip and sciviioislip aic acccpicd in ilis way.
7 Ollciing ilc icsulis ol onc's woil and aiiaining laiil in dcvoiional scivicc
aic noi mcniioncd lcic bccausc ilcsc iwo aic noi diicci dcvoiional scivicc.
Ollciing ilc icsulis ol onc's woil lcads io laiil in dcvoiional scivicc and laiil in
dcvoiional scivicc lcads io cngagcmcni in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis las alicady
bccn cxplaincd. Tlc dcvoicc bccomcs ilc wcll-wisling liicnd ol ilc Loid and ilc
Loid bccomcs ilc wcll-wisling liicnd ol His dcvoicc. Tlcy associaic wiil cacl
oilci cicinally.
S Ii is noi vciy dilliculi io woislip ilc Loid as onc's liicnd. Sii Piallada
cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 7.7.3S):
"O my liicnds, sons ol ilc asuias, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in
His Supcisoul lcaiuic always cxisi wiilin ilc coics ol ilc lcaiis ol all living
cniiiics. Indccd, Hc is ilc wcll wislci and liicnd ol all living cniiiics, and ilcic is
no dilliculiy in woislipping ilc Loid. Wly, ilcn slould pcoplc noi cngagc in His
dcvoiional scivicc' Wly aic ilcy so addicicd io unncccssaiily pioducing aiiilicial
paiaplcinalia loi scnsc giaiilicaiion'"¯
9 Hcic ilc woid "clidiavai" mcans "lilc ilc sly, wlicl is ncvci
coniaminaicd". Tlc icason wly ilcic is no dilliculiy in woislipping ilc Loid is
givcn in ilc lollowing woids: 1. In His puic loim ilc Supicmc Loid is ilc
Supcisoul picscni in all cmbodicd bcings (dclinam sva aima), 2. ilc Supicmc
Loid is ilc liicnd ol cvciyonc, cqually and wiiloui cxccpiion (samanyaial), 3. as
ilc Supcisoul in ilc lcaii Hc is ilc wcll wislci ol all. Tlcicloic ai ilc appiopiiaic
iimcs Hc givcs ciilci maiciial ilings oi a wcalil ol spiiiiual lovc loi Him (laicl).
Tlc conclusion, lowcvci, is, "Wlai is ilc usc ol icmpoiaiy maiciial bcncliis lilc
laving a bcauiilul wilc oi masiciy ovci oilcis'" Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii
Piallada io ilc sons ol ilc dcmons.
Anuccheda 307
1 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 9.+.66):
"As clasic womcn biing ilcii gcnilc lusbands undci coniiol by scivicc, ilc
puic dcvoiccs, wlo aic cqual io cvciyonc and complcicly aiiaclcd io Mc in ilc
coic ol ilc lcaii, biing Mc undci ilcii lull coniiol."¯
2 Tlc cxamplc givcn in ilis vcisc slows ilc naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc in
liicndslip wiil ilc Loid. Tlis vcisc is spolcn by ilc Loid ol Vailunila io
Duivasa Muni.
Anuccheda 308
1 In Siimad llagavaiam (+.12.37) ii is said:
"Pcisons wlo aic pcacclul, cquiposcd, clcanscd and puiilicd, and wlo
lnow ilc aii ol plcasing all oilci living cniiiics, lccp liicndslip only wiil
dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Tlcy alonc can vciy casily aclicvc ilc pcilcciion ol going
bacl lomc, bacl io Godlcad."¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "acyuia-piiya-bandlaval" mcans "ilcy wlosc liicnds aic
ilc pcisons dcai io ilc inlalliblc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad" and ilc woid
"acyuia-padam" mcans "ilc spiiiiual woild, wlcic ilc inlalliblc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc masici". Tlus ii is slown ilai ilc woid "acyuia",
appcaiing iwo iimcs in ilis vcisc, las ilc samc mcaning cacl iimc. Tlc mcanings
aic noi dillcicni. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Maiiicya Muni.
Anuccheda 309
1 Now will bc discusscd suiicndciing cvciyiling io ilc Loid. Tlai mcans
ollciing cvciyiling, liom ilc cxicinal maiciial body io ilc puic spiiii soul, io ilc
Loid. Tlai mcans ilai onc docs noiling loi onc's own salc, bui cvciyiling loi ilc
salc ol ilc Loid. Tlai mcans ilai all onc's aciiviiics and goals aic mcani io plcasc
Him. Wlcn onc suiicndcis io ilc Loid, onc bccomcs lilc a cow sold io a buyci.
Wlcn ilc cow is sold, ilc scllci no longci woils io mainiain ilc cow. Tlc buyci
musi now woil io mainiain ii. Tlc scllci docs noi again mainiain ilc cow.
2 Suiicndciing cvciyiling io ilc Loid is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Sii
Rulmini (Siimad llagavaiam 10.52.39):
"Tlcicloic, my dcai Loid, I lavc closcn You as my lusband, and I
suiicndci myscll io You. Plcasc comc swilily, O almigliy onc, and malc mc Youi
wilc. My dcai loius-cycd Loid, lci Sisupala ncvci ioucl ilc lcio's poiiion lilc a
jaclal sicaling ilc piopciiy ol a lion."¯¯¯
3 Somc say ilai suiicndciing cvciyiling mcans suiicndciing onc's maiciial
body io ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in llalii-vivcla:
"Wlcn onc sclls a cow, onc no longci woiiics low io mainiain ilc cow. In
ilc samc way, wlcn onc suiicndcis onc's body io Loid Haii, onc puis an cnd io
ilc siiugglc io mainiain ii."
+ Oilcis say ilai suiicndciing cvciyiling mcans suiicndciing oncscll, ilc
puic spiiii soul, io ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc piaycis ol Sii Yamunacaiya
(Sioiia-iaina +9):
"O Loid, wlaicvci I posscss in icims ol ilis body and iis paiaplcinalia,
and wlaicvci I lavc liom ilc modcs ol naiuic, ioday I ollci ai Youi lcci."
5 Oilcis say ilai suiicndciing cvciyiling mcans suiicndciing io ilc Loid
ilc dccds ilai bcgin wiil onc's iigli land. Tlus ilc woid ilai onc pciloims wiil
onc's body oi oilci insiiumcnis is noi pciloimcd loi onc's own bcnclii. Ii is
ollcicd io ilc Loid. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad-
llagavaiam (9.+.1S-20):
6-S "Malaiaja Ambaiisa always cngagcd lis mind in mcdiiaiing upon ilc loius
lcci ol Kisna, lis woids in dcsciibing ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid, lis lands in
clcansing ilc Loid's icmplc, and lis cais in lcaiing ilc woids spolcn by Kisna oi
aboui Kisna. Hc cngagcd lis cycs in sccing ilc Dciiy ol Kisna, Kisna's icmplcs
and Kisna's placcs lilc Mailuia and Vindavana, lc cngagcd lis scnsc ol ioucl in
ioucling ilc bodics ol ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, lc cngagcd lis scnsc ol smcll in
smclling ilc liagiancc ol iulasi ollcicd io ilc Loid, and lc cngagcd lis ionguc in
iasiing ilc Loid's piasada. Hc cngagcd lis lcgs in walling io ilc loly placcs and
icmplcs ol ilc Loid, lis lcad in bowing down bcloic ilc Loid, and all lis dcsiics
in sciving ilc Loid. iwcniy loui louis a day. Indccd, Malaiaja Ambaiisa ncvci
dcsiics anyiling loi lis own scnsc giaiilicaiion. Hc cngagcd all lis scnscs in
dcvoiional scivicc, in vaiious cngagcmcnis iclaicd io ilc Loid. Tlis is ilc was io
incicasc aiiaclmcni loi ilc Loid and bc complcicly licc liom all maiciial
dcsiics."¯
9 Hcic ilc woid "calaia" mcans :"lc ollcicd". "Kisna-padaiavindayol"
mcans "in many dillcicni ways lc scivcd Loid Kisna's loius lcci and ilc oilci
paiis ol ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial body". "Lingam" mcans "ilc Dciiy loim ol ilc
Loid", "alayal" mcans "ilc Loid's dcvoiccs, ilc Loid's icmplc, and ilc loly placcs
sacicd io ilc Loid", "iai-pada-saijoa-sauiablc siimai-iulasyal" mcans "lc smcllcd
ilc liagiancc ol Sii Tulasi ollcicd io ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid", "iad-aipiic" mcans
"mala-piasada loods and oilci ilings ollcicd io ilc Loid", and "lamam ca dasyc"
mcans "lis dcsiics wcic placcd in sciving ilc Loid". Wlai aciiviiics did lc
pciloim' Tlai is cxplaincd in ilc woids "yailoiiamaslola-janasiaya iaiil" (lc
cngagcd all lis scnscs in dcvoiional scivicc, in vaiious cngagcmcnis iclaicd io ilc
Loid). In ilcsc many ways lc suiicndcicd io ilc Loid. Woislipping ilc Loid by
icmcmbciing Him and in oilci ways also, lc suiicndcicd io ilc Loid.
10 Tlc Loid cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.19.2+):
"Iiim laiil in ilc blisslul naiiaiions ol My pasiimcs, consiani claniing ol
my gloiics, unwavciing aiiaclmcni io ccicmonial woislip ol Mc, piaising Mc
iliougl bcauiilul lymns, gicai icspcci loi My dcvoiional scivicc, ollciing
obcisanccs wiil ilc cniiic body, pciloiming liisi-class woislip ol My dcvoiccs,
consciousncss ol Mc in all living cniiiics, ollciing ol oidinaiy, bodily aciiviiics in
My dcvoiional scivicc, usc ol woids io dcsciibc My qualiiics, ollciing ilc mind io
Mc, icjcciing ol all maiciial dcsiics, giving up wcalil loi My dcvoiional scivicc,
icnouncing maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion and lappincss, and pciloiming all
dcsiiablc aciiviiics sucl as claiiiy, saciilicc, claniing, vows and ausiciiiics wiil
ilc puiposc ol aclicving Mc, ilcsc consiiiuic aciual icligious piinciplcs, by wlicl
ilosc luman bcings wlo lavc aciually suiicndcicd ilcmsclvcs io Mc
auiomaiically dcvclop lovc loi Mc. Wlai oilci puiposc oi goal could icmain loi
My dcvoicc'"¯¯¯
11 Rcmcmbciing ilc Loid, gloiilying Him and sciving His lcci aic all includcd
wiil dcvoiional scivicc. Alilougl ilc Agama-sasiias somciimcs dcsciibc Dciiy
woislip as somciling dillcicni liom dcvoiional scivicc, ii is noi ically dillcicni.
lailing and dicssing ilc Dciiy as wcll as ilc oilci aciiviiics ol Dciiy woislip aic
all appiopiiaic aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Also, ilcsc aciiviiics aic noi
opposcd io oi dillcicni liom suiicndciing cvciyiling io ilc Loid.
12 Suiicndciing cvciyiling is piaiscd in ilcsc woids ol Sii Piallada (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.6.26):
"Rcligion, cconomic dcvclopmcni and scnsc giaiilicaiion, ilcsc aic
dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas as iii-vaiga, oi ilicc ways io salvaiion. Wiilin ilcsc ilicc
caicgoiics aic cducaiion and scll-icalisaiion, iiiualisiic ccicmonics pciloimcd
accoiding io Vcdic injunciion, logic, ilc scicncc ol law and oidci, and ilc vaiious
mcans ol caining onc's livclilood. Tlcsc aic ilc cxicinal subjcci maiicis ol siudy
in ilc Vcdas, and ilcicloic I considci ilcm maiciial. Howcvci, I considci
suiicndci io ilc loius lcci ol Loid Visnu io bc iiansccndcnial."¯
13 Suiicndciing cvciyiling is also piaiscd in ilcsc woids ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.3+):
"A pcison wlo givcs up all liuiiivc aciiviiics and ollcis limscll cniiicly
unio Mc, cagcily dcsiiing io icndci scivicc unio Mc, aclicvcs libciaiion liom biiil
and dcail and is piomoicd io ilc siaius ol slaiing My own opulcnccs."¯
1+ Suiicndciing cvciyiling io ilc Loid is sccn io bc ol iwo linds: 1. suiicndci
pciloimcd wiiloui ccsiaiic lovc, and 2. suiicndci pciloimcd wiil ccsiaiic lovc.
Tlc vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.3+) quoicd in ilc picccding icxi is an
cxamplc ol ilc loimci. An cxamplc ol ilc laiici is lound in Siimad llagavaiam
(11.11.35) wlcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics:
"Acccpiing oncscll as My cicinal scivani, onc slould givc oncscll
complcicly io Mc."¯¯¯
15 Anoilci cxamplc ol suiicndci wiil ccsiaiic lovc is sccn in ilcsc woids ol
Sii Rulmini (Siimad llagavaiam 10.52.39):
"Tlcicloic, my dcai Loid, I lavc closcn You as my lusband, and I
suiicndci myscll io You. Plcasc comc swilily, O almigliy onc, and malc mc Youi
wilc. My dcai loius-cycd Loid, lci Sisupala ncvci ioucl ilc lcio's poiiion lilc a
jaclal sicaling ilc piopciiy ol a lion."¯¯¯
16 Tlc vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 9.+.1S-20) quoicd in icxis 6-S ol ilis
anucclcda wcic spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 310
1 In ilis way dcvoiional scivicc pciloimcd by lollowing ilc iulcs and
icgulaiions (vaidli blalii) las bccn dcsciibcd. Somc lcaiuics ol vaidli blalii
lavc bccn dcsciibcd lcic, somc lavc noi bccn dcsciibcd lcic, and somc lavc noi
bccn dcsciibcd lcic, and somc lavc bccn gloiilicd in oilci paiis ol ilis bool. Tlc
dillcicni linds ol laiil and dillcicni linds ol gloiious lcaiuics oi vaidli blalii
dcsciibcd lcic aic noi ai odds wiil cacl oilci. Tlcy aic mcani loi dillcicni linds
ol pcisons in ilc samc way dillcicni linds ol mcdicincs aic mcani loi dillcicni
linds ol paiicnis.
2 Now sponiancous dcvoiional scivicc (iaganuga blalii) will bc dcsciibcd.
In iaganuga blalii ilcic is gicai lovc and a siiong dcsiic io aiiain ilc Loid. Tlis
is callcd iaga. Wlcn ilc cycs and oilci scnscs aic aiiiacicd io ilc landsomcncss
and oilci iiansccndcnial qualiiics ol ilc Loid, ilai is callcd iaga, oi passionaic
lovc loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
3 Tlcic aic many dillcicni linds ol iaga. Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing
siaicmcni ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Siimad llagavaiam 3.25.3S):
"My dcai moilci, dcvoiccs wlo icccivc sucl iiansccndcnial opulcnccs aic
ncvci bcicli ol ilcm. Nciilci wcapons noi ilc clangc ol iimc can dcsiioy sucl
opulcnccs. lccausc ilc dcvoiccs acccpi Mc as ilcii liicnd, ilcii iclaiivc, ilcii son,
picccpioi, bcnclacioi, and Supicmc dciiy, ilcy cannoi bc dcpiivcd ol ilcii
posscssion ai any iimc."¯
+ Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc bclovcd (piiya) ol ilc dcai
gopis, ilc Supicmc lialman (aima) loi ilc sagcs lcadcd by Sii Sanala-lumaia,
ilc son (suia) ol ilcy wlo aic lcadcd by ilc King ol Viaja, ilc liicnd (salla) ol
ilcy wlo aic lcadcd by Siidama, ilc picccpioi (guiu) ol ilcy wlo aic lcadcd by
Piadyumna, ilc bioilci ol somconc, ilc cousin ol somconc, and ilc lailci-in-law
ol somconc. Hc is ilc liicnd (sulial) ol many liicnds lcadcd by Siidama. Hc is
ilc masici (daivam isiam) ol many scivanis lcadcd by Daiula.
5 Hcic ii may bc said ilai ilc dcmigods Siva lcll in lovc wiil ilc Supicmc
Loid's incainaiion ol Siimaii Molini-dcvi, and ilis slould bc considcicd ccsiaiic
lovc loi ilc Loid. Tlis idca is noi acccpicd, loi ii is noi conliimcd by ilc woids ol
sciipiuic. Loid Siva bccamc bcwildcicd by ilc Loid's illusoiy poicncy (maya) and
lis lovc loi Molini was maiciial lusi.
6 Wlcn onc ilinls ol ilc Loid in onc ol ilcsc dillcicni iclaiionslips and
cngagcs in ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc ilai bcgin wiil lcaiing aboui ilc
Loid, gloiilying Him, icmcmbciing Him, sciving His lcci, ollciing obcisanccs io
Him, and suiicndciing cvciyiling io Him, and wlcn onc lovcs ilc Loid, bui onc's
lovc is noi yci naiuial oi sponiancous, lis dcvoiional scivicc is callcd iagaimila
blalii.
7 Wlcn onc las alicady aiiaincd passionaic lovc loi ilc Loid, lovc lilc a
gicai Gangcs iivci ol dcvoiion in wlicl ilc wavcs aic ilc vaiious aciiviiics ol
dcvoiional scivicc, and wlcn ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic no longci a
mcans ol aiiaining somciling ilai is noi alicady aiiaincd, lis dcvoiion is callcd
iaganuga blalii.
S Iiom ilc passionaic lovc (iaga) ilus dcsciibcd, aiiiaciion (iuci) is boin.
Aiiiaciion (iuci) is noi manilcsicd ol iis own accoid. Ii comcs liom lovc (iaga).
Wlcn ilc laini icllcciion ol ilc ligli slining liom ilc ncciai moon ol ilis
passionaic lovc (iaga) slincs in ilc ciysial jcwcl ol ilc lcaii, ilcn aiiiaciion (iuci)
is boin by ilc aciion ol passionaic lovc (iaga). Wlcn aiiiaciion (iuci) ilus
lollows (anuga) passionaic lovc (iaga), ilc condiiion is lnown as iaganuga blalii.
