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A True Servant—A True Master

by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja | 2021 | 174,865 words

This page relates ‘worship of Shri Krishna entails full surrender,...� of book�"A True Servant, A True Master" which offers a collection of 128 handwritten letters by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja—a revered figure in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. This book showcases the profound spiritual insights and practical guidance on executing devotional service and addresses both Sadhakas (male practitioners) and Sadhikas (female practitioners) with equal respect.

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Letter 46 - The worship of Śī ṛṣṇa entails full surrender,...

ṛṣṇa’s name is the medicine, is the diet, and sad-guru is the doctor � The worship of Śī ṛṣṇa entails full surrender � Unavoidable difficulties are overcome by the mercy of Nāma Prabhu � The fruit of real 岹śԲ

श्री श्री गुरु-गौराङ्गौ जयतः

śī śī guru-gaurāṅgau jayata�

Śī Devānanda Gauḍīya Ѳṻ, Tegharipara, P.O. 屹ī貹 (Nadia) 10/4/1978

ṇīy

Dear—�! � It is true that, as the fruit of many, many lives worth of ܰṛt, one comes into communication with ܲ and ܰṣa and gains the qualification to obtain their merciful written correspondence, but accepting them as one’s own and realizing them as one’s nearest relatives reveals one’s generosity and magnanimity.

I understand that your body fell ill after Śī Nityānanda հǻ岹śī. At the appearance of Guru Nityānanda, who is non-different from Baladeva, all the filth surrounding the soul’s bhajana-󲹲Բ dissipates and the soul becomes healthy. In your case too, cough, cold, and other obstacles to bhajana were removed by drinking the nectar of Śī ṛṣṇa’s name, and you recovered. In this world, the most amazing thing is that the living entities give up the nectar of śī to constantly drink the poison of sense objects and want to stay engrossed in that. Even though the medicine, diet, and doctor have been specified–Ś� ṛṣṇa’s name being the medicine, -岹 that has been offered to 󲹲 the diet, and the bona fide guru the very best of doctors, or captain–they have no inclination to take their support or take refuge of them. What could be more unfortunate than that?

As imperative as it is to help others in the performance of the limbs of bhakti, it is equally important for oneself to take advantage of that golden opportunity as well. 

This is why it has been said: 

जन्म सार्थक करि�, कर� पर-उपका�

janma sārthaka kari�, karo para-upakāra[1]

“Make one’s life a success and help others.� 

I have been delighted and enthused to know that Śī-岵ٲ’s conception �ṇa artha dhiyā vācā śreya� ācaraṇa� [2] –one should pursue the greatest good by life, wealth, intelligence, and words,� has taken root in you. The speciality of the worship of ī-ܰṣoٳٲ Śī ṛṣṇacandra, who is the presiding deity of the five rasas, raso vai sa�, entails full surrender and supplication of the soul. I am happy to know you have been able to understand this. Such sublime intelligence arises by the influence of many births of ܰṛt and the mercy of , guru, and ղṣṇ. For that, you are thankworthy and deserve much praise.

Ordinary pilgrims come to śī - to earn pious credits. Some frequent śī 峾 and holy places for the sake of gathering ܰṛt. I do not know for sure what kind of reception you get at the . On the other hand, it is debatable whether or not we would be worthy of a seat in your home. (In the ,) you get parboiled rice, watered-down dahl, and sauteed drumstick. If this alone were so popular, we could truly take care of people and I would see no obstacle to us finding a place in heaven, in Indra’s city [for our acts of charity]. If you truly realize in your heart that you are not able to do anything to serve the ղṣṇ, then surely there is a possibility of your attaining auspiciousness someday.

We remember Śī ṛsṃh-deva in order to surpass obstacles and adversity. 

In the �auṣadhe cintayed ṣṇ�� verse[3], we find mention of various holy names of the Lord:

सङ्कटे मधुसूदनम�, कानन� नरसिंह� च� गमने वामन� चै� सर्व-कार्येषु माधवम्�

saṅkaṭe madhusūdanam, kānane narasiṃha� ca� gamane vāmana� caiva sarva-kāryeṣu mādhavam�

�(Remember) Madhusūdana when in danger, ṃh when in the forest, 峾Բ when travelling, and 󲹱 during all activities.� 

If going to the dense forest, it is recommended to remember Śī ṛsṃh Ṭhܰ, but it is most suitable to remember Śī 峾Բ-deva when travelling. It is observed that even the devotees who follow these instructions face many obstacles and hindrances. What is the remedy for this? Do all inauspicious effects dissipate or not if 󲹱 is remembered at every moment? The reality is that śī 峾 surely has its glories and also, whatever is bound to happen will surely happen. Those difficulties, however, are overcome by the mercy of Nāma Prabhu. If 󲹲’s will for something to happen is strong, then even on a day when there is a strike, one rickshaw will be out and about so that a specific person can accomplish his task.

It makes me sad to think of you sometimes crying in your cottage, but I trust that one who can cry also knows how to laugh. This world is made of laughter and tears. Mundane weeping and lamentation that results from not seeing our loved ones submerges us in an ocean of sorrow, but if we can be moved by transcendental separation and vipralambha-, we can attain divine love and affection for Śī 󲹲 and His devotees. �

There will always be a difference between direct 岹śԲ and indirect 岹śԲ, but eternal 岹śԲ is forever transcendental and real. There, the past and future do not exist. 

Eternal 岹śԲ is something to be obtained within the eternal present.

व्रज� राधा-कृष्� सेवा मानस� करिब�

Vraje rādhā-kṛṣṇa sevā mānase karibe[4]  

ٱ and ṛṣṇa in Vraja, by mind.� 

This is the fruit of real 岹śԲ. There [in Vraja] you do not have 岹śԲ of tumours in the head and there is no question of fearing anything. The īٳ’s dwelling is within the ʲٳ, without whom the īٳ’s independent existence cannot be substantiated. �Operation successful, but the patient died.� This is the deplorable condition of the Ծśṣa-󳾲-ī. By experiencing the name, form, qualities, and pastimes of Śī 󲹲, His devotees obtain all auspiciousness and a new birth.

I will tell you everything in person and will hear more from you also. Take my affectionate blessings. Iti

Your eternal well-wisher,
Śī Bhaktivedānta 峾Բ

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Śī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādī-līlā9.41)

[2]:

Śīmad-岵ٲ (10.22.35)

[3]:

վṣṇ-dharma ʳܰṇa, quoted in Hari-bhakti- (11.310)

[4]:

Śī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya-ī6.237)

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