Śrī Śrī Prema-Bhakti-Candrikā 81 (comm. by Śrī Anantadāsa Bābājī Mahārāja)

লুবধ ভ্রমর যেন,        চকোর চন্দ্রিকা তেন,

পতিব্রতাজন যেন পতি ।

অন্যত্র না চলে মন,        যেন দরিদ্রের ধন,

এই মত প্রেমভক্তি রীতি ॥ ৮১ ॥

lubadha bhramara yena,        cakora candrikā tena,

patibratā-jana yena pati |

anyatra nā cale mana,        yena daridrera dhana,

ei mata prema-bhakti rīti || 81 ||

     Like a bee hungry for flower nectar or a cakora bird longing for moonlight; like a wife devoted to her husband or a poor person always thinking of money, the bhakta’s mind never wanders. Such is the nature of prema-bhakti.

The Nature of Prema-Bhakti

     Sudhā-Kaṇikā-Vyākhyā: After discussing the nature of the ekānti-bhakta, Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya now addresses  the nature of prema-bhakti. lubadha bhramara yena, cakora candrikā tena, patibratā-jana yena pati; anyatra nā cale mana, yena daridrera dhana, ei mata prema-bhakti rīti. One who has love for Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa is like a bee hungry for flower nectar, a cakora bird longing for moonlight and a wife devoted to her husband. Just as a bee hungry for flower nectar constantly searches with his body and mind for clusters of lotuses, in the same way, the bhakta’s mind-bee is ever eager to taste the nectar of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Just as a cakora bird longs to taste the light of the full moon, in the same way, the bhakta’s heart-cakora always longs to taste the sweetness of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda’s moonlike faces. A loving, devoted wife perceives nothing but her husband while awake, dreaming or deeply asleep. Always engaged in service to him, she is unaware of when day turns to night. In the same way, a premika-bhakta always engages his body, mind and words in singleminded service to Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava.

     Or, just as the thirsty bee, the cakora and the devoted wife have profound attachment for the lotus, the moon and the husband respectively, in the same way, the loving bhakta has profound attachment to Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava’s lotus feet. In Śrī-Govinda-Bhāṣya, Śrīpāda Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa has written that bhaktas who are devoted to the worship of Śrī Hari are better ekāntīs than those who desire some reward because the hari-bhaktas only have faith in spiritual substance. Moreover, better than this type of ekāntī are those bhaktas whose hearts and minds are devoted to the form of Vrajendranandana. Even the kindness and serenity of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa cannot steal their minds. Among the devout ekāntīs, those bhaktas who are devoted to the lotus feet of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava are the highest of all because Vrajendranandana alone, without Śrī Rādhārāṇī, is not able to please their hearts and minds.

     In Śrī-Prīti-Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmipāda has differentiated the ekānti-bhaktas and shown comparisons of their devotion: ekāntinas tāvad dvividhāḥ, ajāta-jāta-prītis tv abhedena. jāta-prītayaś ca trividhāḥ eke tadīyānubhava-mātra-niṣṭhāḥ śānta-bhaktādayaḥ anye tadīya-darśana-sevanādi-rasamayāḥ parikara-viśeṣābhimāninaḥ, svayaṁ parikara-viśeṣāś ca. tatra teṣu ajāta-prītibhiḥ sarva-puruṣārthatvena tat-prītir eva prārthanīyā. atha jāta-prītiṣu śānta-bhaktādayas tu kadācid darśanādikaṁ vā prārthayante sevādikaṁ vinaiva; tad-vāsanāyā abhāvāt. sakṛd api kṛpā-dṛṣṭyādi-lābhena tṛptāś ca bhavanti; ‘nātikṣāmaṁ bhagavataḥ snigdhāpāṅga-vilokanād iti’ śrī-kardama varṇanāt ataeva tat-sāmīpyādike’pi teṣām anāgrahaḥ. ye tat-parikara-viśeṣābhimāninas te khalu tat-tat-prīti-viśeṣotkaṇṭhito yadā bhavanti tadā tat-tat-sevā-viśeṣecchayā prārthayanta eva tat-sāmīpyādikam. tat-prārthanā ca prīti-vilāsa-rūpaiva. puṣṇāti ca tām iti guṇa eva. yadā ca teṣāṁ dainyena tat-prāpty-asambhāvanā jāyate tadāpi ca tat-prīty-aviccheda-mātraṁ prārthayante. so’pi ca guṇa eva. yat tu kevala-saṁsāra-mokṣa-tat-sāmīpyānanda-viśeṣa-prārthanaṁ prīti-vikāratā-śūnyaṁ tat, punaḥ sarvathā keśāñcid apy ekāntināṁ nābhirucitam (51 anuh).

