Sri Krishna Kathamrita

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Highlights

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

the Fruit Known as srimad BhagaVatam

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Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati

Come to VrindaVan
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The philosophy of Lord Chaitanya is that Krishna is the only object of worship. And as Krishna is the object of worship, similarly, his place, Vrindavan Dham, is also worshipable. If you go to Vrindavan, even if you dont know anything about Krishna, you will at once feel Krishna consciousness. It is such a nice place. (Lecture, New York, 29 July 1966) No one can completely understand Lord Krishna. Similarly, the land which is known as Vrindavan also has unlimited potency. As I have mentioned several times, if you go to Vrindavan youll still find a spiritual atmosphere with unlimited potency. Therefore Lord Chaitanya recommended, rdhyo bhagavn vrajeatanaya tad dhma vndvanam As Lord Krishna is worshipable, similarly his place, Vrindavan, is as good as Krishna. If you go to Vrindavan, youll see so many saints and sages there. They are worshiping Vrindavan Dham. (Lecture, New York, 4 January 1967) The dirty things in our heart should be removed completely by hearing ka-kath. That is the only way of understanding Krishna. This Vrindavan is so important and valuable. Why? Because anywhere you go in Vrindavan there is the opportunity of hearing ka-kath. The whole atmosphere of Vrindavan is simply centered on cultivation of Krishna consciousness. Unfortunately, we take to other consciousness here in the dhma. Therefore
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

we become condemned. In Vrindavan, if we take to materialistic consciousness, we become condemned to accept a body other than a human being. But still the opportunity is there. Because hes in Vrindavan, hes helped and will making progress. Even as an animal,

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[q k* Z<ak QaaMa*Ta ibNdu

spiritual life, even though he may be criminal number one. But if we keep a criminal mentality in Vrindavan, then well have to accept another birth and suffer. After that birth, it will be all right, and then again he will be elevated due to the influence of Vrindavan. (Lecture, Vrindavan, 11 November 1972)

the Fruit Known as srimad BhagaVatam

Bikaner school, c. 1800s

The word nigama here refers to the Vedas. The Vedas are a kalpa-taru, a wish-fulfilling tree, that gives various fruits in the form of the four pururthas (dharma, artha, kma and moka) according to the respective desires of those who take shelter of it. The Vedas, because they are tree-like, also give a ripened fruit known as rmad Bhgavatam The word bhgavatam can also mean that literature whose proprietor is the Lord himself. It is the Lord who bestows this scripture on his devotees, and it is not possible for anyone else to claim proprietorship over this literature. The word galitam implies that this fruit known as rmad Bhgavatam has fallen not by any external force, but on its own accord, due to it being impeccably ripe. Thus it contains all sorts of unparalleled tasteful devotional mellows.

Venu Gopal

as a hog or a dog, hes making progress because hes in Vrindavan. Vrindavan is so important, because here anyone can get the opportunity to take to Krishna consciousness. It is called Vrindavan dhma. Dhma means residence, where Krishna resides. Vrindavan is not polluted. Vrindavan is always helping us. Anyone who comes to Vrindavan is immediately helped in

Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu

Top left 3 na cocca-niptanena sphuitam, npy anatimadhura cety hauketi. paramordhvacata r-nryat brahma-khy, tato dhastn nrada-khyy, tato vysa-khy, tata uka-mukha prpytapt madhv ivmtadrava-sayutam. ukenaiva tena sva-cacvamta-nikramartha dvram api ktam. atha ca tensvditatvd atimadhura, tata stdikhta anai anai patand akhaitam. tena guru-parampar vin sva-buddhi-balensvdane r-bhgavatasykhaitatve pnakti scit.

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The reason for including the word uka in the verse is to show how even though the fruit fell from a height, it did not split or rupture. Neither did it lose its abundantly sweet nature. This was because Lord Narayan, the greatest of all great men, passed it down in disciplic succession through Lord Brahma, Sri Narada, and Sri Vyasadev. Finally, this great honeylike nectarean scripture (amta-drava-sayutam) descended to all through the mouth (mukhd) of Sri Sukadev Goswami. The parrot-like Sukadev Goswami cut into this ripe fruit with his beak, and by doing so he immensely increased its abundant sweetness. This abundantly sweet fruit was passed down via the disciplic successions of Suta Goswami and other sages, and even now it remains unbroken and intact. The implication here is that without a guruparampar, one cannot relish rmad Bhgavatam in the same unbroken and intact manner, even though one may apply ones intelligence to it.
nanu katha phalam eva ptavyam ity ata ha rasam iti. rasa-svarpam eveda phala, ntra tvag-ahy-di-heyo stti bhva. layo moka slokydir jvan-muktatva v, tam abhivypya tatra tatra bhagaval-ll-gna-prasiddhe. muhur iti ptasypi puna pne svddhikyam eveti. aho iti vismaye. rasik he rasaj iti bhaktnm eva jta-ratitvd rater eve sthyi-bhvatvt sthyina eva rasyamnatvt ntra jni-karmi-yogin ko pi dya iti bhva. he bhvuks tata eva yyam eva kualino nye magal eveti bhva.

