PICTURE OF THE WEEK (from Krishna.com):

Vishnu and Laxmi in Svetadvipa

 

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Caitanya-caritāmṛta
Madhya 21.144

kāṇera bhitara vāsā kare, āpane tāṅhā sadā sphure,
anya śabda nā deya praveśite
āna kathā nā śune kāṇa, āna balite bolaya āna,
ei kṛṣṇera vaṁśīra carite

Synonyms: 

kāṇera — the hole of the ear; bhitara — within; vāsā kare — makes a residence; āpane — personally; tāṅhā — there; sadā — always; sphure — is prominent; anya — other; śabda — sounds; nā — not; deya — allows; praveśite — to enter; āna kathā — other talks; nā — not; śune — hears; kāṇa — the ear; āna — something else; balite — to speak; bolaya — speaks; āna — another thing; ei kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vaṁśīra — of the flute; carite — characteristics.

Translation: 

“The vibration of His flute is just like a bird that creates a nest within the ears of the gopīs and always remains prominent there, not allowing any other sound to enter their ears. Indeed, the gopīs cannot hear anything else, nor are they able to concentrate on anything else, not even to give a suitable reply. Such are the effects of the vibration of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s flute.”

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Caitanya-caritāmṛta
Adi 1.5.10
srsty-adika se va,--tanra ajnara palana
`sesa'-rupe kare krsnera vividha sevana

sṛṣṭi-ādika sevā — service in the matter of creation; tāṅra — His; ājñāra — of the order; pālana — execution; śeṣa-rūpe — the form of Lord Śeṣa; kare — does; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vividha sevana — varieties of service.

TRANSLATION

He [Lord Balarama] executes the orders of Lord Krsna in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Krsna in various ways.

PURPORT

According to expert opinion, Balarama, as the chief of the original quadruple forms, is also the original Sankarsana. Balarama, the first expansion of Krsna, expands Himself in five forms: (1) Maha-San karsana, (2) Karanabdhisayi, (3) Garbhodakasayi, (4) Ksirodakasayi, and (5) Sesa. These five plenary portions are responsible for both the spiritual and material cosmic manifestations. In these five forms Lord Balarama assists Lord Krsna in His activities. The first four of these forms are responsible for the cosmic manifestations, whereas Sesa is responsible for personal service to the Lord. Sesa is called Ananta, or unlimited, because He assists the Personality of Godhead in His unlimited expansions by performing an unlimited variety of services. Sri Balarama is the servitor Godhead who serves Lord Krsna in all affairs of existence and knowledge. Lord Nityananda Prabhu, who is the same servitor Godhead, Balarama, performs the same service to Lord Gauranga by constant association.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Caitanya Caritamrita
Adi 1.1.68
dui-rupe haya bhaga vanera prakasa
eke ta' prakasa haya, are ta' viiasa

dui-rupe — in two forms; haya — are; bhagavanera — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prakasa — manifestations; eke — in one; ta’ — certainly; prakasa — manifestation; haya — is; are — in the other; ta’ — certainly; vilasa — engaged in pastimes.

TRANSLATION

The Personality of Godhead exhibits Himself in two kinds of forms: prakasa and vilasa.


PURPORT

The Supreme Lord expands His personal forms in two primary categories. The prakasa forms are manifested by Lord Krsna for His pastimes, and their features are exactly like His. When Lord Krsna married sixteen thousand queens in Dvaraka, He did so in sixteen thousand prakasa expansions. Similarly, during the rasa dance He expanded Himself in identical prakasa forms to dance beside each and every gopi simultaneously. When the Lord manifests His vilasa expansions, however, they are all somewhat different in their bodily features. Lord Balarama is the first vilasa expansion of Lord Krsna, and the four-handed Narayana forms in Vaikuntha expand from Balarama. There is no difference between the bodily forms of Sri Krsna and Balarama except that Their bodily colors are different. Similarly, Sri Narayana in Vaikuntha has four hands, whereas Krsna has only two. The expansions of the Lord who manifest such bodily differences are known as vilasa- vigrahas.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Caitanya Caritamrita
Adi 1.1.44
yadyapi āmāra guru — caitanyera dāsa
tathāpi jāniye āmi tāṅhāra prakāśa

yadyapi — even though; āmāra — my; guru — spiritual master; caitanyera — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; dāsa — the servitor; tathāpi — still; jāniye — know; āmi — I; tāṅhāra — of the Lord; prakāśa — direct manifestation 

TRANSLATION

Although I know that my spiritual master is a servitor of Sri Caitanya, I know Him also as a plenary manifestation of the Lord.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; Lord Nityananda, who is Balarama Himself, the first direct manifestation or expansion of Krsna, is the original spiritual master. He helps Lord Krsna in His pastimes, and He is a servant of the Lord.