9 Somc call ilis siagc ol dcvoiional scivicc aviliia blalii, loi ii is impcllcd by
aiiiaciion alonc and is noi bound io lollow iulcs and icgulaiions. Tlis
cxplanaiion slould noi bc acccpicd. Ii is noi possiblc loi a pcison complcicly
alool liom all iulcs and icgulaiions io cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc.
"O King Paiilsii, mainly ilc iopmosi iiansccndcnialisis, wlo aic abovc ilc
icgulaiivc piinciplcs and icsiiiciions , ialc plcasuic in dcsciibing ilc gloiics ol ilc
Loid."¯
11 Vaidli blalii. wlicl is dcpcndcni on lollowing iulcs and icgulaiions, is
wcal, bui iaganuga blalii, wlicl is indcpcndcni ol iulcs and icgulaiions, is
powcilul. ly cngaging in iaganuga blalii onc comcs io dislilc anyiling ilai las
no iclaiion io dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc Tliid Canio, wlcic,
dcsciibing aiiiaciion io ilc dcsciipiions ol ilc Loid, Sii Viduia says (Siimad
llagavaiam 3.5.13):
12 "Ioi onc wlo is anxious io cngagc consianily in lcaiing sucl iopics, lisna-
laila giadually incicascs lis indillcicncc iowaids all oilci ilings. Sucl consiani
icmcmbiancc ol ilc loius lcci ol Loid Kisna by ilc dcvoicc wlo las aclicvcd
iiansccndcnial bliss vanquislcs all lis misciics wiiloui dclay."¯
13 Ruci mcans wlcn ilc mind is in ilc giip ol lcaiing ilc picvious dcsciibcd
iopics ol ilc Loid. lccausc iaganuga blalii is noi dcpcndcni on iulcs and
icgulaiions, ilc sciviioislip (dasya) and liicndslip (sallya) loi ilc Loid
manilcsicd in iaganuga blalii aic dillcicni liom ilc sciviioislip and liicndslip
loi ilc Loid manilcsicd in vaidli blalii.
1+ In Siimad llagavaiam (7.5.2+) ii is said:
"Tlcsc ninc pioccsscs aic acccpicd as puic dcvoiional scivicc. Onc wlo
las dcdicaicd lis lilc io ilc scivicc ol Kisna iliougl ilcsc ninc mcilods slould bc
undcisiood io bc ilc mosi lcaincd pcison, loi lc las acquiicd complcic
lnowlcdgc."¯
15 Gicai impoiiancc is noi givcn io ilc siagcs ol dcvclopmcni manilcsicd in
iaganuga blalii. Howcvci, impoiiancc is givcn io ilc siagcs ol dcvclopmcni in
iagaimila blalii. In iagaimila blalii comcs ilc manilcsiaiion ol iuci. Tlis is
dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.S.35):
16 "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is absoluicly ilc mosi dcai onc loi
all living bcings bccausc Hc is cvciyonc's wcll-wislci and Loid. Hc is ilc Supicmc
Soul siiuaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii. Tlcicloic I will now pay ilc piicc ol complcic
suiicndci, and ilus puiclasing ilc Loid I will cnjoy wiil Him jusi lilc Lalsmi-
dcvi."¯
17 Tlinling ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as lci liicnd and wcll-
wislci, in ilis vcisc Pingala dcsiics io aiiain Him as lci lusband. Tlai is ilc
mcaning lcic.
1S In ilc Clandoga-paiisisia ii is said:
"Iollowing a vow ol claniing caiu-maniias, a giil aiiains oncncss wiil lci
dcsiicd lusband."
Tlc "oncncss" mcniioncd lcic is aiiilicial, noi ical. As a giil may ilus
puiclasc an oidinaiy lusband, in ilc samc way, by lull scll-suiicndci, onc may
puiclasc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as onc's lusband and cnjoy wiil
Him as Lalsmi-dcvi cnjoys wiil lci landsomc lusband. In ilis way is slown
Pingala's aiiiaciion (iuci) io ilc Loid.
Anuccheda 311
1 Tlc aciiviiics ol iaganuga blalii aic dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad-
llagavaiam (11.S.+0):
"I am now complcicly saiislicd and I lavc lull laiil in ilc Loid's mcicy.
Tlcicloic I will mainiain myscll wiil wlaicvci comcs ol iis own accoid. I slall
cnjoy lilc wiil only ilc Loid, bccausc Hc is ilc ical souicc ol lovc and
lappincss."¯¯¯
2 Tlis vcisc mcans, "In my mind (aimana) I will cnjoy (vilaiami) wiil Him
(amuna), my allcciion lovci". Tlc mind is mcniioncd lcic bccausc ilc mind is
mosi impoiiani in ilc pail ol aiiiaciion (iuci) io ilc Loid. lccausc slc did noi
lavc ilc spiiiiual loim ol a bclovcd ol ilc Loid, Pingala cngagcd lci mind in
mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid in ilis way. Dciiy woislip icnds io icmovc ilc boldncss
(ilai is a naiuial paii ol amoious pasiimcs). Tlcicloic Dciiy woislip naiuially
lcads io vaisalya iasa, wlcic onc is a paicni oi oilci guaidian ol ilc Loid. Tlis
vcisc was spolcn by Sii Pingala.
Anuccheda 312
1 In ilis way iaganuga blalii wlcic ilc dcvoicc las ilc idca ol bccoming
onc ol ilc Loid's bclovcds is slown. An cxamplc ol ilis is sccn in ilc lialma-
vaivaiia Puiana, in ilc sioiy ol ilc giil Kamalala. Lxamplcs ol iuci-blalii wlcic
ilc dcvoicc las ilc idca ol bccoming a scivani ol ilc Loid oi associaiing wiil Him
in ilc oilci iasa aic sccn in oilci placcs in ilc sciipiuics. An cxamplc ol a scivani
is givcn in ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Piallada (Siimad llagavaiam 7.9.2+):
"My dcai Loid, now I lavc complcic cxpciicncc conccining ilc woildly
opulcncc, mysiic powci, longcviiy and oilci maiciial plcasuics cnjoycd by all
living cniiiics, liom Loid lialma down io ilc ani. As powcilul iimc, You dcsiioy
ilcm all. Tlcicloic, bccausc ol my cxpciicncc, I do noi wisl io posscss ilcm. My
dcai Loid, I icqucsi You io placc mc in ioucl wiil Youi puic dcvoicc and lci mc
scivc lim as a sinccic scivani."¯
2 In Sii Naiada-pancaiaiia a dcvoicc says:
"O masici ol ilc univciscs, wlcn, wiil a giacclul and dccp voicc will you
oidci mc, "Talc a camaia in youi land and lan Mc'."
3-+ In ilc Slanda Puiana and in ilc Sanai-lumaia-samliia, in ilc sioiy ol
King Piablalaia, ii is said:
"Alilougl lc was sonlcss, ilc ling did noi dcsiic a son. Hc considcicd
ilai lis condiiion was alicady oidaincd by lis paii laima. Insicad, lc wislcd ilai
Loid Vasudcva, ilc cicinal Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlo is gloiilicd by all
ilc Upanisads and wlo is ilc Supcisoul in cvciyonc's lcaii, would bccomc lis
son. Hc wanicd io ciown ilc Supicmc Loid as ilc ncxi ling and givc ilc
lingdom io Him. Hc did noi wisl loi a son ilai would noi bc ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll."
5 Iinally ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad appcaicd bcloic ilc ling and
said, "I will bccomc youi son."
6 In ilc Naiayana-vyula-siava ii is said:
"I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilcy wlo always mcdiiaic on Loid Haii
as ilcii lusband, son, liicnd, bioilci, lailci, oi moilci."
7 In ilis vcisc ilc woids lusband, son, liicnd, and bioilci iclci io ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc objcci ol mcdiiaiion and ilc woids lailci
and moilci iclci io ilc dcvoicc wlo is mcdiiaiing on ilc Loid. Tlc allix "vai"
(lilc) lcic mcans ilai ilc dcvoicc docs noi diiccily bccomc ilc Loid's moilci, bui
iailci bccomcs a lollowci ol ilc Loid's moilci. Tlc samc is iiuc loi ilc Loid's
lailci. To ilinl oilciwisc is io acccpi ilc impcisonalisis' ciioi ol
alangialopasana (ilinling oncscll ilc objcci ol woislip). Hcic ilc woid
"dlyayani" (ilcy mcdiiaic) conliims ilc picvious cxplanaiion ol ilc impoiiancc
ol ilc mind in iaganuga blalii. Tlc woid "api" (cvcn) lcic mcans "How cxalicd
aic ilcy wlo scivc ilc Loid in pcilcci iaganuga blalii'"
S Hcic somconc may objcci: Tlc Puiva-mimamsa alliims, "Rcligion mcans
lollowing ilc oidcis ol sciipiuic", and ilc lialma-yamala also alliims,
"Dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid ilai ignoics ilc auiloiiscd Vcdic liiciaiuics lilc
ilc Upanisads, Puianas, Naiada-pancaiaiia, cic., is simply an unncccssaiy
disiuibancc in sociciy."¯ Tlcicloic io ignoic ilc oidcis ol ilc Siuii-sasiia and
oilci sciipiuics is a gicai lauli.
9 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll alliims:
"Tlc Siuii and Smiii sasiias aic My commands. Tlcicloic onc wlo
disobcys ilc sciipiuic disobcys Mc. Sucl a pcison laics Mc. Hc may claim io bc
dcvoicd io Mc, bui in iiuil lc is noi."
10 Tlis vcisc slows ilai disobcdicncc io ilc duiics and piolibiiions ol ilc
Siuii-sasiia and oilci sciipiuics malcs onc incligiblc io bc a Vaisnava. How, ilcn
can onc aiiain pcilcciion by lollowing a lind ol dcvoiional scivicc (iagaimila
blalii) ilai ignoics ilcsc iulcs and icgulaiions'
Il ilis is said, ilcn ilc lollowing icply is givcn: Spiiiiual poicncy is picscni
in ilc Loid's loly namc, qualiiics and all clsc ilai is in iclaiion io Him. Ii is noi
picscni in ilc iulcs ol oidinaiy icligion. In many placcs ilc sciipiuics alliim ilai
onc aiiains ilc icsuli ol dcvoiional scivicc wiiloui iclcicncc io impcisonal
spcculaiion oi any oilci mcilod. Tlc iulcs ol ilc sciipiuics do noi lavc powci io
aci by ilcmsclvcs, wiiloui iclcicncc ol a pcison. Tlcy lavc powci bccausc ilcy
lavc comc liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlcicloic ilcy wlo, laving
no lnowlcdgc ol aiiiaciion (iuci) io ilc Loid, iaisc ilcsc objcciions, lavc no ical
undcisianding ol ilc aciiviiics ol iagaimila blalii.
11 Tlis is slown by ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.35):
12 A pcison wlo is somclow oi oilci cngagcd in ilc aiicmpi io lix lis mind
in ilinling ol ilc Loid is a pcison wlo aciually lollows ilc iulcs ol dcvoiional
scivicc. A pcison wlo docs noi lavc aiiiaciion loi ilc Loid and docs noi ycain io
always cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc docs noi aciually lollow ilc iulcs ol dcvoiional
scivicc. Sucl a pcison may pciisl liom ilc aiiacl ol impcisonalism oi liom oilci
calamiiics. Tlc iulcs ol dcvoiional scivicc aic noi csiablislcd loi ilcii own salc.
Tlcy aic mcani io malc onc aiiiacicd io ilc Loid, io malc ilc mind lall in lovc
(iagaimila) wiil ilc claiming Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
13 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam
11.11.33):
"My dcvoiccs may oi may noi lnow cxacily wlai I am, wlo I am and low I
cxisi, bui il ilcy woislip Mc wiil unalloycd lovc, ilcn I considci ilcm io bc ilc
Tlis mcans ilai cvcn il onc acis wiil ilc wiong moiivc, oi cvcn oui ol
malicc, and cvcn il onc is mcicly mimicling ilc aciions ol dcvoiional scivicc, il
onc somclow oi oilci cngagcs in iagaimila blalii, lc will aiiain ilc icsuli
obiaincd by cngaging in iagaimila blalii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc sciipiuics.
1+ Simply by mimicling ilc aciiviiics ol ilc Loid's nuisc oi moilci, Puiana
aiiaincd ilc pcilcciion ol iagaimila blalii. Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing
woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (10.1+.35) wlcic lialma iclls Loid Kisna:
"My mind bccomcs bcwildcicd jusi iiying io ilinl ol wlai icwaid oilci
ilan You could bc lound anywlcic. You aic ilc cmbodimcni ol all bcncdiciions,
wlicl You bcsiow upon ilcsc icsidcnis ol ilc cowlcid communiiy ol Vindavana.
You lavc alicady aiiangcd io givc Youiscll io Puiana and lci lamily mcmbcis in
cxclangc loi lci disguising lciscll as a dcvoicc. So wlai is lcli loi You io givc
ilcsc dcvoiccs ol Vindavana, wlosc lomcs, wcalil, liicnds, dcai iclaiions, bodics,
clildicn and vciy livcs and lcaiis aic all dcdicaicd only io You'"¯¯¯
Il ilis was iiuc loi Puiana, ilcn wlai may bc said ol ilc dcvoiccs wlo aic
aiiiacicd (iuci) io ilc Loid and always sinccicly cngagcd in ilc aciiviiics ol
dcvoiional scivicc' In Siimad llagavaiam (10.6.35-36) ii is also said:
15-16 "Puiana was always lanlciing loi ilc blood ol luman clildicn, and wiil
ilai dcsiic slc camc io lill Kisna. lui bccausc slc ollcicd lci bicasi io ilc Loid,
slc aiiaincd ilc gicaicsi aclicvcmcni. Wlai ilcn is io bc said ol ilosc wlo lad
naiuial dcvoiion and allcciion loi Kisna as moilcis and wlo ollcicd Him ilcii
bicasis io sucl oi ollcicd somciling vciy dcai, as a moilci ollcis somciling io a
clild'"¯
17 Tlc Loid Himscll dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.36):
"Maiciial piciy and sin, wlicl aiisc liom ilc good and cvil ol ilis woild,
cannoi cxisi wiilin My unalloycd dcvoiccs, wlo, bcing licc liom maiciial
1S Tlc siaic ol bcing an unalloycd (clanii) dcvoicc ol ilc Loid is aiiaincd by
laving laiil in dcvoiional scivicc. Wlcn onc is aiiiacicd (iuci) io ilc Loid, onc
naiuially icspccis ilc iulcs and icgulaiions dcsciibcd in ilc sciipiuics. Aiiiaciion
io ilc Loid is vciy iaic. Il a pcison las no icspcci loi ilc iulcs and icgulaiions ol
ilc sciipiuics and ilinls limscll an unalloycd dcvoicc, lc is mcicly a pioud
lypociiic. Tlis is conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol ilc lialma-yamala:
"Dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Loid ilai ignoics ilc auiloiiscd Vcdic liiciaiuics
lilc ilc Upanisads, Puianas, Naiada-pancaiaiia, cic., is simply an unncccssaiy
disiuibancc in sociciy."¯
Tlcicloic ilc ciiiicism ilai ilcy do noi lonoui ilc iulcs ol sciipiuic
cannoi bc iliown ai ilcy wlo aic gcnuincly aiiiacicd (iuci) io ilc Loid. Tlis is
also sccn in Siimad llagavaiam 10.6.35-36 (quoicd in icxis 15 and 16 ol ilis
anucclcda).
19 In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda ii is said:
"Tlcy wlo lavc no lovc oi aiiiaciion loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad and aci as ilcy lilc, ignoiing ilc insiiuciions ol ilc Vcdas, aic lnown as
ollcndcis and ailcisis."
Hcic ilc woid "piiii" mcans "aiiiaciion".
20 Onc wlo dclibciaicly dislonouis ilc insiiuciions ol sciipiuic is io bc
ciiiiciscd, bui onc wlo is mcicly ignoiani ol ilosc insiiuciions is noi io bc
ciiiiciscd. Tlis is sccn in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.35):
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, will ncvci blundci on lis pail in ilis woild. Lvcn wlilc
"Ioi ilcy wlo aic always lallcn in lovc wiil ilc loius lcci ol Loid Kisna
ilcic is no japa, no Dciiy woislip, no mcdiiaiion, and no iulcs."
22 Wlcn aiiiaciion (iuci) is noi yci manilcsicd cvcn ilc bcsi iaganuga blalii
is considcicd io bc mixcd wiil vaidli blalii. Lvcn a dcvoicc wlo las aiiiaciion
(iuci) loi ilc Loid may, in oidci io bcnclii ilc pcoplc ol ilc woild, cngagc in
iaganuga blalii mixcd wiil vaidli blalii. Tlcicloic, in somc siiuaiions ii is
appiopiiaic io piaciicc iaganuga blalii mixcd wiil vaidli blalii.
23 Somc dcvoiccs clani ilc cigliccn-syllablc maniia and mcdiiaic on Loid
Kisna suiioundcd by all His associaics aiiiacicd by ilc music ol His lluic ai ilc
iimc loi milling ilc cows. Oilci dcvoiccs ilinl in ilis way: "I clani ilis maniia
ilai my spiiiiual masici las givcn mc so ilai I may aiiain my dcsiic and bccomc
onc ol ilc pcoplc ol Viaja. Tlcn I will diiccily scivc Loid Kisna, ilc son ol Viaja's
ling."
2+ Now will bc discusscd ilcsc woids spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad (and picviously quoicd in icxi 9):
Disobcdicncc ol ilc commands ol sciipiuic is ol iwo linds: 1. disobcying
ilc dlaima-sasiias, and 2. disobcying ilc blalii-sasiias.
25 A pcison wlo las laiil in dcvoiional scivicc docs noi lall down liom lis
posiiion as a Vaisnava il bccausc ol wiclcdncss, oi anoilci icason, oi loi no
icason ai all, lc docs noi pciloim ilc duiics dcsciibcd in ilc dlaima-sasiias. Tlis
is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (11.5.+1):
"Onc wlo las givcn up all maiciial duiics and ialcn lull slclici ai ilc loius
sagcs, oidinaiy living bcings, iclaiivcs, liicnds, manlind, oi cvcn onc's loiclailcis
26 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll dcclaics (llagavad-giia
9.30):
27 Tlcy wlo aic aiiiacicd io ilc Loid in ilis way do noi dcsiic ilc lappincss
ol libciaiion liom ilc woild ol biiil and dcail, wlai io spcal ol ilc loiiiblc
lappincss cicaicd by sinlul dccds. Tlcy do noi commii sins, il somclow by
misialc oi by accidcni ilcy commii a sin, ilai sin is dcsiioycd in a singlc momcni.
