This is an ongoing compilation of verses that were appreciated and quoted by Srila Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
This list is not complete. For more verses appreciated by Srila Gurudev, see
Verses on the Temple of Love and Affection
Verse index on premadharma.org
āchāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān navamanyeta karhichit
na martya-buddhyāsūyeta sarva-deva-mayo guruḥ
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.17.27)
[Krishna says to Uddhava:] “Know Me to be the Acharya. Never disrespect him, consider him a mortal, or be envious of him. He is the embodiment of all the gods.”
ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo ’tha bhajana-kriyā
tato ’nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhā ruchis tataḥ
athāsaktis tato bhāvas tataḥ premābhyudañchati
sādhakānām ayaṁ premṇaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ
(Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: Purva-vibhaga, 4.15–6)
“First sraddha [faith], then sadhu-sanga [association with the saints], then bhajana-kriya [devotional practising life], then anartha-nivritti [purification], then nistha [fixed in Krishna consciousness], then ruchi [taste], then asakti [attachment], then bhava [love], and then prema [further development of divine love] arise. These are the stages in a practitioner’s prema arising.”
advaita-vīthī-pathikair upāsyāḥ
svānanda-siṁhāsana-labdha-dīkṣāḥ
haṭhena kenāpi vayaṁ śaṭhena
dāsī-kṛtā gopa-vadhū-viṭena
(Śrīla Bilvamaṅgal Ṭhākur)
“Although I am worshippable by the wanderers on the path of monism, and although I have received initiation into ascending the great throne of self-satisfaction, I have been forcibly converted into a maidservant by some deceitful paramour of the gopīs.”
akrstih krta-chetasam sumanasam uchchatanam chamhasam
achandalam amuka-loka-sulabho vasyas cha mukti-sriyah
no diksam na cha sat-kriyam na cha purascharyam manag iksate
mantro ’yam rasana-sprg eva phalati sri-krsna-namatmakah
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 15. 110)
“This mantra, Sri Krishna’s Name, attracts the devout who are pure in heart, eradicates sin, is easily chanted by anyone who can speak—even the uncultured, and controls the dispensation of liberation. Sri Krishna’s Name does not rely upon (pancharatrik) initiation, pious works, or preparatory practices in the least; Sri Krishna’s Name produces results simply by touching the tongue.”
alabdhe vā vinaṣṭe vā bhakṣyāchchhādana-sādhane
aviklava-matir bhūtvā harim eva dhiyā smaret
(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: Purva-vibhaga, 2.114
“If persons engaged in the devotional service of Lord Hari are unable to obtain food and shelter despite their attempts, or if their acquisitions are lost or destroyed, they should, without anxiety, absorb their hearts deeply in the thought of Lord Hari.”
ananyāś chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 9.22)
“I supply and protect the necessities of those who meditate on Me exclusively, serve Me in all respects, and are always devoted to Me.”
anarpita-charīṁ chirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śachī-nandanaḥ
(Vidagdha-Mādhava: 1.1.2)
“He mercifully descended in the Age of Kali to distribute in full His own wealth of bhakti, the most splendid and exalted rasa (madhura-rasa) which had never been distributed before. May Hari, abundantly radiant with beautiful golden lustre as the son of Śachī, shine forever within the core of your heart.”
aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim
naradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim
antar bahir yadi haris tapasa tatah kim
nantar bahir yadi haris tapasa tatah kim
“If the Lord is worshipped, what is the use of austerities? And if Lord is not worshipped, what is the use of austerities? If the Lord is within and without, what is the use of austerities? And if the Lord is not within and without, what is the use of austerities?”
ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayas tad-dhāma vṛndāvanam
ramyā kāchid upāsanā vraja–vadhū-vargeṇā yā kalpitā
śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ pramāṇam amalaṁ premā pumartho mahān
śrī-chaitanya-mahāprabhor matam idaṁ tatrādaraḥ naḥ paraḥ
“The worshippable Supreme Lord is the son of the King of Vraja, Kṛṣṇa, whose abode is Vṛndāvan. The most pleasing worship is that performed by the wives of Vraja. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the flawless authority, and divine love is the ultimate goal of human life.’ This is the conception of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. We adore it as supreme.”
ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ
Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: Pūrva-vibhāga, 2.232)
“Although Kṛṣṇa’s Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes cannot be grasped by the material senses, through the spirit of dedication they manifest themselves on the tongue and to the other senses.”
