Sri Krishna Kathamrita

Bindu Issue 536

Vraja-prema in the Bhagavad-gita

 Sri Krishna Kathamrita
तवकथामृतं तप्तजीवनम्
tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanam
Bindu
Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications

Issue No. 536 Śrī Padminī Ekādaśī 20 November 2022

• Drinking the Milk of the Gita

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
• Early Classes on the Gita
From the life of Srila Prabhupada
• We Could Do Many Gitas
From the life of Srila Prabhupada
• Reflections on the Bhagavad-gita
Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
Highlights

• Three Editions of Gita

Published by Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
• The Position of Bhagavad-gita
And Other Literatures
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
• The Gita Establishes that the Form of Krishna is Supreme
Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur
• Vraja Prema in the Gita
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
• Story of the Gita Panda
Bhurijana Das

Drinking the Milk

Of the Gita
Sripad Shankaracharya’s Gīta-dhyāna (Text 4)
Translation and commentary by
His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Versification by Hayagriva Das Adhikari
sarvopaniṣado gāvo dogdhā gopāla nandanaḥ
pārtho vatsaḥ sudhir bhoktā dugdhaṁ gītāmṛtaṁ mahat
The Upanishads
Are as a herd of cows,
Cover: "Gita Upadesh". Unknown artist.
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 2

Unknown artist
The Bhagavad-gītā is like a cow that Krishna is milking. Arjuna is the calf, and the listeners drink the milk of the Gita

Lord Krishna, son of a cowherd, whereas it is Shankar, the greatest impersonalist,

Is their milker, who worships him, his cows, and his pastimes as
Arjun is the calf, the son of Vasudev and pleasure of Devaki.
The supreme nectar of the Gītā Bibliography
Is the milk, — Authorized Purports on Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya’s Meditation
And the wise man on the Bhagavad-gītā”, Back To Godhead magazine, number 40.
Of purified intellect — Sanskrit for the above verses from Śrīmad Bhagavad
Is the drinker. Gītā. Published by Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Gaudiya Math.
Mayapur. 1987. Bengali.
PURPORT: Unless one understands spiritual
variegatedness, one cannot understand the
transcendental pastimes of the Lord. In
Early Classes on the Gita
the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said that Krishna’s
From the life of Srila Prabhupada
name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage and
paraphernalia are all ānanda-cinmaya-rasa — My gurudeva [Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar
in short, everything of his transcendental Maharaja] told me that when he was not there I
association is of the same composition of spiritual should go to the class of Swamiji every day to study
bliss, knowledge and eternity. There is no end Gītā. At that time, he was translating in consultation
to his name, form, etc., unlike the material with the commentaries of Sri Baladev Vidyabhushan,
world where all things have their end. As stated Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur, and Srila
in the Bhagavad-gītā, only fools deride him, Sridhar Swami. He was writing As It Is. Every evening
 Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 3 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Unknown photographer

Pages from a 19th century handwritten copy of the Gītā

he wrote new pages and then in the morning he Bhāgavatam, The Nectar of Devotion, and Śrī
explained those verses to me. My gurudeva said that Caitanya-caritāmṛta — were the necessary books.
this would be very good for me, and good for him Outside of that, everything was extra. Once we
also to help me. He would get a student and I would were in Prabhupada’s room in New York when
get a master. He gave the classes in Bengali because Radhaballabha asked Prabhupada, “So, after you
I could not read any English at that time. His special finish the Bhāgavatam, Prabhupada, what books
target then was to demolish the māyāvādīs. He showed would you like to translate?” Prabhupada said,
how Gītā gives the transcendental eternal pastimes “Oh, maybe Jiva Goswami’s Sat Sandharbha, or
of Krishna, and that the Brahman effulgence is not Vedānta-sūtra, or Bhagavad-gītā. There are so
the aim of life. many.” Someone spoke up, “But Prabhupada, you
— Remembrance of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev Maharaja.
From Mulaprakriti Dasi’s, Our Srila Prabhupāda, a Friend to All. already did the Bhagavad-gītā.” Prabhupada said,
Copyright 2013 by Gopavrindapal Das. “There are so many commentaries. We did a small
part.” He said, “Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya,
We Could Do Many Gitas everyone has given a Gītā commentary. We
could do many Gītās, not just one.” So he had a
From the life of Srila Prabhupada
conception like that.
Pradyumna Das: Prabhupada always considered — From a remembrance of Pradyumna Das. Srila Prabhupāda
– Remembrances, Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint, volume 2,
that four books — the Bhagavad-gītā, ŚrImad chapter 16. Siddhanta Das. ITV.
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 4

Unknown artist
Scene from the battle of Kurukshetra from a handwritten copy of the Mahābharata

Reflections on the
Three Editions of Gita Published Bhagavad-gita
By Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
In 1886 Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode printed Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
Unknown artist

a version of Bhagavad-gītā that he edited and Bhagavad-gītā consists of eighteen chapters.