Every living entity is eternally a servant of Sri Krsna Caitanya; therefore the spiritual master cannot be other than a servant of Lord Caitanya.

I am recording my own morning as if it were important. We have to think that way. But don’t be so serious about your self-importance. Devotional service is important, but not the little bit that I add to it, although that is important to me. Taking a break from this communication now to look at the new book, Appreciating Navadvipa. Remember to avoid fault-finding. Find your way back to Caitanya-caritamrta.

(Satsvarupa das Goswami - Basic Sketch Book)

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta
Madhya 1.66-67
daive āsi' prabhu yabe ūrdhvete cāhilā
cāle gońjā tāla-patre sei śloka pāilā

śloka paḍi' āche prabhu āviṣṭa ha-iyā
rūpa-gosāñi āsi' paḍe daṇḍavat hañā

TRANSLATION

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the residence of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, He accidentally saw the palm leaf on the roof, and thus He read the verse composed by him. After reading the verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went into an ecstatic mood. While He was in that state, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī came and immediately fell down on the floor like a rod.

PURPORT (CC Madhya 1.67)

The word daṇḍa means rod or pole. A rod or pole falls straight; similarly, when one offers obeisances to his superior with all eight ańgas (parts) of the body, he performs what is called daṇḍavat. Sometimes we only speak of daṇḍavats but actually do not fall down. In any case, daṇḍavat means falling down like a rod before one's superior.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta
Antya 3.59
nāmera akṣara-sabera ei ta' svabhāva
vyavahita haile nā chāḍe āpana-prabhāva

nāmera — of the holy name; akṣara — letters; sabera — of all; ei — this; ta' — certainly; svabhāva — the characteristic; vyavahita haile — even when improperly uttered; nā — do not; chāḍe — give up; āpana-prabhāva — their own spiritual influence.

TRANSLATION

"The letters of the holy name have so much spiritual potency that they act even when uttered improperly.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that the word vyavahita ("improperly uttered") is not used here to refer to the mundane vibration of the letters of the alphabet. Such negligent utterance for the sense gratification of materialistic persons is not a vibration of transcendental sound. Utterance of the holy name while one engages in sense gratification is an impediment on the path toward achieving ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. On the other hand, if one who is eager for devotional service utters the holy name even partially or improperly, the holy name, which is identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exhibits its spiritual potency because of that person's offenseless utterance. Thus one is relieved from all unwanted practices, and one gradually awakens his dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta
Madhya 20.367
śaktyāveśāvatāra kṛṣṇera asańkhya gaṇana
dig-daraśana kari mukhya mukhya jana

śakti-āveśa-avatāra — incarnations especially empowered by the Lord; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; asańkhya gaṇana — unlimited and innumerable; dik-daraśana kari — let Me describe some of them; mukhya mukhya jana — who are counted as the chief.

TRANSLATION

There are unlimited śaktyāveśa-avatāras of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Let Me describe the chief among them.

JOURNAL:

Today, at lunch, I listened to an extraordinary lecture by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on Saktyavesa Avataras. It explained why the movement accepts Lord Jesus, among others. The talk was given on New Year's Eve of 1966, the first year of the movement, and I highly recommend it! I have posted it on the Audio Offerings page of this blog and I hope all my readers will take the time to listen to this bit of advanced philosophy from our founder.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta
Madhya-lila 16.120
prabhura daraśane sabe haila premamaya
'kṛṣṇa' 'kṛṣṇa' kahe, netra aśru variṣaya

prabhura daraśane — by seeing the Lord; sabe — all of them; haila — became; prema-maya — overwhelmed with love; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kahe — chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa; netra — the eyes; aśru — tears; variṣaya — poured.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the Lord, they all felt themselves overwhelmed with love of Godhead, and, tears pouring from their eyes, they began to chant the holy name, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!"

JOURNAL:

Happy Gaura Purnima!

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Ādi 4.166
kāmera tātparya — nija-sambhoga kevala
krsna-sukha-tātparya-mātra prema ta' prabala

kāmera — of lust; tātparya — the intent; nija — own; sambhoga — enjoyment; kevala — only; krsna-sukha — for Lord Krsna's happiness; tātparya — the intent; mātra — only; prema — love; ta' — certainly; prabala — powerful.

TRANSLATION

The object of lust is only the enjoyment of one's own senses. But love caters to the enjoyment of Lord Krsna, and thus it is very powerful.

