SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.8.16 
gandharvāpsarasaḥ kāmaṁ
vasanta-malayānilau
munaye preṣayām āsa
rajas-toka-madau tathā

gandharva-apsarasaḥ — the celestial singers and dancing girls; kāmam — Cupid; vasanta — the spring season; malaya-anilau — and the refreshing breeze from the Malaya Hills; munaye — to the sage; preṣayām āsa — he sent; rajaḥ-toka — the child of passion, greed; madau — and intoxication; tathā — also.

TRANSLATION

To ruin the sage’s spiritual practice, Lord Indra sent Cupid, beautiful celestial singers, dancing girls, the season of spring and the sandalwood-scented breeze from the Malaya Hills, along with greed and intoxication personified.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.20.4
sāndra-nīlāmbudair vyoma
sa-vidyut-stanayitnubhiḥ
aspaṣṭa-jyotir ācchannaḿ
brahmeva sa-guṇaḿ babhau

sāndra — dense; nīla — blue; ambudaiḥ — by the clouds; vyoma — the sky; sa-vidyut — along with lightning; stanayitnubhiḥ — and thunder; aspaṣṭa — diffuse; jyotiḥ — its illumination; ācchannam — covered; brahma — the spirit soul; iva — as if; sa-guṇam — with the material qualities of nature; babhau — was manifest.

TRANSLATION
The sky was then covered by dense blue clouds accompanied by lightning and thunder. Thus the sky and its natural illumination were covered in the same way that the spirit soul is covered by the three modes of material nature.

PURPORT

Lightning is compared to the mode of goodness, thunder to the mode of passion, and clouds to the mode of ignorance. Thus the cloudy sky at the onset of the rainy season is analogous to the pure spirit soul when he becomes disturbed by the modes of nature, for at that time he is covered and his original brilliant nature is only dimly reflected through the haze of the material qualities.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Upadesamrta, Text Three
utsahan niscayad dhairyat
tat-tat-karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh
sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati

utsahat — by enthusiasm; niscayat — by confidence; dhairyat — by patience; tat-tat-karma — various activities favorable for devotional service; pravartanat — by performing; sanga-tyagat — by giving up the association of nondevotees; satah — of the great previous acaryas; vrtteh — by following in the footsteps; sadbhih — by these six; bhaktih — devotional service; prasidhyati — advances or becomes successful.

Translation

There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam – hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada in The Nectar of Instruction give us this list in conjunction with this sloka;
The nine processes of devotional service are as follows: 1. Hearing the name and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead  2. Chanting His glories  3. Remembering the Lord  4. Serving the Lord’s feet  5. Worshiping the Deity  6. Offering obeisances unto the Lord  7. Acting as the Lord’s servant  8. Making friends with the Lord  9. Surrendering oneself fully to the Lord.

These photo were taken at ISKCON Portland on April 16, 2014. H.H. Romapada Swami presided over the Initation Ceremony.

Here is a recording of his talk that day.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Mukunda Muktavali Verse 20
Please worship the Lord,
who is a palace of transcendental pastimes,
whose teeth are charming,
Sri Krishna, whose broad chest and moonlike face are the shelter and resting place of Sri Radhika
who is amorous, whose face is the moon,
whose chest is a lotus, who is splendid with fame,
and who holds a lotus in His hand.

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:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 8
names te 'stu damne sphurad dipti-dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya priyayai
namo 'nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam

TRANSLATION

O Lord, I offer respectful obeisances unto Your belly, the abode of the entire universe, which is bound by Mother Yasoda with a brilliantly effulgent rope. To this rope I offer my humble obeisances. I offer repeated obeisances to Your dearmost beloved Srimati Radharani, and I bow before You, who are performing unlimited super-excellent pastimes.