that included the Sanskrit commentary of Among them, the first six chapters deal with karma,
Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur entitled the second six deal with bhakti, and the last six deal
Sārārtha-varṣiṇī. The book included Bhaktivinode’s with jñāna. The supremacy of devotional service has
elaborate introduction in Bengali, and for each been established in this book. Devotional service
Sanskrit verse of the Gītā, he composed his own is most confidential, but it is the life of jñāna and
Bengali translation-commentary entitled Rasika- karma. Since it awards one the goal of life, devotional
rañjana. In 1891, Bhaktivinode edited and published service has been placed in the middle six chapters.
another edition that included Srila Baladev (Bhagavad-gītā introduction)
Vidyabhushana’s Sanskrit commentary called Bhagavad-gītā instructs that the ultimate goal
Gītā-bhūṣaṇa, along with Bhaktivinode’s Bengali for the living entities is pure devotional service
translation-commentary called Vidvad-rañjana. alone. Surrendering to the Supreme Lord, the most
Then again in 1898 Bhaktivinode published an confidential instruction, is found in the concluding
edition that included the Sanskrit commentary verses of Bhagavad-gītā, beginning with sarva-dharmān
known as Dvaita-bhāṣyam by Srila Madhvacharya. parityajya. (Bhagavad-gītā introduction)
— From A Bibliography of the Literary Works of Srila Thakur Arjuna’s fighting is an example of attachment to one’s
Bhaktivinoda 1838-1914, compiled by Dasarath Suta Das.
Nectar Books. Union City, Georgia USA. occupational duties. Fighting is not the conclusion of
Bhagavad-gītā. (Bhagavad-gītā introduction)
 Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 5 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Painting by Jagannath. Gita Press. Gorakhpur. 1942

kanhaiyākā dugdha-prema
"Kanhaiya's (Krishna's) love for milk"
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 6
The confidential purport of Bhagavad-gītā is that
according to a person’s nature his qualification is
The Position of Bhagavad-gita
determined. He should only engage in activities that and Other Literatures
are necessary to maintain his livelihood and that
are prescribed according to his qualification, and he The following is excerpted from the book, Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta
should search after the Absolute Truth. His perfection Vaibhava by Bhakti Vikasa Swami. The indented quotes are
lies in doing so. (Bhagavad-gītā introduction) from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta while the comments are from
Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā is the essence of all scriptures. Bhakti Vikasa Swami.
For one who has not received the nectarean instructions Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā is the first book to be read
of Bhagavad-gītā, studying other scriptures is like an ass by persons on the spiritual trail. Śrī Bhagavad-
gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam are the crest jewels
carrying a big burden. (Sajjana-toṣaṇī 12/2)
of all scriptures. They are as great and worth
Unfortunately, the commentaries and Bengali taking refuge of as is Sri Krishna himself and are
translations of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā that have been transcendental manifestations of kṛṣṇa-kīrtana.
published to date are mostly composed by monists.
Srila Saraswati Thakur did not advocate that all
Commentaries or translations based on pure devotional
should undertake study of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad
service are rarely published. The commentaries of
Bhāgavatam, for these are intricate philosophical
Shankaracharya and Anandagiri are full of monistic
works in Sanskrit, difficult to understand except
conclusions. Sridhar Swami’s commentary is not
by those of scholarly disposition. Bhagavad-gītā is
based on the philosophy of monism, but it has a scent
generally considered meant for guiding those within
of the sectarian philosophy of śuddhādvaita-vāda.
varṇāśrama — karmīs, jnānīs, and yogīs — toward the
Sri Madhusudana Saraswati’s commentary is full of
path of devotion. And although introductory to the
statements nourishing devotional service, but the
detailed spiritual knowledge of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam,
conclusion is not beneficial. Sri Ramanuja Swami’s
the Bhagavad-gītā is itself quite complex, expounding
commentary is fully based on devotional service, but
such subjects as various factors of action, diverse
unless a commentary on Bhagavad-gītā that is full of
energies of the Supreme Lord and their interactions,
the teachings of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s acintya-
and intricacies and relative roles of karma, jñāna,
bhedābheda philosophy is published in our country,
yoga, and bhakti. Srila Saraswati Thakur advised
the happiness of those who relish pure devotional
devotees to especially peruse the sections of Śrīmad
service will not increase.
Bhāgavatam on Dhruva Maharaja and Prahlad
We have therefore carefully published the Bhagavad-
Maharaja and also Kapila-deva’s instructions. And he
gītā with the Bengali translation called Rasika-
recommended Kṛṣṇa-prema-taraṅgiṇī, a Bengali verse
rañjana according to the commentary written by Sri
adaptation of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam by Sri Raghunath
Vishwanath Chakravartī Thakur. He was a follower
Bhagavatacharya, a disciple of Sri Gadadhar Pandit.
of Sri Gauranga, a great teacher, and the crest jewel
But he warned that unless read in the original Sanskrit,
among all devotees. Sri Baladev Vidyabhushan also
weighty philosophical works such as Govinda-bhāṣya
wrote a commentary on Bhagavad-gītā based on the
[Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan’s commentary on
teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Although Baladev’s
Vedāntā-sūtra] are often not accurately grasped and
commentary is philosophical, Chakravartī Mahasaya’s
cannot be properly appreciated unless studied under
commentary is not only philosophical, but also full of
the guidance of a vaiṣṇava ācārya.
the mellows of love of God. Particularly, Chakravartī
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati stated that the
Mahasaya’s commentary on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is
Upaniṣads and Gītā were for the “infant class” and that
particularly well known and respected. Chakravartī
it was necessary to progress further to the study of
Mahasaya’s philosophy is simple and his Sanskrit
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. This was not in denigration of the
language is sublime. (Bhagavad-gītā translation)
Upaniṣads or the Gītā, both of which he often quoted, but
— Excerpted from, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Vāṇī Vaibhava. Compiled to illumine the unique position of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam:
by and with questions from Sri Sundarananda Vidyavinode.
Translated by Sri Bhumipati Das. Published by Sri Iswara Das Śrīmad Bhāgavatam propagates the impartial
and Touchstone Media. Vrindavan. 2002. absolute truth. It is the most desirable object for
 Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 7 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Unknown artist