     The purport is that there are two kinds of ekānti-bhaktas: those in whom love has arisen (jāta-prīti) and those in whom it has not (ajāta-prīti). There are three kinds of jāta-prīti devotees: (1) the śānta-bhaktas and so on who have faith only in the majesty of Śrī Bhagavān; (2) those who conceive of themselves as Śrī Bhagavān’s companions or assistants during darśana, sevā and so on; and (3) those who are Śrī Bhagavān’s personal companions. The ajāta-prīti-bhaktas always pray for Bhagavān’s love in the form of attaining the goals of human life. The jāta-prīti-śānta-bhaktas will at some time or other pray for darśana only, without sevā. They have no desire for sevā; they are satisfied by simply once receiving Bhagavān’s merciful glance. We see in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.21.46 that although Śrī Kardama Muni had been weakened by austerities, he didn’t appear overly emaciated because he had obtained Śrī Bhagavān’s affectionate glance and had been drinking the nectar of his moonlike words. By this it is understood that he never desired sevā, only darśana. Such bhaktas always perceive the Lord in their hearts, but they have no inclination to serve him in person. 

     When the bhaktas who conceive of themselves as Śrī Bhagavān’s companions or assistants become eager for dāsya, sakhya and the other types of love, they pray for suitable services to perform in his presence. Their prayers are filled with the play of love and they nourish love; therefore, they are ornaments, not defilements. Moreover, out of humility, they sometimes feel it is impossible for them to attain Bhagavān, so they also pray for divine love that is never interrupted. This is also a quality rather than a fault. On the other hand, prayers only for liberation from material life and the joy of living near Bhagavān, but which are devoid of love, are never pleasing to the ekānti-bhaktas. For this reason, Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya has said, anyatra nā cale mana, yena daridrera dhana, ei mata prema-bhakti rīti. “Like a poor person always thinking of money, the bhakta’s mind goes nowhere else. Such is the nature of prema-bhakti.”

Śrī Śrī Prema-Bhakti-Candrikā 80 (comm. by Śrī Anantadāsa Bābājī Mahārāja)

জল বিনু যেন মীন,        দুঃখ পায় আয়ুহীন,

প্রেম বিনু সেই মত ভক্ত ।

চাতক জলদগতি,        এমতি একান্তরীতি,

যেই জানে সেই অনুরক্ত ॥ ৮০ ॥

jala binu yena mīna,        duḥkha pāya āyu-hīna,

prema binu sei mata bhakta |

cātaka jalada-gati,        emati ekānta-rīti,

yei jāne sei anurakta || 80 ||

     Like a fish without water, a bhakta without prema becomes miserable and lifeless. One who understands the ways of an ekānti-bhakta becomes devoted to prema, like a cātaka bird taking refuge of the clouds.