2S Also, in Siimad llagavaiam (11.5.+2) ii is said:
"Onc wlo las givcn up cvciyiling and ialcn lull slclici ai ilc loius lcci ol
scaicd wiilin cvciyonc's lcaii, icmovcs lis sins wiiloui dilliculiy."¯
29 Tlc duiics and piolibiiions dcsciibcd in ilc Vaisnava-sasiias lavc ilc
plcasuic ol Loid Visnu as ilcii only goal. Tlus a pcison wlo is aiiiacicd (iuci) io
ilc Loid and wlo lovcs (iaga) ilc Loid will pciloim cciiain aciiviiics and icliain
liom oilci aciiviiics. Tlis is bccausc sucl a pcison las ilc plcasuic ol ilc Loid as
ilc only goal ol lis lilc.
30 A pcison lollowing ilc pail ol iagaimila blalii docs noi considci wlai
slould bc donc and wlai slould noi bc donc liom ilc poini ol vicw ol oidinaiy
considciaiions. Hc acccpis only aciiviiics ilai aic lavouiablc loi dcvoiional
scivicc.
31 Tlus a dcvoicc wlo is aiiiacicd (iuci) io ilc Loid and wlo lollows ilc
pail ol iaganuga blalii will lollow ilc sciipiuics' dcsciipiion ol low io cngagc in
dcvoiional scivicc. Howcvci, cvcn ilc icsidcnis ol Golula, ilc iaganuga-blalias
wlo wcic pcisonal associaics ol ilc Loid, pciloimcd Vaisnava duiics and cvcn
oidinaiy woildly duiics io biing auspiciousncss io Kisna and pioicci Him liom
iioublcs and obsiaclcs.
32 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad dcclaics (in lialma-yamala, also
quoicd in icxis 9 and 2+ ol ilis anucclcda):
Tlcsc woids do noi apply io ilc dcvoiccs cngagcd in iaganuga blalii, loi
sucl dcvoiccs aic alicady on ilc iigli pail in spiiiiual lilc. Railci, ilis vcisc is
addicsscd io ilcy wlo lollow ilc wiong pails, ilc pails ol lciciics and ailcisis
lilc luddla, Rsabladcva, Daiiaiicya and oilcis.
33 Tlc sciipiuics dcclaic:
"A lciciic opposcd io ilc icligion ol ilc Vcdas may woislip lis own dciiy.
Howcvci, lc will go io lcll uniil ilc iimc wlcn ilc univcisc is dcsiioycd by
lloods."
3+ Lvcn ilougl many Vcdic iulcs aic noi lollowcd in ii, iaganuga blalii is
noi ouisidc ilc pail ol ilc Vcdas. Aciually iaganuga blalii is ilc pcilcciion ol
ilc icligion dcsciibcd in ilc Vcdas and ilc sciipiuics ilai cxplain ilc Vcdas. Tlis
is so bccausc iaganuga blalii malcs onc aiiiacicd (iuci) io ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. In ilc Vcdas aic dcsciibcd many lciciics and ailcisis,
sucl as luddla, wlo aic opposcd io ilc Vcdas and ilus aic ouisidc ilc splcic ol
Vcdic icligion. Ioi cxamplc, in Siimad llagavaiam (1.3.2+) ii is said:
35 "Tlcn, in ilc bcginning ol Kali-yuga, ilc Loid will appcai as Loid luddla,
ilc son ol Anjana, in ilc piovincc ol Gaya, jusi loi ilc puiposc ol dcluding ilosc
wlo aic cnvious ol ilc laiillul ilcisi."¯
36 Tlcicloic iaganuga blalii is piopci and coiicci. Ii is mucl bciici ilan
vaidli blalii. Tlc picviously discusscd iulcs ol ilc sciipiuics aic mcani loi
mciging inio ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Loid. Wlcn ilc mind is aiiiacicd io ilc Loid,
ilcn onc may mcigc inio Him. Ii is noi a maiici ol iulcs and icgulaiions. Ii is a
maiici ol ilc naiuic ol ilc mind.
37 Tlc iulcs cncouiagc wlai is lavouiablc loi ilis and loibid wlai is noi
lavouiablc. In ilai way onc quiclly mcigcs inio ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Loid. Wlcn
all unwanicd maiciialism is dcsiioycd, ilcn onc is ablc io mcigc inio ilc cxisicncc
ol ilc Loid. Tlis is a vivid cxamplc ol ilc gicai powci ol ilc pail lollowcd by ilc
mind. Wlcn ilc condiiions aic lavouiablc, ilcn onc can aiiain ilc goal sougli by
ilc impcisonalisis.
3S Tlc lollowing cxplanaiion (Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.15) is givcn io slow
ilc powci ol ilc mind's ilouglis and cmoiions:
39 "Malaiaja Yudlisiliia inquiicd: Ii is vciy wondcilul ilai ilc dcmon
Sisupala mcigcd inio ilc body ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cvcn
ilougl cxiicmcly cnvious. Tlis sayujya-mulii is impossiblc io aiiain cvcn loi
gicai iiansccndcnialisis. How ilcn did ilc cncmy ol ilc Loid aiiain ii'"¯
+0 Hcic ilc woid "claniinam" mcans "ol ilc impcisonalisis".
Anuccheda 313
1 Gcncially ii is noi possiblc, cvcn loi ilc gicai impcisonalisis, io mcigc inio
ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Loid. Siimad llagavaiam (7.1.16) asls ilis qucsiion:
"O gicai sagc, wc aic all cagci io lnow ilc causc loi ilis mcicy ol ilc Loid.
I lavc lcaid ilai loimcily a ling namcd Vcna blasplcmcd ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and ilai all ilc bialmanas conscqucnily obligcd lim io go
io lcll. Sisupala slould also lavc bccn scni io lcll. How ilcn did lc mcigc inio
ilc Loid's cxisicncc'"¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "iamasi" mcans "in lcll". In ilc Vamana Puiana ii is said
ilai alici sullciing in many dillcicni lclls, Vcna was icscucd by ilc powci ol King
Piilu.
Anuccheda 31+
1 In Siimad llagavaiam (7.1.1S) ii is also said:
"Iiom ilc vciy bcginning ol lis clildlood, wlcn lc could noi cvcn spcal
piopcily, Sisupala, ilc mosi sinlul son ol Damaglosa, bcgan blasplcming ilc
Loid, and lc coniinucd io bc cnvious ol Sii Kisna uniil dcail. Similaily, lis
bioilci Daniavalia coniinucd ilc samc labiis."¯
2 Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is clcai.
Anuccheda 315
1 Sii Naiada gavc ilis icply: To wlom do you iclci wlcn you say ilai a
pcison wlo ollcnds ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad musi go io lcll' Do you
iclci io a pcison wlo givcs sullciing io ilc Loid' Oi, il you do noi iclci io sucl a
pcison, do you iclci io a pcison wlo ollcnds ilc Loid by diinling liquoi and
pciloiming oilci loibiddcn acis'
2 Tlc bcwildcicd condiiioncd souls lavc ilc powci io blasplcmc and ollcnd
only ilings cicaicd liom ilc maiciial modcs ol ignoiancc, passion and goodncss.
Tlcy wlo lavc ialcn slclici ol ilc maiciial naiuic do noi lavc ilc powci io
blasplcmc oi ollcnd a pcison wlosc loim, qualiiics and oilci lcaiuics aic noi
maiciial. Unlilc ilc condiiioncd souls, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad docs
noi idcniily Himscll as a pioduci ol ilc maiciial naiuic. Tlcicloic Hc is ncvci
iioublcd by ilc ollcnscs commiiicd by ilc condiiioncd souls. Tlis is cxplaincd in
ilc lollowing ilicc and a lall vciscs ol Siimad llagavaiam.
"O King, blasplcmy and piaisc, clasiiscmcni and icspcci, aic cxpciicnccd
bccausc ol ignoiancc. Tlc body ol ilc condiiioncd soul is planncd by ilc Loid loi
sullciing in ilc maiciial woild iliougl ilc agcncy ol ilc cxicinal cncigy."¯
+ Hcic ilc woid "nindanam" mcans "dcsciibing laulis", and "nyallaial"
mcans "cclipscd". Tlis mcans, "loi maling onc awaic ol piaisc, ciiiicism, and
oilci dualiiics". Tlcn ilc vcisc cxplains, "Tlc body ol ilc condiiioncd soul is
planncd by ilc Loid loi sullciing in ilc maiciial woild iliougl ilc agcncy ol ilc
cxicinal cncigy."¯
Anuccheda 316
1 Siimad llagavaiam (1.7.23-2+) coniinucs:
"My dcai King, ilc condiiioncd soul, bcing in ilc bodily conccpiion ol lilc,
considcis lis body io bc lis scll and considcis cvciyiling in iclaiionslip wiil ilc
body io bc lis. lccausc lc las ilis wiong conccpiion ol lilc, lc is subjccicd io
dualiiics lilc piaisc and clasiiscmcni.¯
2 lccausc ol ilc bodily conccpiion ol lilc, ilc condiiioncd soul ilinls ilai
wlcn ilc body is annililaicd ilc living bcing is annililaicd. Loid Visnu, ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is ilc supicmc coniiollci, ilc Supcisoul ol all
living cniiiics. lccausc Hc las noi maiciial body, Hc las no lalsc conccpiion ol 'I'
and 'minc'. Ii is ilcicloic incoiicci io ilinl ilai Hc lccls plcasuic oi pain wlcn
blasplcmcd oi ollcicd piaycis. Tlis is impossiblc loi Him. Tlus Hc las no
cncmy and no liicnd. Wlcn Hc clasiiscs ilc dcmons ii is loi ilcii good, and
wlcn Hc acccpis ilc piaycis ol ilc dcvoiccs ii is loi ilcii good. Hc is allccicd
nciilci by piaycis noi by blasplcmy."¯
3 Tlc woid "ila" mcans "in ilc maiciial woild". Tlcsc vciscs cxplain, "Tlc
condiiioncd soul, bcing in ilc bodily conccpiion ol lilc, considcis lis body io bc
lis scll and considcis cvciyiling in iclaiionslip wiil ilc body io bc lis. lccausc
lc las ilis wiong conccpiion ol lilc, lc is subjccicd io dualiiics lilc piaisc and
clasiiscmcni. lccausc ol ilc bodily conccpiion ol lilc, ilc condiiioncd soul ilinls
ilai wlcn ilc body is annililaicd ilc living bcing is annililaicd.¯ Howcvci, ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is noi lilc ilc condiiioncd soul. How can Hc bc
punislcd oi madc io sullci' Tlcic is no way ilai ilis can bc possiblc."
+ Tlc icason ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad docs noi idcniily wiil a
maiciial body is givcn wiil ilc woid "laivalyai" (bccausc His body is noi
maiciial). Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(1.7.35):
"Tlc bodics ol ilc inlabiianis ol Vailunila aic complcicly spiiiiual,
laving noiling io do wiil ilc maiciial body, scnscs, oi lilc aii."¯
Il ilc inlabiianis ol Vailunila lavc puic and spiiiiual bodics ilai cannoi
bc blasplcmcd oi ollcndcd, ilcn low mucl moic so musi ilc body ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad bc spiiiiual, puic, cicinal, and lull ol lnowlcdgc
and bliss' Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
5 Tlc condiiioncd souls cannoi cvcn appioacl ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Hc Himscll alliims ilis in ilc lollowing woids ol llagavad-giia (7.25):
"I am ncvci manilcsi io ilc loolisl and uniniclligcni. Ioi ilcm I am
covcicd by My inicinal poicncy and ilcicloic ilcy do noi lnow ilai I am unboin
and inlalliblc."¯
6 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is dillcicni liom ilc individual spiiii
souls bccausc: 1. Hc is ilc Supcisoul picscni in cvciyonc's lcaii, 2. Hc is
uniouclcd by ilc maiciial cncigy, 3. Hc can ncvci bc laimcd, +. Hc is ilc
supicmc coniiollci (dlaima-laiiul) and 5. as ilc masici ol limiilcss wondcilul
poicncics, Hc is ilc masici and icaclci ol all.
Anuccheda 317
1 lccausc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ncvci iioublcd by
blasplcmy oi any oilci ollcnsc, ilcicloic onc slould mcdiiaic on Him, somclow
oi oilci, by any mcans availablc. In Siimad llagavaiam 10.12.39 ii is said:
"Il cvcn only oncc oi cvcn by loicc onc biidgcs ilc loim ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad inio onc's mind, onc can aiiain ilc supicmc salvaiion by
ilc mcicy ol Kisna, as did Aglasuia. Wlai ilcn is io bc said ol ilosc wlosc
lcaiis ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cnicis wlcn Hc appcais as an
incainaiion, oi ilosc wlo always ilinl ol ilc loius lcci ol ilc Loid, wlo is ilc
souicc ol iiansccndcnial bliss loi all living cniiiics and by wlom all illusion is
complcicly icmovcd"'¯
Tlcicloic ilcy wlo mcdiiaic on ilc Supicmc Loid's cllulgcncc mcigc inio
ilc Loid's cllulgcncc, and ilcy wlo mcdiiaic on ilc Loid bccausc ilcy laic Him
also mcigc inio ilc Loid's cllulgcncc. ly ilus mciging ilcsc pcisons bccomc
puiilicd ol ilcii blasplcmics and oilci sins. Tlai sucl pcisons aiiain sayujya-
mulii (impcisonal libciaiion) is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(7.1.26):
2 "Tlcicloic by cnmiiy oi by dcvoiional scivicc, by lcai, by allcciion oi by
lusiy dcsiic, by all ol ilcsc oi any onc ol ilcm, il a condiiioncd soul somclow oi
oilci conccniiaics lis mind upon ilc Loid, ilc icsuli is ilc samc, loi ilc Loid,
bccausc ol His blisslul posiiion, is ncvci allccicd by cnmiiy oi liicndslip."¯
3 Tlc woid "yunjyai" mcans ilai il onc is noi ablc io mcdiiaic on ilc Loid
wiil lovc, lusi oi in any lavouiablc way, ilcn onc slould mcdiiaic on Him in
wlaicvci way onc can, cvcn il ilai mcans io mcdiiaic on Him wiil laiicd. Hcic
ilc vidli-lin (poicniial mood) is uscd io indicaic a command. Somclow oi oilci
onc slould ilinl ol ilc Loid alonc and noiling clsc (nclsaic piilal). Tlus ilc
mind is lixcd on ilc Loid. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Hcic ilc woid "vaiicna" mcans "wiil cnmiiy" and "niivaiicna" mcans
"wiiloui cnmiiy" oi "in a ncuiial way". Tlus onc may mcdiiaic on ilc Loid
wiiloui passionaic dcsiic, laiicd oi any oilci cmoiion. Tlai is ilc mcaning lcic.
Wlcn onc mcdiiaics (yunjyai) on ilc Loid wiiloui cnmiiy and wiil lull
conccniiaiion ol ilc mind, ilai mcdiiaiion is lnown as dcvoiional scivicc (blalii-
yoga). Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Tlc woid "snclal" mcans "allcciion", wlicl is dillcicni liom lusi (lama).
Tlis mcans muiual, sinccic lovc. Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad bccomcs
aiiiacicd io His allcciionaic dcvoicc.
Anuccheda 318
1 Tlc icsuli ol all ilis is ilai onc quiclly bccomcs mcigcd in ilc Loid. Tlus
ilc pail ol ilinling ol ilc Loid, cvcn il ii is donc wiil cnmiiy and cvcn il onc
blasplcmcs ilc Loid is noi on ilc samc lcvcl as mcic vaidli blalii. Tlis is
cxplaincd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.26):
2 "ly dcvoiional scivicc onc cannoi aclicvc sucl inicnsc absoipiion in
ilougli ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as onc can iliougl cnmiiy iowaid
Him. Tlai is my opinion."¯
3 Tlis is ilc naiuic ol lcai and cnmiiy (vaiianubandlcna). Wlcn ilcy aic
diiccicd io ilc Loid onc may casily mcigc inio ilc cxisicncc ol ilc Loid (ian-
mayaiam). ly cngaging in vaidli blalii (blalii-yogcna) onc docs noi aiiain ilai
icsuli ai all (iu na iaila).
Anuccheda 319
1 In ilis way ii is said ilai ilc cncmics ol ilc Loid mcigc inio ilc cllulgcncc
cmanaiing liom ilc Loid's iiansccndcnial loim. Lvcn ilougl ilcii laiicd was
maiciial in naiuic, ii biougli ilcm ilc gicai and auspicious icsuli ol mciging inio
ilc Loid's cllulgcncc. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing cxamplc (Siimad
llagavaiam 7.2.17-2S):
2-3 "A giasswoim conlincd in a loly ol a wall by a bcc always ilinls ol ilc bcc
in lcai and cnmiiy and laici bccomcs a bcc simply bccausc ol sucl icmcmbiancc.
Similaily, il ilc condiiioncd souls somclow oi oilci ilinl ol Kisna, wlo is sac-
cid-ananda-vigiala, ilcy will bccomc licc liom ilcii sins. Wlcilci ilinling ol
Him as ilcii woislipablc Loid oi an cncmy, bccausc ol consianily ilinling ol Him
ilcy will icgain ilcii spiiiiual bodics."¯
+ Tlis vcisc mcans, "ly lcai and laiicd ilcy aiiain ilcii own spiiiiual loims,
wlicl aic lilc ilai ol ilc Loid. Tlc woid "cvam" mcans :ilus". Tlc loim ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is lilc ilc loim ol a luman bcing. lccausc ol ilc
inllucncc ol ilc illusoiy poicncy, ilc Loid is olicn bclicvcd io bc an oidinaiy
luman bcing in ilc maiciial woild.