Illustration from a 19th century handwritten Gītā, showing part of chapter 1 text 20
non-envious devotees. Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā is And he further extolled Śrīmad Bhāgavatam:
curriculum for the infant class, whereas Śrīmad
If all the books in the universe were burned to ashes,
Bhāgavatam is for postgraduates. To qualify
there would be no loss if only one scripture remained:
for the postgraduate course, those who know
nothing about spiritual life use Bhagavad-gītā as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. If millions of centers of education
the entrance exam. Persons desiring to attain a disappear, there is no loss if teaching and learning the
masters or doctorate degree in spiritual subject Bhāgavatam continues.
matter are required to study further. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati often advised
Nonetheless, objective devotees do not discriminate Bengalis and Odias, most of whom had at least
between Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. sentimental faith in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
The variety of adjectives and grammatical
explanations found in this world become beautiful
and rudimentary acquaintance with vaiṣṇava
at the lotus feet of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad philosophy, to first study Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata
Bhāgavatam expounds the constitutional duty of the and Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, which although
spirit soul and is directly an avatāra of Bhagavān. No composed in simple Bengali verse, contain the
one can shake Śrīmad Bhāgavatam even a hairsbreadth
essence of all scriptural conclusions and can
from its unique position.
immediately invoke the mellifluous bhakti-
Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā is recommended for the
rasa offered by Lord Chaitanya. He directed
infant class in the spiritual school as well as for
new students who desire to enter the spiritual beginners to first go through the relatively
kingdom. Those who have become qualified by uncomplicated Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, then the
studying Bhagavad-gītā and wish to attain higher more philosophically intricate Śrī Caitanya-
spiritual knowledge can gain immense profit by caritāmṛta, and only thereafter Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
properly hearing and studying Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
He often told his followers to “from time to time”
under a mahābhāgavata.
read Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, and he would ask
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is directly the avatāra of the Bengalis who had come to see him if they had read
Absolute Truth, not to be measured by our blunt
material senses. Whatever is rare and confidential
it. He would quote the fact of Srila Bhaktivinoda
is well protected. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam does not reveal Thakur’s having stressed the importance of
Himself to godless people. reading Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata — how even
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 8

Unknown artist

In the eleventh chapter of the Gītā, Krishna showed Arjuna his universal form

without reading Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta one could largely describes līlā. Yet in writing a commentary
gain through Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata all essential on it, my tendency toward philosophical
truths of śuddha-bhakti. judgment has come out.” Indeed, his commentary
Srila Saraswati Thakur once commented, revealed many deep philosophical insights
“I am averse to serving the Lord. I only know underlying the simply presented narrations in
philosophical analysis. Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata.
 Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 9 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Unknown artist. Circa 1795

The main subject of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is Krishna's pastimes with the Vraja-gopīs

He would instruct educated non-Bengali presents a consideration of gradual evolution,