(another)
SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Ādi 1.47
śiksā-guruke ta' jāni krsnera svarūpa
antaryāmī, bhakta-śrestha, — ei dui rūpa

śiksā-guruke — the spiritual master who instructs; ta' — indeed; jāni — I know; krsnera — of Krsna; sva-rūpa — the direct representative; antaryāmī — the indwelling Supersoul; bhakta-śrestha — the best devotee; ei — these; dui — two; rūpa — forms.

TRANSLATION

One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Krsna. Lord Krsna manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the Lord.

PURPORT

Śrīla Krsnadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī states that the instructing spiritual master is a bona fide representative of Śrī Krsna. Śrī Krsna Himself teaches us as the instructing spiritual master from within and without. From within He teaches as Paramātmā, our constant companion, and from without He teaches from the Bhagavad-gītā as the instructing spiritual master. There are two kinds of instructing spiritual masters. One is the liberated person fully absorbed in meditation in devotional service, and the other is he who invokes the disciple's spiritual consciousness by means of relevant instructions. Thus the instructions in the science of devotion are differentiated in terms of the objective and subjective ways of understanding. The ācārya in the true sense of the term, who is authorized to deliver Krsna, enriches the disciple with full spiritual knowledge and thus awakens him to the activities of devotional service.

When by learning from the self-realized spiritual master one actually engages himself in the service of Lord Viṣṇu, functional devotional service begins. The procedures of this devotional service are known as abhidheya, or actions one is dutybound to perform. Our only shelter is the Supreme Lord, and one who teaches how to approach Kṛṣṇa is the functioning form of the Personality of Godhead. There is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the initiating and instructing spiritual masters. If one foolishly discriminates between them, he commits an offense in the discharge of devotional service.

Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī is the ideal spiritual master, for he delivers one the shelter of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. Even though one may be unable to travel on the field of Vṛndāvana due to forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can get an adequate opportunity to stay in Vṛndāvana and derive all spiritual benefits by the mercy of Sanātana Gosvāmī. Śrī Govindajī acts exactly like the śiksā-guru (instructing spiritual master) by teaching Arjuna the Bhagavad-gītā. He is the original preceptor, for He gives us instructions and an opportunity to serve Him. The initiating spiritual master is a personal manifestation of Śrīla Madana-mohana vigraha, whereas the instructing spiritual master is a personal representative of Śrīla Govindadeva vigraha. Both of these Deities are worshiped at Vrndāvana. Śrīla Gopīnātha is the ultimate attraction in spiritual realization.

Appearance Day of Srila Prabhupada

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Ādi 1.35
mantra-guru āra yata śiksā-guru-gana
tāńhāra carana āge kariye vandana

mantra-guru — the initiating spiritual master; āra — and also; yata — as many (as there are); śiksā-guru-gana — all the instructing spiritual masters; tāńhāra — of all of them; carana —unto the lotus feet; āge — at first; kariye — I offer; vandana —respectful obeisances.

TRANSLATION

I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters.

JOURNAL:

One should fast until noon.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 13.13
viśvambhara jagannāthe ke cālāite pāre?
āpana icchāya cale karite vihāre

viśvambhara — the maintainer of the universe; jagannāthe — Lord Jagannātha; ke — who; cālāite — cause to be carried; pāre — can; āpana — personal; icchāya — by His will; cale — moves; karite — to act; vihāre — in pastimes.

TRANSLATION

Lord Jagannātha is the maintainer of the whole universe. Who can carry Him from one place to another? The Lord moves by His personal will just to perform His pastimes.

JOURNAL:

Today is Ratha Yatra here in Portland, Oregon.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta
Antya 2.67
svayambhagavān krsna-caitanya-gosāñi
jagannātha-nrsimha-saha kichu bheda nāi

svayam — personally; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krsna-caitanya-gosāñi —Lord Śrī Krsna Caitanya Mahāprabhu; jagannātha-nrsimha-saha — with Lord Jagannātha and Nrsimhadeva; kichu bheda — any difference; nāi —there is not.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Therefore there is no difference between Him, Lord Jagannātha and Lord Nrsimhadeva.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Ādi 14.15-16
pañca-dīrghah pañca-sūksmah
sapta-raktah sad-unnatah
tri-hrasva-prthu-gambhīro
dvātrimśal-laksano mahān

nārāyanera cihna-yukta śrī-hasta carana
ei śiśu sarva loke karibe tārana

pañca-dīrghah — five large; pañca-sūksmah — five fine; sapta-raktah — seven reddish; sat-unnatah — six raised; tri-hrasva — three small; prthu —three broad; gambhīrah — three grave; dvā-triḿśat — in this way thirty-two; laksanah — symptoms; mahān — of a great personality.

nārāyanera — of Lord Nārāyana; cihna-yukta — with positive marks; śrī-hasta carana — the palm and the sole; ei —this; śiśu —baby; sarva loke —all the three worlds; karibe —will; tārana —deliver.