5 Hcic somconc may objcci: Tlc giasswoim docs noi commii a sin by laiing
ilc bcc. Howcvci by laiing ilc Supicmc Loid onc cciiainly docs commii a sin.
Icaiing ilai somconc would objcci in ilis way, ilis vcisc cxplains, "ly
ilinling ol ilc Loid as ilcii cncmy, ilcy bccomc puiilicd ol ilcii sins." Tlis is so
bccausc mcdiiaiion on ilc Loid las ilis powci.
Anuccheda 320
1 Onc docs noi aiiain pcilcciion mcicly by lollowing ilc iulcs ol vaidli
blalii. Nciilci docs onc aiiain pcilcciion by disobcying ilc iulcs ol vaidli
blalii. Tlc way io aiiain pcilcciion is givcn in ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad
2 Many, many pcisons lavc aiiaincd libciaiion simply by ilinling ol Kisna
wiil gicai aiicniion and giving up sinlul aciiviiics. Tlis gicai aiicniion may bc
duc io lusiy dcsiics, inimical lcclings, lcai, allcciion oi dcvoiional scivicc. I slall
now cxplain low onc icccivcs Kisna's mcicy simply by conccniiaiing onc's mind
upon Him."¯¯¯
3 Tlis vcisc mcans, As somc pcisons conccniiaic ilcii minds on ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and ilus aiiaincd libciaiion by lollowing ilc
iulcs ol vaidli blalii, so many oilci pcisons also aiiaincd libciaiion by violaiing
ilc iulcs ol vaidli blalii and lollowing lusi and oilci viccs in ilcii sicad."
Among lusi and oilci viccs aic ilc sin ol laiicd and lcai. Tlcy gavc up (liiva)
ilai sin. lccausc ii is mixcd wiil laiicd, lcai is also considcicd a sin.
+ Somc considci lusi a sin. Howcvci, ilc lollowing slould bc considcicd:
Wlcn ii is diiccicd io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, lusi is iiansccndcnial
and icmovcs sin, wlcilci onc ilinls ol ilc Loid as onc's lusband oi onc's
paiamoui. Il ilis lind ol lusi is iiansccndcnial, ilcn docs ii icmovc laiicd and
oilci sins bccausc ilai is iis naiuic, bccausc ilc lusiy pcison diinls ncciai liom
ilc lips ol ilc supicmcly puic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad and ilcicloic ilis "lusi" is
noi aciually lusi ai all bui somciling lai bcyond wlai is lnown in ilis woild as
lusi, oi mcicly bccausc ilc sciipiuics alliim ilai ii dcsiioys sins' Ii is noi lilc
ilai. Sii Suladcva Gosvami icbulcs King Paiilsii in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 10.29.13);
5 "Tlis poini was cxplaincd io you picviously. Sincc cvcn Sisupala, wlo
laicd Kisna, aclicvcd pcilcciion, ilcn wlai io spcal ol ilc Loid's dcai dcvoiccs."¯
6 In ilcsc woids lusi and oilci lilc cmoiions aic ciiiiciscd and lusi is
piaiscd. lccausc lusi loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is noi dillcicni liom
lovc loi Him, ilcic is noiling wiong wiil ii. Hcic lusi is onc lind ol lovc.
7 In Siimad llagavaiam (10.31.19) ilc gopis dcclaic:
"O dcaily bclovcd! Youi loius lcci aic so soli ilai wc placc ilcm gcnily on
oui bicasis, lcaiing ilai Youi lcci will bc luii. Oui lilc icsis only in You. Oui
minds, ilcicloic, aic lillcd wiil anxiciy ilai Youi icndci lcci migli bc woundcd
by pcbblcs as You ioam aboui on ilc loicsi pail."¯
S Unconccincd loi ilcii own lappincss, ilc gopis wisl ilai Kisna will bc
lappy. Kubja, lowcvci is mosily conccin aboui lci own lappincss. Slc is noi
lilc ilc gopis, and ilcicloic lci aiiiiudc is ilc bc ciiiiciscd. Slc is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.+S.7):
"Simply by smclling ilc liagiancc ol Kisna's loius lcci, Kubja clcanscd
away ilc buining lusi Cupid lad aiouscd in lci bicasis, clcsi and cycs. Wiil lci
iwo aims slc cmbiaccd bciwccn lci bicasis lci lovci, Sii Kisna, ilc
pcisonilicaiion ol bliss, and ilus slc gavc up lci long-sianding disiicss."¯¯¯
9 Slc also dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 10.+S.9):
"O bclovcd, plcasc siay lcic wiil mc loi a lcw day moic and cnjoy. I
cannoi bcai io givc up Youi associaiion, O loius-cycd onc."¯¯¯
In ilis way slc cxpicsscs lci lovc.
10 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.+S.S):
"Having ilus goiicn ilc laid-io-gci Supicmc Loid by ilc simplc aci ol
ollciing Him body oinimcni, unloiiunaic Kubja submiiicd io ilai Loid ol liccdom
ilc lollowing icqucsi."¯¯¯
11 Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.+S.11):
"Loid Visnu, ilc Supicmc Loid ol all loids, is oidinaiily dilliculi io
appioacl. Onc wlo las piopcily woislippcd Him and ilcn clooscs ilc
bcncdiciion ol mundanc scnsc giaiilicaiion is cciiainly ol pooi iniclligcncc, loi lc
is saiislicd wiil an insignilicani icsuli."¯¯¯
12 In Siimad-llagavaiam 10.+S.S (quoicd in icxi 10) ilc woid "laivalya-
nailal" mcans "ilc Loid wlo is scivcd by puic dcvoiccs". Kubja is dcsciibcd lcic
as "unloiiunaic" bccausc lci body was dcloimcd bcni in ilicc placcs. Tlc woid
"alo (Ol!) is uiicicd in suipiisc. Hci ollciing ol body oinimcni io ilc Loid was
an aciiviiy ol dcvoiional scivicc. lccausc ol ilis scivicc slc was piompicd io asl
(Siimad llagavaiam 10.+S.9):
"O bclovcd, plcasc siay lcic wiil mc loi a lcw days moic and cnjoy. I
cannoi bcai io givc up Youi associaiion, O loius-cycd onc."¯¯¯
In ilcsc woids slc bcgs ilai slc may bccomc loiiunaic.
13 In Siimad llagavaiam (10.S0.25) ii is said:
"Wlai piciy las ilis unwaslcd, impovciislcd (bialmana) pciloimcd'
Lvciyonc lools down on lim as mosi lallcn, and yci ilc spiiiiual masici ol ilc
ilicc woilds, ilc abodc ol goddcss Sii, is sciving lim icvcicniially. Lcaving lci,
ilc goddcss ol loiiunc, siiiing on lci bcd, ilc Loid las cmbiaccd ilis (bialmana)
as il lc wcic His oldci bioilci."¯¯¯
Tlc icsidcnis ol ilc palacc spolc ilcsc woids aboui Siidama Vipia.
1+ Hcic somconc may objcci: Wly is lusiy Kubja piaiscd' Tlis objcciion is
answcicd in Siimad llagavaiam 10.1S.11 (quoicd in icxi 11). Tlcic ii is said,
"Onc wlo clooscs ilc bcncdiciion ol mundanc scnsc-giaiilicaiion is cciiainly ol
pooi iniclligcncc." Tlc mcaning lcic is ilai a giil wlo dcsiics ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is supicmcly iniclligcni. Hci dcsiic io cnjoy wiil ilc
Supicmc Loid icmovcs laiicd and a losi ol sin.
15 Tlis is so bccausc ilc pasiimcs ol ilc Loid aic by naiuic all-pcilcci. Tlis is
conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Sii Vcdania-suiia (2.1.33);
"Tlc pasiimcs ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic iiansccndcnial,
alilougl ilcy sccm io bc lilc ilosc ol an oidinaiy luman bcing in ilc maiciial
woild."
16 As Hc cnjoys amoious pasiimcs lilc ilcsc wiil ilc gopis and Kubja, so ilc
Loid also cnjoys wiil Sii, llu, Lila and oilci goddcsscs in Sii Vailunilalola and
oilci placcs. Tlc Loid is cicinally pcilcci and indcpcndcni. Hc can cnjoy any
pasiimcs ilai Hc wislcs io cnjoy. Tlcicloic ilcsc pasiimcs slould bc undcisiood
as cxisiing bccausc ilc Loid wislcs io cnjoy ilcm. Tlcsc pasiimcs aic naiuially
vciy claiming and swcci lilc ncciai. Ii is noi possiblc io lully undcisiand ilc
naiuic ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. His amoious pasiimcs cxisi
bccausc Hc wislcs io cnjoy ilcm. To ilai cxicni ilcy may bc undcisiood.
17 Tlc goddcsscs wlo aic ilc Loid's bclovcds aic manilcsicd liom His inicinal
poicncy. Tlcicloic ilcii loims aic all puic and spiiiiual. Tlcsc goddcsscs aic
vciy cxalicd and impoiiani. Tlcy aic noi oidinaiy oi unimpoiiani by any mcans.
Tlcii pasiimcs ol diinling ilc ncciai ol ilc Loid's lips is noi impiopci. Tlis las
alicady bccn cxplaincd. Tlcsc pasiimcs cxisi bccausc ilc Supicmc Loid wislcs io
cnjoy ilcm.
1S Onc slould noi malc ilc misialc ol ilinling ilcsc goddcsscs io bc
oidinaiy pcisons. Tlcy aic ilc inicinal poicncics ol ilc Loid, and ii is by ilc
Loid's wisl ilai ilcy lavc aiiaincd His associaiion.
19 Tlc sciipiuics dcclaic ilai amoious pasiimcs wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad aic noi sins. Railci, lcaiing ol ilcsc pasiimcs icmovcs sin. Cciiainly
ilcic is no lauli in amoious pasiimcs wlcic ilc Supicmc Loid assumcs ilc iolc ol
ilc lusband. On ilc coniiaiy, sucl pasiimcs aic gloiilicd in ilc sciipiuics. In
Siimad llagavaiam (10.90.27) ii is said:
20 "And low is ii cvcn possiblc io dcsciibc ilc gicai ausiciiiics ilai musi lavc
bccn pciloimcd by ilc womcn wlo wcic ablc io scivc Him, ilc spiiiiual masici ol
ilc univcisc, in puic, ccsiaiic lovc' Tlinling Him io bc ilcii own lusband,
icndcicd sucl iniimaic sciviccs as massaging His lcci."¯¯¯
21 Many cxalicd sagcs lavc bccomc ilc Loid's bclovcds and cnjoycd ilcsc
pasiimcs wiil Him. Tlis is dcsciibcd in many placcs in ilc sciipiuics. Ioi
cxamplc, Sii Madlvacaiya quoics ilc lollowing woids ol ilc Kuima Puiana:
22 "ly pciloiming gicai ausiciiiics, Agnidcva's sons bccamc womcn and
aiiaincd Loid Vasudcva, ilc unboin and all-powcilul cicaioi ol ilc univciscs, as
ilcii lusband.
23 In ilc Naiayana-vyula-siava ilcsc cxalicd dcvoiccs aic ollcicd icspccis in
ilcsc woids:
"I ollci my icspccilul obcisanccs io ilcy wlo always mcdiiaic on Loid Haii
as ilcii lusband, son, liicnd, bioilci, lailci oi moilci."
2+ To cnjoy amoious pasiimcs wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as a
paiamoui is also no sinlul. In Siimad llagavaiam (10.29.32) ilc gopis icll Loid
Kisna:
"Oui dcai Kisna, as an cxpcii in icligion You lavc adviscd us ilai ilc
piopci icligious duiy loi womcn is io duiilully scivc ilcii lusbands, clildicn and
oilci iclaiivcs. Wc agicc ilai ilis piinciplc is valid, bui aciually ilis scivicc
slould bc icndcicd io You. Alici all, O Loid, You aic ilc dcaimosi liicnd ol all
cmbodicd souls. You aic ilcii mosi iniimaic iclaiivc and indccd ilcii vciy
Scll."¯¯¯
25 Siila Suladcva Gosvami also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 10.33.35):
"Hc wlo livcs as ilc ovcisccing wiincss wiilin ilc gopis and ilcii
lusbands, and indccd wiilin all cmbodicd living bcings, assumcs loims in ilis
woild io cnjoy iiansccndcnial pasiimcs."¯¯¯
26 Loid Kisna Himscll dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 10.32.22):
"O gopis, I am noi ablc io icpay My dcbi loi youi spoilcss scivicc, cvcn
wiilin a lilciimc ol lialma. Youi conncciion wiil Mc is bcyond icpioacl. You
lavc woislippcd Mc, cuiiing oll all domcsiic iics, wlicl aic dilliculi io bical.
Tlcicloic plcasc lci youi own gloiious dccds bc youi compcnsaiion."¯¯¯
27 Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll.
Many oilci gicai dcvoiccs also aiiaincd ilis lind ol iclaiionslip wiil ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Anoilci cxamplc ol ilis is givcn in ilcsc woids ol ilc
Padma Puiana, Uiiaia-llanda:
2S "Wlcn ilcy saw Loid Ramacandia, ilc landsomc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, all ilc gicai sagcs in ilc Dandala loicsi dcsiicd io cnjoy wiil Him.
29 "lccoming womcn, ilcy iool biiil in Golula and cnjoycd amoious
pasiimcs wiil Loid Kisna. Tlcn ilcy bccamc libciaicd liom ilc occan ol icpcaicd
biiil and dcail."
30 Tlcn mcn also may aiiain ilc loims ol womcn and associaic wiil ilc Loid
in ilis way. Tlc Loid appcais bcloic ilcm noi as ilc maiciial god ol lovc
(Kamadcva), bui as a spiiiiual god ol lovc. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (10.32.2):
"Tlcn Loid Kisna, a smilc on His loius lacc, appcaicd bcloic ilc gopis.
Wcaiing a gailand and a ycllow gaimcni, Hc diiccily appcaicd as onc wlo can
bcwildci ilc mind ol Cupid, wlo limscll bcwildcis ilc minds ol oidinaiy
pcoplc."¯¯¯
Tlus, bccausc Hc is woislippcd by ilc maiciial god ol lovc, Loid Kisna is
ilc spiiiiual god ol lovc (Kamadcva).
31 Sii Uddlava and many oilci gicai dcvoiccs lavc gloiilicd ilc Loid's
bclovcds. Sii Uddlava dcclaics (Siimad llagavaiam 10.+7.5S0):
"Among all pcisons on caiil, ilcsc cowlcid womcn alonc lavc aciually
pcilccicd ilcii cmbodicd livcs, loi ilcy lavc aclicvcd ilc pcilcciion ol unalloycd
lovc loi loid Govinda. Tlcii puic lovc is lanlcicd alici by ilosc wlo lcai
maiciial cxisicncc, by gicai sagcs, and by ouisclvcs as wcll. Ioi onc wlo las
iasicd ilc naiiaiions ol ilc inliniic Loid, wlai is ilc usc ol ialing biiil as a ligl
class bialmana, oi cvcn as Loid lialma limscll'"¯¯¯
32 Wlai moic nccd bc said' In ilc Vamana Puiana ii is said ilai cvcn ilc
Vcdas Pcisonilicd aiiaincd ilis naiuic. Dcsiiing io bccomc cicinally pcilcci gopis,
ilc Vcdas pcisonilicd iool biiil among ilc gopis. Tlc gloiy ol ilc gopis is
dcsciibcd by ilc Vcdas Pcisonilicd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S7.23):
33 "ly piaciicing ilc mysiic yoga sysicm and coniiolling ilcii bicail, ilc
gicai sagcs conqucicd ilc mind and scnscs. Tlus cngaging in mysiic yoga, ilcy
saw ilc Supcisoul wiilin ilcii lcaiis and uliimaicly cnicicd inio ilc impcisonal
lialman. Howcvci, cvcn ilc cncmics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
aiiain ilai posiiion simply by ilinling ol ilc Supicmc Loid. Tlc damscls ol
Viaja, ilc gopis, simply wanicd io cmbiacc Kisna and lold His aims, wlicl aic
lilc scipcnis. lcing aiiiacicd by ilc bcauiy ol Kisna, ilcy uliimaicly acquiicd a
iasic loi ilc ncciai ol ilc Loid's loius lcci. Wc can also iasic ilc ncciai ol Kisna's
loius lcci by lollowing in ilc looisicps ol ilc gopis."¯
3+ Tlc mcaning ol ilis vcisc is vciy clcai. Tlis vcisc mcans, "Sccing wiil ilc
cycs ol sciipiuic, wiil a gicai clloii ilc sagcs woislip ilc Absoluic Tiuil, wlo is
lnown as lialman. Howcvci, wiiloui woislipping ilc Loid, only by ilinling ol
Him, ilc cncmics ol ilc Loid also aiiain ilc lialman.
35 "Tlc bcauiilul-cycbiowcd gopis, ilcii lcaiis aiiaclcd io ilc scipcnililc
aims ol You, wlo aic Nanda's son, aiiaincd ilc swccincss ol lovc loi ilc ncciai ol
Youi loius lcci.
36 "Wc Pcisonilicd Vcdas will bccomc lilc ilcsc gopis and wc will also aiiain
ilc ncciai ol Youi loius lcci." Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc inllcciions ol ilc woids
aic alicicd io slow ilis mcaning.
37 Hcic ilc woids "ilc ncciai ol Youi loius lcci" aic spolcn wiil gicai
icspcci. Tlc woids 'cvcn ilc cncmics ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
aiiain ilai posiiion simply by ilinling ol ilc Supicmc Loid" slow ilai by
lollowing ilc pail ol ilinling ol ilc Loid onc quiclly aiiains ilc goal. Tlc woids
"Wc can also iasic ilc ncciai ol Kisna's loius lcci by lollowing in ilc looisicps ol
ilc gopis" slow ilc mcilod piaciiccd by a pcison lollowing ilc pail ol iaganuga
blalii. Il ilis wcic noi ilc bcsi mcilod io aiiain ilc bcsi goal, ilcn ilc
Pcisonilicd Vcdas, wlo aic lully awaic ol all mcilods and all goals, would noi
lavc adopicd ii.