disciples to learn Bengali for studying the original from the increasingly better conceptions
of skepticism, atheism, attributelessness,
texts of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Śrī Caitanya-
neuterdom, masculinity, copulation, consorthood
caritāmṛta, other essential Gaudīya Vaiṣṇava works,
by marriage (svakīya), and lastly paramour love
and also Gaudīya articles. He often said that a time of the gopīs (parakīya). Kṛṣṇa-līlā is described in
would come when foreigners would learn Bengali the Tenth Canto. What then was the necessity
just to read Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. of composing the preceding nine cantos? In
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta them have been shown the deliberation of these
theories, to prepare the ground for introducing
Saraswati’s favorite book. He regarded it as
the main subject, namely the description of
a matchless devotional work and the most Krishna’s transcendental pastimes with the
important biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vraja-gopīs, as given in the “Gopī-gīta” and similar
because it succinctly yet definitively imparts his sections of the Tenth Canto.
teachings and gives significantly more insights There were many who read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
into the nature of the Lord’s highest ecstasies before Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came into this
than do Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata or other narratives. world, but the only ones who have been able to
seize the real import and actual object of the
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati himself read both
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam are they who read it after
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata reading Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta of Sri Krishnadas
108 times and told others to do likewise. Especially Kaviraj Goswami, one of his chief followers in
in his later life, whenever he got time he generally the line of Sri Rupa Goswami — in other words,
read Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. And he explicated those who have read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam within
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Prākṛta-sahajiyās read
the glories of and essential connection between
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and mercenary discoursers
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: explain it, yet they only misconstrue and cover
There is no other book in the universe like the true reading according to the version of Śrī
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. This is not mere tittle-tattle Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Their elucidation may please
or an amplified homage. An objective judge will the minds of their hearers, but it merely makes the
realize that there has not been any book like the path to hell more easily accessible for themselves
Bhāgavatam, nor will there ever be one. This book and their admirers.
Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 10 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Some persons claiming In due course, mahā-
to be Gaudīyas study the pralaya (devastating
Sanskrit writings of
“In due course, mahā-pralaya floods) will inundate
the entire universe.
the Six Goswamis but (devastating floods) will If you attempt to
not Srila Krishnadāsa
survive by swimming
Kavirāja’s Śrī Caitanya- inundate the entire universe. in that deluge, then
caritāmṛta, considering
it inferior due to being If you attempt to survive by do not neglect to take
hold of Bhagavad-gītā,
composed in Bengali. Yet
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
swimming in that deluge, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam,
and Śrī Caitanya-
is the definitive work then do not neglect to take caritāmṛta. Or if you
containing the essence
cannot hold all three,
of the siddhāntas of the hold of Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad then release Bhagavad-
Six Goswamis. Thus,
however learned and Bhāgavatam, and Śrī Caitanya- gītā. If necessary you
may also relinquish
expert in Sanskrit a
scholar may be, without
caritāmṛta. Or if you cannot Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, but
under no circumstances
attaining eligibility for hold all three, then release release your hold on Śrī
studying Śrī Caitanya- Caitanya-caritāmṛta, for
caritāmṛta, he cannot Bhagavad-gītā. If necessary if this one book remains
grasp the message of the then the flood can do no
Six Goswamis. you may also relinquish actual damage, because
W h i l e S r i l a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, but after it has subsided,
the message of śāstra
Bhaktisiddhanta
under no circumstances can be revived from
Saraswati was Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
once glorifying the release your hold on Śrī alone, it being the
essence of all śāstras.
superlative character of
Caitanya-caritāmṛta.”
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta — Bhakti Vikasa Swami. Śrī
Bhaktisiddhānta Vaibhava. Bhakti
to his disciples, he
Vikasa Trust. Surat, India. 2009.
instructed them:
If somehow all the books in the world were The Gita Establishes
destroyed, leaving only Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the people of this world
That the Form of
could still achieve the ultimate goal of life. Even Krishna is Supreme
if Śrīmad Bhāgavatam were lost, leaving only Śrī
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, there would be no loss to
humanity, for whatever has not been revealed in Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur’s
the Bhāgavatam is found in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Commentary on Bhagavad-gītā 15.18
The Absolute Truth is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,
yasmāt kṣaram atīto ‘ham akṣarād api cottamaḥ
the combined form of Radha and Krishna. Śrī
ato ‘smi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ
Caitanya-caritāmṛta is his sound incarnation, within
which is found the divine mystery of Radharani’s Because I am superior to the jīvas, to the brahman,
divine status and glories. Therefore, can there be and to the puruṣa known as paramātmā, and even to
any doubt concerning the supreme status of this
the other forms of bhagavān, I am celebrated in the
transcendental literature?
Vedas and the smṛtis as the Supreme Person.
As he stood up after ending a lecture in Munger, Commentary: Having spoken about the object of
an earth tremor caused the adjacent Ganga to worship of the yogīs, paramātmā, the Lord now speaks
overflow. The water soon receded, after which about the object of worship of the devotees, bhagavān.
Srila Saraswati Thakur said: Though he in his form as Krishna is also bhagavān,
 Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 11
Painting by Sheetal Banerjee. Circa 1930

Among the forms of bhagavān, Krishna is the supremely attractive

Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 12 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
he denotes the supreme excellence of his own svarūpa
as Krishna by using the designation puruṣottama. “The worshipers of
I am superior to the jīva (kṣaram), and I am superior
to the brahman (akṣarāt), and also to paramātmā (the brahman and paramātmā
last statement is indicated by the word api.) must necessarily perform
yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ
bhakti to bhagavān in order
Of all yogīs, he who, absorbing his mind in me, to achieve the final results
worships me with faith, is considered by me to be
the best yogī. (Bg. 6.47) of their sādhana. The
From the difference in the worshiper, one can worshipers of bhagavān,
conclude that there is a difference in the worshipable
object. The word ca indicates that Krishna is superior
however, do not perform
even to the Lord of Vaikuntha and other forms of worship of brahman or
bhagavān, as Shukadev has explained in the Bhāgavatam:
paramātma to achieve the
ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
These are all parts or parts of parts. Krishna is
results of their sādhana.”
Bhagavān himself. (Bhāg. 1.3.28)

