Monday, March 10, 2014

Śrī Śrī Prema-Bhakti-Candrikā 38 (comm. by Śrī Anantadāsa Bābājī Mahārāja)


মো সম পতিত নাই,        ত্রিভুবনে দেখ চাই,
নরোত্তম-পাবন নাম ধর ।
ঘুষুক সংসারে নাম,        পতিত-পাবন শ্যাম,
নিজদাস কর গিরিধর ॥ ৩৮ ॥

mo sama patita nāi,        tribhubane dekha cāi,
narottama-pābana nāma dhara |
ghuṣuka saṁsāre nāma,        patita-pābana śyāma,
nija-dāsa kara giridhara || 38 ||

     Giridhara! You will not find anyone in the three worlds as fallen as I. Please accept the name Narottama-Pāvana, the Savior of Narottama. Let this name be proclaimed throughout the world, O Patita-Pāvana Śyāma, and make me your own servant.

Being Giridhārī’s Servant

     Sudhā-Kaṇikā-Vyākhyā: After gradually increasing, Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya’s humility has reached its zenith. Such humility is indicative of the maturity of his prema. dainyaṁ tu paramaṁ premṇaḥ paripākena janyate (Śrī Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛtam 2.5.224). According to the depth one’s prema has attained in the mature state of humility, one’s eagerness to serve his beloved also increases. Therefore, with the increase of eagerness, the increase of prema is also inferred. Humility and eagerness constitute the natural dharma of prema. Humility attracts the compassion of one’s beloved, and compassion resides within humility. Therefore, the sādhaka must diligently try to maintain humility with his body, mind and words. In Śrī Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛtam 2.5.223, we find the following:

yayā vācehayā dainyaṁ matyā ca sthairyam iti tat
taṁ yatnena bhajed vidvāṁs tad-viruddhāni varjayet || 


     “An intelligent sādhaka should carefully engage his words, actions and intellect in behavior that establishes him in humility and should abandon any contrary behavior.” Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya is the embodiment of prema; consequently, humility is his natural treasure. Therefore, with the extraordinary force of absolute humility, he says, mo sama patita nāi, tribhubane dekha cāi, narottama-pābana nāma dhara. “O Master! Śrī Kṛṣṇa! There is no one in the three worlds as fallen or lowly as I. If you consider this for a moment, you can see it is easily understood.” This is the nature of true humility. Those who are actually sinful, afflicted, lowly or fallen do not think of themselves as sinful or lowly. The world is purified by contact with the dust from the lotus feet of those who are sinless great souls. They consider themselves the most sinful, afflicted, lowly and fallen beings in the three worlds, or as burdens on the world. Therefore, this is not ordinary humility. This type of humility, which is a great quality or ornament for a bhakta, arises from bhāgavatī-bhakti, which is endowed with extraordinarily wonderful qualities. Adorned with this ornament of humility, the bhakta attracts the Lord’s mercy. Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya says, “Lord! After rescuing me, you should accept the name Narottama-Pāvana, the Savior of Narottama. Among your unlimited names, this name above all is evidence that you rescue the fallen. As this name is proclaimed throughout the universe, let hope appear in the hearts of the sinful and afflicted. ghuṣuka saṁsāre nāma, patita-pābana śyāma, nija-dāsa kara giridhara. ‘O Śyāma! This name Narottama-Pāvana is the highest embodiment of your desire to rescue the fallen. As it spreads throughout the world, let the lowly and fallen be uplifted and inspired to perform bhajana at your lotus feet. O Giridhara! O Master! Please make this humble person your servant and bless him with the gift of sevā.” Here, the import of addressing Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Giridhara is that after Kṛṣṇa thwarted the sacrifice to Indra and established śrī-govardhana-pūjā, Indra became furious. Resolving to destroy Vraja, he employed the clouds that appear at the time of universal dissolution to create a terrible rainstorm. Then, to protect the Vrajavāsīs, Śrī Kṛṣṇa held the huge Govardhana Hill in his left hand for seven days and nights, sheltering them safely from the storm. Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya is saying, “O Giridhara! Like the clouds of universal destruction, kāma and the other enemies have rained anarthas upon me and caused me to float toward the ocean of misery. Lord! Give meaning to your ‘Giridhara’ name by granting me a safe place in the shade of your umbrella-like lotus feet.”



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