Radha Krishna

lifetime). Even in all such liberated states of existence, one can relish the descriptions of the Supreme Lords pastimes, qualities, etc., from this literature. The word muhur indicates that even though one may have drunk the nectar of this great literature in the past, drinking it again will simply cause one to experience even more taste in it. This surprising fact is confirmed by using the word aho. The word rasik is used to call out to all expert relishers of this great literature. This scripture is meant only for the devotees. This is because only the devotees can possess rati, love towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here, rati means sthyi-bhva, continuous ecstasy in love, which ultimately turns into rasa. The karms, jns and yogs are not fit to receive this literature. The word bhvuk calls out O expert and thoughtful devotees! Only you are blessed to understand this literature, whereas all others are ill-fated.
From the Bhakti-sra-pradarin commentary on Bhakti-rasmtasindhu 1.2.226. Sanskrit taken from Gaudiya Grantha Mandir (http:// www.granthamandira.com). Translated by Hari Parshad Das.

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Excerpts from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswatis r Vndvana Mahimmta
na kuru na kuru mithy deha-gehdy-apek mtim akhila-pumartha-bhraik viddhi mrdhni cala cala suhd-adyaivbhumukhyena vajrd api ca hdi-kahora rla-vndvanasya

Now, what type of a fruit is rmad Bhgavatam? This is indicated by the word rasam in the verse. The very nature of this fruit is rasa. This fruit of rmad Bhgavatam does not contain undesirable elements like skin, seeds, etc. The word layam in the verse indicates that this great literature acts as a refuge even for those who have attained all types of liberations like slokya (staying on the same planet as the Lord) or jvana-mukti (a state of liberation even in this

O please dont! Dont harbor illusions about your body, home and everything else! Know that death will thwart all your plans! O friend, run, run to Sri Vrindavan! Dont make your heart harder than a thunderbolt! (Text 1.70)

Jaipur, c. 1800s

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Quickly, quickly run to the forest of Vrindavan, the most rare and difficult to attain of all rare things, which by its own mercy is now manifested in this world! (13.21)
vndrayam agaya-pupa-nivahair dhanygra-gayair hd dhyeya prpya batnyato hi kudhiyo yad yyam dhv atha tac cintmaim eva pda-hatibhir dra nirasya svaya hastgre patita-vapka-bhavane bhakyay bhrmyatha

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Friend, do you know when you will die? Do not even infants sometimes die unexpectedly? With clear intelligence, without attachment to the body and senses, and without stopping to think, run to Vrindavan! (1.78)
bhrtar yarhi nimlito smi nayane tatra kva knttmaja bhrt-svpta-suhd-gaa kva ca gu kutra pratihdaya kutrhaktya prabhutva-dhana-vidydyais tata sarvatas tva nirvidya savidya kintu na calasy adyaiva vndvanam

O brother, when you close your eyes in death, where will your loving wife, children, brothers, relatives and friends be? Where will your good qualities be? Where will your fame be? Where will your pride, wealth, education, control over others, and other powers and opulence be? O learned and intelligent friend, why do you not renounce these temporary things and run to Vrindavan? (1.81)
are ghra ghra suta-dhana-kalatrdi-mamat pratne klo ya nahi vapur ida mty-anugatam samastlabhyn param idam alabhya sva-kpay bhuvi vyakta vnd-vipinam abhidhvtihahata

In your hearts, meditate on Vrindavan forest as a place filled with numberless beautiful flowers! Run to Vrindavan! O fools, if your footsteps take you away from the cintmai jewel of Vrindavan, you will eventually find yourself begging alms at the houses of degraded dog eaters. (13.51)
knta tva-mtra-sachdita-yuvati-maymedhya bbhatse pie drg-de paitnm api vilayamit dhairya-raktiik k bhakti k viraktis tad-apahta-dhiy kaiva vndvan ts nmpy avas tad anusara sakhe rdhik kujavm

This is not the time to be attached to wife, children, wealth, and all the rest. Death is now chasing your body.

The sight of the horrible ball of flesh covered by a thin layer of pretty skin and known as a beautiful young woman leads the moral instructions of the wise to complete destruction. What is devotional service for one whose intelligence is robbed in this way? Friend, do not stay for even a moment to hear the names of these fallen men! Simply run to Srimati Radhikas forest-groves! (13.55)
r Vndvana-Mahimmtam. Adapted from an English translation by Kusakratha Das. Sanskrit taken from Gaudiya Grantha Mandir (http://www.granthamandira.com).

Sri KriShna Kathamrita Bindu