Though his one sat-cid-ānanda form is called O infallible one, and could easily surrender to you and
achieve your supreme abode. (Bhāg. 10.14.5)
by the names brahman, paramātmā and bhagavān,
actually there is no difference at all between them. The worshipers of brahman and paramātmā must
Svarūpa-dvayābhāvāt — “There is no duality in your necessarily perform bhakti to bhagavān in order to achieve
form.” (Bhāg. 6.9. 36) However, because of observing the final results of their sādhana. The worshipers of bhagavān,
difference in the worshipers, in terms of sādhana and however, do not need to perform worship of brahman or
the results, difference has been designated. That is paramātma to achieve the results of their sādhana.
to say, the sādhana respectively of the jñānī, yogī and tasmān mad-bhakti-yuktasya yogino vai mad-ātmanaḥ
bhakta produces realization of brahman, paramātmā na jñānaṁ na ca vairāgyaṁ prāyaḥ śreyo bhaved iha
and bhagavān. The result of jñāna and yoga is mere Therefore, for a devotee engaged in my loving service,
liberation, and the result of bhakti is to become an with mind fixed on me, the cultivation of knowledge and
associate of the Lord with prema. Also, without bhakti, renunciation is generally not the means of achieving the
highest perfection within this world. (Bhāg. 11.20.31)
the jñānī and the yogī do not even attain liberation.
This is understood from the following verses: yat karmabhir yat tapasā jñāna-vairāgyataś ca yat
yogena dāna-dharmeṇa śreyobhir itarair api
naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ na śobhate
sarvaṁ mad-bhakti-yogena mad-bhakto labhate ‘ñjasā
Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from svargāpavargaṁ mad-dhāma kathañcid yadi vāñchati
all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a
conception of the infallible God. (Bhāg. 1.5.12) Everything that can be achieved by fruitive
activities, penance, knowledge, detachment, mystic
pureha bhūman bahavo ‘pi yoginas
tvad-arpitehā nija-karma-labdhayā yoga, charity, religious duties, and all other means
vibudhya bhaktyaiva kathopanītayā of perfecting life are easily achieved by my devotee
prapedire ‘ñjo ‘cyuta te gatiṁ parām through loving service unto me. If somehow or
O almighty Lord, in the past many yogīs in this world other my devotee desires promotion to heaven,
achieved the platform of devotional service by offering liberation, or residence in my abode, he easily
all their endeavors unto you and faithfully carrying achieves such benedictions. (Bhāg. 1.20.31-32)
out their prescribed duties. Through such devotional
service, perfected by the processes of hearing and yā vai sādhana-sampattiḥ puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaye
chanting about you, they came to understand you, tayā vinā tad āpnoti naro nārāyaṇāśrayaḥ
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 13
Even without the usual requirements for achieving
the perfection of life, a person will gain that perfection Vraja Prema in the Gita
if he is simply a surrendered devotee of Narayan
[from the Nārāyaṇīya, of the Mokṣa-dharma section of
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
Mahābhārata]. Therefore, by the worship of bhagavān it is Krishna is known as līlā puruṣottama; he manifests
possible to attain all of the results: material enjoyment, all varieties of līlās. He came 5,000 years ago in his
liberation and prema. But by the worship of brahman and own svarūpa. At the end, in his kurukṣetra-līlā, he
paramātmā alone it is not possible to attain prema and gave his message in the form of Bhagavad-gītā. He
higher stages. Therefore, it is said that bhagavān is in a spoke it to Arjuna. We should not think that he
superior position even though he is not different from only gave it to Arjuna. Through Arjuna he gave this
brahman and paramātmā. It is just like a huge fire which knowledge, this message, to the whole of mankind.
is considered superior to a small light, because of its We call this śākhā-candra-nyāya. Nyāya means
superior ability to alleviate the pain of cold. “logic”, śākhā means “branch of the tree” and candra
However, among the forms of bhagavān, Krishna is means “moon”. The branch and the moon logic. The
child cries, so what does the mother do? The mother
considered to be the supreme attractive form, just as
says, “Don’t you see the moon there, very effulgent
the sun is considered superior to the huge fire. Why?
silver plate? Don’t you want to have it?”
Because Krishna alone gives nirvāṇa-mokṣa, the final
Then the child says, “Yes, mother, where is it?
fruit of worship of brahman, to his enemies such as
Where is it?” “Don’t you see it? It is in the sky.” The
Agha, Baka and Jarasandha, who were most sinful. This
full moon looks like an effulgent silver plate. Very
verse has been explained according to Sridhar Swami’s
beautiful, but it cannot be seen because the branches
commentary on the verse brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham.
of some tree are obstructing the vision. It is just at
— Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur. Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā. With the
Sārārtha-varśīni commentary. English translation by Bhanu Swami. the opening of some branches, but the child cannot
Parampara Publishers. Chennai, India. 2003. see it. “Where is it, where is it, where is it, mother?”