TRANSLATION

"'There are thirty-two bodily symptoms of a great personality: five of his bodily parts are large, five fine, seven reddish, six raised, three small, three broad and three grave.

This baby has all the symptoms of Lord Nārāyana on His palms and soles. He will be able to deliver all the three worlds."'

PURPORT (SB 14.15)

The five large parts are the nose, arms, chin, eyes and knees. The five fine parts are the skin, fingertips, teeth, hair on the body and hair on the head. The seven reddish parts are the eyes, soles, palms, palate, nails and upper and lower lips. The six raised parts are the chest, shoulders, nails, nose, waist and mouth. The three small parts are the neck, thighs and male organ. The three broad parts are the waist, forehead and chest. The three grave parts are the navel, voice and existence. Altogether these are the thirty-two symptoms of a great personality. This is a quotation from the Sāmudrika.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Ādi 2.22
seita govinda sāksāc caitanya gosāñi
jīva nistārite aiche dayālu āra nāi

seita — that; govinda — Govinda; sāksāt — personally; caitanya — Lord Caitanya; gosāñi — Gosāñi; jīva — the fallen living entities; nistārite — to deliver; aiche — such; dayālu — a merciful Lord; āra — another; nāi — there is not.

TRANSLATION

That Govinda personally appears as Caitanya Gosāñi. No other Lord is as merciful in delivering the fallen souls.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta
Antya-lila 1.29
prasāda nārikela-śasya dena phelāñā
'rāma' 'krsna' 'hari' kaha' — balena hāsiyā

prasāda — food; nārikela-śasya — pulp of green coconut; dena — gives; phelāñā — throwing; rāma — Lord Rāmacandra; krsna — Śrī Krsna; hari — the holy name of Hari; kaha' — say; balena — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says; hāsiyā — smiling.

TRANSLATION

Furthermore, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was throwing remnants of green coconut pulp to the dog. Smiling in His own way, He was saying to the dog, "Chant the holy names 'Rāma,' 'Krsna' and 'Hari.'"

JOURNAL:

I share the place I'm living with five other guys and a (male) dog named Dixie. I haven't lived with a dog since the mid-80's and I'm kind of liking it. I had forgotten just how "loving" the beasts can be.

In this pasttime of Lord Caitanya's the dog, who misses a meal and disappears, only to show up later by the Lord's side, does indeed learn to chant. I don't know if Dixie will ever chant the names of Krishna, but I do know he will hear them as we walk together.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta
Madhya 19.242
tāńre ālińgiyā prabhu naukāte caḍilā
mūrcchita hañā teńho tāhāñi paḍilā

tāńre — him; ālińgiyā — embracing; prabhu — Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; naukāte — in a boat; caḍilā — got aboard; mūrcchita hañā — fainting; teńho — he (Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī); tāhāñi — on the spot; paḍilā — fell.

TRANSLATION

After embracing Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got into a boat. Rūpa Gosvāmī fainted and fell down on the spot.

JOURNAL:

On the "Krishna Vrindavan Lila" page of this blog I have added an audio of Srila Rupa Goswami's pastimes by His Grace Charu Prabhu.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 51
anirvacanīyam prema-svarūpam

anirvacanīyam — beyond description; prema — of mature love of God; svarūpam — the essential identity.


TRANSLATION

The true nature of pure love of God is beyond description.

JOURNAL:

Satsvarupa das Goswami writes in his purport; Although prema-bhakti is beyond words, whatever can be conveyed by authorized devotees is appreciated by those who are sincere and faithful. Krsnadāsa Kavirāja says, "Just try to hear these topics with faith, for there is great pleasure even in hearing them. That hearing will destroy all miseries pertaining to the body, mind, and other living entities, and the unhappiness of false arguments as well." [Cc. Antya 19.110]

(In case you don't know, the edition of this scripture that I am working with is the offical ISKCON edition. Here is a quote from the introduction by Satsvarupa das Goswami; In 1967, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda translated and wrote purports for thirteen of the eighty-four aphorisms (Śrīla Prabhupāda called them "codes") of the Nārada-bhakti-sūtra. In 1989, at their annual meeting, the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness suggested that I complete the book.)