3S In ilis vcisc iwo paiis ol pails ol icmcmbciing ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd. In
ilc liisi paii ilc pail ol ilc Pcisonilicd Vcdas is supciioi. In ilc sccond ilcii pail
is inlciioi. Tlc woid "api" (also) applics io boil ilcsc paiis ol pails. Tlus ilis
woid is noi cmploycd only oncc lcic. Tlc woid "siiiyal" lcic iclcis io ilc
cicinal gopis. In ilc Vamana Puiana ii is said ilai ilc Pcisonilicd Vcdas scc ilc
gopis in ilc cicinal abodc ol Loid Kisna.
Noic: Tlc iwo paiis ol pails ol icmcmbciing ilc Loid aic: 1. ilc pails ol
Pcisonilicd Vcdas and ilc cncmics ol ilc Loid, and 2. ilc pails ol Pcisonilicd
Vcdas and ilc gopis. Tlc Pcisonilicd Vcdas aic supciioi io ilc cncmics ol ilc
Loid bui inlciioi io ilc gopis.
39 All ol ilis is niccly cxplaincd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(7.1.29):
"Many, many pcisons lavc aiiaincd libciaiion simply by ilinling ol Kisna
upon Him."¯¯¯
In ilis way onc bccomcs licc ol ilc sins ol lcai and laiicd.
Anuccheda 321
1 Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.29 (wlicl was quoicd in anucclcda 320, icxi 2) is
luiilci cxplaincd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.30), wlcic
somc cxamplcs aic givcn:
2 "Tlc gopis by ilcii lusiy dcsiics, Kamsa by lis lcai, Sisupala and oilci
lings by cnvy, ilc Yadus by ilcii lamilial iclaiionslip wiil Kisna, you Pandavas
by youi gicai allcciion loi Kisna, and wc, ilc gcncial dcvoiccs, by oui dcvoiional
scivicc, lavc obiaincd ilc mcicy ol Kisna."¯
3 Hcic iclcicnccs is madc io ilc picvious livcs ol ilc gopis and ilc oilci
dcvoiccs. Wiil ilc woid "vayam" (wc) Sii Naiada iclcis io lis picvious biiil.
+ Sii Naiada cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 1.6.2S):
"Having bccn awaidcd a iiansccndcnial body bcliiiing an associaic ol ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, I quii ilc body madc ol livc maiciial clcmcnis,
and ilus all acquiicd liuiiivc icsulis ol woil (laima) sioppcd."¯
In ilis way in lis picvious biiil lc aiiaincd ilc pcilcci loim ol a pcisonal
associaic ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. In ilis way ilc woid "vayam"
(wc) is cxplaincd.
5 Tlus vaidli blalii las bccn dcsciibcd. Raganuga blalii is dcsciibcd in
ilcsc woids ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad (Siimad llagavaiam
11.20.36);
"Maiciial piciy and sin, wlicl aiisc liom ilc good and cvil ol ilis woild,
cannoi cxisi wiilin My unalloycd dcvoiccs, wlo, bcing licc liom maiciial
6 Tlc Loid also cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.19.35):
"To consianily scc good and bad is iiscll a bad qualiiy. Tlc bcsi qualiiy is
io iiansccnd maiciial good and cvil."¯¯¯
7 In ilis way ii is sccn ilai iagaimila blalii is noi dcpcndcni on ilc iulcs
and icgulaiions ol vaidli blalii. In Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.29 ilc pasi icnsc is
uscd io dcsciibc ilc aiiainmcni ol ilc icsuli. Howcvci, in ilc lollowing vcisc ilc
gopis aic dcsciibcd in ilc picscni icnsc. ly lcaiing ol ilc Supicmc Loid's
iiansccndcnial qualiiics, ilc gopis bccomc iapi in mcdiiaiion on Him. Tlcy aic
S "Gloiilicd vaiiously by counilcss songs, Hc is ilc Loid wlo loicibly aiiiacis
ilc minds ol any womcn wlo simply lcai aboui Him. Wlai io spcal, ilcn, ol
ilosc womcn wlo scc Him diiccily'"¯¯¯
9 Sisupala, wlo lad bccn a libciaicd associaic ol ilc Loid in Vailunila,
appcaicd io lavc bccn lillcd wlcn lc aiiivcd as an unwclcomc gucsi and iiicd io
causc a calamiiy. Tlcn lis iiuc posiiion as a dcvoicc ol ilc Loid was icvcalcd. In
Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.31 (quoicd in icxi 2) ilc woids "sambandlad yo visnayo
yuyam", mcan "you Visnis lavc a iclaiionslip ol allcciion wiil ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad". Tlcicloic Siimad llagavaiam (7.1.26) alliims:
"Tlcicloic by cnmiiy oi by dcvoiional scivicc, by lcai, by allcciion, oi by
lusiy dcsiic, by all ol ilcsc oi any onc ol ilcm, il a condiiioncd soul somclow oi
oilci conccniiaics lis mind upon ilc Loid, ilc icsuli is ilc samc, loi ilc Loid
bccausc ol His blisslul posiiion, is ncvci allccicd by cnmiiy oi liicndslip."¯
"Many, many pcisons lavc aiiaincd libciaiion simply by ilinling ol Kisna
upon Him."¯
Tlcsc quoics boil alliim ilc samc conclusion.
11 Tlis samc conclusion is also conliimcd in a vcisc ilai lollows in ilc samc
passagc. Tlcic ii is said (Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.32):
"Somclow oi oilci onc musi considci ilc loim ol Kisna, vciy sciiously.
Tlcn, by onc ol ilc livc dillcicni pioccsscs mcniioncd abovc, onc can iciuin
lomc, bacl io Godlcad. Ailcisis lilc King Vcna, lowcvci, bcing unablc io ilinl
ol Kisna's loim in any ol ilcsc livc ways, cannoi aiiain salvaiion. Tlcicloic, onc
musi somclow ilinl ol Kisna, wlcilci in a liicndly way, oi inimically."¯
12 In Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.31 (quoicd in icxi 2) ilc woids sambandla
(iclaiionslip) and sncla (allcciion) aic boil iclaicd io iaganuga blalii. In ilcii
picvious livcs ilc Visnis and Pandavas, lilc ilc gopis, wcic aspiiing dcvoiccs
cngagcd in vaidli blalii. Iiom sambandla (a iclaiionslip wiil ilc Loid) comcs
sncla (allcciion loi ilc Loid), and liom ilai comcs iuci (aiiiaciion io ilc Loid).
In ilis way ii is slown ilai vaidli blalii cvcniually lcads io iaganuga blalii.
Anuccheda 322
1 Hcic somconc may objcci: Il simply by laiing ilc Supicmc Loid onc
aiiains pcilcciion, ilcn wly did King Vcna lall inio lcll'
Icaiing ilai somconc would iaisc ilis objcciion, Siimad llagavaiam
(7.1.32) cxplains:
"Somclow oi oilci onc musi considci ilc loim ol Kisna vciy sciiously.
Tlcn, by onc ol ilc livc dillcicni pioccsscs mcniioncd abovc, onc can iciuin
lomc, bacl io Godlcad. Ailcisis lilc King Vcna, lowcvci, bcing unablc io ilinl
ol Kisna's loim in any ol ilcsc livc ways, cannoi aiiain salvaiion."¯
2 Tlc woids, "laiamo 'pi na vcna syai pancanam puiusam piaii" mcan "Vcna
did noi lavc onc ol ilc livc iclaiionslips wiil ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, iclaiionslips ilai bcgin wiil cnmiiy." Tlis mcans ilai Vcna did noi
lavc a iclaiionslip ol blasplcming and laiing ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad.
3 Vcna's sins boic liuii bccausc lc did noi cngagc in inicnsc mcdiiaiion on
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Lvcn ilougl lc was a dcmon, lc did noi
laiclully and violcnily aiiacl ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, an aiiacl ilai
would lavc biougli lim libciaiion. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
+ In Siimad llagavaiam (11.2.3+) ii is said:
In ilis way cvcn vciy gicai sins pciisl. Tlis is so cvcn il onc is ignoiani.
Anuccheda 323
1 Tlcicloic, in Siimad llagavaiam (7.1.32) ii is said:
"Tlcicloic, onc musi somclow ilinl ol Kisna, wlcilci in a liicndly way,
oi inimically."¯
2 Tlc conclusion lcic is ilai onc slould somclow lix lis mind on ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Tlc conclusion lcic is noi ilai onc slould
cngagc in vaidli blalii. Hcic ilc woid "lcnapi" mcans "somclow oi oilci". ly
cngaging in vaidli blalii onc linally aiiains ilc Loid alici a long iimc and a gicai
siiugglc. Howcvci, by cngaging in iaganuga blalii, by ilinling ol ilc Loid as
onc's cncmy oi in oilci ways, onc quiclly and casily aiiains ilc Loid. A lallcn
sinnci wlo laics ilc gloiious Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is aciually
viiiuous. Wlo, ilcn, is iiuly lallcn and dcgiadcd' Tlc answci is ilai a pcison
wlo is indillcicni io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, a pcison wlo docs noi
lovc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is iiuly lallcn and dcgiadcd. Tlis vcisc
was spolcn by Sii Naiada io Sii Yudlisiliia.
Anuccheda 32+
1 Il ilc pail ol ilinling ol ilc Loid somclow oi oilci is ilis powcilul, ilcn
low powcilul musi bc ilc pail ol iaganuga blalii, wlcic onc ilinls ol ilc Loid
wiil lovc' Tlis is alliimcd by ilc lollowing woids ol Siimad llagavaiam
(11.5.+S):
2 "Inimical lings lilc Sisupala, Paundiala and Salva wcic always ilinling
aboui Loid Kisna. Lvcn wlilc ilcy wcic lying down, siiiing oi cngaging in oilci
aciiviiics, ilcy cnviously mcdiiaicd upon ilc bodily movcmcnis ol ilc Loid, His
spoiiing pasiimcs, His loving glanccs upon His dcvoiccs, and oilci aiiiaciivc
lcaiuics displaycd by ilc Loid. lcing ilus always absoibcd in Kisna, ilcy
aclicvcd spiiiiual libciaiion in ilc Loid's own abodc. Wlai ilcn can bc said ol
ilc bcncdiciions ollcicd io ilosc wlo consianily lix ilcii minds on Loid Kisna in
a lavouiablc, loving mood'"¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "aliii-dliyal" mcans ilai ilcii ilouglis wcic placcd in ilc
Loid's loims.
+ In ilc Gaiuda Puiana ii is said:
"Lvcn loolisl sinncis lilc Sisupala and Duiyodlana wlo pcisonally
insulicd ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aiiaincd libciaiion. Simply by
icmcmbciing ilc Loid, ilcy bccamc puiilicd ol all ilcii sins. How, ilcn, can ilcic
bc any doubi ilai ilc gicai dcvoiccs, wlo sinccicly lovc ilc Loid, also bccomc
puiilicd and aiiain libciaiion'"
"ly dcvoiional scivicc onc cannoi aclicvc sucl inicnsc absoipiion in
ilougli ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as onc can iliougl cnmiiy io
Him."¯
Howcvci, onc slould noi inicipici ilcsc woids io mcan ilai laiing ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is bciici ilan all oilci iclaiionslips wiil ilc
Loid.
6 In Siimad llagavaiam (3.16.31) ilc Loid assuicd ilc iwo Vailunila
inlabiianis, Jaya and Vijaya:
"ly piaciicing ilc mysiic yoga sysicm in angci, you will bc clcanscd ol ilc
sin ol disobcying ilc bialmanas and wiilin a vciy sloii iimc iciuin io Mc."¯
7 Tlcsc woids wcic spolcn by ilc Loid ol Vailunila io Jaya and Vijaya. To
bccomc licc ol ilcii ollcnsc ilcy musi piaciicc mysiic yoga. lccausc ilcy aic by
naiuic cicinally pcilcci associaics ol ilc Loid, ilis cniiic incidcni was aiiangcd so
ilai ilc Loid would lavc ilc oppoiiuniiy io cnjoy pasiimcs ol ligliing wiil ilcm.
Ioi ilis icason somc considci ilai ilcsc aciiviiics ol ilc Loid slould bc
considcicd aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is noi iiuc. Woids lilc "blalii"
(dcvoiional) and "scva (scivicc) aic uscd wlcn onc las a lavouiablc iclaiion wiil
ilc Loid. Tlcy cannoi bc uscd wlcn onc is an cncmy ol ilc Loid.
S In ilc Padma Puiana, Uiiiaia-llanda, ii is said:
"Tlc yogis aic ablc io scc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad bccausc ilcy
aic dcvoicd io Him, noi bccausc ilcy laic Him. Angci and cnvy will noi lclp onc
scc Loid Kisna.
9 Hcic somconc may objcci: Tlc cncmics ol ilc Loid aic also dcvoiccs. Tlis
is sccn in ilc lollowing siaicmcni ol Sii Uddlava (Siimad-llagavaiam 3.2.2+):
"I considci ilc dcmons, wlo aic inimical iowaid ilc Loid io bc moic ilan
ilc dcvoiccs bccausc wlilc ligliing wiil ilc Loid, absoibcd in ilouglis ol cnmiiy,
ilcy aic ablc io scc ilc Loid caiiicd on ilc slouldci ol Gaiuda, ilc son ol Tailsya
(Kasyapa) and caiiying ilc wlccl wcapon in His land."¯
10 To ilis objcciion ilc lollowing icply is givcn: Plcasc do noi ilinl in ilis
way. Tlis vcisc is an cxamplc ol ilc ilcioiical dcvicc callcd uipiclsa, wlcic onc
imagincs onc iling io bc lilc anoilci ilai is in iiuil vciy dillcicni. Tlis vcisc
docs noi piovc ilai ilc dcmons aic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. In ilis cxamplc uipicla,
Uddlava, ovcicomc wiil longing and giicl, sccs only ilc good loiiunc aiiaincd by
ilc dcmons, ilcii good loiiunc in diiccily sccing ilc Loid. Hc says, "Alas, wc
cannoi scc ilc lacc ol ilc Loid. Ai ilc momcni ol dcail wc will noi bc ablc io scc,
cvcn in mcdiiaiion, ilc moonlilc lacc ol ilc Loid. Tlcicloic ilc dcmons aic
bciici dcvoiccs ilan us, loi ai ilc momcni ol ilcii dcails ilcy lad ilc
oppoiiuniiy io scc ilc moonlilc lacc ol ilc Loid." Tlc conclusion is ilai ilis
vcisc docs noi in any way piovc ilai laiing ilc Loid is ilc samc as dcvoiional
scivicc. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Naiada io Sii Vasudcva.
Anuccheda 325
1 In ilis way iaganuga blalii is aiiaincd. Raganuga blalii is piimaiily
diiccicd io Loid Kisna. In Siimad llagavaiam 7.1.+1 ii is said:
"My dcai King Yudlisiliia, ilc gopis by ilcii lusi dcsiics, Kamsa by lis
lcai, Sisupala and oilci lings by cnvy, ilc Yadus by ilcii lamilial iclaiionslip
wiil Kisna, you Pandavas by youi gicai allcciion loi Kisna, and wc, ilc gcncia
dcvoiccs, by oui dcvoiional scivicc, lavc obiaincd ilc mcicy ol Kisna."¯
Hcic is ii sccn ilai Loid Kisna is ilc objcci ol iaganuga blalii. Also, only
ilc dcmons wlo diicci ilcii laiicd io Loid Kisna aiiain ilc pcilcciion ol mciging
inio His cllulgcncc. Tlc dcmons wlo laic ilc Loid's oilci lull and paiiial loims
do noi aiiain ilai pcilcciion.
2 Ioi ilis icason Siimad llagavaiam (7.1.32) dcclaics:
"Tlcicloic onc musi somclow ilinl ol Loid Kisna, wlcilci in a liicndly
way oi inimically."¯
3 ly cngaging in iaganuga blalii onc vciy quiclly lixcs lis mind on ilc
Loid. Tlai is wly iaganuga blalii, and noi vaidli blalii, is discusscd in ilc
clcvcnil canio ol Siimad llagavaiam. Somciimcs iaganuga blalii is diiccicd io
ilc loui-aimcd loim ol ilc Loid, bui puic iaganuga blalii is sccn piimaiily in Sii
Golula, wlcic iaganuga blalii is mosi piomincni, and wlcic ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, in His oiiginal loim as Loid Kisna, cnjoys pasiimcs as ilc
son, masici, liicnd, oi bclovcd ol His dcvoiccs.
+ Tlcsc dillcicni iclaiionslips wiil ilc Loid aic dcsciibcd in llagavad-giia
(+.11), wlcic Loid Kisna alliims:
"As all suiicndci unio Mc, I icwaid ilcm accoidingly. Lvciyonc lollows
My pail in all icspccis, O son ol Piila."¯
5 Tlcsc dillcicni iclaiionslips aic also sccn in ilcsc woids ol Siimad
llagavaiam (10.+3.17):
"Tlc vaiious gioups ol pcoplc in ilc aicna icgaidcd Kisna in dillcicni ways
wlcn Hc cnicicd ii wiil His cldci bioilci. Tlc wicsilcis saw Kisna as a liglining
boli, ilc mcn ol Mailuia as ilc bcsi ol malcs, ilc womcn as Cupid in pcison, ilc
cowlcid mcn as ilcii iclaiivc, ilc impious iulcis as a clasiisci, His paicnis as
ilcii clild, ilc King ol ilc llojas as dcail, ilc uniniclligcni as ilc Supicmc
Loid's univcisal loim, ilc yogis as ilc Absoluic Tiuil and ilc Visnis as ilcii
supicmc woislipablc Dciiy."¯¯¯
6 Tlai ilc Loid acccpis dillcicni iclaiionslips io lullil ilc dcsiics ol His
dcvoiccs is sccn in ilcsc woids ol Siimad-llagavaiam (10.1+.2):
"My dcai Loid, nciilci I noi anyonc clsc can csiimaic ilc poicncy ol ilis
iiansccndcnial body ol Youis, wlicl las slown sucl io mc and wlicl appcais
jusi io lullil ilc dcsiics ol Youi puic dcvoiccs."¯¯¯
7 To plcasc His dcvoiccs ilc Loid picicnds io dcsiic ilcii sciviccs ol giving
Him lood and diinl, bailing Him, lanning Him, and allcciionaicly sciving Him in
many ways. Tlcsc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc aic dcsciibcd by ilc Loid Kisna
Himscll in ilcsc woids (llagavad-giia 9.26):
S "Il onc ollcis Mc wiil lovc and dcvoiion a lcal, a llowci, liuii oi waici, I
will acccpi ii."¯
9 In ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.15.17) Siila Suladcva Gosvami
piaiscs ilc dcvoiccs' cagci scivicc:
10 "Somc ol ilc cowlcid boys, wlo wcic all gicai souls, would ilcn massagc
His loius lcci, and oilcis, qualilicd by bcing licc ol all sin, would cxpciily lan ilc
Supicmc Loid."¯¯¯
11 Tlai ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ilus lullils ilc dcsiics ol His
dcvoiccs docs noi ncgaic His supicmc powci ovci cvciyiling. Tlai supicmc
powci is manilcsicd in oilci siiuaiions. In iiuil ii is gloiious and piaiscwoiily
ilai Hc is lappy io lullil His dcvoiccs' wislcs. Tlis is sccn in His pasiimc ol bcing
bound by ilc quccn ol Viaja and dclivciing ilc yamala-aijuna iiccs.