Unknown artist. Delhi Agra area. Circa 1520-1540

Bhimasena killed Jarasandha on the order of Krishna

Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 14 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Unknonw artist. Pahari, Himachal Pradesh, India, late 18th century

śākhā-candra-nyāya — by pointing out the tree’s branch the mother shows the moon to the child
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 15
“Look at this tree. Look at that big branch there!” Krishna gave. Is it possible to give up all varieties
She is pointing out the tree’s branch and thus the of dharma and just surrender unto Krishna? It is
mother shows the moon. This is the logic śākhā- very easy to say. We all say this when we go out to
candra-nyāya. By pointing out the tree’s branch preach, “Hey, Krishna has said in the Bhagavad-gītā,
the mother shows the moon to the child. Similarly, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam śaraṇaṁ vraja —
pointing out to Arjuna, Krishna shows everything to “Give up all varieties of dharma and just surrender
mankind. This is śākhā-candra-nyāya. unto me.” You say it, he says it, I say it, everybody
Most Confidential says it, but are you really surrendered yourself, or
are you only speaking from the lips? How will it be
Krishna gave his message to us because he is the
effective if you speak from the lips only? If you are
only well-wishing friend of all living entities. He gave
not surrendered yourself you can go on speaking for
his message in the form of Bhagavad-gītā through
thousands of lives, still your preaching will never be
Arjuna to all of mankind. He gave confidential
successful. It will never be effective because you are
instructions, more confidential instructions, and the
not really surrendered yourself. So how can one be
most confidential instruction. The most confidential
surrendered? man-manā bhava, Krishna says, “Think
instruction is man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī
of me always, day and night. Only keep me in your
māṁ namaskuru, and sarva-dharmān parityajya mām
mind twenty-four hours a day. No other thoughts
ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.65-66]. This is his most
should be there. Drive out all other thoughts from
confidential instruction. “Think of me always.
your mind.” But how will it be? Is it easy? Are you
Become my bhakta — my devotee, and my servant.
thinking of Krishna? suta mita ramaṇi ra cinta — “The
Engage in my service.” Krishna says this because he is
mind is thinking of his wife, thinking of his son, his
the sevya-vastu. He is to be served and everyone is his
daughter, his so-called friend.” Is the stupid mind
servant, sevaka. ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya [Cc.
thinking of Krishna? No! Why is it not thinking of
ādi 5.142]: “The only one to be served is the Supreme
Krishna, why is it thinking of his wife, son, daughter
Lord Sri Krishna, Parameswar. All others, other than
or friend? Because he has developed some love and
Krishna, are servants — bhṛtya.” Only Krishna is to
affection towards this material body, and bodily
be served, he is the sevya-vastu. Therefore, he says,
relations, wife, son, daughter, friend, etc. In other
mad-bhakto, “Become my bhakta and engage in my
words, he has put his body and bodily relations on
service.” So, have you become a servant of Krishna?
the platform of love. He has not put Krishna on the
No! māyāra naphara hañā cira-dina bule — You are
platform of love, so how can the stupid mind think
wandering in this material world, having become a
of Krishna? Without love it is not at all possible
servant of māyā. [Jagadananda Pandit’s Prema-vivarta
to always think of Krishna, man-manā bhava, or to
5.4] We have not become servants of Krishna, rather,
surrender, because it is based on love. Surrender,
we have become servants of māyā. Naphara means
śaraṇāgati, is based on love.
“servant”. From time immemorial the jīva has been
wandering in this material world, having become Significance of the Word “Vraja”
a servant of māyā. We have not become servants Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.
of Krishna. Krishna is our well-wishing friend, and This word “vraja” is very significant. If you see Srila
therefore he says, “Become my servant!” because he Prabhupada’s translation of the Gītā, he has given the
is to be served, whereas all others are servants. man- word for word meaning. And what meaning has he given
manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī, “Worship me!” The for vraja? “Go” or “surrender”. But it has a very deep
only worshipable deity is Krishna. māṁ-namaskuru, purport to it. The ācāryas say “vraja” here means vraja
“Pay your obeisances unto me, then you will come to prema — the prema, or love available in Vrajabhumi,
me!” That is the goal of life, to approach the lotus feet Vrindavan, Krishna’s abode. Krishna talks about that
of Krishna, to understand Krishna and to get Krishna. prema. Without that prema there is no question of true
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja, surrender or complete surrender. So without that prema
“Give up all varieties of dharma, occupations, and your so-called surrender is either artificial, partial or
just surrender unto me.” This is the last instruction conditional, not true and not complete.
Unknown photographer. Wikipedia.
Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 16 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Ancient banyon tree at the place in Kurukshetra where Sri Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gītā
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 17

Unknown artist.

Krishna came as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to show a practical example of what it means to be a devotee

