Complete 11 sloka book: Sri Upadeshamrita by Rupa Goswami

[Guest guest]

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Translation by Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSri Upadeshamrita by Rupa Goswami (The Nectar of Instruction)NoI 1:

A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands,

the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is

qualified to make disciples all over the world.NoI 2:

One's devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in

the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or

collecting more funds than required; (2) over-endeavoring for mundane

things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily

about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and

regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of

spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the

scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating

with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krishna consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements.NoI 3:

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 SravanamÌ kirtanam vishnoh smaranam — hearing, chanting and remembering Krishna,

(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.NoI 4:

Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's

mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.NoI 5: One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krishna one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation [diksha]

and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with

and faithfully serve that Pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated

devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the

propensity to criticize others.NoI 6: Being situated in his original Krishna conscious position, a pure devotee does not identify with the body.

Such a devotee should not be seen from a materialistic point of view.

Indeed, one should overlook a devotee's having a body born in a low

family, a body with a bad complexion, a deformed body, or a diseased or

infirm body. According to ordinary vision, such imperfections may seem

prominent in the body of a pure devotee, but despite such seeming

defects, the body of a pure devotee cannot be polluted. It is exactly

like the waters of the Ganges, which sometimes during the rainy season

are full of bubbles, foam and mud. The Ganges waters do not become

polluted. Those who are advanced in spiritual understanding will bathe

in the Ganges without considering the condition of the water.NoI 7: The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krishna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya

[ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by

carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish

awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at

the root.NoI 8:

The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time —

twenty-four hours a day — in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord's

divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes,

thereby gradually engaging one's tongue and mind. In this way one

should reside in Vraja [Goloka Vrndavana dhama] and serve Krishna under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of

the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional

service.NoI 9: The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krishna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krishna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-Kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-Kunda which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?NoI 10: In the Shastra

it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in

knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari.

Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jnanin], one who

is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to

devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has

actually attained prema, pure love of Krishna, is superior to him. The gopīs are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Sri Krishna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krishna. Her kunda [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Krishna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who, then,

will not reside at Radha-kunda

and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings

[aprakritabhava], render loving service to the divine couple Sri Sri Radha--Govinda, who perform Their asta-kaliya-lila, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha-kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.NoI 11: Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vrajabhūmi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna's love. And, in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha-kunda

is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is

even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply

bathes once within those holy waters, one's pure love of Krishna is fully aroused. Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.

Get your new Email address!

Grab the Email name you've always wanted before someone else does!