12 Lvcn ilougl Hc las all powci, ilc Loid voluniaiily agiccs io bc undci ilc
coniiol ol ilc quccn ol Viaja. In ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam
10.9.19) Siila Suladcva Gosvami piaiscs ilai qualiiy ol ilc Loid:
"O Malaiaja Paiilsii, ilis cniiic univcisc, wiil iis gicai, cxalicd dcmigods
lilc Loid Siva, Loid lialma and Loid India, is undci ilc coniiol ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Yci ilc Supicmc Loid las onc iiansccndcnial aiiiibuic:
Hc comcs undci ilc coniiol ol His dcvoiccs. Tlis was now cxlibiicd by Kisna in
ilis pasiimcs."¯¯¯
13 Lvcn ioday many dcvoiccs lollow ilc pail ol iaganuga blalii and ilus
woislip Loid Kisna, ilc son ol Viaja's ling. In Sii Visnu Puiana, wlcn ilc gopas
wcic vciy suipiiscd io scc Him lili Govaidlana Hill, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad gavc ilcm ilis icply:
1+ "Il youi iiuly lovc Mc, ilcn plcasc ilinl ol Mc as youi linsman."
15 In an alicinaic icading ol ilis icxi ilc Loid says, "O My linsmcn, ilcn
plcasc lonoui Mc lilc a linsman."
16 Tlc Loid also said io ilcm (Sii Visnu Puiana 5.13.12):
"I am noi a dcmigod. I am noi a gandlaiva. I an nciilci a yalsa noi a
danava. I am youi linsman. Plcasc don'i ilinl ol Mc in any oilci way."
17 In Siimad llagavaiam (10.3.+5) Loid Kisna iclls Malaiaja Vasudcva:
"loil ol you, lusband and wilc, consianily ilinl ol Mc as youi son, bui
always lnow ilai I am ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. ly ilus ilinling ol
Mc consianily wiil lovc and allcciion, you will aclicvc ilc liglcsi pcilcciion:
iciuining lomc, bacl io Godlcad."¯
lccausc lnowlcdgc ol ilc Loid's supicmc powci and opulcncc is
piomincni in ilc lcaiis ol Malaiaja Vasudcva and many oilci dcvoiccs, ilc Loid
lcic givcs pcimission io ilinl ol Him in iwo ways: as ilc all-powcilul Supicmc
Loid and as onc's linsman.
1S Alilougl Yasoda, ilc quccn ol Viaja, saw ilc Loid's gicai powci and
opulcncc by gazing inio His mouil, ilis is noi said io bc lci iiuc good loiiunc.
Inllucnccd by ilc Loid's yogamaya poicncy, slc always ilougli ol Loid Kisna as
lci son. In ilis way ilc Loid was mcicilul io lci in many ways. In ilis way slc
was vciy loiiunaic. Vasudcva and Dcvali wcic noi as loiiunaic as Nanda and
Yasoda. Tlc good loiiunc ol Nanda and Yasoda is ilai ilcy ilinl ol Kisna as ilcii
son. In ilis way ilcy cnjoy His clildlood pasiimcs. Malaiaja Paiilsii piaiscs
Nanda and Yasoda in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 10.S.+6-+7):
19 "O lcaincd bialmana, moilci Yasoda's bicasi mill was suclcd by ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Wlai pasi auspicious aciiviiics did slc and
Nanda Malaiaja pciloim io aclicvc sucl pcilcciion in ccsiaiic lovc'¯
"Alilougl Kisna was so plcascd wiil Vasudcva and Dcvali ilai Hc
dcsccndcd as ilcii son, ilcy could noi cnjoy Kisna's magnanimous clildlood
pasiimcs, wlicl aic so gicai ilai simply claniing aboui ilcm vanquislcs ilc
coniaminaiion ol ilc maiciial woild. Nanda Malaiaja and Yasoda, lowcvci,
cnjoycd ilcsc pasiimcs in lull, and ilcicloic ilcii posiiion is always bciici ilan
ilai ol Vasudcva and Dcvali."¯
20 Siila Suladcva Gosvami, ilc ling ol sagcs, also piaiscd ilc lovc ol Nanda
and Yasoda loi Loid Kisna. Hc said (Siimad llagavaiam 10.9.19):
"O Malaiaja Paiilsii, ilis cniiic univcisc, wiil iis gicai, cxalicd dcmigods
lilc Loid Siva, Loid lialma and Loid India, is undci ilc coniiol ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Yci ilc Supicmc Loid las onc iiansccndcnial aiiiibuic:
Hc comcs undci ilc coniiol ol His dcvoiccs. Tlis was now cxlibiicd by Kisna in
ilis pasiimc."¯
21 Sii Naiada iold Sii Vasudcva and Dcvali (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.+7):
"My dcai Vasudcva, you and youi good wilc Dcvali lavc manilcsicd gicai
iiansccndcnial lovc loi Kisna, acccpiing Him as youi son. Indccd, you aic always
sccing ilc Loid, cmbiacing Him, spcaling wiil Him, icsiing wiil Him, siiiing
iogcilci wiil Him, and ialing youi mcals wiil Him. ly sucl allcciionaic and
iniimaic associaiion wiil ilc Loid, undoubicdly boil ol you lavc complcicly
puiilicd youi lcaiis. In oilci woids, you aic alicady pcilcci."¯¯¯
"Loving Loid Kisna as ilcii son, ilcy aiiaincd ilc pcilcciion ol ilc gicai
iicasuic ol dcvoiional scivicc."
23 Sii Naiada also iold Vasudcva and Dcvali (Siimad llagavaiam 11.5.+9):
"Do noi ilinl ol Kisna as an oidinaiy clild, bccausc Hc is ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, incxlausiiblc and ilc Soul ol all bcings. Tlc Loid las
conccalcd His inconccivablc opulcnccs and is ilus ouiwaidly appcaiing io bc an
oidinaiy luman bcing."¯¯¯
2+ Tlcsc woids do noi coniiadici wlai was picviously said ol Nanda and
yasoda. Siila Siidlaia Svami commcnis in ilcsc woids:
"Somconc may objcci: Il by loving a son onc bccomcs libciaicd, ilcn cvciy
paicni would auiomaiically aiiain libciaiion. Tlis vcisc is spolcn io answci ilis
objcciion."
25 Tlus io ilinl ol Loid Kisna as onc's son is a gicai opulcncc and a gicai
good loiiunc. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc woid "aliilal" lcic is an cxamplc ol aisa
usagc, wlcic wlai is oidinaiily a giammaiical llaw is considcicd coiicci bccausc ii
is uscd by a gicai sagc. Tlc lciici "a" in "aliilal" slould bc omiiicd bccausc ilc
woid "ma" is uscd lcic. In ilc Sabda-losa ii is said, "ablavc na ly ano na".
lccausc ol ilcsc iwo piolibiiions ilc woids "luiu" slould bc uscd lcic in placc
ol "aliilal".
26 Wlcilci ilcy aic awaic ol ilc iiuil oi noi awaic, ilc dcvoiccs wlo lollow
ilc pail ol puic iaganuga blalii, woislipping ilc Loid wiiloui awc and
vcnciaiion aic in a gloiious posiiion. In Siimad llagavaiam (11.11.33) Loid
Kisna alliims:
"My dcvoiccs may oi may noi lnow cxacily wlai I am, wlo I am, and low
I cxisi, bui il ilcy woislip Mc wiil unalloycd lovc, ilcn I considci ilcm io bc ilc
27 lccausc ii is ilc mosi puic, iaganuga blalii in Sii Golula is ilc bcsi lind
ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis is said. Puic iaganuga blalii is noi possiblc in any
oilci placc. ly undcisianding ilc gloiics ol iaganuga blalii, and by
undcisianding ilc iiuil ol ilc oiiginal Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, ilc
supicmcly cxalicd naiuic ol dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna is piovcd. Tlus also
ii is piovcd ilai Loid Kisna, wlo cnjoys iiansccndcnial pasiimcs in Golula is ilc
oiiginal Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
2S Dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad
llagavaiam 1.2.5):
29 "O sagcs, I lavc bccn jusily qucsiioncd by you. Youi qucsiions aic woiily
bccausc ilcy iclaic io Loid Kisna and so aic ol iclcvancc io ilc woild's wcllaic.
Only qucsiions ol ilis soii aic capablc ol complcicly saiislying ilc scll."¯
30 In Siimad llagavaiam an inquiiy was madc io dciciminc wlai biings
gcnuinc saiislaciion io ilc lcaii. In ilis way qucsiions wcic aslcd aboui Loid
Kisna and ilc lollowing answci was givcn (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.6):
31 "Tlc supicmc occupaiion (dlaima) loi all lumaniiy is ilai by wlicl mcn
ilc scll."¯
In ilis way ilc spiiiiual pail ilai bcgins wiil maling a gicai clloii io ollci
ilc Loid ilc icsulis ol onc's woil and culminaics in laiil in dcvoiional scivicc is
dcsciibcd. In ilis way dcvoiional scivicc is manilcsicd. Hcaiing dcsciipiions ol
ilc vaiious incainaiions ol ilc Loid cvcniually biings onc io ilc siagc wlcic onc's
ilouglis aic lixcd in Loid Kisna, ilc oiiginal Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
Tlis is dcsciibcd in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad llagavaiam 2.S.3):
32 "Naiiaiions conccining ilc Loid wlo posscsscs wondcilul poicncics, aic
cciiainly auspicious loi living bcings in all plancis. O gicaily loiiunaic Suladcva
Gosvami, plcasc coniinuc naiiaiing Siimad llagavaiam, so ilai I can placc my
mind upon ilc Supicmc Soul, Loid Kisna, and, bcing complcicly liccd liom
maiciial qualiiics, ilus iclinquisl ilis body."¯
33 In ilis vcisc ilc woid "laicl" mcans "ol ilc vaiious incainaiions ol ilc
Loid". "Allilaimani lisnc" mcans "io Loid Kisna, wlo is ilc oiiginal Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, in wlom all incainaiions aic picscni, and wlo is also ilc
liicnd ol Aijuna." Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Malaiaja Paiilsii.
Anuccheda 326
1 Ai ilc cnd ol His convcisaiion (in ilc clcvcnil canio ol Siimad
llagavaiam), Loid Kisna in ilc picvious clapici (clapici 2S) dcsciibcd ilc
icsulis obiaincd by jnana, yoga, and blalii. Ncvciilclcss, Sii Uddlava, bccausc lc
was a puic dcvoicc, icluscd io acccpi cvcn ilc sliglicsi poii ol jnana and yoga.
Uddlava said (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.1-2):
2 "My dcai Loid Acyuia, I lcai ilai ilc mcilod ol yoga dcsciibcd by You is
vciy dilliculi loi onc wlo cannoi coniiol lis mind. Tlcicloic plcasc cxplain io mc
in simplc icims low somconc can moic casily cxccuic ii."¯¯¯
3 "O loius-cycd- Loid, gcncially ilosc yogis wlo iiy io sicady ilc mind
cxpciicncc liusiiaiion bccausc ol ilcii inabiliiy io pcilcci ilc siaic ol iiancc. Tlus
ilcy wcaiy in ilcii aiicmpi io biing ilc mind undci coniiol."¯
+ Hcic Uddlava cxplains ilai ilc goal ol jnana and yoga is aiiaincd only wiil
gicai dilliculiy. Howcvci, ilc goal ol laiillul dcvoiional scivicc is aiiaincd vciy
casily. Tlcicloic onc slould cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is ilc mcaning
lcic.
5 Hcic Uddlava says, "Tlc gicai souls icjcci jnana and yoga. Insicad ilcy
cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc io You, O Kisna. Tlcy do noi lavc a ligl icgaid loi
ilc icsulis obiaincd by piaciicing jnana and yoga."
Sii Uddlava coniinucs lis cxplanaiion in ilc ncxi loui vciscs (Siimad
llagavaiam11.29.3-6, wlicl aic discusscd lcic in anucclcdas 126-129). In ilc
liisi ol ilcsc vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.3) lc says:
6 "Tlcicloic, O loius-cycd Loid ol ilc univcisc, swanlilc mcn lappily ialc
slclici ol Youi loius lcci, ilc souicc ol all iiansccndcnial ccsiasy. lui ilosc wlo
ialc piidc in ilcii accomplislmcnis in yoga and laima lail io ialc slclici ol You
and aic dclcaicd by Youi illusoiy cncigy."¯¯¯
7 (In ilc picvious vcisc, Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.2) ii is said ilai somc
bccomc wcaiy (visidanii) by piaciicing jnana and yoga. Tlis vcisc (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.29.3) ilcn dcclaics: "Now (aila) ilcicloic (aial) ilc swanlilc
mcn (lamsal) wlo aic cxpcii ai disiinguisling wlai is valuablc and wlai las no
valuc, lappily (sullam) scivc (siaycian) Youi loius lcci (padambujam cva nu),
wlicl aic lloodcd wiil all iiansccndcnial bliss." Tlc unsiaicd mcaning ol ilis
vcisc is ilai ilcy do ilis in oidci io diiccily scc ilc Loid's loius lcci.
S Tlc vcisc coniinucs, "Howcvci, ilcy (ami) wlo aic pioud (maninal) and
dcvoicd io yoga and laima (yoga-laimablil) aic dclcaicd (vilaial). Tlcy do noi
(na) cngagc in dcvoiional scivicc bccausc ilcy aic pioud (maninal)." Tlc bcsi
spiiiiual pail is ilc onc ilai biings onc io ilc Loid's mcicy, wlicl Hc libcially
bcsiows on cvcn ilc mosi lallcn souls. Tlc gicai clloii ilai musi bc cxpcndcd io
puisuc jnana and yoga aic noi ilc bcsi pail.
Anuccheda 327
1 A puic dcvoicc docs noi aiiain ilc small icsuli obiaincd by jnana and yoga.
Hc aiiains a dillcicni, a vciy gicai icsuli. Sii Uddlva cxplains (Siimad-
llagavaiam 11.29.+):
2 "My dcai inlalliblc Loid, ii is noi vciy asionisling ilai You iniimaicly
appioacl Youi scivanis wlo lavc ialcn cxclusivc slclici ol You. Alici all, duiing
Youi appcaiancc as Loid Ramacandia, cvcn wlilc gicai dcmigods lilc lialma
wcic vying io placc ilc cllulgcni iips ol ilcii lclmcis upon ilc cuslion wlcic
Youi loius lcci icsicd, You displaycd spccial allcciion loi monlcys sucl as
Hanuman bccausc ilcy lad ialcn cxclusivc slclici ol You."¯¯¯
3 Hcic ilc woids "ascsa-bandlo dascsv ananya-saiancsu" mcan "O liicnd
wlo aic unlimiicdly lind io cvciyonc, cvcn ilc dcmons, and wlo givc ilcm
vaiious gilis, bcginning wiil libciaiion". Tlc vcisc coniinucs "Wlai is suipiising
aboui ilai (iavaiiai lim ciiiam)' You givc Youiscll (aima-saivam) io Youi puic
dcvoiccs (dascsu) wlo aic avcisc io jnana, yoga, and laima (ananya-saiancsu).
Tlis mcans ilai You bccomc suboidinaic io ilcm, submissivc io ilcm." Tlai is
ilc mcaning lcic.
+ Loid Kisna Himscll alliims (Siimad llagavaiam 11.1+.20):
"My dcai Uddlava, nciilci iliougl asianga-yoga (ilc mysiic yoga-sysicm
Mc."¯
5 In ilis vcisc ii is sccn ilai noblc biiil, noblc qualiiics, and oilci lilc
considciaiions aic noi iclcvani io paiiicipaiion in ilc Loid's conlidcniial inicinal
pasiimcs. Hcic ilc woid "sala" (wiil) indicaics liicndslip. "Migail" mcans
"wiil ilc animals ilai wandci in Vindavana loicsi", "svayam" mcans "lilc ilai",
and "isvaianam" mcans "ol ilc dcmigods lcadcd bu Siva and lialma". Hcic
Uddlava says, "O Loid, ilc icsulis obiaincd by piaciicing jnana, yoga, and laima
cannoi bc vciy valuablc, loi You givc ilcm cvcn io ilc dcmons. Howcvci, You aic
willing io bccomc ilc liicnd, mcsscngci, and claiioicci loi ilc Pandavas and Youi
oilci dcvoiccs. In ilis way You bccomc submissivc io Youi dcvoiccs. You aic
undci ilcii coniiol." In ilis way dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna is dcsciibcd as
ilc bcsi ol spiiiiual pails.