ātma-siddha-sāvalīla-pūrṇa-saukhya-lakṣaṇaṁ
svānubhāva-matta-nṛtya-kīrttanātma-vaṇṭanam
advayaika-lakṣya-pūrṇa-tattva-tat-parātparaṁ
prema-dhāma-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
(Śrī Śrī Prema-dhāma-deva-stotram: 66)
“I offer my obeisance to the abode of divine love, Śrī Gaurasundar, the embodiment of complete, self-manifest, dynamic joy. Maddened by experience of Himself, He dances, chants, and distributes Himself. Replete with this unparalleled characteristic, He is the Supreme Absolute Truth.”
bhagavad-bhaktitah sarvam ity utsrjya vidher api
kainkaryam krsna-padaikasrayatvam saranagatih
(Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam: 1.35)
“Having faith that everything is attained by devotion to the Supreme Lord, abandoning subservience to even scriptural injunctions, and taking shelter of Sri Krishna’s feet exclusively is known as saranagati.”
bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir
anyatra chaisa trika eka-kalah
prapadyamanasya yathasnatah syus
tustih pustih ksud-apayo ’nughasam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.2.42)
“As one who eats feels satisfaction, nourishment, and relief from hunger with each mouthful, so a surrendered soul simultaneously develops devotion (bhaktih), realisation of the Supreme Lord (Paresanubhavah), and detachment from all else (viraktih anyatra).”
bhaktis tvayi sthiratarā bhagavan yadi syād
daivena naḥ phalati divya-kiśora-mūrtiḥ
muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāñjali sevate ’smān
dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ
(Śrī Bilvamaṅgal Thakur)
“O Lord, if our devotion to You were more steady, then Your divine, adolescent form would naturally appear (in our hearts), liberation would personally serve us with joined palms, and the goals of piety, wealth, and enjoyment would wait for orders.”
bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad
isad apetasya viparyayo ’smrtih
tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam
bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.2.37)
“Forgetfulness (of the true self), misconception (of one’s identity—identification with the body and adoption of the mentality of being the rightful enjoyer of the fruits of one’s actions), and fear (suffering, samsara) created by immersion in duality (interest separate from that of the Lord and pride in the body) arise by the influence of the Lord’s illusion for those who are averse the Lord. Thus, the wise, those for whom Sri Guru is one’s worshippable Lord and dearest beloved, should serve the Lord with unalloyed devotion.”
brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śochati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 18.54)
“The joyful-hearted, enlightened soul who has attained his divine nature neither sorrows nor desires. Seeing all beings equally, he comes to attain transcendental loving devotion for Me.”
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
mālī hañā kare sei bīja āropaṇa
śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye sechana
upajiyā bāḍe latā ‘brahmāṇḍa’ bhedi’ yāya
‘virajā’, ‘brahmaloka’ bhedi’ ‘paravyoma’ pāya
tabe yāya tad upari ‘goloka-vṛndavāna’
‘kṛṣṇa-charaṇa’-kalpa-vṛkṣe kare ārohaṇa
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 19.151–4)
“After wandering throughout the world, a fortunate soul by the grace of Śrī Guru and Kṛṣṇa receives the seed of the creeper of devotion (faith). Becoming a gardener, the fortunate soul sows the seed within their heart and sprinkles it with the water of hearing and chanting. The creeper grows and crosses beyond this universe. It crosses through the Virajā and Brahmaloka and reaches Paravyoma. It then goes beyond that to Goloka Vṛndāvan and climbs into the wish-fulfilling tree of Kṛṣṇa’s feet.”
cheto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-chandrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ-prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam
(Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Siksastakam: verse 1)
“Śrī Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtan cleanses the mirror of consciousness, extinguishes the raging forest fire of material existence, shines moonlight on the evening lotus of good fortune, is the life of those enlightened with paramour love for the Lord, expands the ocean of ecstasy, is the taste of full nectar at every moment, and soothes the entire self. May Śrī Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtan be supremely victorious!”
chintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-
lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhir abhipālayantam
lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
(Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā: 5.29)
“Surrounded by millions of wish-fulfilling trees, in abodes made of multitudes of wish-yielding gems, He who tends the ever-yielding cows and who is perpetually served with great affection by hundreds of thousands of Lakṣmīs—the Primeval Lord, Govinda, do I worship.”
dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam
vedyam vastavam atra vastu sivadam tapa-trayonmulanam
srimad-bhagavate mahamuni-krite kim vaparair isvarah
sadyo hridy avarudhyate ’tra kritibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.1.2)
“Here, the highest dharma, in which cheating is utterly rejected, is given for the sadhus who are free from envy. Here, can be known the Absolute Truth, which reveals the highest good and uproots the three miseries. What need is there of any other scripture than this Srimad Bhagavatam compiled by the best of the sages? Here, the Lord is immediately bound within the heart by the fortunate souls who desire to listen to it from the moment they begin.”
harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
(Bṛhad-Nāradīya-purāṇa: 38.126)
“In this Age of Kali there is no other way, no other way, no other way than the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of Lord Hari.
he deva he dayita he bhuvanaika-bandho
he krsna he chapala he karunaika-sindho
he natha he ramana he nayanabhirama
ha ha kada nu bhavitasi padam drsor me
(Sri Krsna-karnamrta: 40)
“O Lord! O Beloved! O friend of the world! O Krishna! O restless one! O ocean of mercy! O Master! O Lover! O delight of my eyes! Oh! Alas! When will You enter my vision again?”
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sachchidānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam
(Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.1)
“The embodiment of spiritual energy, consciousness, and ecstasy, Sri Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Lord of all Lords. He has no origin, He is the origin of all, and He is the cause of all causes.”
jīvera ‘svarūpa haya—kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’
kṛṣṇera ‘taṭasthā-śakti’, ‘bhedābheda-prakāśa’
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 20.108)
“The soul is by nature an eternal servant of Krishna. The soul is Krishna’s tatastha-shakti (marginal potency); a manifestation both distinct and non-distinct from Krishna.”
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām
sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir
ye prāyaśo ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyām
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 10.14.3)
“In whatever position they may be, those who give up the endeavour for knowledge, surrender to the sadhus, and dedicate their lives bodily, verbally, and mentally to their talks of the Lord, can conquer the Lord, who is otherwise unconquerable.”
kaivalyaṁ narakāyate tri-daśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate
durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate
viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate vidhi-mahendrādiś cha kīṭāyate
yat kāruṇya-kaṭākṣa-vaibhavavatāṁ taṁ gauram eva stumaḥ
(Śrī Chaitanya-chandrāmṛta: 5)
“I glorify Śrī Gaura. For a fortunate soul who has received His merciful glance, merging into Brahma is hellish, the abode of the demigods is like a flower in the sky [phantasmagorical], the uncontrollable senses are like defanged poisonous serpents, the world is filled with joy, and Brahmā, Indra, and the other demigods are like insects [insignificant].”
kalah kalir balina indriya-vairi-vargah
sri-bhakti-marga iha kantaka-koti-ruddhah
ha ha kva yami vikalah kim aham karomi
chaitanya-chandra yadi nadya krpam karosi
(Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati Thakur)
“It is the Age of Kali: my enemies, the senses, are very strong, and the path of devotion is now blocked by millions of thorns. Alas! Alas! Where shall I go? I am overwhelmed! What shall I do, O Chaitanyachandra, if You do not bestow Your mercy upon me now?”
kaṁ prati kathayitum īśe samprati ko vā pratītim āyātu
go-pati-tanayā-kuñje gopa-vadhūṭī-viṭaṁ brahma
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: 2.19.98)
“Who can I tell, and who will now believe, that the Absolute hunts the cowherd men’s wives in the groves along the banks of the Jamuna?”
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ
krīyatāṁ yadi kuto ‘pi labhyate
tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṁ
janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 8.70)
“Purchase ecstatic devotion to Krishna wherever it is available! The only price is hankering. It is not attainable by acting piously (practising vidhi-bhakti) for ten million lifetimes.”
krsna-kara-pada-tala, koti-chandra-susitala
tara sparsa yena sparsa-mani
tara sparsa nahi yara, se yauk chharakhara
sei vapu lauha-sama jani
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 2.34)
“The touch of Krishna’s palms and soles, which are cooling like ten millions moons, is like that of a philosopher’s stone. May bodies which have not touched them waste away! I consider such bodies to be no better than iron.”
kṛṣṇa bhuli’ sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha
ataeva māyā tāre deya saṁsāra-duḥkha
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 20.117)
“When souls outside the realm of time and space turn away from Krishna and forget Him, Maya subjects them to the various miseries of worldly existence.”
kṛṣṇa-līlā amṛta-sāra, tāra śata śata dhāra,
daśa-dike vahe yāhā haite
se chaitanya-līlā haya, sarovara akṣaya,
mano-haṁsa charāha’ tāhāte
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: 2.25.271)
[Note: Srila Gurudev described this verse as one of his most favourite, “one of the two ślokas that I always want to publish and distribute.”]
“Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes are the essence of nectar, and Śrī Chaitanya’s Pastimes are the inexhaustible reservoir from which hundreds and hundreds of streams of that nectar flow in the ten directions. May the swan of your heart play there.”
krsnera adharamrta, krsna-guna-charita,
sudha-sara-svada-vinindana
tara svada ye na jane, janmiya na maila kene,
se rasana bheka jihva sama
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 2.32)
“The nectar of Krishna’s lips, qualities, and Pastimes surpasses the taste of pure ambrosia. Why did a tongue that does not know this taste take birth and die? Such a tongue is no better than the tongue of a frog.”
krsnera madhura vani, amrtera tarangini,
tara pravesa nahi ye sravane
kanakadi-chhidra sama, janiha se sravana,
tara janma haila akarane
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 2.31)
“Krishna’s sweet words are waves of nectar. Know ears into which they do not enter to be no better than the holes of a broken conchshell. Such ears were created for no purpose.”
kṛṣṇera yateka khelā, sarvottama nara-līlā,
nara-vapu tāhāra svarūpa
gopa-veśa, veṇu-kara, nava-kiśora, naṭa-vara,
nara-līlāra haya anurūpa
kṛṣṇera madhura rūpa, śuna, sanātana
ye rūpera eka kaṇa, ḍubāya saba tribhuvana,
sarva prāṇī kare ākarṣaṇa
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 21.101–102)
“The best of all of Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes are His human-like Pastimes, and His human-like form is His original form. His cowherd-boy dress, flute-playing, adolescence, and superb dancing perfectly suit His human-like Pastimes. O Sanātan, please hear of Kṛṣṇa’s charming form. One drop of its beauty floods the whole of the three worlds and attracts every living entity within them.”
mrga-mada-nilotpala, milane ye parimala,
yei hare tara garva-mana
hena krsna-anga-gandha, yara nahi se sambandha,
sei nasa bhastrara samana
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 2.33)
“The fragrance of Krishna’s body vanquishes the pride and prestige of the fragrance of a musk-scented blue lotus. A nose which never smells this fragrance is no better than a bellows.”
nāhaṁ tiṣṭhāmi vaikuṇṭhe yogināṁ hṛdaye na cha
mad-bhaktāḥ yatra gāyanti tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada
(Padma-purana)
“O Nārada, I do not actually reside in My abode, Vaikuṇṭha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogīs, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees are chanting My glories.”
naiskarmyam apy achyuta-bhava-varjitam
na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam
kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare
na charpitam karma yad apy akaranam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.5.12)
“Even pure knowledge (jnan) free from all worldly entanglement is never beautiful if it is devoid of devotion to Achyuta. How, then, can action (karma), which is always miserable, ever be beautiful if it is not offered to Him, even if it is selflessly performed?”
naitat samacharej jatu manasapi hy anisvarah
vinasyaty acharan maudhyad yatharudro ’bdhi-jam visam
(10.33.30)
“Anyone who is not a master should never, even mentally, act like one. Anyone who does so out of foolishness is destroyed, just as anyone who is not Lord Siva is destroyed if they drink the poison produced during the churning of the ocean.”
nāma-saṅkīrtanaṁ yasya sarva-pāpa praṇāśanam
praṇāmo duḥkha-śamanas taṁ namāmi hariṁ param
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.”
na prema-gandho ’sti darāpi me harau
krandāmi saubhāgya-bharaṁ prakāśitum
vaṁśī-vilāsy-ānana-lokanaṁ vinā
bibharmi yat prāṇa-pataṅgakān vṛthā
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: 2.2.45)
me asti na–I do not have dara api–even a trace prema-gandhah–of the fragrance of divine love harau–for Krsna. [Still,] krandami–I cry prakasitum–to show [others that I have] saubhagya-bharam–a great fortune. vina–Without vamsi-vilasy-anana-lokanam–a glimpse of the face of that Flute Player, bibharmi–I carry on [my] vrtha–meaningless, yat prana-patangakan–insect-like life.