The Nature of the Singleminded Bhakta

     Sudhā-Kaṇikā-Vyākhyā: Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya has previously given instructions to the eager sādhakas regarding how to become fixed in prema after giving up all other desires. Here, in this verse, he firmly demonstrates that through the example of ekānti-bhaktas (singleminded devotees). jala binu yena mīna, duḥkha pāya āyu-hīna, prema binu sei mata bhakta. Those who have completely given up all desires for anything other than prema, and have been able to devote themselves singlemindedly to prema, are qualified to attain prema. Fish are only truly satisfied in the water; water is their life. If removed from the water, they flop about in great misery and soon die. Bhaktas who are devoted to prema must be like that. Prema must be their life, and they must desire nothing else in the world. Nārada said to Śrī Vyāsa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.18:

tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido 

na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ |

tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukhaṁ 

kālena sarvatra gabhīra-raṁhasā ||

     “A wise person should endeavor for bhagavat-prema, which cannot be attained by wandering from the highest wombs, such as of the gods, to the lowest, like the immobile trees. Because of ancient karma, sensual pleasure is obtained in due course without effort, as is misery.” Śrī Jīva Gosvāmipāda has written the following in his Prīti-Sandarbha: tasmāt tat-tad-bhaktānāṁ tat-prīti-manoratha evopādeyaḥ. tad-anyas tu sarvo’pi heya ityāha–kim alabhyaṁ bhagavati prasanne śrī-niketane, tathāpi tat-parā rājann iha vāñchanti kiñcana. yathaivāha–punaś ca bhūyād bhagavaty anante rati-prasaṅgaś ca tad-āśrayeṣu. mahatsu yāṁ yām upayāmi sṛṣṭaṁ maitras tu sarvatra namo dvijebhyaḥ. ataevāha–na vai mukundasya padāravindayoḥ rajo-juṣas tāta bhavādṛśā janāḥ. vāñchanti tad-dāsyam ṛte’rtham ātmano yadṛcchayā labdha-manaḥ samṛddhayaḥ. yadṛcchayā ānāyāsenaiva labdhā manaḥ samṛddhir yeṣāṁ te. svato bhakti-māhātmya-balena sarva-puruṣārtha-pratīkṣita-kṛpā-dṛṣṭi-leśā apīty arthaḥ. The bhagavad-bhaktas’ desire for bhagavat-prīti (love of Bhagavān) is admirable; everything else is insignificant to them. Śrī Śukadeva Muni said to Parīkṣit, “If one satisfies Bhagavān Śrīnivāsa, what remains unattainable for him? Still, those who are devoted to Bhagavān desire nothing.” Consumed by the brāhmaṇa’s curse, Mahārāja Parīkṣit petitioned the munis: “O brāhmaṇas, bowing at your feet, I ask the blessing that in whatever life I may take birth, my love for Bhagavān will remain and I will have the association of great devotees and friendship with all creatures.” The bhaktas’ only desire is for love of Bhagavān. Therefore, Śrī Maitreya Ṛṣi said to Vidura, “Dear one, bhaktas like you who worship the pollen of Śrī Mukunda’s lotus feet desire nothing but the nectar of his service. They are satisfied by whatever is easily obtained; no perception of scarcity remains in their minds.” The word yadṛcchayā means ‘by chance, unexpectedly, spontaneously.’ Other than prema, what more can be desired by those who are satisfied by that which is easily obtained? Due to the power of bhakti, all puruṣārthas (objects of human pursuit)* spontaneously wait for the merciful glance of such a devotee. Because bhaktas are most thirsty for prema and their lives are devoted to prema, which is the parama-puruṣārtha, a bhakta without prema has been compared to a fish without water.

     Then Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya says, cātaka jalada-gati, emati ekānta-rīti, yei jāne sei anurakta. A cātaka bird is attached to drinking drops of water released from clouds. Though being thirsty, they do not drink water from rivers, streams, ponds and so on. Parched from the severe summer heat, they look toward the sky. When the rainy season arrives, they quench their intense thirst by drinking raindrops. In the same way, the ekānti-bhaktas desire nothing but prema at the feet of their cherished deity. Though there are various kinds of sensual pleasures and accomplishments that are desired by worldly people, like bhukti (enjoyment), mukti (liberation) and siddhi (supernatural powers), the ekānti-bhakta’s bird of life constantly thirsts only for a drop of prema.