Krishna has said this, but only theoretically. Then he Practical Example Needed
wound up his lilā and went back to his abode Goloka Krishna thinks, “How can they develop Krishna
Vrindavan, where he thought, “O, I said everything consciousness? How can they understand me? How can
and gave confidential, more confidential and the most they see me and keep me in their mind? How can they
confidential instruction through Arjuna to all of mankind, serve me and how can they surrender unto me? It is
but how many can understand it?” It is not easy to not easy,” Krishna thinks, “I have said all these things
understand, because it is to be understood in tattva, in theoretically, but I have not demonstrated practically
truth. Krishna said it is to be understood in tattva. how to surrender. So I have to go again.” Therefore, he
Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 18 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
came again in the form of but Mahaprabhu is known
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. as prema puruṣottama and
Krishna thinks like this, “Sarva-dharmān parityajya therefore he says cāri
bhava-bhakti diyā nācāmu
“I have not given prema-
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.
bhakti, yet many, many, bhuvana — “I will make
innumerable yugas have This word 'vraja' is very the whole world dance in
gone past.” bhakti vinā significant. it has a very the four mellows of bhakti;
jagatera nāhi avasthāna — dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and
“Without this prema-bhakti
deep purport to it. The word mādhurya.” So that is what
this existence is useless. 'vraja' here means vraja he did. āpana karimu bhakta-
bhāva aṅgīkāre — “I will go
So I will go and establish
prema — the prema, or love and assume the mood of a
the yuga-dharma of nāma-
saṅkīrtana; hare kṛṣṇa hare available in Vrajabhumi, bhakta — a devotee. Not the
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare Vrindavan. Without mood of bhagavān.” That
hare rama hare rama rama is Gaura’s mood. Although
rama hare hare.” cāri bhāva-
t h a t prema t h e r e i s n o He is Krishna, bhagavān,
bhakti diyā nācāmu bhuvana. question of true surrender his mood is different. That
is bhakta-bhāva, the mood
Krishna says cāri — four.
or complete surrender. of a devotee, especially the
He never says five. There
are five chief mellows in a Without that prema your mood of Radharani, rādhā-
bhāva. āpani ācari’ bhakti
relationship with Krishna: so-called surrender is śikhaimu sabāra — “I will
śanta, dāsya, sakhya,
vātsalya and mādhurya, but
either artificial, partial or teach bhakti by practicing
when Krishna comes as conditional, not true and it myself.” Because unless
one practices himself, he
Mahaprabhu he discards not complete.” cannot teach. Unless one
śanta-rasa. Therefore,
observes it in his own life,
Krishna says cari bhava-
how can he teach? If it is
bhakti diyā nācāmu bhuvana:
only theoretical, there will be no effect at all. It will be
“I will make the whole world dance and chant hare kṛṣṇa.”
like blank fire — without effect.
That means chanting purely. If you have developed pure
āpane nā kaile dharma śikhāna nā yāya
love for Krishna and you develop that bhāva, that loving
ei ta’ siddhānta gītā-bhāgavate gāya (Cc. ādi 3.21)
mood, then if you chant, automatically you will dance.
My Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada, says, “Everybody “Unless one practices devotional service himself, he
cannot teach it to others. This is the conclusion drawn
can take part, even a dog can take part, because it is
in Bhagavad-gītā and Bhāgavatam.” So Krishna came
jīva-dharma — the dharma of the soul. So even a dog
in the form of Mahaprabhu, as a practical teacher, to
can take part. When Mahaprabhu came he made the
teach us how to develop prema, love, and how to cry
jungle animals dance. On his way to Vrindavan he was
for Krishna, how to think of Krishna day and night,
passing through the jungle of Jharikhand chanting hare
twenty-four hours, and how to surrender unto Krishna.
kṛṣṇa, and he made the animals chant. Tigers, lions, Prabodhananda Saraswatipad has said in his Caitanya-
deer, dogs and hogs all chanted hare kṛṣṇa and danced. candrāmṛta, “I pay my obeisances unto that Gaura who
Only Mahaprabhu can do such a thing because he is the gives prema through chanting the holy name; hare kṛṣṇa
Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has come here hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma
to give that prema. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is known rāma hare hare.” The chief result of chanting the holy
as prema puruṣottama, the Supreme Personality of name is prema, love of Godhead. Niraparādhe nāma loile
Godhead who gives love of Godhead. Krishna is known paye prema dhana — “If your chanting is offenseless,
as līlā puruṣottama, who manifests all varieties of līlā, pure, you will get prema,” So Mahaprabhu gives prema
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty six, Page — 19
through that chanting. If you get Mahaprabhu ‘s mercy is what we are saying and all our ācāryas have said
and the mercy of the holy name, nāma-kṛpā, you can it. Without love you cannot become dāsa, a servant.
develop prema. Otherwise, you will never develop Otherwise, without such love you will become a
prema. Bhakti vinā jagatera nāhi avasthāna — “Without pretender. You are just pretending that, “I am serving.
this prema-bhakti, all existence is useless,” because this I am Krishna’s servant.” But you cannot truly be dāsa,
prema is the basis of the world, the basis of all existence. a servant, because this service is based on prema. In
Krishna was thinking like that, and thus Krishna this way Krishna has spoken about this prema.
came in the form of Mahaprabhu, to give prema and
to practically teach us śaraṇāgati and how to think of Arjuna is the Calf
Krishna always, man-manā bhava. It is all there in the There are seven hundred verses in the Bhagavad-
Gītā. Krishna has said everything, but theoretically, gītā, it is the essence of all the Vedas and Upanishads.
whereas Mahaprabhu teaches practically. But do
you think Krishna has not spoken about prema in the sarvopaniṣado gāvo dogdhā gopala-nandanaḥ
Bhagavad-gītā? Krishna has spoken about it, but only pārtho vatsaḥ su-dhīr bhoktā dugdhaṁ gītāmṛtaṁ mahat
theoretically. That is man-manā bhava mad-bhakto. This (Gītā-māhātmya 6)