“I do not have even a trace of love for Krishna. Still, I cry to show that I have a great fortune. Without a glimpse of the face of that Flute Player, I carry on My meaningless, insect-like life.”
nāyam ātmā pravachanena labhyo
na medhayā na bahunā śrutena
yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyas
tasyaiṣa ātmā vivṛṇute tanuṁ svām
(Kaṭha-upaniṣad: 1.2.23)
“The Supreme Lord is not obtained by means of expert explanations, vast intelligence or even much hearing. He is obtained only by one whom He Himself chooses. To such a person, He manifests His own form.”
nīlāmbhodhi-taṭe sadā sva-virahā-kṣepanvitaṁ bāndhavaṁ
śrīmad-bhāgavatī kathā madirayā sañjīvayan bhāti yaḥ
śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ sadā sva-nayanāśru-pāyanaih pūjayan
gosvāmi-prabaro gadādhara-vibhūr-bhūyāt mad-ekā-gatiḥ
(Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj)
“On the shore of the blue ocean, Gadādhar Paṇḍit used to read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, who was suffering from the great internal pain of separation from Himself (Kṛṣṇa). Gadādhar Paṇḍit supplied the wine of Kṛṣṇa-līlā to intoxicate his afflicted friend and give Him relief. As he read, tears would fall from his eyes like flower offerings onto the pages of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. May the pleasure of that brilliant personality, Gadādhar Paṇḍit, the best of the Goswāmīs, be my only object in writing this book.”
nindantaṁ pulakotkareṇa vikasan-nīpa-prasūna-chchhaviṁ
prordhvī-kṛtya-bhuja-dvayaṁ hari harīty uchchair vadantaṁ muhuḥ
nṛtyantaṁ drutam aśru-nirjhara-chayaiḥ siñchantam ūrvī-talaṁ
gāyantaṁ nija-pārṣadaiḥ parivṛtaṁ śrī-gaurachandraṁ numaḥ
(Śrī Rādhā-rasa-sudhā-nidhi: 1)
“His raised bodily hairs surpass the beauty of blooming kadamba flowers. With arms upraised, He loudly calls out, ‘Hari!’ ‘Hari!’ again and again. He dances nimbly and showers the surface of the earth with streams of tears as He sings surrounded by His associates. Let us glorify Sri Gaurachandra.”
premāñjana-chchhurita-bhakti-vilochanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram achintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
(Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā: 5.38)
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Krishna Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.”
rundhann ambu-bhṛtaś chamatkṛti-paraṁ kurvan muhus tumburuṁ
dhyānād antarayan sanandana-mukhān vismāpayan vedhasam
autsukyāvalibhir baliṁ chaṭulayan bhogīndram āghūrṇayan
bhindann aṇḍa-kaṭāha-bhittim abhito babhrāma vaṁśī-dhvaniḥ
(Srila Rupa Goswami)
“Stopping the cloud’s movements, constantly astonishing Tumburu (the king of the celestial musicians), breaking the meditation of Sanandan and the other sages, amazing Brahma, exciting Bali with curiosity and joy, spinning around Ananta Sesa, and penetrating the coverings of the universe, the flute’s sound resonated everywhere.”
sādhavo hṛdayaṁ mahyaṁ sādhūnāṁ hṛdayaṁ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti nāhaṁ tebhyo manāg api
(Srimad-Bhagavatam: 9.4.68)
[Vishnu instructs Durvasa:] “Sadhus are My heart and I alone am their heart. They do not know anyone other than Me, and I do not know anyone other than them.”
sādhu-saṅga, nāma-kīrtana, bhāgavata-śravaṇa
mathurā-vāsa, śrī-mūrtira śraddhāya sevana
sakala-sādhana-śreṣṭha ei pañca aṅga
kṛṣṇa-prema janmāya ei pāṅcera alpa saṅga
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 22.124–5)
“Association with the sadhus, chanting the Name, hearing Srimad Bhagavatam, residing in Mathura, and serving the Deity with faith—these five are the best of all the limbs of devotional practice. Divine love for Krishna develops from even slight participation in these five limbs.”
‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 22.55)
“All the scriptures say, ‘Association with sadhus, association with sadhus’. All perfection is realised within one moment of association with sadhus.”
sādhu-saṅge kṛṣṇa-nāma—ei mātra chāi
saṁsāra jinite āra kona vastu nāi
(Sri Prema-vivarta: 6.13)
“I want only to chant the Name of Krishna in the association of the sadhu. There is no other way to conquer samsara.”
sakala chhāḍiyā bhāi, śraddhā devīra guṇa gāi,
yā̐ra kṛpā bhakti dite pāre
(Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)
“Casting everything else aside, oh brother, sing the glory of Sraddha Devi, by whose grace we may attain devotion.”
sarvādbhuta-chamatkāra-līlā-kallola-vāridhiḥ
atulya-madhura-prema-maṇḍita-priya-maṇḍalaḥ
tri-jagan-mānasākarṣi-muralī-kala-kūjitaḥ
asamānordhva-rūpa-śrī-vismāpita-charācharaḥ
(Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: Dakṣiṇa-vibhāga, 141–2)
“Kṛṣṇa is like an ocean filled with waves of pastimes that evoke wonder within everyone in the three worlds. In His activities of conjugal love, He is always surrounded by His dear devotees who possess unequaled love for Him. He attracts the minds of all three worlds with the melodious vibration of His flute. His personal beauty and opulence are beyond compare. No one is equal to Him, and no one is greater than Him. Thus the Personality of Godhead astonishes all living entities, both moving and nonmoving, within the three worlds. He is so beautiful that He is called Kṛṣṇa.”
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaranaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śuchaḥ
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 18.66)
“Abandon all duties and surrender to Me alone. I will liberate you from all sin. Do not despair.”
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir uchyate
(Sri Narada-pancharatra)
“Devotion is said to be service to the master of the senses with all the senses that is completely free from all material designations, intent upon Him, and uncontaminated.”
siddhānta baliyā chitte nā kara alasa
ihā ha-ite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Adi-lila, 2.117)
“Do not be lazy in considering siddhanta within your heart. Doing so firmly attaches your heart to Krishna.”
smerāṁ bhaṅgī-traya-parichitāṁ sāchi-vistīrṇa-dṛṣṭiṁ
vaṁśī-nyastādhara-kiśalayām ujjvalāṁ chandrakeṇa
govindākhyāṁ hari-tanum itaḥ keśi-tīrthopakaṇṭhe
mā prekṣiṣṭhās tava yadi sakhe bandhu-saṅge ’sti raṅgaḥ
(Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: Pūrva-vibhāga, 2.239)
“O friend! If you are attached to your material friends, then do not look at Sri Govinda’s form standing near Keshi Ghat in a threefold posture, shining in the moonlight with a peacock feather in His crown, casting sidelong glances, and smiling sweetly with the flute at His tender lips.”
‘śraddhā’-śabde — viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya
kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 22.62)
“Sraddha means confident, firm faith that all activity is fulfilled through devotion to Krishna.”
śrī-kṛṣṇa-premanāmā parama-sukhamayaḥ ko ’pyachintyaḥ padārtho
yad gandhāt sajjanaughā nigama-bahumataṁ mokṣam apy ākṣipanti
kaivalyaiśvarya-sevā-pradagaṇa iti yasyāṅgataḥ premadātuḥ
śrī-nityānanda-chandraṁ bhaja bhaja satataṁ gaura-kṛṣṇa-pradaṁ tam
(Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, Sriman Nityananda Dvadasakam, verse 5)
“The sadhus throw away liberation, even though it is highly praised in the Vedas, because of just the fragrance of the inconceivable substance filled with the supreme bliss known as Sri Krishna-prema. He is the giver of such prema, and His expansions are the givers of the liberation of dissolution (kaivalya) and reverential service (to the Lord). O mind, always serve Sri Nityanandachandra, the giver of Gaura Krishna.”
sri-krsna-rupadi-nisevanam vina
vyarthani me ’hany akhilendriyany alam
pasana-suskendhana-bharakany aho
bibharmi va tani katham hata-trapah
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta Madhya-lila 2.28)
“Without the service of Sri Krishna’s Form, Qualities, and Pastimes, my days and all my senses are like a completely useless burden of stone or dry wood. Alas! How do I bear them? I am shameless.”