     The following is written in Śrī-Garuḍa-Purāṇa in the discussion regarding the characteristics of an ekānti-bhakta: ekāntena sadā viṣṇau yasmād eva parāyaṇāḥ; tasmād ekāntinaḥ proktā tad-bhāva-gata-cetasaḥ. “Because the bhaktas whose hearts and minds are absorbed in love of Bhagavān are singlemindedly devoted to him, they are called ekāntī.” In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.3.20, Gajendra says, ekāntino yasya na kañcanārthaṁ vāñchanti ye vai bhagavat-prapannāḥ. “Those who have taken exclusive shelter of Śrī Hari do not want anything else from him.” In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.55, Śrī Rudra says, taṁ durārādhyam ārādhya satām api durāpayā ekānta-bhaktyā ko vāñchet pāda-mūlaṁ vinā bahiḥ. “O Bhagavān! You are difficult to appease, but who desires anything other than the soles of your feet after having worshiped you with ekānta-bhakti, which is rarely attainable for even the virtuous?”

     In Śrī-Hari-Bhakti-Vilāsa, four kinds of exclusive devotion have been mentioned along with examples of each: neglect of dharma; complete disinterest in karma, jñāna and so on; devotion to love in spite of obstacles; and devotion to nothing but love. 

     (1) Examples of neglect of dharma:

ājñāyaiva guṇān doṣān 

mayādiṣṭān api svakān |

dharmān santyajya yaḥ sarvān 

māṁ bhajet sa ca sattamaḥ ||

     Śrī Bhagavān said, “O Uddhava! One who abandons all dharmas and worships me, though understanding that performance of one’s own dharma as taught in my Vedas leads to virtue and non-performance leads to vice; who considers the performance of such duties to be a distraction from his meditation on me; and who has the firm conviction that he will attain all success through bhakti, such a person is regarded as an uttama-sādhu (highest-level saint).” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.11.32)

sarva-dharmān parityajya 

mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja |

ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo 

mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ ||

     “O Arjuna, abandon all duties prescribed by varṇāśrama and take refuge only in me. I will free you from all sins; do not grieve.” (Śrī-Bhagavad-Gītā 18.66)

     (2) Disinterest in karma, jñāna and everything else:

santo’napekṣā mac-cittāḥ 

praśāntāḥ sama-darśinaḥ |

nirmamā nirahaṅkārā 

nirdvandvā niṣparigrahāḥ ||

     Śrī Kṛṣṇa said, “O Uddhava! The sages are free from desire; their hearts and minds are devoted to me; they are peaceful, impartial, free from attachment and egotism; they are indifferent to the pairs of opposites and have no possessions.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.26.27)   

     (3) Devotion to love in spite of obstacles:

yasya kṛcchra-gatasyāpi-

keśave ramate manaḥ |

na vicyutā ca bhaktir vai 

sa vai bhāgavato naraḥ ||

āpadgatasya yasyeha 

bhaktir avyabhicāriṇī |

nānyatra ramate cittaṁ 

sa vai bhāgavato naraḥ ||

     “One who never abandons his attachment to Śrī Keśava even in times of difficulty, and whose devotion never falters, is without doubt a bhagavad-bhakta. Moreover, one who worships Śrī Kṛṣṇa with singleminded devotion even though in danger, and whose heart and mind are attracted nowhere else, is called a bhāgavata.” (Skanda-Purāṇa)

     (4) Devotion only to love:

ye vā mayīśe kṛta-sauhṛdārthā 

janeṣu dehambhara-vārtikeṣu |

gṛheṣu jāyātmaja-rātimatsu 

na prīti-yuktā yāvad arthāś ca loke ||

     Śrī Ṛṣabhadeva said, “Those who develop affection for me consider it to be the highest attainment of life; they are not attached to friends or relatives, nor to the worldly-minded, nor to home, spouse or children. These great souls desire only enough wealth to sustain their lives.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.3) Those who come to know the manners and customs of an ekānti-bhakta become singlemindedly devoted to prema, the fifth goal of life.

* Dharma (virtue), artha (wealth), kāma (enjoyment) and mokṣa (liberation)