Anuccheda 328
1 In ilc ncxi vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.5) Uddlava dcsciibcs ilc
icsuli obiaincd by cngaging in dcvoiional scivicc:
"Wlo, ilcn, could daic icjcci You, ilc vciy Soul, ilc mosi dcai objcci ol
woislip, and ilc Supicmc Loid ol all, You wlo givc all possiblc pcilcciions io ilc
dcvoiccs io ialc slclici ol You' Wlo could bc so ungiaiclul, lnowing ilc bcncliis
You bcsiow' Wlo would icjcci You and acccpi somciling loi ilc salc ol maiciial
cnjoymcni, wlicl simply lcads io loigcilulncss ol You' And wlai lacl is ilcic loi
us wlo aic cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc dusi ol Youi loius lcci'"¯¯¯
2 Tlis vcisc says, "Wlo, lnowing low landsomc and gloiious You aic, and
lnowing ilc bcncliis You bcsiow, could abandon You'" Loid Kapiladcva
dcsciibcs ilc Loid's landsomcncss in a passagc bcginning wiil ilcsc woids
(Siimad llagavaiam 3.2S.13):
"Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad las a clccilul, loiuslilc
counicnancc, wiil iuddy cycs lilc ilc iniciioi ol a loius and a swaiily body lilc
ilc pcials ol a bluc loius."¯
3 Tlc aiiiaciivcncss ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is also dcsciibcd
in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.2S.3+):
"ly lollowing ilis couisc, ilc yogi giadually dcvclops puic lovc loi ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Haii. In ilc couisc ol lis piogicss in dcvoiional
scivicc, ilc laiis on lis body siand cicci iliougl cxccssivc joy, and lc is
consianily bailcd in a siicam ol icais occasioncd by inicnsc lovc. Giadually, cvcn
ilc mind, wlicl lc uscd as a mcans io aiiiaci ilc Loid, as onc aiiiacis a lisl io a
lool, wiildiaws liom maiciial aciiviiy."¯¯¯
+ Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.5 (quoicd in icxi 1) ilcn asls, "O Supicmc Loid,
wlai lcaincd and qualilicd pcison would icjcci You'" No sucl pcison would.
Tlai is ilc mcaning. Any pcison wlo would icjcci ilc Supicmc Loid is
ungiaiclul.
5 O Loid, wlai aic You lilc' Tlc vcisc cxplains, "You aic dcai (dayiiam) io
all (allila). You aic millions ol iimcs moic dcai ilan lilc iiscll. You aic ilc
supicmc coniiollci (isvaiam)." Tlc woid "nu" is uscd lcic in ilc scnsc ol
"conclusion". Tlc vcisc ilcn asls, "Wlo, in oidci io aiiain maiciial wcalil
(aisvaiyaya), oi in oidci io aiiain libciaiion, wlicl cnablcs onc io loigci
(vismiiayc) ilc woild ol icpcaicd biiil and dcail, would lollow ilc pails ol
dlaima oi jnana and woislip ilc dcmigods'" Tlc answci is: No onc. Tlc woids
"lim va" imply, "Wc will aiiain all ilcsc bcncliis simply by cngaging in dcvoiional
scivicc". Tlc woid "va" lcic implics disicspcci.
6 Tlai all goals may bc aiiaincd by dcvoiional scivicc is conliimcd by ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.20.32):
Anuccheda 329
1 Hcic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad may iaisc ilc lollowing
objcciion: Wly is ii ilai ilc dcvoiccs icnouncc so many aiiainmcnis, bui ilcy do
noi icnouncc Mc' Did I do somciling io convincc ilcm io aci in ilis way'
Sii Uddlava givcs ilc lollowing icply (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.6):
2 "O my Loid! Tiansccndcnial pocis and cxpciis in spiiiiual scicncc could
noi lully cxpicss ilcii indcbicdncss io You, cvcn il ilcy wcic cndowcd wiil ilc
piolongcd lilciimc ol lialma, loi You appcai in iwo lcaiuics: cxicinally as ilc
acaiya and inicinally as ilc Supcisoul, io dclivci ilc cmbodicd living bcing by
diicciing lim low io comc io You."¯
3 Tlc liisi paii ol ilis vcisc mcans, "O Loid (isa), cvcn ilcy wlo lnow
cvciyiling (lavayal), wlo livc as long as Loid lialma, and wlo woislip You
duiing ilai cniiic iimc." Tlc vcisc ilcn coniinucs, "Tlcsc blisslul sainily
dcvoiccs icmcmbci (smaianial) low You lclpcd ilcm. Tlus ilcy considci ilai
ilcy aic indcbicd (apacaiiim) io You. Tlcy do noi scc (upayanii) any way io icpay
ilcii dcbi, and ilcicloic ilcy ncvci lcavc You."
+ Wlai ilc Loid did io lclp ilcm is ilcn dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids; "You
appcai in iwo lcaiuics: cxicinally as ilc acaiya and inicinally as ilc Supcisoul, io
dclivci ilc cmbodicd living bcing by diicciing lim low io comc io You."¯
Anuccheda 330
1 Tlcn, in ilc ncxi loui vciscs, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
piocccdcd io cxplain ilc naiuic ol puic dcvoiional scivicc unio Him. Hc said
(Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.S-11):
"Ycs, I slall dcsciibc io you ilc piinciplcs ol dcvoiion io Mc, by cxccuiing
wlicl a moiial luman bcing will conquci unconquciablc dcail.¯¯¯
"Always icmcmbciing Mc, onc slould pciloim all lis duiics loi Mc
wiiloui bccoming impciuous. Wiil mind and iniclligcncc ollcicd io Mc, onc
slould lix lis mind in aiiiaciion io My dcvoiional scivicc.¯¯¯
"Onc slould ialc slclici ol loly placcs wlcic My sainily dcvoiccs icsidc,
and onc slould bc guidcd by ilc cxcmplaiy aciiviiics ol My dcvoiccs, wlo appcai
among ilc dcmigods, dcmons and luman bcings.¯¯¯
"Liilci alonc oi in public gailciings, wiil singing, dancing, and oilci
cxlibiiions ol ioyal opulcncc, onc slould aiiangc io cclcbiaic ilosc loly days,
ccicmonics, and lcsiivals sci asidc spccially loi My woislip."¯¯¯
In ilcsc vciscs ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad mcicilully dcsciibcs
ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc.
2 Mosi pcoplc aic cngagcd in a lianiic compciiiion io cxploii ilc icsouiccs ol
maiciial naiuic. Tlc wisc, lowcvci, aic noi lilc ilai. Tlcy aic iniiospcciivc.
Tlcy woislip ilc Supcisoul picscni in ilc lcaii. Sccing ilc condiiion ol ilc
pcoplc in gcncial, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cndcavouis io iuin ilc
pcoplc away liom ilcii maiciial compciiiion and placc ilcii aiicniion on Him, ilc
Supcisoul in ilcii lcaiis. In ilc lollowing woids Hc dcsciibcs His Supcisoul loim
(llagavad-giia 10.+2):
3 "Wiil a singlc liagmcni ol Myscll I pcivadc and suppoii ilis cniiic
univcisc."¯
In ilis vcisc and in ilc lollowing onc, ilc Loid icaclcs ilc woislip ol His
paiiial cxpansion as ilc Supcisoul. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.12):
+ "Wiil a puic lcaii onc slould scc Mc, ilc Supicmc Soul wiilin all bcings
and also wiilin oncscll, io bc boil unblcmislcd by anyiling maiciial and also
picscni cvciywlcic, boil cxicinally and inicinally, jusi lilc ilc omnipicscni
sly."¯
"In ilcsc ilicc vciscs (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.12-1+), ilc Loid dcsciibcs
inicinal dcvoiional scivicc. Hc says, 'Onc slould scc Mc, ilc Supicmc Soul wiilin
all bcings and also wiilin oncscll'."
6 Wlai is ilc naiuic ol ilc Supicmc Loid' Hc cxplains in ilis vcisc, "I am
wiilin and wiiloui and I am pcilcci and complcic". How is ilai' Hc again
cxplains, "I am unblcmislcd by anyiling maiciial". How is ilai' Again Hc
cxplains, "lccausc I am all-powcilul, I am noi iouclcd by cilci oi ilc oilci
maiciial clcmcnis". Tlai is ilc mcaning. Tlc woids "mam cva ilscia" do noi
only mcan ilai onc slould scc ilc Supcisoul. Tlcy also mcan ilai onc slould scc
ilc loim ol Loid Sii Kisna. Tlis is so bccausc Siila Siidlaia Svami las cxplaincd
in lis commcniaiy, "In ilcsc vciscs ilc Loid dcsciibcs inicinal dcvoiional
scivicc."
Anucchedas 331 and 332
1-2 Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad ilcn coniinucs (Siimad llagavaiam
11.29.13-1+):
"O biilliani Uddlava, onc wlo ilus vicws all living cniiiics wiil ilc idca
ilai I am picscni wiilin cacl ol ilcm, and wlo by ialing slclici ol ilis divinc
lnowlcdgc ollcis duc icspcci io cvciyonc, is considcicd aciually wisc. Sucl a man
sccs cqually ilc bialmana and ilc ouicasic, ilc ilicl and ilc claiiiablc piomoici
ol bialmanical culiuic, ilc sun and ilc iiny spails ol liic, ilc gcnilc and ilc
ciucl."¯¯¯
3 Hcic "lcvalam jnanam" mcans "sccing ilc Supcisoul". In ilis vcisc ilc
Loid dcclaics, "Onc wlo ilus vicws all living cniiiics wiil ilc idca ilai I am
picscni, in My loim ol Sii Kisna, wiilin cacl ol ilcm, is considcicd aciually wisc.
Sccing Mc, lc sccs cqually ilc bialmana and cvciyonc clsc."
+ Tlc Supicmc Loid ilcn cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.15):
"Ioi lim wlo consianily mcdiiaics upon My picscncc wiilin all pcisons,
ilc bad icndcncics ol iivaliy, cnvy, and abusivcncss, along wiil lalsc cgo, aic vciy
quiclly dcsiioycd."¯¯¯
In ilis way by sciving ilc Loid in dcvoiional scivicc onc bccomcs licc liom
iivaliy and oilci laulis.
5 Tlcn ilc Supicmc Loid cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.16):
"Disicgaiding ilc iidiculc ol onc's companions, onc slould givc up ilc
bodily conccpiion and iis accompanying cmbaiiassmcni. Onc slould ollci
obcisanccs bcloic all, cvcn ilc gods, ouicasics, cows and asscs, lalling llai upon ilc
giound lilc a iod."¯¯¯
In ilis way onc slould ollci icspccilul obcisanccs io cvciyonc.
6 Tlcn ilc Supicmc Loid cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.17):
"Uniil onc las lully dcvclopcd ilc abiliiy io scc Mc wiilin all living bcings,
onc musi coniinuc io woislip mc by ilis pioccss wiil ilc aciiviiics ol lis spcccl,
mind and body."¯¯¯
Tlus onc slould coniinuc ilis mcilod ol woislip uniil onc sccs ilc
Supicmc Loid cvciywlcic.
7 Tlcn ilc Supicmc Loid cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.1S):
"ly sucl iiansccndcnial lnowlcdgc ol ilc all-pcivading Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, onc is ablc io scc ilc Absoluic Tiuil cvciywlcic. Iiccd ilus liom all
doubis, onc givcs up liuiiivc aciiviiics."¯¯¯
S Ii is also said (Siimad llagavaiam +.30.20):
"Always cngaging in ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc, dcvoiccs lccl cvci-
incicasingly licsl and ncw in all ilcii aciiviiics. Tlc all-lnowci, ilc Supcisoul
wiilin ilc lcaii ol ilc dcvoicc, malcs cvciyiling incicasingly licsl. Tlis is
lnown as ilc lialman posiiion by ilc advocaics ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil. In sucl a
libciaicd siagc (bialma-bluia), onc is ncvci bcwildcicd. Noi docs onc lamcni oi
bccomc unncccssaiily jubilani. Tlis is duc io ilc bialma-bluia siiuaiion."¯¯¯
9 Tlus in ilis vcisc spolcn by ilc Supicmc Loid io ilc Piaccias, and in Siila
Siidlaia Svami's commcniaiy on ilis vcisc as wcll, ii is conliimcd ilai dcvoiional
scivicc io ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is always ncw and licsl. Tlus ilc
icsuli ol dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd.
10 In ilc Gopala-iapani Upanisad (2.3+) ii is aslcd:
"Wly is Loid Kisna ilc bcsi loim ol ilc Supicmc Loid'" In ilis way ii is
alliimcd ilai ilc lumanlilc spiiiiual loim ol Loid Kisna is ilc bcsi loim ol ilc
Supicmc Loid and ilcicloic ilc woislip ol Him is ilc liglcsi lind ol woislip.
11 Tlis is conliimcd by Loid Kisna Himscll in ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
"Indccd I considci ilis pioccss: using onc's mind, woids, and bodily
lunciions loi icalising Mc wiilin all living bcings, io bc ilc bcsi possiblc mcilod
ol spiiiiual cnliglicnmcni."¯¯¯
12 Hcic ilc woid "saiva-lalpanam" mcans "ol all spiiiiual pioccsscs",
"sadliicinal" mcans "mosi appiopiiaic", and "mad-blaval" mcans "mcdiiaiion
on Sii Kisna".
13 Tlus ii is bciici io woislip Loid Kisna ilan io woislip ilc Supcisoul.
Tlis is conliimcd by Loid Kisna Himscll in ilc linal woids ol Sii llagavad-giia
(1S.61-66):
1+ "Tlc Supicmc Loid is siiuaicd in cvciyonc's lcaii, O Aijuna, and is
diicciing ilc wandciings ol all living cniiiics, wlo aic scaicd on a maclinc madc
ol ilc maiciial cncigy.¯
15 "O scion ol llaiaia, suiicndci unio Him uiicily. ly His giacc you will
aiiain iiansccndcnial pcacc and ilc supicmc and cicinal abodc.¯
16 "Tlus I lavc cxplaincd io you lnowlcdgc siill moic conlidcniial.
Dclibciaic on ilis lull, and ilcn do wlai you wisl io do.¯
17 "lccausc you aic My vciy dcai liicnd, I am spcaling io you My supicmc
insiiuciion, ilc mosi conlidcniial lnowlcdgc ol all. Hcai ilis liom Mc, loi ii is loi
youi bcnclii.¯
1S "Always ilinl ol Mc, bccomc My dcvoicc, woislip Mc and ollci youi
lomagc unio Mc. Tlus you will comc io Mc wiiloui lail. I piomisc you ilis
bccausc you aic My vciy dcai liicnd.¯
19 "Abandon all vaiiciics ol icligion and jusi suiicndci unio Mc. I slall
dclivci you liom all sinlul icaciions. Do noi lcai."¯
20 In ilc picvious clapicis ol llagavad-giia wcic picscnicd liisi conlidcniial
lnowlcdgc, ilcn moic conlidcniial lnowlcdgc, wlicl is ilc lnowlcdgc ol ilc
Supcisoul, and ilcn ilc mosi conlidcniial lnowlcdgc, wlicl is ilc lnowlcdgc ol
lixing ilc mind on Loid Kisna, ialing slclici ol Him alonc, suiicndciing io Him
along, and woislipping Him. Loid Kisna bcgins His dcsciipiion ol ilc mosi
conlidcniial lnowlcdgc wiil ilcsc woids (Sii llagavad-giia 9.1-2):
21 My dcai Aijuna, bccausc you aic ncvci cnvious ol Mc, I slall impaii io you
ilis mosi conlidcniial lnowlcdgc and icalisaiion, lnowing wlicl you slall bc
iclicvcd ol ilc misciics ol maiciial cxisicncc.¯
22 "Tlis lnowlcdgc is ilc ling ol cducaiion, ilc mosi sccici ol all sccicis. Ii is
ilc puicsi lnowlcdgc, and bccausc ii givcs diicci pciccpiion ol ilc scll by
icalisaiion, ii is ilc pcilcciion ol icligion. Ii is cvcilasiing, and ii is joylully
pciloimcd."¯
In ilc vciscs ilai lollow ilis, Loid Kisna piaiscs ilcy wlo lavc laiil in
Him and ciiiiciscs ilcy wlo lavc no laiil in woislipping Him in His oiiginal loim
as Loid Kisna. Hc says (llagavad giia 9.11-13):
23 "Iools dciidc Mc wlcn I dcsccnd in ilc luman loim. Tlcy do noi lnow
My iiansccndcnial naiuic as ilc Supicmc Loid ol all ilai bc.¯
2+ "Tlosc wlo aic ilus bcwildcicd aic aiiiacicd by dcmonic and ailcisiic
vicws. In ilai dcludcd condiiion, ilcii lopcs loi libciaiion, ilcii liuiiivc
aciiviiics, and ilcii culiuic ol lnowlcdgc aic all dclcaicd.¯
25 "O son ol Piila, ilosc wlo aic noi dcludcd, ilc gicai souls, aic undci ilc
pioicciion ol ilc divinc naiuic. Tlcy aic lully cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc
bccausc ilcy lnow Mc as ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, oiiginal and
incxlausiiblc."¯
26 llagavad-giia 9.11 mcans, "Iools dciidc Mc wlcn I dcsccnd in ilc luman
loim". In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai io woislip Loid Kisna is in cvciy way bciici
ilan io woislip ilc all-pcivading Supcisoul, and ilc woislip ol Loid Kisna is ilc
mosi conlidcniial lnowlcdgc dcsciibcd in ilc llagavad-giia.
Anuccheda 333
1 How impoiiani and cxalicd, ilcn, musi bc ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional
scivicc. Loid Kisna Himscll cxplains (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.21):
"O Uddlava, gicaicsi ol sainis, in a dangcious siiuaiion an oidinaiy pcison
ciics, bccomcs lcailul and lamcnis, alilougl sucl usclcss cmoiions do noi clangc
ilc siiuaiion. lui aciiviiics ollcicd io Mc wiiloui pcisonal moiivaiion, cvcn il
ilcy aic cxicinally usclcss, amouni io ilc aciual pioccss ol icligion."¯¯¯
2 Hcic ilc woid "mayi" mcans "ollcicd io Mc", "yo yo dlaimal" mcans
"wlaicvci aciiviiics aic picsciibcd by ilc Vcdas", "nisplalaya lalpyaic" mcans "il
ilcy biings no icsuli". Tlcsc aciiviiics aic ollcicd wiiloui any dcsiic io aiiain a
icsuli. Tlai is ilc mcaning. Il ilcy aic ollcicd in ilai way, lowcvci, ilcsc
aciiviiics aic noi usclcss. Tlc woids "biing no icsuli" lcic mcan ilai ilcy do noi
biing laimic icsulis ilai will bccomc an impcdimcni io dcvoiional scivicc. Tlai is
ilc mcaning.