śrī-śrīmad-bhagavat-padāmbuja-madhu-svādotsavaiḥ ṣaṭ-padair
nikṣiptā madhu-bindavaś cha parito bhraṣṭā mukhāt guñjitaiḥ
yatnaiḥ kiñchid ihāhṛtaṁ nija-para-śreyo ’rthinā tan mayā
bhūyo-bhūya ito rajāṁsi pada-saṁlagnāni teṣāṁ bhaje
(Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam)
[Note: This verse, composed by Srila Param Guru Maharaj at the conclusion of Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, was declared by Srila Gurudev to be his most favourite verse: “This verse is the dearest and highest verse for me in life.”]
The bees, intoxicated in the festival
of drinking the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet,
busily humming the glories of the Lord,
drops of honey from their mouths fall and scatter all around;
for my own divine prospect, I’ve carefully collected
some of those drops herein—
and thus do I worship the dust of the holy lotus feet
of those saints, again and again.
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi- pañcharātriki-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyaiva kalpate
(Brahma-yāmala; Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: 1.2.101)
“If one’s so-called unalloyed devotion to Lord Hari does not take into account the regulations of the śruti, smṛti, Purāṇas and Pañcharātra, it is nothing more than a disturbance to society.”
sva-pāda-mūlaṁ bhajataḥ priyasya
tyaktānya-bhāvasya hariḥ pareśaḥ
vikarma yach chotpatitaṁ kathañchid
dhunoti sarvaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.5.42)
“The Supreme Lord Hari is present in the hearts of His dear devotees who reject all other concerns and serve His lotus feet, and He purifies any sin they happen to commit.”
tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare cha nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam
tatra bhagavatan dharman siksed gurv-atma-daivatah
amayayanuvrttya yais tusyed atmatma-do harih
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.3.21–2)
“Therefore (because there is no lasting fulfilment in the material world), those who are in search of the highest good should surrender to a Guru who is adept in Sabda-brahma (revelations of the Divine, the scriptures) and Parabrahma (direct experience of the Divinity), and who is an abode of tranquility (unaffected by anger, greed, etc.). Those for whom Sri Guru is the dearest beloved and worshippable Lord should sincerely and submissively learn from him those practices of devotion whereby Sri Hari, He who gives Himself (to His devotee), is satisfied.”
tṛṇād api sunīchena taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
“The Lord’s Name is to be always chanted by one who is more humble than a blade of grass, tolerant like a tree, free from desire for respect, and who offers respect to others.”
[Note: the principles described here in the third verse of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Siksastakam were Srila Gurudev’s main preaching points, and were repeated innumerable times by His Divine Grace:
“If there is anything I want to distribute to the Western world it is this, which is my first and best advice: ‘Avoid the ten offences to the Holy Name and Vaiṣṇava-aparādh by practising Mahāprabhu’s formula of being humble, being tolerant, and giving honour to others.’” –Revealed Truth]
ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śākham aśvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam
chhandāṁsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit
(Srimad Bhagavad-Gita: 15.1)
“It is said in the scriptures that this material world is like a Peepul tree, roots up, branches down, endless, yet transient. Its leaves represent the nourishing verses of the Vedas. One who knows this tree is a knower of the Vedas.”
uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prapyo varān nibodhata
kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyaya
[durgaṁ pathas tat kavayo vadanti]
(Kaṭha-upaniṣad: 1.3.14)
“Arise! Awake! Try to understand the boon that you now have in this human form of life. The path of spiritual realization is very difficult; it is sharp like a razor’s edge. That is the opinion of learned transcendental scholars.”
vaṁśī-gānāmṛta-dhāma, lāvaṇyāmṛta-janma-sthāna,
ye nā dekhe se chāṅda vadana
se nayane kibā kāja, paḍuka tāra muṇḍe vāja,
se nayana rahe ki kāraṇa
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: 2.2.29)
“Krishna’s moon-like face is the abode of the nectar of all beauty and the origin of His flute songs. What are the use of eyes which never behold it? May a thunderbolt strike their head. Why do such eyes exist?”
vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam jnanan cha yad ahaitukam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.2.7)
“Devotion to the Supreme Lord quickly produces detachment and self-revealed knowledge.”
vidvadbhih sevitah sadbhir nityam advesa-ragibhih
hrdayenabhyanujnato yo dharmas tam nibodhata
(Manu-samhita: 2.1)
nibodhata–Know dharmah–dharma [to be] tam–that yah–which [is] abhyanujnatah–approved hrdayena–by the heart [and] sevitah–practised vidvadbhih–by the knowledgeable sadbhih–sadhus (those who are adherent to truth) [who are] nityam–always advesa–free from aversion [and] ragibhih–attachment.