Painting by by Vasudeo Kamath

Unknown artist.
Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 20 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Krishna took the role of Arjuna's chariot driver during the battle of Kurukshetra

“This Gītopaniṣad, Bhagavad-gītā, is the essence coming to drink this nectar? Put up a very big
of all the Upanishads, and it is just like a cow. And sign board; “DRINK THIS NECTAR — GĪTĀMṚTA!”
Lord Krishna, who is famous as a cowherd boy, We are giving such sweet nectarean mellow,
is milking this cow. Arjuna is just like a calf and amṛta, free of cost. You are paying so many
learned scholars and pure devotees are to drink dollars there, but here, no money is required,
the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gītā.” There are it is free of cost. But nobody will come because
many Upanishads, of which 108 are famous. The they have not developed a taste for it. So it says,
Upanishads are the topmost portion of the Vedas, su-dhīr bhoktā, it is given for those who have
and they have become the cow. But without a developed taste for it. As the calf sucks the udder
calf, the cow cannot give milk. Arjuna is the calf, of the cow, he drinks milk, so for such interested
pārtho vatsaḥ, and who is the milkman? That is persons that have developed taste for it, it is
Gopal-nandana, that means Nanda-nandana, there. So the milkman is Krishna and pārtha,
the son of Nanda Maharaja, that is Krishna. So Arjuna, is vatsa, the calf, and he drank it. But
Krishna is the milkman, Gopal-nandana, and he was not selfish, he gave it to all others: “You
he milks the cow — all the Upanishads. Then drink, you drink.”
this transcendental nectarean milk, āmṛtam, It is said that the Vedas have come out from the
in the form of Bhagavad-gītā, came out. And for breathing of the Lord, but Bhagavad-gītā has come
whom? su-dhīr bhoktā — for those who are very directly from the lips of the Lord. So this Upanishad,
anxious to taste it and have it. For those who which is known as Gītopaniṣad, is better than the
have developed greed for it, this āmṛta came. But Vedas. The Upanishads are the topmost portion
people these days are very anxious and eager of the Vedas, and this Bhagavad-gītā is the amṛta,
to drink liquor. They advertise: “COLD WINE, the nectarean essence, so how can one think that
LIQUOR! Open 24 hours. Come, drink, dance and Krishna has not spoken about prema here? He has
dine!” This is going on in the Western world. So spoken everything.
many people are after that! But how many are — From a lecture in Baltimore, USA. On 1 June 1993.
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 21

Story of the Gita Panda

Bhurijana Das
ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham
But those who always worship me with exclusive devotion,
meditating on my transcendental form — to them I carry
what they lack, and preserve what they have. (Bg. 9.22)

When the Brahmin, Arjunacharya, was writing

his commentary on the Gītā, he saw this verse and
thought it a mistake to believe that the Lord would
personally carry whatever was needed to each devotee.
Arjunacharya therefore scratched out vahāmi (I carry)
and inserted karomi (I have it done). Arjunacharya was
extremely poor. After making the change in the text,
he, as he did every day, went out begging.
While he was gone, his wife heard a knock at the door.

Unknown photographer
Two beautiful boys fearfully insisted that she quickly
accept the food that her husband had forced them to
bring. These beautiful boys were anxious to get away
from her house because, they told her, the great Brahmin
scholar, Arjunacharya, would probably beat them again.
When Arjunacharya’s wife expressed disbelief that her
Deity of Krishna's universal form at the
husband had beaten such boys, one said, “See?” And Changu Narayan temple in Nepal
the dark boy turned to show her the marks on his back
Arjunacharya’s wife was bewildered, and she
where he had been struck. Then they both dashed away.
began to cook and eat the food the boys had brought.
Upon Arjunacharya’s return, he saw his wife eating.
Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu He was shocked. According to the Vedic system, a
A free bi-monthly service provided by: wife never eats before she has fed her husband.
When he challenged her, she replied, “Ācārya,
Gopal Jiu Publications why have you acted so inappropriately and become
c/o Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir so cruel?” She then told him that two beautiful
National Highway No. 5 boys had come, left a bountiful supply of food,
IRC Village and after the dark boy had showed her the marks
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 751015 on his back, they had rushed away. The ācārya
Email: katha@gopaljiu.org thought for a few moments and then asked what
Website: www.gopaljiu.org
the boys looked like. Upon hearing that one had a
beautiful darkish complexion and that the other
Subscriptions: minimag@gopaljiu.org
was white, he could understand that his fortunate
Gopal Jiu Publications is a section of the International wife had been blessed with the darśana of Krishna
Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder-Acharya: His
and Balaram. The “beating” marks on the beautiful
Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
dark boy’s back were the result of the ācārya’s
Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Divine Grace having scratched out the word vahāmi. Krishna had
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ©Bhaktivedanta Book
Trust. All other materials, unless specified, © ISKCON Gopal Jiu been forced to come personally to prove the truth
Publications. All rights reserved. Blanket permission is given of his words, “I carry what they lack.”
to redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form provided no
changes are made to the contents. — From Surrender Unto Me, by Bhurijana Das. Published by Warren
Weinstein. 1997.