3 Il ilis is so loi ilcsc aciiviiics, ilcn low mucl moic so musi ii bc loi diicci
dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna, wlicl is so iaic' Hcic an cxamplc is givcn wiil
ilc woid "blayadcl". Hcic ilc Loid says, "Tlc lcai and oilci cmoiions ilai
Kamsa and oilci dcmons lcli loi Mc wcic noi in vain." Tlis is so bccausc ilcsc
cmoiions biougli libciaiion. Tlai is ilc mcaning.
Anuccheda 33+
1 Puic dcvoiccs ol Loid Kisna, wlo aic lilc Sii Uddlava, lind ilai Loid
Kisna is boil ilc goal and ilc mcans io aiiain ilc goal. Loid Kisna cxplains
2 "Tliougl analyiic lnowlcdgc, iiiualisiic woil, mysiic yoga, mundanc
busincss and poliiical iulc, pcoplc sccl io advancc in icligiosiiy, cconomic
dcvclopmcni, scnsc giaiilicaiion and libciaiion. lui bccausc you aic My dcvoicc,
wlaicvci mcn can accomplisl in ilcsc muliilaiious ways you will vciy casily lind
wiilin Mc."¯¯¯
3 Hcic Loid Kisna says, "All ol ilc loui goals ol luman lilc, goals ilai bcgin
wiil maiciial piciy, You will vciy casily lind wiilin Mc". Hcic ilc woid "jnanc"
mcans "libciaiion", "laimani" mcans "pious dccds and scnsc giaiilicaiion",
"yogc" mcans "ilc vaiious linds ol mysiic pcilcciions", "vaiiayam" mcans
"mundanc busincss", and "danda-dlaianc" mcans "in poliiical iulc". In ilis way
ilc loui goals ol luman lilc aic undcisiood. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by ilc
Anuccheda 335
1 Sii Uddlava again ollcis piaycis. Hc says (Siimad llagavaiam 11.29.+0):
"Obcisanccs unio You, O gicaicsi ol yogis. Plcasc insiiuci mc, wlo am
suiicndcicd unio You, low may I lavc undcviaiing aiiaclmcni io Youi loius
lcci."¯¯¯
"Hcic Sii Uddlava says, 'Alilougl You lavc alicady lclpcd mc in many
ways, siill I malc ilis icqucsi.' Tlcn Uddlava says 'O Loid, plcasc insiiuci mc'.
Tlc woid 'anapayini' lcic mcans cvcn alici libciaiion'."
Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Uddlava.
Anuccheda 336
1 In anoilci passagc Sii Uddlava asls ilc lollowing qucsiion (Siimad
llagavaiam 11.1+.31):
"My dcai loius-cycd Kisna, by wlai pioccss slould onc wlo dcsiics
libciaiion mcdiiaic upon You, ol wlai spccilic naiuic slould lis mcdiiaiion bc,
and upon wlicl loim slould lc mcdiiaic' Kindly cxplain io mc ilis iopic ol
mcdiiaiion."¯¯¯
"Hcic Sii Uddlava asls, 'How slould onc wlo dcsiics libciaiion mcdiiaic
on You. Plcasc icll ilis io mc'. Uddlava coniinucs, 'I am Youi scivani, and I wisl
io undcisiand ilis. I nccd noi cngagc in yoga mcdiiaiion.' Sii Uddlava limscll
answcicd ilis qucsiion in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 11.6.+60):
"Simply by dccoiaiing ouisclvcs wiil ilc gailands, liagiani oils,, cloilcs
mcals, wc, Youi scivanis, will indccd conquci Youi illusoiy cncigy."¯¯¯
Anuccheda 337
1 Auspiciousncss gicaici ilan ilai manilcsicd in Loid Kisna was ncvci
manilcsicd in any onc ol ilc many incainaiions ol ilc Loid. In Siimad
llagavaiam (3.2.23) ii is said:
2 "Alas, low slall I ialc slclici ol onc moic mcicilul ilai Hc wlo gianicd
ilc posiiion ol moilci io a slc-dcmon (Puiana) alilougl slc was unlaiillul and
slc picpaicd dcadly poison io bc suclcd liom lci bicasi'"¯
3 Tlc woids "dlaiiya ya uciia gaiil" mcan "ilc posiiion ol a moilci". Tlis
vcisc was spolcn by Sii Uddlava.
Anuccheda 338
1 Tlus is icvcalcd ilc gicai gloiy ol dcvoiional scivicc io Loid Kisna, wlo
cnjoys iiansccndcnial pasiimcs in Sii Golula. Tlai gloiy is also icvcalcd in ilc
lollowing siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam (10.6.35):
"Puiana was always lanlciing loi ilc blood ol luman clildicn, and wiil
ilai dcsiic slc camc io lill Kisna, bui bccausc slc ollcicd lci bicasi io ilc Loid,
slc aiiaincd ilc gicaicsi aclicvcmcni. Wlai ilcn is io bc said ol ilosc wlo lad
naiuial dcvoiion and allcciion loi Kisna as moilcis and wlo ollcicd Him ilcii
bicasis io sucl oi ollcicd somciling vciy dcai, as a moilci ollcis somciling io a
clild'"¯
2 Tlc gloiy ol dcvoiional scivicc is also icvcalcd in ilc lollowing passagc ol
Siimad llagavaiam (10.7.1), wlicl las alicady bccn quoicd in Sii Kisna-
sandaibla:
"King Paiilsii said: My loid, Suladcva Gosvami, all ilc vaiious aciiviiics
cxlibiicd by ilc incainaiions ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad aic cciiainly
plcasing io ilc cai and io ilc mind. Simply by onc's lcaiing ol ilcsc aciiviiics, ilc
diiiy ilings in onc's mind immcdiaicly vanisl. Gcncially wc aic icluciani io lcai
aboui ilc aciiviiics ol ilc Loid, bui Kisna's clildlood aciiviiics aic so aiiiaciivc
ilai ilcy aic auiomaiically plcasing io ilc mind and cai. Tlus onc's aiiaclmcni
loi lcaiing aboui maiciial ilings, wlicl is ilc iooi causc ol maiciial cxisicncc,
vanislcs, and onc giadually dcvclops dcvoiional scivicc io ilc Supicmc Loid,
aiiaclmcni loi Him, and liicndslip wiil dcvoiccs wlo givc us ilc coniiibuiion ol
Kisna consciousncss. Il you ilinl ii lii, lindly spcal aboui ilosc aciiviiics ol ilc
Loid."¯
Tlc Loid's bcsi pasiimcs aic ilosc in Golula sucl as His pasiimc ol ilc
iasa dancc wiil ilc gopis. Tlis is also conliimcd by ilc lollowing woids (Siimad
3 "Anyonc wlo laiillully lcais oi dcsciibcs ilc Loid's playlul allaiis wiil ilc
young gopis ol Vindavana will aiiain ilc Loid's puic dcvoiional scivicc. Tlus lc
will quiclly bccomc sobci and conquci lusi, ilc discasc ol ilc lcaii."¯
+ Hcic ilc woid "ca" mcans "oilcis also" and "aila" mcans "oi". Tlus ilc
woids "sinuyad aila vainayci" mcans "lcais oi dcsciibcs". Tlus onc mcdiiaics on
ilc Loid's pasiimcs oi pciccivcs ilcm in oilci ways. "Paiam" mcans "noiling is
bciici ilan ilis", "lid-iogam" mcans "onc is quiclly cuicd ol lusi and oilci viccs
in ilc lcaii". In ilis way ii is piovcd ilai ilc woislip ol Loid Kisna as Hc cnjoys
pasiimcs wiil His mosi bclovcd Sii Radla is ilc liglcsi loim ol woislip.
Howcvci, ilcsc pasiimcs aic vciy conlidcniial. Onc slould noi ilinl ilcsc
pasiimcs aic lilc ilc pasiimcs ol luman bcings wiil maiciial scnscs and maiciial
iclaiions ol lailci, sons, scivanis and ilc lilc. Sucl an idca coniiadicis ilc iiuc
siiuaiion. Sucl an idca will bccomc an impcdimcni io onc's spiiiiual piogicss. In
onc scnsc, somc paiis ol ilcsc pasiimcs aic cspccially conlidcniial. In anoilci
scnsc, all ol ilcsc pasiimcs aic vciy conlidcniial. In ilis way ii slould bc
undcisiood. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Siila Suladcva Gosvami.
Anuccheda 339
1 In ilis way ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc las bccn icvcalcd. Tlis
conlidcniial lnowlcdgc slould bc icvcalcd io a pcison wlo las aiiaincd ilc mcicy
ol lis spiiiiual masici oi ilc mcicy ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, a
pcison wlo las aiiaincd ilc goal ol lis spiiiiual cndcavouis. Tlis conlidcniial
lnowlcdgc slould noi bc icvcalcd io oilcis. Tlis is cxplaincd in ilc lollowing
woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (S.17.20):
2 "O Lady, cvcn il somconc inquiics, you slould noi disclosc ilis laci io
anyonc. Tlai wlicl is vciy conlidcniial is succcsslul il lcpi sccici."¯
3 Hcic ilc woid "sampadyaic" mcans "givcs ilc icsuli". Tlis vcisc was
spolcn by Loid Visnu io Adiii.
Anuccheda 3+0
1 In ilis way ilc pail ol sadlana blalii las bccn icvcalcd. Tlc pail io
pcilcciion is icvcalcd in ilcsc woids ol Siimad llagavaiam (1.2.16):
2 Tlc pail io pcilcciion is also icvcalcd in ilcsc woids ol Sii Naiada Muni
(Siimad llagavaiam 1.5.23-26): "O Muni, in ilc lasi millcnnium I was boin as ilc
son ol a cciiain maidscivani cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol bialmanas wlo wcic
lollowing ilc piinciplcs ol Vcdania. Wlcn ilcy wcic living iogcilci duiing ilc
loui monils ol ilc iainy scason, I was cngagcd in ilcii pcisonal scivicc.¯
"Alilougl ilcy wcic impaiiial by naiuic, ilosc lollowcis ol ilc Vcdania
blcsscd mc wiil ilcii causclcss mcicy. As lai as I was conccincd, I was scll-
coniiollcd and lad no aiiaclmcni loi spoiis, cvcn ilougl I was a boy. In
addiiion, I was noi naugliy, and I did noi spcal moic ilan icquiicd.¯
"Oncc only, by ilcii pcimission, I iool ilc icmnanis ol ilcii lood, and by
so doing all my sins wcic ai oncc ciadicaicd. Tlus bcing cngagcd, I bccamc
puiilicd in lcaii, and ai ilai iimc ilc vciy naiuic ol ilc iiansccndcnialisi bccamc
aiiiaciivc io mc.¯
"O Vyasadcva, in ilai associaiion and by ilc mcicy ol ilosc gicai
Vcdaniisis, I could lcai ilcm dcsciibc ilc aiiiaciivc aciiviiics ol Loid Kisna. And
ilus lisicning aiicniivcly, my iasic loi lcaiing ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad incicascd ai cvciy sicp."¯
3 Tlc pail io pcilcciion is also icvcalcd in ilcsc woids ol Loid Kapiladcva
+ Dcvoiional scivicc pciloimcd wiil a dcsiic io aiiain libciaiion is dcsciibcd
in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam 3.25.26):
"Tlus consciousncss cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc in ilc associaiion ol
dcvoiccs, a pcison gains disiasic loi scnsc giaiilicaiion, boil in ilis woild and in
ilc ncxi, by consianily ilinling aboui ilc aciiviiics ol ilc Loid. Tlis pioccss ol
Kisna consciousncss is ilc casicsi pioccss ol mysiic powci. Wlcn onc is aciually
siiuaicd on ilai pail ol dcvoiional scivicc, lc is ablc io coniiol ilc mind."¯
5 Puic dcvoiional scivicc is dcsciibcd in ilcsc woids (Siimad llagavaiam
3.25.3+):
"A puic dcvoicc, wlo is aiiaclcd io ilc aciiviiics ol dcvoiional scivicc and
wlo always cngagcs in ilc scivicc ol My loius lcci, ncvci dcsiics io bccomc onc
wiil Mc. Sucl a dcvoicc, wlo is unllinclingly cngagcd, always gloiilics My
pasiimcs and aciiviiics."¯
In ilis way ilc scqucncc ol aciiviiics by wlicl onc giadually malcs
advanccmcni in dcvoiional scivicc is io bc undcisiood.
6 Tlc aciiviiics ol puic dcvoiional scivicc aic also dcsciibcd in ilis
insiiuciions spolcn by Sii Piallada io ilc dcmons' sons (Siimad llagavaiam
7.7.30-31):
"Onc musi acccpi ilc bona lidc spiiiiual masici and icndci scivicc unio
lim wiil gicai dcvoiion and laiil. Wlaicvci onc las in onc's posscssion slould
bc ollcicd io ilc spiiiiual masici, and in ilc associaiion ol sainily pcisons and
dcvoiccs onc slould woislip, ilc Loid, lcai ilc gloiics ol ilc Loid wiil laiil,
gloiily ilc iiansccndcnial qualiiics and aciiviiics ol ilc Loid, always mcdiiaic on
ilc Loid's loius lcci and woislip ilc Dciiy ol ilc Loid siiicily accoiding io ilc
injunciions ol ilc sasiia and guiu.¯
7 In somc ciicumsianccs ii may bc possiblc io pass ovci ilc vaiious siagcs in
ilc pail ol dcvoiional scivicc and quiclly aiiain pcilcciion. Tlc lollowing
cxamplc is givcn (Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+2-+3):
S "Dcvoiion, diicci cxpciicncc ol ilc Supicmc Loid, and dciaclmcni liom
oilci ilings, ilcsc ilicc occui simuliancously loi onc wlo las ialcn slclici ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, in ilc samc way ilai plcasuic, nouiislmcni and iclicl liom lungci
comc simuliancously and incicasingly, wiil cacl biic, loi a pcison cngagcd in
caiing.¯
9 "My dcai King, ilc dcvoicc wlo woislips ilc loius lcci ol ilc inlalliblc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad wiil consiani cndcavoui ilus aclicvcs unllincling
dcvoiion, dciaclmcni and cxpciicnccd lnowlcdgc ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad.
In ilis way ilc succcsslul dcvoicc ol ilc Loid aclicvcs supicmc spiiiiual
pcacc."¯¯¯
"Hcic ilc woid "piapadyamanasya" mcans "ol a pcison wlo woislips Loid
Haii', "blaliil" mcans "dcvoiional scivicc claiaciciiscd by lovc ol God",
"paicsanublaval" mcans "ilc diicci manilcsiaiion ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad, wlo is ilc abodc ol spiiiiual lovc", "viialiil" mcans "lillcd wiil
spiiiiual lappincss by sccing ilc Loid, onc bccomcs dciaclcd liom lis lomc and
oilci maiciial aiiiaciions", "iiy csa iiila cla-lalal" iclcis io ilc iimc ol cngaging
in dcvoiional scivicc", "yailasnaial" mcans "ol onc cngagcd in caiing", "iusiil"
mcans "lappincss", and "pusiil syul" mcans "lilling ilc siomacl". Tlis mcans
ilai wiil cvciy biic onc's lungci bccomcs diminislcd. Tlis lappcns wiil cvciy
mouillul ol iicc. ly oncc woislipping ilc Loid ilc ilicc ilings ilai bcgin wiil
lovc loi ilc Loid aic manilcsicd simuliancously. Wlcn onc woislips ilc Loid
consianily "blajaio nuviiiya" onc gains gicai lovc loi ilc Loid. As by caiing many
mouilluls ol lood onc aiiains gicai saiislaciion, so by woislipping ilc Loid
consianily by ilc Loid's mcicy onc also aiiains gicai saiislaciion and ilc supicmc
succcss in lilc. Tlis is dcsciibcd in Siimad llagavaiam 11.2.+3."
11 Hcic ilc woid "saniim" mcans "ilc linal succcss", "salsai" mcans "wlicl
las nciilci insidc noi ouisidc". Tlis is so bccausc by always woislipping ilc
Loid onc aiiains ilc linal goal ol lilc. In ilc picvious vcisc (Siimad llagavaiam
11.2.+2) an cxamplc ol dcvoiional scivicc, saiislaciion, and oilci ilings was givcn.
In ilai cxamplc dcvoiional scivicc and plcasuic wcic compaicd bccausc ilcy boil
lavc lappincss as a common clcmcni, nouiislmcni and diicci pciccpiion ol ilc
Loid wcic compaicd bccausc ilcy boil lavc saiislaciion ol ilc scll as a common
clcmcni, and iclicl liom lungci was compaicd io dciaclmcni bccausc ilcy boil
lavc pcacclulncss as a common clcmcni. As by caiing lood onc bccomcs licc liom
lungci, so by woislipping ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad onc bccomcs
dciaclcd liom maiciial ilings. Tlis cxamplc is givcn lcic bccausc ii slows
disinicicsi in oilci ilings. Tlis vcisc was spolcn by Sii Kavi io Malaiaja Nimi.
In ilis way dcvoiional scivicc, wlicl is lnown as ablidlcya, las bccn
cxplaincd. Onc slould lcain moic aboui dcvoiional scivicc by siudying ilc
sciipiuics and lcaiing ilc cxplanaiions ol ilc gicai dcvoiccs.
EpiIogue
Sii Sii Radla-Kisna, ai wlosc loius lcci siay ilc spiiiiual masici, ilc
sciipiuics, laiil, aiiiaciion, lollowing, and pcilcciion, wlosc loius lcci aic my
cvciyiling, wlosc cycs aic lloodcd wiil icais ol mcicy, and wlo aic ilc slclici ol
ilcy wlo lavc no oilci slclici, aic my only slclici.
Tlus cnds Siila Jiva Gosvami's Sii llalii-sandaibla.

Jiva Goswami Sri Bhakti Sandarbha

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Sri Bhakfi-sandarbha

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