“Know dharma to be that which is approved by the heart and practised by the sadhus who are versed in the Vedas and always free from attachment and aversion (to the mundane).”
vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idan cha visnoh
sraddhanvito ’nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah
bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam
hrd-rogam asv apahinoty achirena dhirah
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 10.33.39)
“A sober soul who faithfully hears about and then describes Visnu’s play with the wives of Vraja quickly attains perfect devotion to the Lord and simultaneously leaves behind the heart disease of material desire.”
vinoda kahe hāya! hāya! hari-dāsa hari nāhi pāya
(Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)
“Alas! Alas! The Lord’s servants have not attained the Lord!”
viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaṁ raso ’py asya paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 2.59)
“The embodied being may renounce the sense objects, but the taste for them remains. But that, too, vanishes for the man of wisdom, by his vision of the Supreme.”
vraje prasiddhaṁ navanīta-chauraṁ
janmanānāñ cha dukūla-chauram
bhakta-hṛdaya-sarvasva-chauraṁ
chaurāgragaṇyaṁ puruṣaṁ namāmi
(Srila Bilvamangal Thakur)
“I offer pranam to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and He who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes.”
yad amiya-mahimā-śrī-bhāgavatyāḥ kathāyāṁ
pratipadam anubhūtaṁ chāpy alabdhābhidheyā
tad akhila-rasa-mūrteḥ śyāma-līlāvalambaṁ
madhura-rasadhī-rādhā-pāda-padmaṁ prapadye
(Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj)
“Every word in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam glorifies Rādhārāṇī, but Her Name is not specifically taken there. Kṛṣṇa is the Akhila-rasāmṛta-mūrti, the emporium of all rasa, and Rādhārāṇī is Śyāma-līlāvilamba, the reservoir in which Kṛṣṇa plays and tastes the full ecstasy of madhura-rasa. Rādhārāṇī is the controller of Kṛṣṇa’s heart, the madhura-rasa adhikāriṇī. Her service is the source of all of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s madhura-rasa prema.”
yada yato daivan madhu-ripur asau lochana-patham
tadasmakam cheto madana-hatakenahrtam abhut
punar yasminn esa ksanam api drsor eti padavim
vidhasyamas tasminn akhila-ghatika ratna-khachitah
(Jagannatha-vallabha-nataka: 3.11)
“When, by my good fortune, Krishna appeared before my eyes, cursed Cupid stole my heart. When Krishna comes before my eyes again, even for a moment, I will decorate every second with jewels.”
yadi, gaura nā ha’ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitām de
rādhāra mahimā prema-rasa-sīmā
jagate jānāta ke?
(Srila Vasudev Ghosh)
“If Śrī Gaura had not come, what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Śrī Rādhā’s glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?”
yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 3.9)
“Selfless duty performed as an offering to the Supreme Lord is called yajña, or sacrifice. O Arjuna, all action performed for any other purpose is the cause of bondage in this world of repeated birth and death. Therefore, remaining unattached to the fruits of action, perform all your duties in the spirit of such sacrifice.”
yasya deve para bhaktih yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah
(Svetasvatara-upanisad: 6.23)
“The subjects we’ve discussed (all the teachings of the scriptures) are revealed to the great soul who has pure devotion to the Lord, and so also to Sri Guru.”
yathā yathā gaura-padāravinde vindeta bhaktiṁ kṛta puṇya-rāśiḥ
tathā tathot-sarpati hṛdya-kasmād rādhā-padāmbhoja-sudhāmbu rāśiḥ
(Śrī Chaitanya-chandrāmṛta: 88)
“As much as you surrender to the lotus feet of Śrī Gaurāṅga, you will find yourself safely situated in the service of Rādhā-Govinda. Do not try to approach Rādhā-Govinda directly; if you do, there may be some difficulty. But the lotus feet of Śrī Gaurāṅga will take you there safely.”
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 9.27)
“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give and whatever vow you may keep—do everything as an offering unto Me.”