JOURNAL:

This ends the Sri Damodarastakam of Satyavrata Muni. I hope you have enjoyed this presentation.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 7
kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yad-vat
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau krtau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me prayaccha
na mokse graho me 'sti damodareha

TRANSLATION

O Lord Damodara, although Mother Yasoda bound Your divine form to a wooden grinding mortar, You mercifully delivered the sons of Kuvera, Manigriva and Nalakuvara, who were cursed to stand as trees, and You gave them the gift of devotional service. Please bless me in this same way with Your most wonderful prema-bhakti. I have no eagerness for any other type of liberation.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 6
namo deva damodarananta visno
prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam
krpa-drsti-vrstyati-dinam batanu-
grhanesa mam ajnam edhy aksi-drsyah

TRANSLATION

O Damodara! O Lord of divine beauty and unlimited mercy! O all pervading Visnu! I offer my obeisances unto You. May You be pleased with me. I am drowning in an ocean of sorrow and feeling almost dead. Shower Your nectar laden glances upon me, thereby uplifting me and enthusing me with life. Please accept me, O Lord, and become visible before my eyes.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 5
idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair-
vrtam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya
muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksa-labhaih

TRANSLATION

Your supremely enchanting face, encircled by shining locks of dark blue curling hair, resembles the fully blossomed lotus, tinged with a reddish luster, due to being kissed again and again by Mother Yasoda. May this vision of Your lotus face, with lips are red as bimba fruit, remain forever in my heart. Millions of other benedictions are of no benefit to me.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 4
varam deva moksam na moksavadhim va
na canyam vrne 'ham varesasd apiha
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih

TRANSLATION

O Lord Damodara, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for liberation, nor the supreme goal of eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor for any other boon. My only desire, O Lord, is that Your form as Bala Gopala in Vrindavana may constantly remain in my heart. I have no use for any other boon besides this.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 3
itidrk-sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosam nimajjantam akhyapayantam
tadiyesita-jnesu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavrtti vande

TRANSLATION

O my Lord, by Your own childhood pastimes, You continually immerse the residents of Gokula in pools of ecstasy. You reveal to those who are attracted to Your majesty and opulence, that You are only conquered by the love of Your pure devotees. Again I offer my obeisances with love and devotion hundreds and hundreds of times.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 2
rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-tri-rekhanka-kantha-
sthita-graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham

TRANSLATION

He cries and rubs His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes are fearful and His breathing quick. As Mother Yasoda binds His belly with ropes, He shivers in fright and the pearl necklace shakes upon His neck, which is marked with three lines like a conch shell. To the Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound by His mother's pure love, not by rope, I offer my humble obeisances.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Sri Damodarastakam
of Satyavrata Muni; Sloka 1
namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukalad-dhavamanam
paramrstam atyantato drutya gopya

TRANSLATION

I bow down to the supreme controller, Sri Damodara, whose form is the embodiment of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. His glistening earrings swing playfully to and fro upon His cheeks. He manifests super-excellent pastimes in Gokula, by stealing fresh butter suspended from the rafters of the gopi's storerooms. In fear of Mother Yasoda, He jumps down from a wooden grinding mortar and quickly runs away. She runs swiftly after Him and finally catches Him from behind.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 55
tat prāpya tad evāvalokayati tad eva śṛṇoti tad eva bhāṣayati tad eva cintayati

tat — it; prāpya — having obtained; tat — Him; eva — alone; avalokayati — one looks at; tat — Him; eva — alone; śṛṇoti — one hears about; tat — Him; eva — alone; bhāṣayati — one speaks about; tat — Him; eva — alone; cintayati — one thinks about.

TRANSLATION

Having obtained pure love of God, one looks only at the Lord, hears only about Him, speaks only of Him, and thinks only of Him.

JOURNAL:

Sri Satsvarupa das Goswami writes in his purport; This is samādhi, or trance, and whether one achieves it by the eightfold yoga system or by bhakti-yoga, it is the same. In the case of the bhakti-yogī, he is fixed in devotional service at all times, and whatever he sees contributes to his meditation on Kṛṣṇa. 

To help us understand pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the ācāryas give us examples of samādhi-like states, even in ordinary affairs. When a mother sees the shoes of her little child, she doesn't just perceive them as neutral objects: she feels protection and love for her child. Similarly, when a lover picks up his beloved's comb (especially if he is in separation from her) he may feel intense emotions of love. In the case of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, everything is His energy. So wherever the bhakta goes or whatever he perceives throughout the universe, he is reminded of the Lord. Moreover, this recognition is not merely an intellectual habit but a total, overpowering state of love.

In his Brahma-saḿhitā (5.38), Lord Brahmā describes the devotional qualification for seeing Kṛṣṇa always and everywhere:

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa Himself, with inconceivable, innumerable attributes, and whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love."

In his purport, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī writes, "The eye of devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure unalloyed spiritual self of the jīva. The form of Kṛṣṇa is visible to that eye in proportion to its purification by the practice of devotion."

What prevents most of us from seeing Kṛṣṇa with eyes of love? We have a "cataract" on our eyes that consists of our material attachments.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.3.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
dṛṣṭvātmani jaye vyagrān
nṛpān hasati bhūr iyam
aho mā vijigīṣanti
mṛtyoḥ krīḍanakā nṛpāḥ

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; dṛṣṭvā — observing; ātmani — of herself; jaye — in conquest; vyagrān — busily engaged; nṛpān — the kings; hasati — she laughs; bhūḥ — the earth; iyam — this; aho — ah; mā — me; vijigīṣanti — they are desiring to conquer; mṛtyoḥ — of death; krīḍanakāḥ — playthings; nṛpāḥ — the kings.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Seeing the kings of this earth busy trying to conquer her, the earth herself laughed. She said: "Just see how these kings, who are actually playthings in the hands of death, are desiring to conquer me.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.54.60
dvārakāyām abhūd rājan
mahā-modaḥ puraukasām
rukmiṇyā ramayopetaḿ
dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇaḿ śriyaḥ patim

dvārakāyām — in Dvārakā; abhūt — there was; rājan — O King; mahā-modaḥ — great joy; pura-okasām — for the inhabitants of the city; rukmiṇyā — with Rukmiṇī; ramayā — the goddess of fortune; upetam — joined; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śriyaḥ — of all opulence; patim — the master.

TRANSLATION

Dvārakā's citizens were overjoyed to see Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of all opulence, united with Rukmiṇī, the goddess of fortune.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 9.10.2
tasyāpi bhagavān eṣa
sākṣād brahmamayo hariḥ
aḿśāḿśena caturdhāgāt
putratvaḿ prārthitaḥ suraiḥ
rāma-lakṣmaṇa-bharata-
śatrughnā iti saḿjñayā

tasya — of him, Mahārāja Daśaratha; api — also; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eṣaḥ — all of them; sākṣāt — directly; brahma-mayaḥ — the Supreme Parabrahman, the Absolute Truth; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aḿśa-aḿśena — by an expansion of a plenary portion; caturdhā — by fourfold expansions; agāt — accepted; putratvam — sonhood; prārthitaḥ — being prayed for; suraiḥ — by the demigods; rāma — Lord Rāmacandra; lakṣmaṇa — Lord Lakṣmaṇa; bharata — Lord Bharata; śatrughnāḥ — and Lord Śatrughna; iti — thus; saḿjñayā — by different names.

TRANSLATION

Being prayed for by the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth Himself, directly appeared with His expansion and expansions of the expansion. Their holy names were Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna. These celebrated incarnations thus appeared in four forms as the sons of Mahārāja Daśaratha.

PURPORT

Lord Rāmacandra and His brothers, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, are all viṣṇu-tattva, not jīva-tattva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands into many, many forms. Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam [Bs 5.33]. Although they are one and the same, viṣṇu-tattva has many forms and incarnations. As confirmed in the Brahma-saḿhitā (5.39), rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan. The Lord is situated in many forms, such as Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, and these forms may exist in any part of His creation. All these forms exist permanently, eternally, as individual Personalities of Godhead, and they resemble many candles, all equally powerful. Lord Rāmacandra, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, who, being viṣṇu-tattva, are all equally powerful, became the sons of Mahārāja Daśaratha in response to prayers by the demigods.

SLOKA OF THE WEEK:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.7.19
tadā sva-prabhayā teṣāḿ
dyotayantyā diśo daśa
muṣṇaḿs teja upānītas
tārkṣyeṇa stotra-vājinā

tadā — at that time; sva-prabhayā — by His own effulgence; teṣām — all of them; dyotayantyā — by brightness; diśaḥ — directions; daśa — ten; muṣṇan — diminishing; tejaḥ — effulgence; upānītaḥ — brought; tārkṣyeṇa — by Garuḍa; stotra-vājinā — whose wings are called Bṛhat and Rathantara.

TRANSLATION

Lord Nārāyaṇa was seated on the shoulder of Stotra, or Garuḍa, who had big wings. As soon as the Lord appeared, all directions were illuminated, diminishing the luster of Brahmā and the others present.

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!